You can’t win with Keystone

[Phil P]

The definition of insane is “doing the same thing over and over expecting a different result”

Monday I was working on the awning because it hasn’t ever worked correctly.

When I put it out it made a good bit of noise so I started checking all the hinge points to see if they were tight. I found the gas springs in the awning arms to be almost solid. I removed them and put one in the press to find it hadn’t retracted when pushing about 200 Lbs.

So I called several of the local repair folks and they all agreed it sounded like they were froze up.

I called Dometic I talked to a lady that oibviously didn’t knpw much more than Dometic did make the awning I had. She informed me that I needed to know what hardware package had been used to install the awning. She advised me to call keystone.

Well I called Keystone Montana customer disservice and requested that information. I was told they couldn’t give me the information I had to call a dealer and the dealer could access the build ticket on the internet. Then she gave me the name of 3 dealers to call. I called the one closest to the factory. The dealer informed me they could not access any of that information on the internet and would have to file a request with Keystone and it could possibly be 3 days before they would have the information.

Keystone has lied to me again!

Called Dometic again I reach a fellow that knew the awning well he just ask “is it basement hardware” this unit has a basement so that corrected that problem but new struts cost $88.

I call an outfit in Ft Pierce Tropical RV and Auto Exchange they are listed as a Dometic service center. The lady that apparently acts as service manager did walk out to her service technician and ask about the struts. She advised me to soak the unit with “blaster” common penetrating oil and it should free them up for use.

So for all of you that may run into this problem they will free up and it takes 80 Lbs to squeeze one closed.

Phil P