What year was frame/axles upgraded?

[FlashG]

What year was the Montana frame and axle upgrade?

Thanks,

[richfaa]

There was a switch in axle manufacturer. Don't know if that was considered a upgrade.Someone will come along with that date, I am not sure. Not sure what you mean by the "frame upgrade. There is is a frame upgrade in some way near every model year. If you mean the fix for the "frame flex" issue that was done in early or mid 05 MY.

[bncinwv]

On some models the axles went from 6000 lb. ratings to 7000 lb. ratings. I think this occured in 2008. Our 2007 3400 has the 6000 lb. axles.
Bingo

[David and Jo-Anna]

Our 2007 Big Sky has the 7000 lb axles.

[wingerphil]

The change from 6,000 lb axles to 7,000 lbs occured in mid production 2007 models. Our 3400 (6k axles) was born in Sept 06 and they switched the axles sometime between then and December of 06. At least that was the info I was given by the dealer.

[Fire5er]

Our unit was an 07 and had the 7000 lbs axles but the sticker on the side of the unit showed 6000 lbs axles. I crawled under the unit at the dealers when we did out PDI and ensured that the axles were stamped with the 7000 lbs rating. The dealer had to call Montana for a new sticker to show the 6000 lbs axle rating. Seems Montana had some issues with several hundred units going out the door with 7000 lbs axles with stickers showing 6000 lbs axles.

[LadyTheo]

the 3000RK went from 5200# to 6000# axles in late 06 on the 07 models

[jpkelpe]

our 2010 model 3150RL has 6000# axels so it must be also by size that they use the 7000# for

[sreigle]

I agree with Wingerphil. We first saw Montanas with the 7k axles and higher GVWR when the mid-year 2007 models came out. That was at a dealership in Foley, AL (or a neighboring city). That was December 2006. Our Montana was manufactured in August 2006 and had the 6k axles. We have since replaced those with the 7k axles but our sticker still shows 6k axles.

As for the frame, I called Keystone when we saw those first 7k axles and talked to an engineer. He told me the axles were the only change made that would increase the GVWR rating. No frame changes at that time.

[Sinterior]

Also, the side sticker on Canadian bought Montana's (2009 3400RL'a anyway) say 6000lb axles, the sticker on the axles themselves on my '09 say 7000lbs. IIRC they are the same axles but Canadian CSA wont rate them 7000lbs because of brake size......I think.

[sreigle]

Sinterior, that's a good point. If I recall, there was something about the Canadian 7k axles being different. In our case we got all new brakes, springs, everything, so we'd have the true 7k axle setup. You have a good point.

[klash]

I was curious about the axle ratings on our 2007 2955RL Monty.
The label on the side says 6,000 lb axles.
I crawled underneath and found decals on each axle with the following
info:

Dexter Axle Order #85501-1 and D60-8

The axle assembly was delivered to the Keystone RV Plant #4
on the 11th of April, 2007

Do I have 6,000 lb or 7,000 lb axles.

Not to concerned about this as I have recently done a total weight check, and
our total mass was 12,070 lbs, with a hitch weight of 2,000 lbs. So of course
that means actual weight on axle is 10,000 lbs.

[sreigle]

I'm not positive but am fairly sure the "D60" indicates 6,000 lb axles. I think the "-8" means "8 lug."

[klash]

Thanks for your reply, I think that is close enough to be correct.

We are very serious when it comes to managing the weight of our Monty.
We are in Yuma, AZ right now, and just before we left home, we went to a
Department of Highways road side scale and did a weigh in, fully loaded and
ready to head south. We were at a total mass of 12,070 lbs.
I am thinking that with the shopping my sweetie has done, we have probably
suffered a bit of weight growth, but not that much.

All the best and thanks for your reply.

[sreigle]

If you get the chance where you can put one wheel at a time on a scale, that can be an eye opener. We found out our 3400RL is more than a thousand pounds heavier on the kitchen side than on the other side. And the rear tire on that side is carrying the most weight.

Good luck in your travels.

[RCN.Stoker]

The Canadian Standards Association requires a 2.25 inch or greater brake width to certify an axle at 7000lbs even if it meets all other requirements. I understand that Dexter would have to pay for testing to change that for their 7000# axle. Same axle but certified differently. The Montana's sold in Canada GVWR is also adjusted downward reducing it's cargo capacity. There are posts on this subject already. I checked them and then did some sleuthing myself.

[TAKPAK]

Our 2007 3400 must have been a "later" model. We have the 7000 pound axles and it is listed as 7000 pound on the sticker.

Go figure......!

[stimpy123]

Steve, would you think that Flying J or similar "CAT" scales people would allow us to weigh one wheel at a time? I've rolled across their scales and the total weight is within the max on every axle but concerned about the per axle weight. I'll crawl under the rig in the morning to see which axles I have, but would guess from other's postings that ours is the 7k size, especially since our max rig weight (GVWR), according to the sticker in the cupboard is 15,545Lbs. Thanks for all your help on this matter. Still trying to figure why the tires are still wearing funny. Second set in 20k miles. Blasted cement roads in some states are killers with the expansion joints. I'd rather ride on asphalt anytime. IMHO

[sreigle]

Steve, they might allow it but would consider each a separate weighing so I'm not sure how many charges you'd incur. I know we've used them for a double weighing, once with the whole rig and once with just the truck. They hold the ticket (we just tell them we will be back for a re-weigh) but we pay for two weighings. If you have a Farmers Co-op or similar grain elevator nearby, all the ones I've seen leave their scales turned on 24x7 (for the farmers' convenience) and you can see the weight in the window.

We're 1075 pounds heavier on the kitchen side. The wheel with the heaviest weight (left rear) is 750 lbs heavier than the wheel with the lightest weight (right front). Our model has refrigerator, stove, entertainment center, desk, kitchen cupboards, pantry, kitchen peninsula all on that heavier side.