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07-11-2006, 01:14 PM
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#1
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location:
Posts: 17
M.O.C. #4457
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Broken ladder on Monty
We took a trip over the Christmas holidays, and were hauling 2 bikes on a ladder bike carrier. Well, our ladder broke, and we have put off replacing it. Went to the local dealer where we bought our Montana. Yes, they can order us a new ladder for only 110.00, Great, price was less than we expected. Then we find out the shipping will be 125.00. Cost more to ship that the price of the ladder. Wow! We can almost drive to the factory and pick it up cheaper. Have any of you had to replace your ladder or do you know of any other place to get it with a cheaper shipping cost? Just thought I would ask. I think they are custom, and we will probably end up eating the shipping to replace the ladder. Remember, never use the ladder bike carrier. We had used this one several times with no problem, but we were lucky we found it and didn't have ladder and bikes scattered all over the road. Thanks!
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07-11-2006, 01:54 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Benson
Posts: 3,121
M.O.C. #1658
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If you scroll down to the maintenance forum you will find a similar topic. They were unable to locate parts for their ladder and had to order one from Keystone.
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07-11-2006, 02:42 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Brownsburg
Posts: 1,186
M.O.C. #5634
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Man what a bummer. I would have thought those ladders were more secure than that. I have been going up and down mine like a monkey. I also carry a couple of bikes on a rack occasionally - now I am beginning to wonder. 
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07-11-2006, 03:53 PM
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#4
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Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: Wetumpka
Posts: 4,936
M.O.C. #1105
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Cindik, I don't know how close you are to Goshen, but we did see ladders of all sizes at the RV Surplus stores. Maybe you could come to the rally in Sept and go shopping!
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07-11-2006, 11:35 PM
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#5
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Virginia Beach, VA
Posts: 328
M.O.C. #3149
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After replacing all the aluminum bolts holdiong the ladder together with cres because they sheared off, we have carried 2 bikes back there for over 15,000 miles with no problems.
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07-12-2006, 01:59 AM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Brownsburg
Posts: 1,186
M.O.C. #5634
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Cindik - do you think soft bolts were what caused the failure - if that is the case replacing bolts could be a good preventive measure for us with original equipment.
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07-12-2006, 01:26 PM
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#7
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location:
Posts: 17
M.O.C. #4457
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by indy roadrunner
Cindik - do you think soft bolts were what caused the failure - if that is the case replacing bolts could be a good preventive measure for us with original equipment.
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After closely examining the ladder, hubby thinks the bolts had rusted and sheared causing the breakage. I don't think our ladder had aluminum or stainless bolts. He thinks this happened over time, and eventually the ladder just couldn't handle the extra weight. Remember, our Montana is a 2000, the bolts they are using now are probably rust-proof, and much stronger than what was in our ladder. We are looking at possibly replacing the bolts and repairing the ladder ourselves or asking our rv dealer to possibly having a ladder sent with a shipment of Montanas they receive. I don't want to sound cheap, but I just hate to pay more for the shipping than the cost of the ladder.
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07-12-2006, 02:04 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Tipton
Posts: 3,646
M.O.C. #191
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Cindik
Keep us posted. I was under the impression that Keystone does not ship parts in 5ers anymore, that all parts are shipped via some carrier. I heard a story (we all know about stories) that they had a bunch of parts in a 5er headed toward Idaho or someplace, and the hauler rolled the 5er on ice. Totaled the 5er, which was covered under insurance, but the parts inside were not. Not sure if the story is correct, or if the hauler was hurt, or anything, just a story. Supposedly, that was when Keystone decided to ship all parts via truck, like UPS, or FedEx, or whatever. Please let us know on that shipping thing, eh??
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07-12-2006, 03:31 PM
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#9
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Any city
Posts: 120
M.O.C. #4092
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We have a new 3400RL (2006). We had it at the Dealer to take care of a few items. The service tech started to climb our ladder to get on the roof, and the ladder broke just at the bend. I understand that that was not unusual. Apparently when they bend the bottom part of the ladder it weakens the section. We are very glad that DH wasn't the one climbing, and also that it is under warranty. Not sure how you could check it, since it was inside the tube.
So far, waiting 2 weeks for it to arrive.
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08-08-2006, 12:46 PM
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#10
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Established Member
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location:
Posts: 17
M.O.C. #4457
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Just a update! Hubby was able to repair our ladder by replacing the bolts that had broken. Ladder is now stronger than it was new. He tested it by climbing on the roof. It didn't move an inch. However, we will never carry bikes on it again. Thanks for all the helpful info.
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08-08-2006, 03:08 PM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Forestville
Posts: 6,025
M.O.C. #496
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Could you ask your dealer to have the factory put an extra ladder in one of the new units they are delivering to him and forget the delivery charge. I know when we ordered our Montana it was loaded with extra parts for the dealer to do his repairs and I am sure it was to save on shipping.
Doug and Sharon
Lexi (our Cockapoo)
2004 3670RL
2002 Chevy 2500HD Ext. Cab. 4X4
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08-09-2006, 11:13 AM
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#12
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
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The comment about the bolts rusting reminded me of a discussion on MOC a couple of years ago. Those ladder tubes will collect water. Some of us drilled small holes in the bottom of the bottom rung to allow the water to escape.
I don't know if enough water would accumulate to reach the bolts but provision to let the water drain might help.
See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4
Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)
 
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