7000 axles? - Montana Owners Club

campbud · 03-22-2007, 02:24 PM

I was told by Keystone that all there 2007 units bigger than 30' all had 7000 pound axles. Originally they told me that all units made after December 1st had them. Well we looked and these aint no 7000 pound axles, they are 6000 pounds. So Coleman(Keystone) said he would call me back...now he tells me that in the 3585SA 2 units had the 6000 pound axles...hmmm yep I gave him the vin number and yep ours is that unit. He said this explains why the dealer and Keystone told us that we had 7000 pound axles.

At this point I asked him if there is anything else we were told that is not correct...hmmmmmm

sailer · 03-22-2007, 03:21 PM

I think Keystone has a big problem with axel size as we just had ours replaced after 4900 miles ,, they are tooooooooooooo lite by there own booklet

ols1932 · 03-22-2007, 04:22 PM

Our axles were too light also. We had them changed to 7,000# axles by Mor/Ryde back in 2003. It seems that the company that makes the chassis provided all the chassis with the same axles. But most of the rigs pushed the limit on them.

Orv

campbud · 03-23-2007, 02:12 AM

Coleman, from Keystone told the wife that the 6000 pound axles comparing to the 7000 pound axles, the only difference it would make would be carry capicity. hmmmmmm...

richfaa · 03-23-2007, 03:02 AM

"Coleman, from Keystone told the wife that the 6000 pound axles comparing to the 7000 pound axles, the only difference it would make would be carry capicity. " Well DUUHHHH....

Tom Gina 06 · 03-23-2007, 10:33 AM

So how much cost would it take to beef up to the 7000 pd axles? Anyone check and see if it was possible?

Connorsmom · 03-23-2007, 11:52 AM

I put a call in to Montana Customer Service today to have them look up my VIN# so I can find out which axles I have. They were experiencing "an unusually high volume of calls" and told me to leave a message. I'm still waiting for a callback.

Jan

ols1932 · 03-23-2007, 12:25 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Tom Gina 06

So how much cost would it take to beef up to the 7000 pd axles? Anyone check and see if it was possible?

It cost us $1800, but I upgraded to MOR/ryde Individual Suspension 7,000# axles. So, this is not what it would cost for a straight trade out from 6,000# axles to similar 7,000# axles.

Orv

campbud · 03-23-2007, 12:56 PM

We are waiting for Mark Crone from Keystone to get back to us on this. He was to check with our dealer today. So I will let you all know when he calls back.

ldunning · 03-23-2007, 01:59 PM

If you check www.dexteraxle.com you will find that the 7000 lb axle has different brakes in addition to the increased load capacity. The better brakes would be an improvement that IMO is needed.

pud2 · 03-23-2007, 02:01 PM

ols1932
Was that price total for both axles or per axle?

Cat320 · 03-23-2007, 02:15 PM

One disadvantage of Keystone's policy of continuing to update/change things without waiting for the new model year is that we (us and the dealers) do not know what has been changed and when it was changed. We went through that on this forum and pin boxes before we figured out what had happened...larger axles, meant higher CCC, which meant higher GVWR, which meant higher capacity was needed for the pin box. They need to send out bulletins to the dealers, so at least somebody knows there has been a change.

Re the axles...if your rig is fairly new, crawl under there and look at the axles, there will be a sticker on each one that will tell you all you need to know.

ols1932 · 03-23-2007, 05:16 PM

pud2,
Both axles, installed.

Orv

campbud · 03-24-2007, 03:26 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Cat320

One disadvantage of Keystone's policy of continuing to update/change things without waiting for the new model year is that we (us and the dealers) do not know what has been changed and when it was changed. We went through that on this forum and pin boxes before we figured out what had happened...larger axles, meant higher CCC, which meant higher GVWR, which meant higher capacity was needed for the pin box. They need to send out bulletins to the dealers, so at least somebody knows there has been a change.

Yes I agree.... As a consumer our best advantage is finding out everything possible about a product, but then who can honestly say they can. I think that part is really up to Keystone to inform and educate there dealers and employees about what and when change is being made.
I sure hope that Keystone(Mark Crone)will follow up on this and do what is right to correct the situation.

Wrenchtraveller · 03-24-2007, 04:20 AM

Keystone was getting ready for 7000 pound axles when they started putting the Mission tires with their 3520 lb rating. The 16" LT tire they used a few years ago would not support 7000 lb axles.

The weakest component in the system sets the rating and that is why to have 7000 pound axles, you need tires rated for at least 3500 pounds.

My 06 2955RL only has a 5000 lb axle but has the higher rated Missions. OK to go heavier and I wish Keystone would have put 6000 lb axles on my rig but in reality to take advantage of more trailer payload, I would have to get a duallie because my SRW is almost maxxed out with the 2600 pounds of pin weight I have now.

sreigle · 03-24-2007, 05:08 AM

Our 2007 is one of the earlier ones and has the 6,000 lb. axles. We are very heavily loaded, at 14,620 lbs. We put the rig on a scale and we are under the combined axle rating by 240 pounds. That's not a lot but it is enough. What I don't know is that each axle is under its 6,000 lb rating. I've not found a scale where they will weigh each axle separately. Tire wear so far indicates we have no axle problem.

Despite the 6,000 lb axles ours has the higher-rated pinbox with a rating of 19,500 lbs.

Searchers · 03-24-2007, 05:31 AM

Steve, check with a state police agency. In CA they they have officers who use portable scales to check individual axle weights on big rigs they suspect of being overweight. I asked if they'ed weigh my setup and was told it could be arranged at the local office. I'd bet most states are the same.

Wrenchtraveller · 03-24-2007, 06:11 AM

All the Government Scales I drive on are a pad about 12 feet square. I believe they are accurate even when the axle tires are on the edge because I can walk on the edge and my weight is within 10 pounds. If you had someone directing, you should be able to weigh each axle of a Fiver. I will do it next time I have the Montana on.

1Happycamper · 03-25-2007, 06:23 AM

My Wife and I took the mountaineer factory tour on wednesday and we asked Mark about the axles and were told that they only put 6000# axles on.He said 7000# would be over kill. He also said that there is talk about doing away with the bike rack, saving money.

Bill

sreigle · 03-25-2007, 07:42 AM

Thanks, Don. I'll see what I can find out.

I've a couple of times been on segmented scales and had each trailer axle on a different segment. But they combined them into a single weight anyhow. This happened at two different scales. Maybe if next time I ask them for separate weights on each axle?

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