Unhappy Montana owner right now!

[Golfmedik]

If you read back through this thread, I've not bashed Keystone, only reported what was actually happening. Once, I got really ticked and said I was through dealing with them, but they finally finished "part" of what they said they would do. The nose hasn't flexed yet, but it's only been towed around 125 miles while loaded. However, they've been unable to be contacted again since I emailed them last. They have even dodged the dealer's calls.

As far as the reference to a "good dealer", we have been thoroughly happy with ours, and our only other two dealers within 175 miles are Camping World and RVWorld of Georgia which was bought out by Camping World back in November. As of last week, to get the AC unit looked at, there is a 3 1/2 week appointment time with a turnaround of up to 5 weeks. Our son is out of school for the summer for only 7 weeks. No thank you.

I started this as to report not only the problem with the unit, but the response I got from the manufacturer. As of now part of it is still unresolved. I apologize if this "train wreck" as it has been described, bothers you. I've always been one for full disclosure to warn others and seek other's advice. That's what I've been doing.

[mlh]

Rich I agree.
And
If Montana Keystone would improve quality, service and customer service we wouldn't be hearing about comparisons between other brands and Montana.
Like

[richfaa]

The suggestion was to maybe start a new thread since this one is now 21 pages long and can be hard to follow. I am sure others would like to see the final outcome.

[Golfmedik]

Late today I received an email stating that they had approved my warranty extension until 9/26/17...which is 4 months from now. The email totally ignored the problems caused by the driver and even said they had never had any problem with a transport driver before, however did mention the toll charge and said they would pay it if I sent them the fine. Absolutely no mention of the why the rear bumper was replaced either. So, I called the dealer to see how to go about the damage to the paint on the nose and the rear hitch and my call wasn't returned after they were going to call Montana. It was late in the day, so I'll talk to them tomorrow. I was advised if I needed work done to have the dealer contact them for approval that I would have the paperwork in about two weeks. So, the "extended warranty" covers only the time the unit was out of service at the collision center and back at the factory, not the other 2.5 months at the dealer while they were arguing over who was responsible for the air, them or Dometic.
Listening to you guys it is apparent that I should have bought a Montana years ago as the quality was much better. Unless things change drastically, I've owned my last Montana. But as long as they stay "#1 in sales", why would they want to.
Along the same lines, a buddy of mine in Michigan has turned his into his dealer as his is five months older than mine with the same flex in the side. Montana has denied his warranty as of now stating that the 1/2" flex in the side is within spec, even though it breaks the caulking every time the unit is picked up. So he and his wife are in a hotel in Michigan waiting to hear something as other avenues are being sought. I believe his is about to get ugly.

[brad2388]

Who did you speak with to get ur camper repaired?

I have a 2017 alpine thats doing the exact same thing!
Ill upload my video today as well.

What ended up being done?

We bought our camper in march so our warranty is still in. Thanks for the help!

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

Late today I received an email stating that they had approved my warranty extension until 9/26/17...which is 4 months from now. The email totally ignored the problems caused by the driver and even said they had never had any problem with a transport driver before, however did mention the toll charge and said they would pay it if I sent them the fine. Absolutely no mention of the why the rear bumper was replaced either. So, I called the dealer to see how to go about the damage to the paint on the nose and the rear hitch and my call wasn't returned after they were going to call Montana. It was late in the day, so I'll talk to them tomorrow. I was advised if I needed work done to have the dealer contact them for approval that I would have the paperwork in about two weeks. So, the "extended warranty" covers only the time the unit was out of service at the collision center and back at the factory, not the other 2.5 months at the dealer while they were arguing over who was responsible for the air, them or Dometic.
Listening to you guys it is apparent that I should have bought a Montana years ago as the quality was much better. Unless things change drastically, I've owned my last Montana. But as long as they stay "#1 in sales", why would they want to.
Along the same lines, a buddy of mine in Michigan has turned his into his dealer as his is five months older than mine with the same flex in the side. Montana has denied his warranty as of now stating that the 1/2" flex in the side is within spec, even though it breaks the caulking every time the unit is picked up. So he and his wife are in a hotel in Michigan waiting to hear something as other avenues are being sought. I believe his is about to get ugly.

[Golfmedik]

Originally Posted by brad2388

Who did you speak with to get ur camper repaired?

I have a 2017 alpine thats doing the exact same thing!
Ill upload my video today as well.

What ended up being done?

We bought our camper in march so our warranty is still in. Thanks for the help!

Back in post numbers 332-339 you can see what was done. I ended up having Shelly Zartman at Montana, she is an upper manager, after being tired of not getting any info from the floor manager. I am warning you, unless your dealer can undertake this and get it repaired, be in for a long and bothersome WAIT if it has to go back to the factory. They will not update you, call you or even try to give you a deadline as to when it will be back. Ours was gone nine weeks and the only reason we got it back then was due to an agreement with them that we made in NOVEMBER prior to it leaving in February. We had a special trip planned for over a year and it got back to us 3 days prior to leaving. It was a rush job getting packed for the trip, but we made it.
Take it to the dealer first though as Montana will NOT talk to you in the beginning. It has to be documented through a dealer first.
Good luck buddy.

[brad2388]

well I have sent an email to the generic keystone website and also one to to lippert as well. I'm for sure know this will be a easy blow off so I figured id ask you if u had a contact.

I do have a alpine and I know its different but its still a keystone on the same frame.

do u have Shelly number or email u can share? maybe I can get with her and get back to a alpine Upper manager. I will link back to this post and show them what they did for you as mine is doing the EXACT same thing. in the EXACT same spot.

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

Back in post numbers 332-339 you can see what was done. I ended up having Shelly Zartman at Montana, she is an upper manager, after being tired of not getting any info from the floor manager. I am warning you, unless your dealer can undertake this and get it repaired, be in for a long and bothersome WAIT if it has to go back to the factory. They will not update you, call you or even try to give you a deadline as to when it will be back. Ours was gone nine weeks and the only reason we got it back then was due to an agreement with them that we made in NOVEMBER prior to it leaving in February. We had a special trip planned for over a year and it got back to us 3 days prior to leaving. It was a rush job getting packed for the trip, but we made it.
Take it to the dealer first though as Montana will NOT talk to you in the beginning. It has to be documented through a dealer first.
Good luck buddy.

[brad2388]

Btw here he a video of our camper and what it is doing.


https://youtu.be/KXMKHhQO4nA

[brad2388]

Do u have any pics of the repair of this?

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

I spoke with the service rep that has my case this morning. The cause of the flex has been found. It was a frame weld under the nose(above the generator) of the camper as most of us had thought. The weld was being rewelded and plated today. Also, there are three 'tubes' in the nose of the camper that are aluminum, but are supposed to have wood stuff the entire length of the tube to give the bolts something to adhere to. Two of the tubes(these help support the nose of the unit) had no wood in them and allowed more flex in the nose and pulled out bolts. That is also being repaired. I specifically asked this morning was the broken weld on the Lippert frame and was told yes. I've been told that I will receive pics of before and after the repairs are made. They are also trying to get the unit back to us before the week of 4/10. I will update as I know anything else.

[Golfmedik]

Originally Posted by brad2388

Do u have any pics of the repair of this?

In post 317 you can see the tubes looking towards the camera are NOT filled with woods which provides the aluminum with strength, kind of like a lam-bea when bolted. In post 332 you can see the wood has been put in and then you can also see the gussets and plates used to reinforce the aluminum where it was stressed and broken.

[brad2388]

Thanks! I wasnt sure where the weld was done at. Is that on the bottom steel looking up or is that on the sidewall with the outer skin removed?

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

In post 317 you can see the tubes looking towards the camera are NOT filled with woods which provides the aluminum with strength, kind of like a lam-bea when bolted. In post 332 you can see the wood has been put in and then you can also see the gussets and plates used to reinforce the aluminum where it was stressed and broken.

[Golfmedik]

Sidewall with the fiberglass removed.

[DQDick]

Telling you they have never had a problem with a transporter has got to be complete BS. We've come back from Goshen in the middle of the night several times and I've seen Montana's hauled over large curbs, drug thru ditches and run down the road at 80mph.

[brad2388]

Wow.

If it was as easy as sending it to them and fxixing it im game but seems like alot of trouble to get it in the line.

Ill get with my dealer tomorrow as well and see what they can do to help.

Probly nothing since camping world bought them out

Originally Posted by Golfmedik

Sidewall with the fiberglass removed.

[Golfmedik]

Originally Posted by DQDick

Telling you they have never had a problem with a transporter has got to be complete BS. We've come back from Goshen in the middle of the night several times and I've seen Montana's hauled over large curbs, drug thru ditches and run down the road at 80mph.

I literally laughed out loud when they said that..

[mazboy]

as was suggested earlier, this thread has run it's course and needs to be locked by the website. just saying.

[cw3jason]

Originally Posted by brad2388

Btw here he a video of our camper and what it is doing.


https://youtu.be/KXMKHhQO4nA

Its hard to tell from the video, but it looks like your frame is flexing less than an 1/8th in.

Lippert has a lipsheet on how to measure frame flex, hooked and unhooked, but if memory serves me the tolerance was closer to a half in. you seem to be well within tolerance.

[cw3jason]

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=...rwPK2UwWBZLg8Q


link to lipsheet

[brad2388]

Yea i believe this is a keystone problem not a lippert like orginally thought.

I do believe mine is missing the wood in the aluminum beams.

I have only pulled this camper 4 trips and its already broke the caulk on the joint but i have a service dept. appointment friday so they can check it out to see what they think.

[Golfmedik]

Well, there are two more that have just joined the same club as I. More pics will be forth coming I'm sure, but other models than mine are now having the same problem. This is a 2016 3711FL