Some Disappointment

[curlida]

Well my wife and I just completed our first trip and all went well except for two little hiccups . When we got home though,our first real issue appeared. We had just finished unpacking and the rain came. About 20 minutes after it stopped,I went in to get something and found a small stream of water coming from the corner of the kitchen cabinet and it ran to the dining area and got the rug pretty wet. Well since we don't trust the dealer because of our buying experience (described on another page) and since I'm a pretty good mechanic, I decided to investigate myself. I took the panels off in the pass through along with the access panel under the sink and the panel under the steps. No obvious leak found but boy was I disappointed! I found a mess, sawdust, ends of pull rivets,three steel plugs,backing paper from the flooring,scraps of flooring and tubing etc. and some of the sloppy construction REALLY surprised me. We love our coach but wow, I thought Keystone took pride in there work, but I'm sure there all the same.
Anyway after not finding the source of water,I'm wondering two things, first,I thought it would be a good idea to put about two gallons of fresh water in the black tank for the trip home to slosh around and clean the tank,but after pulling the panels I found the tank vent and when I shook it,out came water,could that be my source or second,I found there is an Ice maker drain (I think) under the sink with a valve attached that May have leaked? I sat in the pass through for more than an hour while it rained again making sure that was not the source and I'm pretty sure it is not,any suggestions. Thanks All. Sorry this is so long.

2016 Montana 3711FL
Chevy Silverado 3500 which performed flawlessly.

[WaltBennett]

Don't know about the source of your leak, but you shouldn't be all that surprised at the debris left behind from construction. If you do any sticks & bricks renovation, you'll be absolutely amazed at what the folks that built your home left in the walls, ceilings and any other place they could. In fifteen years at our current home I've found empty beer cans, nails, graffiti behind paneling, and all sorts of misc. crap. Same in our previous home.

[CORattler]

Sorry to learn of your disillusionment with the "craftsmanship and quality control" in your rig but if it's any comfort, you're not alone. With the big $$$ that you pay for these rigs you expect better. I know this is not exclusive to the Keystone brand but frankly I'm getting tired of hearing that excuse. I have a hard time rationalizing mediocre work. I expect other owners have the same issue.
I too don't trust my selling dealer (we bought our unit brand new off the lot) so I can relate to your feelings in this regard.
Hope you find the source of your leak and it's an easy repair.

[richfaa]

Welcome to the world of Rv'ing.

[DarMar]

Sadly, it wouldn't take much to clean up these areas before they are totally enclosed.
Instead we are left with that feeling of disappointment each and every time we go investigating a problem on our own.

[DQDick]

When you do 20 or more competed rigs, start to finish everyday, there is no time for cleanup.

[CORattler]

quote:Originally posted by DQDick

When you do 20 or more competed rigs, start to finish everyday, there is no time for cleanup.

Then they should do 19 units and cleanup like real professionals do

[DQDick]

I don't disagree, but as long as we the consumer buy the product anyway, they're not going to change.

[PatnRich]

[quote]Originally posted by DQDick

When you do 20 or more competed rigs, start to finish everyday, there is no time for cleanup.

I disagree Dick. There is time you just have to take the time. I had over forty years as a carpenter and we always cleaned up at the end of the day.

[1retired06]

I am a volunteer with habitat and we build houses. We clean up our work area. The sloppy work we see wit jpg keystone is simple, don't give a crap attitude and sloppy management.

[Virginia Young]

When we picked up our Big Sky from the Service Center in Goshen, I told Steve Holmes he should buy a Shop Vac and take it to the assembly line. 11 months and we still vacuum sawdust off the floor, couch, and bed every time we move it.

[mlh]

How much extra would you pay to have your camper cleaned up as it is being built?
Lynwood

[CORattler]

quote:Originally posted by mlh

How much extra would you pay to have your camper cleaned up as it is being built?
Lynwood

You mean sloppy construction is already built into the current price? Why can't Keystone reduce their profit margin by $50 per unit and pay someone to clean them before buttoning them up.

[DarMar]

Think we already pay enough, don't you!

[sambam]

You guys are right, sloppy construction, don't give a crap attitude, misaligned parts, blah, blah, blah. Dick's right, we keep lining up to fork over our money anyway, so where's the problem? We end users are already the QC department and the punch-list carpenters. So now we're the clean-up crew, also.
Too bad it's come to this, but I guess if you can't deal with it, it's time to find another hobby, cuz they're not going to change.

[jcurtis934]

Too bad there isn't a japanese rv manufacturer in this country! Amish craftmanship my ... ! So sorry my attitude towards keystone isn't better....but they have too earn it! John

[richfaa]

Been this way for years. Had a 1993 Coachman TT that was full of sawdust and metal shavings. There was so much sawdust in the overhead light fixtures that the lights were dim. Every Rv we have had was the same.

[sambam]

I don't remember my first TT having these quality concerns. It was a Sunline. My second one had sawdust in the lights and sloppy workmanship. It was a Cougar, another Keystone product. But, Sunline is long gone, and Keystone rolls on.

[Phil P]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

Welcome to the world of Rv'ing.

Hi richfaa

How are you feeling? I have been doing well since the doc gave me the injection.

Our next RV will be a 5th wheel with a 2 year cap to cap and 5 year structure warranty. I will only have $5,000 more in it than I now have in the Montana after paying for the warranty work that Keystone denied.

That warranty will cure the problems we all have had with the new rigs.

I forgot one thing there will be no Lippert supplied products incorporated in the new unit. This is the manufacturer’s statement not a requirement from me and the manufacturer seemed very proud of that fact. This is not a custom built unit.

Phil P

[richfaa]

We are doing well Phil we will be seeing a orthopedic guy next week to take a good look at the hip. There has already been 5K spent on this 13 3402 Big Sky on repairs most all covered by extended warranty. This is our last Rv of any brand. I do not have the confidence in any brand being any better that this one. We hope we have turned the corner on failures.