Allow me to vent!

[Mark N.]

My trailer is not yet 24 months old. It has about 5,000 miles on it. In it's short life, we have stayed in it a total of 23 nights (I just added it up).
In that same time, it has been in the shop OVER 2 MONTHS, and now it's got to go back.
Thanks....I feel better now!

[1retired06]

You are allowed! Montana rigs are not what they used to be.

[Mark N.]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

You are allowed! Montana rigs are not what they used to be.

I have no prior history with Keystone products, but that is what I'm gathering from people's comments here. I highly doubt that this 5th wheel is my last RV, and I tell ya, they sure aren't leaving the kind of lasting impression I wanted.
I FULLY understand each brand of RV will have quality issues. But, after a while, one feels like throwing their hands in the air and saying "Fine, but maybe it's time to find out for myself what they are like. I know now what THIS Montana was like".

I understand too, this might or might not be a reflection on your own experience.

[DarMar]

ALL our grief has been with our crappy Dometic rv fridge and this same crappy fridge could have been installed in any brand of rv or motorhome of almost any price range. Sometimes it feels like there is just no escaping grief if you want to purchase ANY kind/make of new rv.

We feel your pain and hope it fades soon!

[DQDick]

My hope is that this is the last problems you'll have for a while.

[mlh]

OK what is wrong with your camper?
Lynwood

[jcurtis934]

I keep ours out of shops by doing all the work myself because this is our only home and the bank really owns it and the truck till we pay the loans off. We also feel like we have been lucky so far on problems. Yeah...we had the leak-o-matic toilet that wouldn't hold water in the bowl and decided to flood the bath and bedroom big time (replaced w/ dometic 320), had galley grey tank go south, had 3 cabinets with split wood when person on assy line didn't pre-drill hickory wood, 3 window screws installed at angle breaking window flange and opening rear wall to water, loose pex connections behind convenience center leaking into passthrough, lousy ply install on bed platform, lousy install on wheels under bed, door strut that pulled out of top of door frame on day we took delivery, ac vents too high into duct, one recliner that had seat fabric lose a seam within 6 months, living room table between recliners fell apart within a month after delivery, stairs support built on top of 120vac line, crack inside closet wall due to flexing, 2 marathon blowouts, 1 failed shear spring, ubolts not torqued to spec, and staples coming up under the rubber roof... Hope this is all we ever see! Still, it is sad when people have problems using their trailers or have major issues multiple times. John

[1retired06]

On our fourth and last montana

[Twopetes]

I have to agree with jcurtis. I do any work I can. Our 5er is only 3 months old but was built in September of 14. I fix the simple stuff and try to antipate the other stuff. We had SOB and similar issues. We had more issues with dealer not getting at the problems. Didn't go back to them. But it is the little stupid stuff that grinds my gears! Shouldn't have simple issues. Let's hope it gets better soon!.

[Dam Worker]

Mark I can relate with your frustration on your new unit.
Here is some of our own issues. April 22/July 24
Please note - we have been making payments on our 5th wheel since April 22, 2015 and 73% of that time, the 5th wheel has been with Chief’s RV for repair.

We still need to have them finish fixing the issues. We simply decided to actually use it for awhile and them let them fix it when most of our camping season is over. We have got some positive results from our dealership. We hope it continues until it is completely fixed.

Tom Marty

[bigred715]

Bottom line is PROFIT at any cost. Quality and craftmanship don't exist anymore due to large profits being top priority. They really could care less as long as we continue to buy their product.

[sambam]

Based on the stories I read here, I have to say this will be my last Montana. I may keep it forever, I don't know. I bought it used and although we don't use it as much as I'd like to, it has been pretty much flawless (knock on wood) except for the graphics that are quickly going south. The things that have happened to it, I've been able to fix myself with the help of this forum. But reading this stuff sure doesn't inspire me to go out and buy a new one. I realize the majority of owners aren't members here, but if you take a look at the newest members, as well as longer-time members who have replaced their older Montanas with new ones, it's pretty clear what's coming out of the Montana factory isn't too good.

