3400 Questions - Montana Owners Club

Cat320 · 09-04-2006, 08:57 AM

Now that the TV has arrived, some questions on the 3400:

-When the TV is mated to the Montana, we get no 12v power from the TV, other than brake lights and turn signals. Nothing in the way of 12v appliances will work. I tried it with the RV battery switch off and on. I did not think to look in the fuse panel, seems in our TT, there was no fuse to interupt power from the TV to the RV. Is there some kind of fuse that could have blown?

-Can't get the following lights to work: In the bedroom, the light with three bulbs over the sink and the lamp bolted to the dresser, forward, same side. In the living area, the oval light over the dining table, and the wall mounted light just aft of that table. Don't seem to be any wall switches that control these either.

-Is there a special tool to lower the spare? The spare requires a wrench with a male end, the jack for the crank down stabilizer jacks has a female end.

richfaa · 09-04-2006, 09:34 AM

Are you saying that when the camper IS NOT hooked to the truck all your 12v appliances are normal but when you connect to the truck the above mentioned 12v appliances do not work??? The tool to lower the spare is the same tools that you use to manually lower the landing gear..It has a slot in the drive end..you should have one

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Cat320 · 09-04-2006, 09:40 AM

Thanks for the tool info, did not even think to look at that one.

Re the 12v system, you are correct. All the 12v appliances work fine (except the lights noted earlier) on the RV battery. If I disconnect it, and plug the Montana into the TV, none work except the brake lights and turn signals.

Countryfolks · 09-04-2006, 09:48 AM

I just checked ours, it is a 5/8' thin wall tubeing with the end hex shaped. The jack crank is the round one with a slot. It does not fit over or into the tire mechanism crank tube. I can't find anything that fits and I don't think anything came with the trailor. Good point Cat320.

Skip

Skip and Mary
Black '04.5 Dodge 3500, CTD, 2x4, 48RE, LB, DRW, 3.73, LineX, AFE air filter, Donaldson muffler
'05 3500RL, TrailAir Pinbox

Cat320 · 09-04-2006, 10:08 AM

Skip, you are saying the crank for the landing gear does not fit and will not work for lowering the spare??

If so, Rich, que pasa?

Bert and Betty
Fort Smith, AR
2007 Silverado Classic 3500, DRW, D/A, CC
2007 Montana 3400RL

CountryGuy · 09-04-2006, 10:08 AM

Why are we unhooking the RV battery when plugging into the truck???

Only time we disconnect the battery is when we want to leave the rig sit for more than a couple of days with no electric service. We never disconnect the battery when the RV and the Truck are married.

Those lights, most of em sound to be NON 12 volt. Like they are just like your house lights, what is that 110 AC?? Whatever, unless Keystone has changed, the lights over the bath sink are NOT 12 volt, will NOT run off the battery, have to have the rig plugged into 15/20/30 or 50 amps service.

Some of the lights have a little button on the side, push button, light comes on, IF all fuses, etc are functional, also be sure that ground fault has not popped out.

Good luck, let us know what cha find

Carol

Now, if you have the battery CONNECTED and you have no lights when Montana and truck are married, whewie, I ain't got near enough half way knowledge to touch that! HA HA

(Thanks Glenn)

Al & Carol Stevens Tipton, Mi.
Retired - Traveling with 4 Yorkies
2004 3295RK
2003 GMC 3500 Allison/8.1
PullRite 15.5K Super 5th
Line-X
JackRabbit tonneau cover
Bilstein shocks
Isolator Pin Box

Our Camping Rig History
Montana Improvements and Travel Reports
Recipe for the RVing Life

Our take on RV ownership, "Ya better be handy with your hands and handy with your cash."

Every day spent on earth is a blessing, every day spent in our Montana is a day blessed twice.

Countryfolks · 09-04-2006, 10:15 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Cat320

Skip, you are saying the crank for the landing gear does not fit and will not work for lowering the spare??

If so, Rich, que pasa?

Bert and Betty
Fort Smith, AR
2007 Silverado Classic 3500, DRW, D/A, CC
2007 Montana 3400RL

Right, but our trailor is not brand new so they may have changed the crank setup.

Skip

Skip and Mary
Black '04.5 Dodge 3500, CTD, 2x4, 48RE, LB, DRW, 3.73, LineX, AFE air filter, Donaldson muffler
'05 3500RL, TrailAir Pinbox

Cat320 · 09-04-2006, 10:55 AM

The reason for plugging in the TV and unhooking the coach battery was to see if all work correctly...new TV, new Montana. The 12v system should work off the coach battery or the TV battery, that's what I was checking. Did not think about the light over the sink being 110, that answers that...re the others, they are all 12v and should work from the TV's battery. Tried the little push buttons on the lamps and overhead light, no help. The GFIs are strickly 110 and will not affect the 12v system.

Bert and Betty
Fort Smith, AR
2007 Silverado Classic 3500, DRW, D/A, CC
2007 Montana 3400RL

hazmic · 09-04-2006, 11:08 AM

I see you have a Chevy 3500,correct? I have a ford and in order to power the battery from the truck to the trailer you must have the key on. Thats the key in the ignition. When on it energize a solenoid and you should have power to the plug. Also besides the stop and turn lights you should also have running or tail lights and brakes. If not maybe a wiring problem in the TV. Why do you disconnect the battery in the first place? After we clean the trailer out, I unplug the 110 volt and it will sit for a month or more and the battery will be fine. If the battery goes dead in about 2 weeks ,it's because of the gas sensor. I have a switch to shut the sensor off when not in use and turn it back on when camping. Also by disconnecting the 110,if there is a surge[lighting] close the camper will not be affected. Also keeping it plug in for long periods can boil the water out of the battery. Something to think about.

