Would you buy again?

[luckeyd]

Hello, looking at buying a new 5th wheel, currently own a 2014 Grand Design Reflectiion 303RLS. That unit has been great with just minimal items breaking, knock on wood, but I now want a new rig. Looking at Montana 3121RL Legacy, or another Grand Design, but a Solitude 310GK-R. This is basically same floor plan for each, both 35 feet long. Looked at a 3121RL, and a Solitude 310GK this weekend. Question I have is would you buy a Montana again or go with some other brand due to issues. Have read forums ad nauseum and simply want honest opinions. Thanks for all replies. Oh yes, I have my popcorn and drink handy, so let the opinions begin.

Don Luckey

[PNW Fireguy]

I would have no problem buying another Keystone Montana. Issues I have had were minimal and/or related to industry standard equipment. In the price range that the Montana lives in it provides a great deal of value for the dollar. The purchaser making sure that all issues have been identified and addressed during the purchase process is usually where most all issues can be nipped in the bud.


The RV industry as a whole has a quality control/craftsmenship issue. During the economic boom the factories put out as many units as they could come hell or high water. It doesn't matter if it's Keystone, Grand Design, Heartland, etc. every factory had the same goal to produce maximum capacity. That thought process worked its way right down to all the suppliers and dealers.

[Mikendebbie]

Yes - but it would have to have the front bath tub for DW and they have apparently dropped that floor plan in 2020 models.

[Last2Die]

Originally Posted by Mikendebbie

Yes - but it would have to have the front bath tub for DW and they have apparently dropped that floor plan in 2020 models.

Do you know why they dropped that floor plan, just wondering.

[Byron B]

Originally Posted by Last2Die

Do you know why they dropped that floor plan, just wondering.

I would like to have a front bath but wife says no. Guests having to go through the bedroom to use bathroom. I wouldn’t want to give up the space necessary for a half bath.

[mbjam359]

We are on our 2nd Montana. We traded a 2018 3811MS on a 2020 3931FB.So far so good. We have been pleased with both.

[DaveK]

We have a 2019 Montana High Country 330rl and would buy again. I spent two years agonizing on Montana vs GD. I spoke to many owners of both brands. I just don't think one is head and shoulders above the others. After towing ours 15,000 miles recently, I realize that these rigs are subjected to a constant 7.5 earthquake. I'm surprised they survive as well as they do.

By the way, my 5er is a 320rl, 37 feet long. Adding those 2 feet (from 35 to 37 feet) gave us a 40 percent larger bathroom with double sinks, great feature.

[CaptnJohn]

Would I buy again ~~~ after getting hosed by Heartland and 2 junkers by FR we bought a Cougar 5er. Maiden trip 700 miles from home the furnace was not working. I called Atwood, no dealer. Yes, I paid the service call but it was temp fixed the next day and completely fixed 2 days after. Next was a HC. We had 1 piece of trim cut too short (3/4") and a piece of crown molding come loose. I sent pictures to my dealer, they forwarded to Keystone and 2 weeks later repaired while I waited. Next Montana ~ never had a warranty claim or any out of pocket repairs. Current 2019 Montana 3791FL. We have only been in it 104 nights so far, will soon be leaving for 126 more. Only problem was the cap light and ODS flood light switches were transposed in the panel. I've purchased all 4 5ers from CW in Myrtle Beach. I have them do the work I or my mobile tech cannot. I have become friends with the sales manager, both parts guys know me by name. Two service writers also know me by name. When I need something like the aux fuel tank I order it and have it shipped to them so there are no shipping charges. When parts arrive, they call and I bring it in and wait, none of my units have had to stay overnight. I know 2 techs and ask when they will be available to do the work and make an appointment. The 4 had a PDI of between 2 and 4 hours and nothing has been found as they have a tech go over the units before delivery. There are 2 locations, 1 does sales and pdi / warranty work the other does warranty and non-warranty work. I cannot speak for all of their techs but the 2 I know are very good and have been there a while. I know of at least one that has not been there long and is working on his certifications. A lot depends on your dealer and your relationship with them.

[Van]

We have a down payment on a Montana 3231CK witch is 37.5 feet long and are wondering if we should buy a 35’ camper so we could fit in more campground spaces or doesn’t it matter.

[laverdur]

It depends on where you want to go. Most private rv parks have sites big enough. Newer state parks have larger sites than older parks. Some national parks will have fewer sites that will work for that size rig. We've been across the US and Canada and from the Northwest to the Southeast and never had a problem as long as you do like Dave W says and do your homework. Always try to avoid a site that is 90 degrees to the road. It takes a lot of swing room for the front of the TV to get into those sites.

[ArkansasNWA]

Originally Posted by luckeyd

Hello, looking at buying a new 5th wheel, currently own a 2014 Grand Design Reflectiion 303RLS. That unit has been great with just minimal items breaking, knock on wood, but I now want a new rig. Looking at Montana 3121RL Legacy, or another Grand Design, but a Solitude 310GK-R. This is basically same floor plan for each, both 35 feet long. Looked at a 3121RL, and a Solitude 310GK this weekend. Question I have is would you buy a Montana again or go with some other brand due to issues. Have read forums ad nauseum and simply want honest opinions. Thanks for all replies. Oh yes, I have my popcorn and drink handy, so let the opinions begin.

