Pros and cons of hc

[Tysong]

Looking at picking up a montana. Ive heard lots about hc but am a bit worried of the lighter stuff used in them... Anyone know actuall diffrence in normal Montana and the HC?? I did search but not getting alot back.. Thank you.

[twindman]

Only know from what I read and saw when checking them out. The main construction is basically what the old Montanas was. They had a 10 inch frame in the old days. I think the walls and roof are about the same as now. I think they skimp on the thickness of the flooring and wall material and use cheaper cupboards - veneer not solid wood. I have had Montana (and Mountaineer) since 2006 and 3-4 years ago the Montanas REALLY got big. You can't even find a Monty that is 31 or 33 feet (maybe one model) and they used to be about 38 feet for the longest - now , what, like 41 or 43 feet. Anyway the new ones weigh much more. In 2006 the max pin weight of any of them was 2400 lb (empty). Now they have them near 3000. The HC is back to the original size and weight, or close.

[mlh]

The floor in the HC is a sandwich with a half inch of OSB with two inches of styrofoam between. That is probably more insulation than the Montana. The problem is that leaves the plumbing exposed. The slides are cable slides and I read that saves 500 pounds. A lot of Montanas have a cable slide in the bedroom. It has 10 inch I beams just like the Montanas did before they ate too much and gained a ton. In general every thing is just a little lighter in the HC. If I were buying a camper to live in I would get a Montana and one to travel in I would get the HC. No need to pull a ton weight if you don't need to.
Lynwood

[Dam Worker]

Electric level up instead of hydraulic. If you do a search for one of their brochures it should tell you how they are saving weight. ����. Frame has already been mentioned 10" verse 12" and the axles were 6 k instead of 7 k without some other stuff that I can't remember. But they are differently lighter. I actually like the sandwiched foam as it would be good R value and quite strong. I know the Montanna floor is just OSB with a black plastic plastic cover over it, not even marine grade plywood which I would have preferred or at least marine grade OSB.

Take all of this information with the fact I have been wrong before but I do try to be right.

Tom Marty