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Old 05-29-2014, 05:26 PM   #1
Mark N.
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Before your decision to buy your Montana...

Where there other brands you considered? If so, what were the strongest contenders against the Montana you chose?
 
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Old 05-29-2014, 06:24 PM   #2
JandC
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Probably the Redwood and Mobile Suites. We spent just under 3 hours looking at everything in Tampa. Our salesmen was very knowledgeable about each brand/model of fifth wheel. He didn't really push one brand over another. He knew we already had a 2008 3400RL Montana. IMHO the interior of the Montana looked like it "should" cost more than the Redwood or Mobile Suites. I just felt the fit-n-finish was a little better. I kept looking for things that would set the others apart but for me it just wasn't there.
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Old 05-29-2014, 06:51 PM   #3
woodtic
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I thought Open Range had a lot to offer for the money and a 2 year warranty. Just never saw a floor plan theat we liked when we wre ready to buy
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Old 05-29-2014, 07:11 PM   #4
napria
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We also considered the Open Range. In theory it was the right unit for us, but I just couldn't get past the (to my eyes) ugliness, both inside and out. That grey exterior... Ugh. And the interior reminded me of a mountain vacation home someone had built in the '70s and never updated.

We had also seriously considered the Keystone Fuzion, but much as I thought I wanted a toyhauler they were all just too much money for what you get. Not very homey, either.

Then there was the Keystone Mountaineer toyhauler. If they had only produced the new floorplan instead of pushing it out till this Fall we probably would have ended up with it. I was disappointed when I heard they were pushing the redesign out till the Fall, but now I'm very happy things worked out the way they did!
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Old 05-30-2014, 12:52 AM   #5
Bigboomer
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We have looked high and low at other rigs at many shows and still have been drawn to the quality you get for the dollar you spend and Montana is it. You can certainly spend more but you will not necessarily get more unless you get well over the $100G mark but we cannot justify spending that kind of dough for something that will get abused going down the highway and still depreciating. Every manufacturer has QC issues at some level as they are still built by human hands but we have found looking at all the levels that we get the best deal with Montana.

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Old 05-30-2014, 02:01 AM   #6
K0LCB
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We looked for two years, RV shows and dealer lots. It came down to a choice between Open Range and Montana. Montana won
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Old 05-30-2014, 02:18 AM   #7
trustymopars
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We were between a Bighorn and the Montana. The Bighorn was heavier and more expensive, plus I just don't like glass bowl sinks in the bathroom. I new that would be the first thing I would break! JT.
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Old 05-30-2014, 02:18 AM   #8
daily double
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Open Range, Big Country, and Montana. DW liked the floor plan in the Monty and the rest is history.
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Old 05-30-2014, 02:44 AM   #9
WaltBennett
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Looked at quite a few different brands. DW selected the floor plan she liked most and I looked at quality. Came down to three ('06 Carriage w/damaged but reparable slide, '05 Mobil Suites and our '10 Monty), but we got the best deal (price & trade in) on the Montana.
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Old 05-30-2014, 02:52 AM   #10
DQDick
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Went to Kansas City for two whole days and looked at most manufacturers and more models than you can imagine. Having had a number of tow behinds we also looked at inferstructure as well as looks and layout. Jayco and Open Range feel out right away in our opinion based on using the same type of construction techniques and fittings as our $18,000 travel trailer. Redwoods and Mobile Suites are great rigs, but at that point it was down to floor plan and looks and on that the Montana won for us.
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Old 05-30-2014, 02:55 AM   #11
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On the 06 3400 and the present 13 3402 Big Sky we looked at all comparable brands that were within the tow capabilities of our truck. Having had some experience in selling various brands of Rv's and touring many of the plants in Goshen/Elkhart we had no false illusions on the quality and build quality of any of the brands. We had narrowed the choice down to the Jayco in 2005 when we discovered the Montana which we had never heard of. It was a simple matter of cost vs benefits. The 06 Montana 3400 was significantly less money than the Jayco both sold by the same dealer. The MOC forum is a added value.

The 13 3402 was still a good buy but we are disappointed that it is not a better unit. The failure rate is exceeding that of the 06 3400 at the same mileage and use rate. Such is life and we move on.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:02 AM   #12
grayghost03
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Prime Time Sanibel, exact same floor plan, and it appeared to be put together better, 2 year warranty. It was a newer(couple of years, start up company) at the time. So we went with established manufacture. After a few years and talking to a bunch of PT owner, we will most like(not for sure) go that way in the future.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:37 AM   #13
warren0620
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We previously had a 2000 Hitchhiker Premiere. In 2012 we started looking at used. Could not find anything worth buying. Had looked at 2012 Montana's early on. In Arizona. Came back to Nebraska and looked some more. We were again pulled to the Montana and ended up with the 2013 3402. Love the floor plan, big refrig and self leveling. BUT we have had several issues and have been somewhat resolved. So in comparison to Hitchhiker the quality was not there. But then there was quite a price difference. Bottom line, we are happy with the Montana.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:54 AM   #14
DonandBonnie
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We looked at the Grand Junction and actually liked the interior better than the Montana. At the time it was new on the market and had no track record to back up their claims.
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Old 05-30-2014, 06:43 AM   #15
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We were in the used market. Carriage, Bighorn, Cardinal, Cedar Creek and Montana were the models we zeroed in on. As a matter of fact, we stumbled on the one we bought. We went to this particular dealer in RI that had an '08 Bighorn listed on their web-site in our price range. The thing turned out to be in pretty rough shape. So we looked at a couple of older Montanas while there but the age and floorplans weren't what we had in mind. Just as we were about to leave, we spotted this one. It had just come in and was not yet listed on their web-site. Soon as we walked in, we knew it was the one. Still took 6 months of hand-wringing before we bought it, though. I was surprised it was still there, but it was.
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Old 05-30-2014, 07:52 AM   #16
davidaf
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Redwood. Came very close but the extra weight sent me back to Montana plus the wife ended up listing and selling the Montana salesman's house.
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Old 05-30-2014, 09:31 AM   #17
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Cardinal, Big Horn, and Montana. Montana won, due to price, features, quality, and the dealer's reputation.
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Old 05-30-2014, 02:09 PM   #18
bigskyjimmy
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Heartland Big Horn,Grand Designs Solitude,Dutchman Infinity, in the end not one of them could match all the goodies we got in the Montana for the same price as the others
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:20 PM   #19
HOOK
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Took two years to decide to by a new Monte. More value per dollar. Fit and finish is the best . Several others were over priced. Didn't even know about the MOC. The MOC is one of Montana's most valuable assets. Working at a dealership where all brands are serviced shines a light on problems. Montes are not perfect, but give less trouble than any other brand. That is priceless. You're right, I don't have a problem buying or selling what I believe in. I love to be challenged by customers who have been misinformed about Montes. Product knowledge is always a winner, and no one has any competition for Montana, value per dollar.
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Old 05-30-2014, 03:33 PM   #20
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Was looking for the shortest 3 slide 5er I could find. Cardinal, Cedar Creek, and Montana all had similar floor plans that matched what we wanted and in similar price range. But after looking at all 3, multiple times, the Montana just kept calling us back.
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