Don Luckey

We purchased a 2019 Montana 3121RL and we love it. very comfortable and easy to pull. However our first warranty list had 42 items to be corrected. These were from trim falling off the wall, TV coax not installed correctly, to stove burners would not light. As mentioned by others, the workmanship on new RVs is terrible. Our dealer said they put them together fast and let the retail side make all the corrections. This gives the buyer a bad taste.
However, the one mistake we made was getting the residential refrigerator. (3121RL). The reason is if you loose shore power the batteries might last eight hours if your lucky. So far we have lost everything in the fridge twice due to this issue. So with this said, I would recommend the 3120RL. This is the same unit with the exception it has the larger RV ref and you will have propane backup.
Happy shopping! Safe travels.

[Mr Pachu]

Absolutely Not.

[Baldicon]

Originally Posted by ArkansasNWA

We purchased a 2019 Montana 3121RL and we love it. very comfortable and easy to pull. However our first warranty list had 42 items to be corrected. These were from trim falling off the wall, TV coax not installed correctly, to stove burners would not light. As mentioned by others, the workmanship on new RVs is terrible. Our dealer said they put them together fast and let the retail side make all the corrections. This gives the buyer a bad taste.
However, the one mistake we made was getting the residential refrigerator. (3121RL). The reason is if you loose shore power the batteries might last eight hours if your lucky. So far we have lost everything in the fridge twice due to this issue. So with this said, I would recommend the 3120RL. This is the same unit with the exception it has the larger RV ref and you will have propane backup.
Happy shopping! Safe travels.

We love our residential refrigerator with the ice maker. Have had rv refrigerators before and those just didn't work as good. But, the problem you described is always a possibility. That's why I bought my Christmas present of a couple of 2000 watt generators. Also, I thought both the residential and rv were 18 cuft? But I may be wrong.

[DQDick]

Have had two Montanas so far and wouldn't hesitate to buy another.

[lightsout]

While we are generally pleased with our Montana 3791RD we recently sold our 2017 Class A Fleetwood Bounder and we are highly dissapointed in the poor finishes and over all medioker quality of the Montana compared to our Class A. We bought the Montana for the floorplan (3791RD) our choices were eith Montana or Solitude both about the same quality.

If the floor plan was not a deal-braker I would likely look at higher end 5er's like Mobile Suites and a couple others.

We did notice that Montana's pre 2016 seem better built and better finishes however we did purchase a 2019 again floor plan was the primary driver...

I will also say that Montana's warranty response time is horrible. My rig has been at the dealer for a mount so far and it looks like it will be there till Late Jan. It is not that the service is not available it is the replacement parts from Montana that is the hold up... Fortunately it is not summertime.

I would also not recommend not buying new as the warranty work can be extensive and time consuming, better to buy a couple years old where previous owners have dealt with that hassle.

[PNW Fireguy]

lightsout just so you know Mobil Suites have a boat load of issues as welll. Both Keystone and DRV have something very much in common...Thor. If anyone is thinking that owning an RV is problem free you are going to be sorely disappointed. Even the customs have issues just not the same issues.

[Baldicon]

We came down to the same two you are looking at, Montana 3121 and Solitude 310. Our dealer had both in stock so we spent time going from one to the other. We both liked the Montana better, which is saying something since we rarely agree on anything. We've been in a couple 310s since then at campgrounds and are still glad we are in the 3121. But, that's just us.

[MidMOTraveler]

2018 3731FL Bought July 2017, only 1 factory issue with ac install, The others were vendor parts issues (2).
This is our first RV of any kind and we’re not at all unhappy.
Yes we would purchase another Montana!
We’ve added independent suspension and disc brakes.
That will be standard from now on for us.

[skbstone]

We traded in our 2007 Monty RL3400, on the 21st of November for a 2020 3811 MS Monty. We didn’t even blink at choosing another one, nor did we even look at other brands. We just compared different floor plans. Our 07 gave us 12 1/2 years of great camping with very little issues. We started Full timing back in July as we sold our house in September so we just decided it was time for a new one. We chose the 3811MS as I fell in love with the front sofa with big front window, gives the bedroom a big open feeling. This model has lots of windows compared to our 07 so there is plenty of natural light and the bathroom size was a major plus, again compared to the 07...We also selected the Legacy package, glad we did. Issues so far,, Furnace fan was coming on few seconds then going out, no ignition, made phone calls.. Sail switch is being shipped as we are all set up and we are not moving this camper. Husband fiddled with the switch and now it’s working,, go figure. Switch is still on its way being shipped from the dealer. Ice Maker won’t dump ice until you hit the reset button. Made phone calls to Samsung so we are in the process of that. We are being patient for the repair as we have never had the luxury of an ice maker in a camper before. We did purchase the 6 year extended warranty as we did also on the 07 and never used or needed it, but each camper is different and mechanical things break or something goes wrong. With all this new technology we just wanted some assurance things are covered for awhile. We are hoping that this Monty gives us many happy and enjoyable years as our 07 did. With each person, it’s a personal decision to which one chooses and is happy with. We have been members here a long time, we don’t post much, but have learned mountains of information from this wonderful club. Best of luck on your decision...Sharon

[Carl n Susan]

Here is a previous discussion on this same topic. There are 129 responses, many of which will be repeated in this Thread.
http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=72143