Hailing from freezing Northern Ohio and soon to be traveling to our property in middle Louisiana.
We just purchased (surprised the wife), a very clean 2005 Montana 3280RL. We also own a 1997 Jayco Designer Series 3230RKS fifth wheel. We purchased both of these this year, and they are our first RV's. I tow with a 2004 Ford F350 crew cab, long bed dually with the B&W Companion hitch. I have a 2020 32' Iron Bull low deck gooseneck that I use to pull my antique tractors to various shows (old engine and tractor collector), and have been towing big trailers for most of my life.
We purchased 8.5 acres of timber in middle Louisiana at the beginning of the year for the future site of our retirement home in about 4.5 years. The Jayco was purchased to be used as our getaway habitat while we are on the property clearing timber and other site prep work. It was very difficult earlier this year finding a clean used fifth wheel that was actually still for sale by the time you got there to see it. When we bought the Jayco (which has been a fine unit by the way), I was trying to purchase a mid 2000's 37' Montana but could never get ahold of the seller before it was gone. So we wound up with the Jayco, which being the Designer Series, was upscale and has served us well. But it's only about 30' of living area. The wife has always lamented the fact that the Montana had a washer and dryer that obviously the Jayco has no room for.
We spent about 6-7 weeks total on the property this year, and a week ago I started thinking that if we are going to be spending that much time there over the next four years or so, and probably 7-9 months when the house gets built, maybe a bigger unit now would be a good idea. So I started looking, and up pops the 3280 Montana fairly local. Looked great, and was priced quite a bit below book value. Didn't waste any time arranging to go see it, and I knew within 15 seconds of stepping foot in it that I was buying it.
So now we own two, but the Jayco will be going up for sale as soon as I address a couple minor issues with it. The new Montana will be heading south in a few weeks after a good cleaning and addressing a few minor issues with it (mainly loose cabinet doors). Have it hooked up on a power splitter right now with the furnace running (have already been through the thread about the annoying remote thermostat control). Picked up a new deep cycle battery last night to go in it as the installed unit is basically dead.
That being said, am still trying to figure out where everything is located, I have the generic Keystone owners manual, but it doesn't tell you where or what everything is in the unit. The Jayco manual was much nicer as it was unit specific and showed picture of where everything was located and what it did right down to light switches. Small detail I know, but it helps learning a new layout!
Looking forward to gaining specific info through the group and enjoying our new larger habitat in the coming weeks.
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...1&d=1638975225
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...1&d=1638975225
https://www.montanaowners.com/forums...1&d=1638975225