Mickey,Mary and Wilson[the westie]2006 3475 5th wheel 2000 f350 crew cab dually diesel

CountryGuy · 09-04-2006, 11:09 AM

Believe that the little oval light is a 110, Al suggests that you pull the bulbs to each, you can readily tell if they are 110 or 12 volt. That should quickly tell you if they will work off the battery.

Good luck

Carol

richfaa · 09-04-2006, 11:24 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Countryfolks

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by Cat320

Skip, you are saying the crank for the landing gear does not fit and will not work for lowering the spare??

If so, Rich, que pasa?

Bert and Betty
Fort Smith, AR
2007 Silverado Classic 3500, DRW, D/A, CC
2007 Montana 3400RL

Right, but our trailor is not brand new so they may have changed the crank setup.

Skip

Skip and Mary
Black '04.5 Dodge 3500, CTD, 2x4, 48RE, LB, DRW, 3.73, LineX, AFE air filter, Donaldson muffler
'05 3500RL, TrailAir Pinbox

Agghhh.. I have been miss imformed..that is what the dealer told us..that crank does NOT fit the spare tire..How do we get the spare tire down????

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Broome101 · 09-04-2006, 11:31 AM

Your TV should have 30 amp fuse that powers the trailer via the plug check to see if it is OK.

Broome101
2005 F350 PSD,SRW,CC,LB, King Ranch, 4x4
2005 3685FL
http://www.picturetrail.com/broome101

richfaa · 09-04-2006, 11:32 AM

Ok..you guys had me going there for awhile..I had my cranks mixed up...The Rear stabilizer crank fits the spare tire upper downer..it is a 3/4 socket...oh boy... Oh there is something about a dummy fuse in the Chebby truck..Don't know where it is I got a fooad truck

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Cat320 · 09-04-2006, 12:30 PM

Okay, just made a trip to the rig:

- The crank down jack has a male end, the spare has a female end. The handle has a female end, therefore it fits the crank down jacks, not the spare. So I still don't know how the spare comes down.

- The three lights over the bathroom sink are 110.

- The other lights noted as not working in my original post are 12v and still not working.

- I tried keeping the TV running and mating the coach and TV...12v things inside the coach still do not work, running lights and turn/brake lights on the coach are okay.

- Broome101...does that 30 amp fuse run everything in the plug or just the high power stuff like trailer brakes and 12v system...note previous item...exterior lights work.

Bert and Betty
Fort Smith, AR
2007 Silverado Classic 3500, DRW, D/A, CC
2007 Montana 3400RL

CountryGuy · 09-04-2006, 12:48 PM

Bert,

It is Al's opinion that the truck will charge the RV battery while running from here to there.

It is also his opinion that the truck will not run 12 volt stuff in the rig if the rig battery is disconnected. May run a couple of lights???

You did say you had checked all the fuses and circuit breakers, yes??

Are you having fun yet?? No, I'll bet not. Gosh this stuff can be discouraging.

Good luck

Carol

richfaa · 09-04-2006, 01:46 PM

cat320..Have they changed something?? my crank that jacks up/down the rear stabilizer jacks has a 3/4 inch socket on the end of it..That 3/4 inch socket fits the spare tire upper/downer.I would have never guesssed as it does not look like it fits but it does..

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

dsprik · 09-04-2006, 03:48 PM

Rich, I got a crank for the back stabilizers AND another seperate crank for my spare... Mfr date July 17, 2006.

Dave and Cheryl Sprik
Bellaire, MI
[img]http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/gizmotimetemp/language/www/US/MI/Bellaire.gif"border=0
alt="Click for Bellaire, Michigan Forecast" height=41 width=127[/img] [img]http://banners.wunderground.com/weathersticker/sunandmoon150/language/www/US/MI/Bellaire.gif" border=0
alt="Click for Bellaire, Michigan Forecast" height=41 width=147[/img]

2002 GMC 2500HD
4x4, Ext Cab, LB, SLE
2007 3400RL
Venetian Gold Interior
WE'RE HOME!

*** Don't EVER give up on your Dream. ***

Wrenchtraveller · 09-04-2006, 04:47 PM

Cat, start your truck and leave it idle. Leave your battery connected. You should have everthing working on 12 volt that works if you are plugged into shore poweer.....12 volt. Also your battery should show it is charging with every 12 volt light on. Turn the truck off, leave the same lights on, what is the battery reading......fair.........poor. Then your system is working. It is made to work through your RV battery or batteries. I have two.

I think I have a separate crank for the spare. I am too lazy to go out there and look. I have let the spare down twice, not sure which crank. Let me know tomorrow if the crank mystery is not solved.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

Montana Sky · 09-04-2006, 08:44 PM

Cat,
If you did not replace the dummy fuse, your trailer plug will only power your trailer lights. It will not supply any power to your battery in the coach. I used a 30amp fuse to replace the dummy fuse, and now the truck provides power to the battery.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

Broome101 · 09-05-2006, 01:49 AM

Just like Montana Sky said make sure you have good fuse in your truck, if not you will not have 12 volt power from your truck. If this does not work after making sure you have good power than your battery is dead in your coach.

Broome101
2005 F350 PSD,SRW,CC,LB, King Ranch, 4x4
2005 3685FL
http://www.picturetrail.com/broome101

You may also like: