Hard to understand how they sell these things - Montana Owners Club

dieselguy · 05-22-2015, 10:45 AM

We've been in the looking mode this Spring. I've pretty much convenced myself to keep what I have. We were looking at what Kansas and Oklahoma dealers had on their lots. I noticed sawdust on the bed ... looked up and the adjustable AC vent hole was 1/2 hole off from lining up with the hole cut in the duct inside the ceiling. I got to looking and all AC vents on that run of ducting were 1/2 hole off??? Deep scratches on several of the drawer fronts ... sink covers that don't match the rest of the countertop ... a chunk out of the main decal on the front cap ... dining chair seat storage bottoms hanging down before anything had been put in them ... on and on.

1retired06 · 05-22-2015, 12:45 PM

And we have found dealers who don't even attempt to square them away before putting them on the lots. Reflection of no dealer PDI effort. Attitude is buy it, and then we will fix everything that is wrong.

**DQDick** · 05-22-2015, 01:38 PM

Are we talking Montana's or SOB's or both?

1retired06 · 05-22-2015, 02:03 PM

Both

**DQDick** · 05-22-2015, 05:21 PM

Yup, that's the problem as I see it. No better place to go. That's why we're keeping the one we've fixed for now.

dieselguy · 05-22-2015, 05:31 PM

Montanas ... I will add under the bedrooms we saw flooring screws totally missing the floor joists the entire length of the joist as far as could be seen not just one or two here and there. We saw one of the screws had pierced a water line running next to the joist. I work with welders that have to be certified for their jobs ... looking at the welds in the exposed aluminum framework ... no way could 1/3 of the welds pass inspection where I work. TIG welding has a tungsten electrode that when it touches the weld puddle makes a blacken area ... something you don't want to happen ... there were blacken areas on many welds. I admit these type of weld errors were on my last 2 Montanas, but nowhere near the number as what we've seen in the past weeks. We've looked up under the pin box area where it mates to the steel flooring on the upper deck of the fiver ... I concede this is a Lippert deal, but the welds are just plain pitiful. I've looked close at the Hehr windows ... a few windows we could see light past the lower seals with the window cranked shut. We did walk some SOB lots ... more of the same just different if I can describe it that way. I guess the manufacturers are building and selling so many people like me stomping and shouting become irrevelant.

Tfthorp · 05-23-2015, 01:28 AM

Unfortunately quality craftsmanship is become a rare thing. It's not just in the RV industry it's all over. People need to take pride in their work.

**DQDick** · 05-23-2015, 03:51 AM

If you ever see one of these lines in action, you'd understand, there is no time to take pride in your work. In the Montana shop 20 or so rigs a day start with a bare frame and go out the door "finished". The line continues to move whether your job is done or not, speed is all that counts.

CORattler · 05-23-2015, 05:48 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by dieselguy

We've been in the looking mode this Spring. I've pretty much convenced myself to keep what I have. We were looking at what Kansas and Oklahoma dealers had on their lots. I noticed sawdust on the bed ... looked up and the adjustable AC vent hole was 1/2 hole off from lining up with the hole cut in the duct inside the ceiling. I got to looking and all AC vents on that run of ducting were 1/2 hole off??? Deep scratches on several of the drawer fronts ... sink covers that don't match the rest of the countertop ... a chunk out of the main decal on the front cap ... dining chair seat storage bottoms hanging down before anything had been put in them ... on and on.

We did the same. Decided to keep what we have. Bought a new truck instead. Much happier.

richfaa · 05-24-2015, 02:13 AM

Ye gads guys you sound like me. Are these minor or minimal problems. I mean these things only cost 70/80/90K what do you expect for that.

it has cost 3200.00 in repairs to our 13 3402 in the last two summers.

DarMar · 05-24-2015, 03:24 AM

Sometimes I feel that the rv industry is like a run away train headed towards a cliff. Although in our part of the universe people are still scrambling to buy them, no mater the cost, no matter the quality, no matter how long they have to finance them for. This industry seems quite recession proof as it's one of those got to have items.

In our case we have bought a few as well but with one year in to our 2015 and close to having all the kinks out of it we believe we will keep this one for lots more years. To spend these kind of dollars on new when you know all the quality issues...well sooner or later we probably should wake up to the reality!!!

richfaa · 05-24-2015, 05:01 AM

In hindsight we should have kept our 06 3400.It did not have the double door fridge that we wanted but that was it . We had the Mor Ryde IS system and could have purchased G614's for @ 1400.00. The decals were worn out but the bugs were out of it and we had it upgraded to our liking. Cleaned , detailed, graphics or some paint, G614tires and we would have been good. Including the IS suspension install, Lin X to protect the front overhang from chipping and repairs to this 13 3402 Big sky we have over 6,000.00 invested in it since June of 2012.

This 13 3402 Big Sky is pretty and we like it but IMO it was a bad investment. Then again if you purchased a RV and did not understand that they are money pits you did not do your homework. We see at as part of the RV experience.

JandC · 05-25-2015, 03:55 AM

I have been more disappointed in Keystone and my dealer rather than the unit itself. I fully understand pushing these units through the assembly line and keeping the price down. If I wanted to buy a knew high quality fiver I would have stayed away from looking at Keystone Montana. I knew what some of the other high end units cost and I pretty much knew what to expect from a new Montana.

However, if they cut corners and consistently have sloppy workmanship then they should at least be willing to immediately repair those issues on their new units.

I just received my sink cover replacement (wait time over 12 months), am still waiting for a ceiling LED replacement (over 12 months), and of course our dealer couldn't get the step recall kit, even though they claim to be the largest RV dealer in the nation.

1retired06 · 05-25-2015, 08:58 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by JandC

I have been more disappointed in Keystone and my dealer rather than the unit itself. I fully understand pushing these units through the assembly line and keeping the price down. If I wanted to buy a knew high quality fiver I would have stayed away from looking at Keystone Montana. I knew what some of the other high end units cost and I pretty much knew what to expect from a new Montana.

However, if they cut corners and consistently have sloppy workmanship then they should at least be willing to immediately repair those issues on their new units.

I just received my sink cover replacement (wait time over 12 months), am still waiting for a ceiling LED replacement (over 12 months), and of course our dealer couldn't get the step recall kit, even though they claim to be the largest RV dealer in the nation.

Unfortunate. Mr rig turned in Thursday pm, for several big ticket items under warranty plus the step recall. Dealer got a two week turnaround on warranty approval/parts arrival in two weeks, to include the step recall kit. Lazy Days is apparently reflective of their business name.

bigskyjimmy · 05-25-2015, 12:26 PM

Dang, feel bad for some of you folks that got some rotten dealerships and some of us have great one's,I busted a dining room chair took it to the Dealer and got a new one on warranty in 1-1/2 weeks, not too shabby since my Dealer is in Tacoma, WA and the part came from Goshen,Indiana and that is one of the reasons I have bought 2 Monty's from Tacoma RV

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