In answer to your question..
"has keystone always been the manufacturer of the montana line?"
Yes!
Montana's were brought onto the RV market in 1998 by Keystone RV Company which is owned by Thor Industries. Originally Montana also had travel trailers in the line up. Not sure of the year, but when the Mountaineer towables were introduced the travel trailers became part of that line up. Since than the Montana line is strictly 5th wheels.
Should also note that Keystone only builds Towables. There are no MHs at Keystone. This is possibly one factor in our favor.
#1- They only build TOWABLES and so they devote all of their resources and knowledge to TOWABLES.
#2- In today's economy MHs are suffering in sales as the fuel prices keep rising. Driving a Fuel Guzzling, 6 to 8 MPG, monster really hurts in the wallet. Driving a 10 to 14 MPG diesel pick up is one heck of a lot more economical. Where towable sales are lower, MH sales are plummiting. To the point that some manufacturers are considering closing the MH plants or pushing some of their towable profits into keeping the MHs afloat.
Montana, Big Sky and Mountaineer are built in seperate plants and are all part of the Montana line-up which are part of Keystone RV Company which is owned by Thor Industries.
If you go to the
Keystone RV site you will see FILE tabs the first one is "Shop By Brand". Place your curser on this tab or Click on it and you will see all the different brands Keystone RV builds.
OK That's probably more than you wanted to know but what the heck....