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04-22-2017, 11:45 AM
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#1
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 101
M.O.C. #19387
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Water Filter & Frig Access 3160RL?
We are getting close to purchasing a 3160RL and had two questions. With the 3160RL floor plan, you can only access the frig when the slide is out. Has anyone found this a total pain and regretted choosing this floor plan? I don't think it will be a big deal for us, but its funny when shopping for RV's they are always opened up and sometimes you miss a design issue because you never looked at it with the slides in.
Another question that I think applies to most Montana's is why a whole house water filter system is not included or even an option in the Montana? Our 2009 OB 5er came with one. I am already looking at installing one on the pass through compartment shared wall with the wet bay on the 3160RL as I don't think there is not enough room in the wet bay for the filter and plumbing/hoses.
Cheers, Keith
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04-22-2017, 06:18 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Salem
Posts: 7,528
M.O.C. #2283
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Why isn't a water filter installed, Cost.
Of course every body needs something different. Some need a camper to full time in some to travel in. The two needs are different but for me if I can't get to the refrigerator and the bathroom while traveling I look for another camper.
Lynwood
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04-22-2017, 09:13 PM
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#3
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2016
Location: Catoosa
Posts: 772
M.O.C. #18384
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Our 3150 has the same fridge problem, but really, how hard is it to open the slide far enough to access the fridge. The only time it is a real problem for me is when it's in my shop parked between the verticals of my four post lift. It only needs to slide out a couple of inches to be able to open the rearmost door of the fridge. The designers could have avoided this by, A moving the island a couple of inches forward, or B cutting the rear edge of the island at a slight angle. Makes you wonder if anyone actually tries out a rig after the first one is built.
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04-22-2017, 09:22 PM
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#4
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 41
M.O.C. #13256
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Most of the RVs that we have had we were unable to access the fridge with the slides in. It was never a big deal to us. If we stopped to eat we would just find a place that had the room to open the trailer, fix lunch and sit at the table. For us it is more important to be able to get to the restroom without opening the slides. Those stops are usually quick stop and we are on our way again.
We had a trailer with a water filter system in the basement and it was a pain. It was hard to winterize the system and it seemed like I had water all over every time I serviced it. A system that is attached b/4 the inlet is much easier to work with IMHO.
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04-23-2017, 07:41 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Nov 2015
Location: Arlington
Posts: 1,522
M.O.C. #18081
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For us it was enough of a problem that these became criteria for the purchase of our next 5er. Access to the fridge, bathroom and bed without having to push a slide out. While it may not have been an issue for some to push out a slide I found it to be a PITA in many cases. I found myself in situations where it wasn't always feasible to push out a slide. Just our experiences.
__________________
SOB
2015 Volvo VNL780 D13, iShift, 32k ET air hitch, Idle Free LiFePO4 APU
16.8KWhr LiFePO4, 2.52 kw solar, 10kva Victron split phase
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04-23-2017, 02:28 PM
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#6
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: West Richland
Posts: 1,253
M.O.C. #17164
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We have experienced the issue with our 3160 and have learned to adapt to the restrictions of the fridge location. You can always isolate the DS/refrigerator slide so it is the only one that will go out if you have to get access to the fridge. I would say that having the island in front of the fridge is more of a hassle when loading or unloading the fridge than the travel mode inaccessibility. Remember your pantry is also blocked by the ODS slide in this model. We are very happy that we have access to the bathroom if needed ;-).
Tom Marty
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04-23-2017, 03:11 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: May 2011
Location: Hixson
Posts: 3,436
M.O.C. #11397
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Not having access to the reefer is not a problem for us at all. We do appreciate being able to get to the bathroom though.
__________________
2018.5 Montana 3791RD
Full Timers 9/1/2010 through 1/16/2020.
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04-23-2017, 03:28 PM
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#8
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: Indio
Posts: 101
M.O.C. #19705
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Our 2013 3402RL allows access to the right door and both freezer doors when the slide is in. Bathroom always accessible. Unfortunately, Keystone discontinued this floor plan in 2015...apparently not moving enough of this model to keep it available.
__________________
Richard & Judy Blackwell
Indio, Ca.
2014 F350 DRW 4x4 Diesel
2013 3402RL
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04-24-2017, 03:28 AM
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#9
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Okeechobee
Posts: 2,150
M.O.C. #11206
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mlh
Why isn't a water filter installed, Cost.
