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02-06-2019, 08:08 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Douglass
Posts: 30
M.O.C. #20643
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will Montana hold up?
So I want to be able to get out in the sticks, and by sticks I mean down a dirt road now and then, enjoying the solitude of boondocking. I am looking at the 3121 and the arctic fox 30ft. I have a Montana dealer right in town so the convenience factor is huge with the Montana. I'm not talking about anything extreme here, but I am wondering if running down a dirt road, with I would imagine the occasional pot hole or two will beat the trailer to death?...again careful speed down the road etc., so assume a rational careful OCD driver as you offer your opinions!!..Thanks everyone!
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02-06-2019, 08:47 PM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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With our old rig we worked for Fish and Wildlife every winter for 7 years. We had great places to camp, but many of them couldn't even be found on a GPS. Never had a problem with rough dirt roads other than having to frequently put the truck in four wheel drive (particular when wet), but was careful and took it easy. The infrastructure of the new rig is better than our old one so I wouldn't hesitate to haul the new rig back to those spots either.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
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02-06-2019, 10:30 PM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,932
M.O.C. #20477
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Have had ours off the pavement several times with no issue.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL
"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
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02-06-2019, 10:59 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Elk River
Posts: 14
M.O.C. #21240
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We have the 2018 Montana 3120RL, and the twin axles with the equalizers keep the rig running pretty darn smooth over bumps or chuck holes, coarse the tow vehicle driver must be careful when road conditions require it. About the difference between your rig #3121 and ours #3120 is the refrigerator, #21 refers to residential frig (all 110V) and ours #20 refers to frig (12v or LP gas). So without electric hook up, you may run your 12v battery source down pretty quick. J.M.O.
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02-07-2019, 06:11 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Upstate NY
Posts: 1,788
M.O.C. #14547
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Any towable RV will hold up on a 'standard' back country road. None will if you 'hammer' down a rutted and pot holed fire road. We haven't traveled too many back country roads with this 5er but the last one, yes. The first one went everywhere including some real nasties in the west boonies with no problems.
My concern with the current crop of towables, regardless of brand name are those puny spring hangers. Our first one, noted above, had heavy forged brackets bolted to the frame with big bolts. Everything since then has the bent steel U-brackets more or less welded on.
Just take it easy and all will IMO, hold up just fine.
__________________
Dave W
2014 Montana High Country 343RL (Sold!)
2011 Ford 6.7 Lariat CCLB (Went to PU Heaven)
2019 F150SC XLT SE Sport,w/full tow package
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02-07-2019, 06:37 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2017
Location: new caney
Posts: 1,050
M.O.C. #19873
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If you are making it down America's interstates at 70 mph then you should not have any problem going down a country road. Just adjust your speed accordingly.
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02-07-2019, 07:32 AM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: North Ridgeville
Posts: 20,229
M.O.C. #2839
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texan
If you are making it down America's interstates at 70 mph then you should not have any problem going down a country road. Just adjust your speed accordingly.
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Exactly.
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02-07-2019, 08:03 AM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,550
M.O.C. #2283
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I’ve pulled my camper places where some people wouldn’t take their truck.Places where I had to watch the back to make sure it didn’t drag, where I was afraid it would turn over, so rough you go so slow to let one wheel go down in the holes at a time. I don’t think you will have any problem.
Enjoy boondocking you won’t have any company to bother you.
Lynwood
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02-07-2019, 08:41 AM
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#9
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Established Member
Join Date: Oct 2017
Location: Douglass
Posts: 30
M.O.C. #20643
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Texan
If you are making it down America's interstates at 70 mph then you should not have any problem going down a country road. Just adjust your speed accordingly.
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Never thought of that but you're right....if it can survive the highway at speed then it should be fine on a careful drive in the dirt...Thanks for the reply!..Thanks everyone! Love this forum.
Be Safe
dave
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02-13-2019, 02:13 PM
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#10
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Ogden
Posts: 638
M.O.C. #13862
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dke1955
So I want to be able to get out in the sticks, and by sticks I mean down a dirt road now and then, enjoying the solitude of boondocking. I am looking at the 3121 and the arctic fox 30ft. I have a Montana dealer right in town so the convenience factor is huge with the Montana. I'm not talking about anything extreme here, but I am wondering if running down a dirt road, with I would imagine the occasional pot hole or two will beat the trailer to death?...again careful speed down the road etc., so assume a rational careful OCD driver as you offer your opinions!!..Thanks everyone!
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I sold my 6 year old Montana for this very reason. It was too long, too tall and too low to get us into those kinds of places we love so much. I bought a 10ft shorter SOB 5th wheel (After I replaced the ladder on the Montana after about ripping it off on a little dip in a paved road in a Forest Service camp ground. That was the final straw) It has all we need, way better clearances above and below and an off road suspension.Much, much happier now.
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02-14-2019, 01:36 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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The Artic Fox is a certified off road chassis. Or so they say.
Mark
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02-14-2019, 03:11 PM
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#12
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New Member
Join Date: May 2017
Location: hobart
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #19844
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Montana holding up boondocking
We have a 2003 Keystone Montana bought in Elkhart Indiana. we have had it boondocking a number times in the last two years. It held up very well, But I had to change the spring shackles a few times. I did not see them broken until we got to our camp site. Inspect your rig each time you stop, top and bottom. I carry spares with me. I have wood blocks and jacks with me to do the job. Only takes an hour to change a broken shackle. Sometimes a pot hole sneaks up on you. So carry spares with you and have fun. we boondocked across America in 2018. We are planning on it again in 2019. We are selling our home and take it on the road and see how it is full time.
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02-14-2019, 03:33 PM
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#13
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Northern Illinois
Posts: 525
M.O.C. #19994
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you obviously never traveled the Illinois interstate system, I-39 between Rochelle and Bloomington is the worst road I have ever traveled. Once we get to the first rest area off 39, we stop to check how many cupboard doors opened.
If my Montana can handle repeated trips on I-39, they can handle any road, I drive like the Truckers, we all hang in the left lane most the way, the right is too rough.
__________________
The "Black Pearl"-2017 3731FL Legacy Package
2017 F-450 Platinum, 6.7 PSD
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02-15-2019, 05:58 AM
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#14
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Frostproof, FL USA
Posts: 2,362
M.O.C. #13272
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We put a lot of miles on ours towing it through California and Illinois, worse roads in the U.S.A. You should be good with the pot holes anywhere.
__________________
Previous: 2008 Montana 3400RL & 2014 3725RL
Current: Full Time 2022 SOB TT Toy Hauler
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