[Bigboomer]

Sorry to hear of your problems and issues, but Like Darmar, so far to date our only beef is with the frig per our latest posts in maintenance and issues....although based on what we see Montana turning out with the rigs after ours and what we have seen the changes made on the whole line, we will be giving serious looks at SOB'S when and if the next time arrives that we may purchase another 5er.

We hope this is just a blip on the radar but know the reality ahead!

[bigskyjimmy]

This Forum does not represent the majority of Monty owners, 99% of Monty owners I meet have never heard of the Forum,I have met a lot of new Monty owners on the road and the Vast majority Love their new Monty's Including me,you read mostly posts here about some people get a bad one or have a few problems and have to Vent(pages and Pages sometimes) and that's no problem if it makes them feel better ,But very few people will post how much they love theirs it just makes for a boring read I guess,If the new Monty's Suck so bad the last few years them why are they still selling a Boatload of them AND having repeat buyers???? My 2015 is even better than my 2012 and that is saying a lot because the 2012 3402RL I had was a great rig,so when the time comes I will have no problem buying a New Monty again

[sambam]

Glad you're having good luck with yours Jimmy. Unfortunately, it seems most of the new members signing on here are experiencing problems with their units. Maybe only people with a gripe join this forum. It's a source to air it out. But, I think the problem goes back to Keystone and the fat cats that make the decisions there. All the small manufacturers are gone, eaten up by the Keystones and Forest Rivers of the RV world. Attention to detail is no longer their concern. The end-user is the quality control department. Problem is, we don't know we have a problem until we use the unit, and now it's camping season. So, we lose the time camping while our unit sits on a dealers lot waiting for parts from the manufacturer that seems to be in no hurry to help you out. Sell! Sell! Sell! That's the mantra. I owned a Sunline 15 years ago and when I had a question, I could call them and speak to an owner. Try that with Keystone. Bunch of shareholders no doubt who don't know the first thing about RV'ing. To sum up my rant, it's caveat emptor.

[1retired06]

Having owned four Montana units starting in 2002, and having fulltimed for six years, and snowbirded in Florida for the last 10 in those Montana units, and having met a lot of folks on the road, it is crystal clear to me that Montana quality and keystone customer service is not what it used to be.

[richfaa]

The number of Montana owners on the MOC forum are more than enough to be a representative sample of all Montana Owners. It does not take a large number of responders to reflect the overall experience of all owners .Look at the nelson ratings of TV shows . A small number of TV viewers can represent a very large TV audience and billions are spent on their input.
What we see here is pretty much the experience of the average Montana owner.

[CORattler]

Big problems aren't big problems unless they are YOUR problems.
The MOC has been a HUGE asset for me and I'm a more informed owner as a result. Other than our slides extending by themselves while sitting in the storage lot and on the road, our problems (so far) have been minor. I also am fortunate to have found a honest, fair and reliable RV tech that owns his own business right here in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

quote:Originally posted by bigskyjimmy

This Forum does not represent the majority of Monty owners, 99% of Monty owners I meet have never heard of the Forum,I have met a lot of new Monty owners on the road and the Vast majority Love their new Monty's Including me,you read mostly posts here about some people get a bad one or have a few problems and have to Vent(pages and Pages sometimes) and that's no problem if it makes them feel better ,But very few people will post how much they love theirs it just makes for a boring read I guess,If the new Monty's Suck so bad the last few years them why are they still selling a Boatload of them AND having repeat buyers???? My 2015 is even better than my 2012 and that is saying a lot because the 2012 3402RL I had was a great rig,so when the time comes I will have no problem buying a New Monty again

[CORattler]

Agreed Rich. Good point.

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

The number of Montana owners on the MOC forum are more than enough to be a representative sample of all Montana Owners. It does not take a large number of responders to reflect the overall experience of all owners .Look at the nelson ratings of TV shows . A small number of TV viewers can represent a very large TV audience and billions are spent on their input.
What we see here is pretty much the experience of the average Montana owner.

[kdeiss]

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

Having owned four Montana units starting in 2002, and having fulltimed for six years, and snowbirded in Florida for the last 10 in those Montana units, and having met a lot of folks on the road, it is crystal clear to me that Montana quality and keystone customer service is not what it used to be.

I totally Agree!