Of course every body needs something different. Some need a camper to full time in some to travel in. The two needs are different but for me if I can't get to the refrigerator and the bathroom while traveling I look for another camper.
Lynwood
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X2
We have looked at a number of new RV's and being unable to access the bathroom and refrigerator while on the road is a no go.
Phil P
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04-24-2017, 07:28 AM
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#10
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 477
M.O.C. #17609
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We've had the 3160 for over 1.5 years now and not being able to access the fridge with the slides in hasn't been that bad. For lunch stops while travelling we either plan ahead and pack a lunch or just pop the slides out at a rest area and make lunch. When we are loading for a trip, we have all the slides out anyway to access the various areas easier. The slides are quick and easy to open (as long as your batteries are good or have power) and as mentioned above, you can isolate the slides to only open/close on or the other (did that this weekend while casino camping as the fridge side was where traffic was flowing so pulled it in most of the time). Overall we have been very happy with the floor plan. The only thing we would have liked is another window in the living area towards the door side, either behind the cooktop or an elevator TV with a window behind it (though with the fireplace and outside entertainment I don't think this would be feasible)
__________________
2016 Montana 3160RL w/MOR/Ryde IS and Disc Brakes
855W Solar System, TriStar MPPT-60 Controller, Magnum 2800W Inverter, 6 Trojan T-105REs
2015 Chevy Duramax SRW SB Crew Cab
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04-24-2017, 09:28 AM
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#11
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Winchester
Posts: 900
M.O.C. #19514
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Everyone has different priorities with a trailer, which is why there are so many floor plans. In our previous trailer, we could access the fridge, bathroom and bed with all the slides in. It had a great floor plan. Unfortunately, the trailer itself was poorly constructed so after four years we traded it in.
Our daughter is unable to access either the bathroom or the fridge without putting out one slide. That would be a deal breaker for us, but she is willing to put up with to get what she wanted in her floor plan (two double bunks in a 27' fifth wheel). You compromise where you need to.
The 305RL we just bought had so many other redeeming features that we will put up with the fridge being where it is. The slide that needs to go out to access the fridge is on the passenger side, and if we have room to put out the stairs, we have room to put that slide out.
__________________
2017 High Country 305RL
2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty
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04-24-2017, 03:13 PM
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#12
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 101
M.O.C. #19387
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Thanks for the feedback! Good point about the frig slide on the stairs side!
We went for it and purchased our Montana yesterday and will pick it up in a few weeks. Looking at water filters, I still don't understand why they don't include one built into the water system. They are relatively inexpensive and a feature that every owner would use. Anyhow, very pleased overall and will do some research now on how to make a clean install on an aftermarket water filtration system.
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2017 Montana 3160RL
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04-24-2017, 07:19 PM
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#13
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: Fort Wayne
Posts: 477
M.O.C. #17609
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This site has a lot of good info and data (though understand they are selling the products too)
https://www.rvwaterfilterstore.com/SFNT.htm
__________________
2016 Montana 3160RL w/MOR/Ryde IS and Disc Brakes
855W Solar System, TriStar MPPT-60 Controller, Magnum 2800W Inverter, 6 Trojan T-105REs
2015 Chevy Duramax SRW SB Crew Cab
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04-24-2017, 07:31 PM
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#14
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Established Member
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Central Oregon
Posts: 41
M.O.C. #13256
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Quote:
Originally Posted by FreeRoamn
Thanks for the feedback! Good point about the frig slide on the stairs side!
We went for it and purchased our Montana yesterday and will pick it up in a few weeks. Looking at water filters, I still don't understand why they don't include one built into the water system. They are relatively inexpensive and a feature that every owner would use. Anyhow, very pleased overall and will do some research now on how to make a clean install on an aftermarket water filtration system.
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Nice looking trailer. Now the fun begins
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04-24-2017, 09:35 PM
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#15
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Montana Fan
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Santa Rosa
Posts: 101
M.O.C. #19387
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mjammersc
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Thanks for the link!
__________________
2017 Montana 3160RL
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04-25-2017, 05:12 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Mar 2017
Location: Winchester
Posts: 900
M.O.C. #19514
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Congrats & enjoy!
__________________
2017 High Country 305RL
2015 Ford F-250 Super Duty
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