|
08-05-2012, 06:18 PM
|
#1
|
Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Florence
Posts: 19
M.O.C. #12185
|
Cracks in closet wall.
Just got back from a weekend trip and noticed that the wood separating the closet from the washer/dryer cabinet is cracked horizontally about 5 inches from the bottom. It is broken all the way through across the entire length of the panel and all of the staples have popped out above the damaged area. I hope I am not about to find out about some unseen frame damage. We have only put about 2000 miles on since we picked it up.
|
|
|
08-05-2012, 06:27 PM
|
#2
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: Santa Fe Springs
Posts: 4,189
M.O.C. #639
|
if I were you I would be taking it to the dealer real soon, I had cracks and mine were not as bad as yours, I had major damage to the frame and section that holds the pin box.
__________________
Pulling a 2004, 2980 RL an oldie but goodie.
Tow vehicle is a 2009 RED RAM 3500 DRW.
|
|
|
08-05-2012, 06:48 PM
|
#3
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Mesa az
Posts: 2,945
M.O.C. #5651
|
I had the exact same symptoms - cracked board in closet.
Another thing to look for is if this board buldges when hooked to tow vehicle and then is okay when the landing gears are extended. Also, when driving down the road and you go over a 'swail' that bounces the truck bed, see if the gap between the trailer body overhang and the hitch changes. I could see mine moving almost an inch. I had a large level on the hitch, so had a good reference for a gap to the overhang. Was easy to notice the movement.
My problem was broken welds, as others have commentted on other posts. Since you are under warranty, I don't know if it matters - but a dealer in Washington had never heard of broken welds. I contacted my local dealer in Arizona and he even brought it up without me mentioning it. I went home to have it fixed of course. So far, so good!
Good luck
__________________
Tom and Gail
2013 Mountaineer 362
2012 Silverado 2500
|
|
|
08-05-2012, 07:41 PM
|
#4
|
Site Team
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,750
M.O.C. #7560
|
Definately sounds like frame flex to me! As both Trailer Trash 2 and twindman have said, get ahold of your dealer and have them check the unit for broken welds in the front pin box area and frame between the pin box and the closet area.
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 01:08 AM
|
#5
|
Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 4,200
M.O.C. #11401
|
Our wall was bulging and popping staples, not broken. We had it checked at dealer, no weld problem found. Keystone sent new panel but it would be necessary to take cabinets apart to install. Tech and I agreed to trim bottom edge of wall about 1/4 inch and resolved problem. Some have had broken welds , we did not. If your wall is broken, when you replace it , make it just meet top of carpet. All 5ers flex some under the best of circumstances. Maybe others will share their experiences.
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 01:23 AM
|
#6
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Hanover
Posts: 335
M.O.C. #9710
|
We had the same problem. The front cap and plastic sheet around the pin box was removed to inspect. They didn't find any broken welds but did add additional gusets and welded the two box beams that are sandwiches together that run side to side. They replaced the interior wood panel shortening it slightly. IMHO it still looks like the same movement in the floor and believe if the wall panel wasn't so tight to begin with it wouldn't have bulged out and splintered and would have never noticed the movement. With that being said you should take it back to the dealer because others have found broken welds!
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 02:58 AM
|
#7
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
Call Keystone and get it to a dealer. Whichever problem you have, you need to get it fixed.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 10:39 AM
|
#8
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Navarre
Posts: 1,527
M.O.C. #9765
|
WE had same as Johnnyg and all is well in last 4000 miles.
Mike
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 12:10 PM
|
#9
|
Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Carmichael - CA
Posts: 7,359
M.O.C. #4831
|
There seems to be a lot of this going around. Montana maintains some movement (i.e. flex) of the frame is normal (reference: Bruce and Susan @ Team Montana in Goshen). But in an effort to save weight (or cost?) they quit using a thick piece of vertical wood for the closet/cabinet separator. The new thin panel is usually installed tight to the floor and when the frame flexes the panel flexes too. The result is popped staples and cracked panels. The correction is to install a thicker panel and leave a space at the bottom to allow for the flex. Yet another correction being made to our rig.
__________________
Carl (n Susan)
There is more to life than fuel mileage.
2012 Montana 3700RL Big Sky Package towed by a 2015 Ford F350 6.7L PSD 4WD CC LWB
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 12:32 PM
|
#10
|
Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
|
Seems like that is something they should have thought of before hand.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
|
|
|
08-06-2012, 05:40 PM
|
#11
|
Montana Fan
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: chula vista
Posts: 142
M.O.C. #12317
|
i will say this that the frame flex i had was bad i got lucky because ussa cover it but the hole thing cost was 9500.00
|
|
|
08-07-2012, 02:04 AM
|
#12
|
Montana Master
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Lake Gaston
Posts: 8,773
M.O.C. #12156
|
I experienced the same thing two weeks ago, on way back from Nashville. Very flimsy construction with even the support braces stapled, and even those staples were undersize. Nothing cracked, just came apart. Used wood screws to put everything back together, and so far the repair is working fine. Pretty shoddy work done by keystone. Surprized it lasted as long as it did.
__________________
Mike and Lorraine
2002 3655 FL, 2005 3650RK
2010 3665RE, 2015 3910FB
F350 crew cab dually 6.7
|
|
|
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|