I don’t think we (the Montana forum members) have any statistics on frame failure/broken stud welds/etc etc etc…by model or by year. I suppose failure could happen to any unit/year/model.
I seem to remember that Legacy unit had a deeper/larger/heavier main frame members than High Country models, but frankly, I don’t recall a thread discussing member sizing or detailed differences since I have been a member in 2018. I have no idea if the heavier frame translates to fewer frame failures. A broken weld or outrigger could happen on any unit I suppose. I have no idea if newer High Country models have a larger frame than the used to have.
I have an un-verified opinion that my unit may have more “beef” in the drivers side front wall at the slide hole to guard against a stud failure around the bed slide due to the position of the bed slide. The big hole in the wall for the slide in my unit is farther back from the nose which provides more wall/framing around the slide hole on all sides. Units with slides closer to the nose have less “beef” around the hole. Maybe the design engineers provide more studs to make the wall stronger around the hole…I have no idea. The engineers added a control joint to allow some movement in the wall without cracking the fiberglass. Just my opinion.
Maybe you should expand your search to include used Legacy units with a similar floor plan. I would be looking for a pre-Covid unit in a Legacy model if I were in your shoes.
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MikenDebbie Aggie ‘77 in the sticks near Austin TX
2019 Chevy 3500 High Country DRW
2018 Montana 3921FB
Aussie Gus + Texas Heeler Jimmy
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