Helium technology!

[kiltedpig]

What is it and what are the major differences between Montana and Mountaineer.

[dieselguy]

Weight, Money, and Trim

[kiltedpig]

Frame?

[HOOK]

Helium Technology is a "buzz" phrase used by Keystone on High Country and Cougar 5ers. Eludes to light weight . Both have 10 inch frames. There are four lines of Montana. Big Sky, Montana, Mountaineer, and High Country. They progress in weight and luxury as listed. Big Sky and Montana have 12 inch frames. Big Sky and Montana are aimed at the full time market, and are at the top end of the market. Mountaineer and High Country are aimed at the mid range market. High country being the lightest and shortest . Very basic stuff.

[kiltedpig]

Hook, you are a wealth of information. I just may have to make a trip from CA to see you and thank you in person for being so helpful. I'll keep in touch and when the time comes to pull the trigger on retirement I'll call you.

[grayghost03]

The HC is not necessarily shorter, the 343RL(the 2012 was 37'11") is actually longer then some of the Montana's, Much of the weight savings is from cable operated slides instead of hydraulic, also the big weight saver that Hook didn't mention is they are narrower, this year is the first year they are suppose to be wide body, and you will see a weight gain of about 1000 lbs due to this.

[HOOK]

We recently had Mark Krol into our store for training. If you stretch the tape, you will find the specs to be inaccurate on some models. My 2010 3455 was spec'd at 39' 7" long , it measured almost 41' . Mark told us that the new Big Sky would be 100 inches wide , 4 inches wider than the rest. That was the only spec change he mentioned. The HCs do have electrical slides, and they are lighter, also less expensive. My Big Sky has an electrical slide in the bedroom, it's purpose is to accommodate more storage under the bed. The "buzz" phrase for HC is "our heaviest is under 10,000 lbs". Some of the "39ft" Montana's will reach almost 42 ft. So when you arrive at parks that have the 40 ft rule and you answer by the specs that you are 39 ft long, they let you in. LOL!

[BB_TX]

How is the length actually measured?
Is the front point the front edge of the pin box or the front edge of the cap, whichever is the greatest?
And is the rear point the rearmost edge of the rear cap? Or the rear edge of the ladder? Or something else?

[DarMar]

Hook: your 3455 was spec'd at 39'7", but was actually 41'??? Once again, how the heck are these units to be measured accurately? From where to where? I was never aware that our 3455 was anywhere near 41' nor spec'd at 39'7" for that matter.

[HOOK]

The Govt wants to know how much road space you are using. Measure from front most point to rear most point for accuracy. Include pin box or nose whichever is longer and ladder.

[mhs4771]

Per some actual spec drawings I've seen on our SOB, the MFR specs the length from the center point of the King Pin to the rear, less the ladder. Based on that, you have almost an additional foot from the King Pin to the actual front of the front cap, plus another 6 to 10 inches for the ladder in back.
So as have been suggested, get out the trusty tape measure and find out what you true overall length is.

[mlh]

Some of the new HCs are over 10,000 pounds the 343RL the 305RL which is 100 inches wide. Montana said they were under 10,000 but not any more.
Lynwood

[HOOK]

I measured my 3900 FB Big Sky today. From bulge on nose to ladder, 42'2".

[mlh]

My HC 323RL is 36 foot 3 inch to the back of the ladder. With the ladder makeing 8 inches of that. It is supposed to be 36"3'.
Lynwood

[HOOK]

Talked to Mark Krol today. The HC is being built on the same line as the new Big Sky. So, they will be 100 inches wide. Yet the heaviest will be only about 10,600. It is the bunkhouse model. Only one other unit will weigh over 10 at 10,300. They are no longer trying to reach the 1/2 ton trk people. To get a Montana to that weight reduces quality too much. It would just be another Cougar.

[grayghost03]

Video has been on their web site about the new width for quit awhile. My dealer told us about them being built on the Big Sky line, the amount of problems that the Montana's are having, I don't know if that is a good thing or not. Our HC has been pretty much trouble free and I would kind of like to see em stay that way

[HOOK]

My 2010 Monte was very trouble free, and so far our 14 BS is the same.

[Rainer]

My official Monte length rule:

• If I'm bragging it's the length from the front edge of the pin box to the rear tip of the bike rack
• If I'm trying to get into an RV park, it's whatever the manufacturer says it is. . .