Back wall coming loose - Montana Owners Club

twindman · 10-01-2016, 12:08 PM

Has anyone heard of the back wall coming loose from the sidewalls? My Mountaineer back wall has slipped back about 3/4 inch along the bottom 3-4 feet along the sides. It used to overlap the sidewall, but now it shows a little gap between side and back. Dealer said take off the trip strips on side and bottom and there should be some screws holding things together, but he didn't really sound that confident about it.

It may have started 2 years ago when new. I noticed that when I pulled the power cord out, the wall had some 'give' to it. Not sure if that contributed to it or not.

So I will be trying to push it back together soon and if I can't, it goes to the dealer. Doesn't sound like an easy (or possible?) fix. Ugh.

jcurtis934 · 10-01-2016, 12:19 PM

Bummer is all I can say. With screws out (if that is what holds the back on), put a pillow on front of truck and lightly push into back wall to snug it back in place. Sounds okie, but what do you think the dealer will do...maybe use fork lift? John

1retired06 · 10-01-2016, 12:24 PM

Certainly an unusual problem. Hopefully easy fix than you think.

**DQDick** · 10-01-2016, 03:09 PM

I would call Keystone Customer service before I did anything.

twindman · 10-01-2016, 03:40 PM

I called them and got what I expected ... "Go to dealer and he will contact us if he can't fix it"

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

I would call Keystone Customer service before I did anything.

Art-n-Marge · 10-01-2016, 04:12 PM

Let us know what the dealer does say about this... it seems to be the next step. This doesn't sound good. Best of luck to you. I hope there's some kind of warranty for this, as I'm sure they'll make this your fault.

Eagleback · 10-03-2016, 01:21 AM

are you using a rear hitch?

Bill and Jan · 10-03-2016, 02:18 AM

Ours Mountaineer did the same thing, not sure what the repair shop did other than put bigger screws in it. We've towed it 27,000 miles since and it's holding fine. We've put 65,000 miles on it.

twindman · 10-05-2016, 07:19 PM

Follow up note: Got home, so took a look at wall. One screw on each side into frame on the corner. I think they only go about 1/4 inch into the aluminum with threads. So that pulled out. Got the underbelly off enough to look up from the middle of the back wall. (got a bunch of dirt in the face too. :-) ) Anyway, about 18 inches up, I could see small screws pull out as I pushed on the wall from below. These are underneath the skinny exterior white wall, so they don't show. A pretty easy fix except for the fact you have to take the whole wall off to get at them!!!!
Guess I must look for a repair place. On that note my favorite (and near) dealer that I have used for 10 years won't take anyone now that didn't purchase there. Just sold a week or 2 ago and implemented this policy. I am hoping they open it up after the sale is finalized......

mazboy · 10-06-2016, 01:38 AM

are you talking about the inside living room wall or the outside fiberglass back? sorry, i'm old and i confuse easily.

the outside fiberglass back is just held on by screws on all 4 sides and fairly easy to deal with with some time, tools and another person

1retired06 · 10-06-2016, 02:24 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by twindman

Has anyone heard of the back wall coming loose from the sidewalls? My Mountaineer back wall has slipped back about 3/4 inch along the bottom 3-4 feet along the sides. It used to overlap the sidewall, but now it shows a little gap between side and back. Dealer said take off the trip strips on side and bottom and there should be some screws holding things together, but he didn't really sound that confident about it.

It may have started 2 years ago when new. I noticed that when I pulled the power cord out, the wall had some 'give' to it. Not sure if that contributed to it or not.

CSo I will be trying to push it back together soon and if I can't, it goes to the dealer. Doesn't sound like an easy (or possible?) fix. Ugh.

Check out Goldmedik post in the maintenance section entitled extremely unhappy Montana owner right now. Sounds like he is dealing with a very similar problem

twindman · 10-06-2016, 06:29 AM

Talking about exterior only. Have you removed your outside wall? Wondering how to handle the window when removing wall exterior.
Thanks

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by mazboy

are you talking about the inside living room wall or the outside fiberglass back? sorry, i'm old and i confuse easily.

the outside fiberglass back is just held on by screws on all 4 sides and fairly easy to deal with with some time, tools and another person

psomers · 10-12-2016, 07:45 AM

Would think the window would have to be removed as window sandwiches the interior wall to exterior wall. Not had to do. Screws removed from inside around perimeter and someone outside to catch window.

jcurtis934 · 10-12-2016, 02:10 PM

The outside portion of the window should be pushed into butyl tape chaulk that is 3/4" wide. So a plastic putty knife will need to be inserted all the way around the outside before the window can be released from the back outside wall. You may be able to remove the outside skin window and all IF you take out all the inside window frame screws and set it aside while you pull the outside skin. John

twindman · 11-23-2016, 02:59 PM

Follow up on my problem. Took it to dealer. They said good news and bad news. Good news is "It is fixed". Bad news: "thin wooden wall inside exterior was 2 inches off center. It could have been bad if I hadn't gotten in when I did. They had to somehow winch it back into place and then put new screws every foot apart on the sides".
So hopefully, it is taken care of. Oh, $750. Which is better than it could have been, since they didn't have to remove the wall completely.

You may also like: