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Old 03-20-2018, 05:33 PM   #1
bill-d-c
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New member from Kansas

Hello all. My wife and I bought a new Montana camper in 2011 (3665RE) with 4 slides. It has been nothing but trouble from day one. Every time we take it out we have multiple failures (average 5 camping trips per year). I'm hoping you folks might be able to offer some help, I'm tired of taking it to the dealer every time and waiting weeks, if not months for repairs. Thank you.
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Old 03-20-2018, 05:47 PM   #2
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Welcome to the forum from Washington state. You will find a lot of knowledgeable folks here. Ask away.
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Old 03-20-2018, 05:57 PM   #3
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Thanks, I appreciate it.
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:06 PM   #4
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Welcome from Central Ohio !!! Searching threads is your friend here,if they are not answering your questions, start a new thread with your topic. A wealth of knowledge and expertise resides on this forum!!!
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:42 PM   #5
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Welcome to the forum, shout with your questions.
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:46 PM   #6
CaptnJohn
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Why visit any dealer after initial warranty is out? Find a service center that does not sell if possible. Try mobile techs. Call appliance manufacturers for techs on everything from HW tanks to AC units. Cheaper and they come to you.
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Old 03-20-2018, 06:50 PM   #7
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Welcome to the forum from our other home base in Wilsey, KS. Not what you want to hear, but we traded our 2010 3665 RE this past summer. It gave us 7 years and 70,000 miles with few problems. Put the problems you're experiencing on here and someone should have an answer for you.
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Old 03-22-2018, 09:53 AM   #8
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Why visit any dealer after initial warranty is out? Find a service center that does not sell if possible. Try mobile techs. Call appliance manufacturers for techs on everything from HW tanks to AC units. Cheaper and they come to you.
What CaptJohn said times 1000!!!

Dealers are in business to sell and only have a service department because they have to. Service only repair businesses are just that and 99% of the time do far better work and much more quickly too!
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Old 04-07-2018, 07:30 PM   #9
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What CaptJohn said times 1000!!!

Dealers are in business to sell and only have a service department because they have to. Service only repair businesses are just that and 99% of the time do far better work and much more quickly too!
Dealers make a fortune from their service depts. $130 / hr. They pay their help $20 max. In an auto dealership the service dept should pay 90 // 95 % of the total operating cost. Whatever they make selling is pretty much profit
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Old 04-07-2018, 10:53 PM   #10
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Dealers make a fortune from their service depts. $130 / hr. They pay their help $20 max. In an auto dealership the service dept should pay 90 // 95 % of the total operating cost. Whatever they make selling is pretty much profit
My dealer techs make $20 - $27 per hour. However, they work on book hour rate as well. They can earn 10 - 14 hours pay per 8 hours. Dealer rate is $145.
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Old 03-20-2018, 07:59 PM   #11
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Although I'm not in to being on a welcome wagon ... I see you're about 30 miles from me in Haysville. I don't mind lending a hand as you'll find we are pretty competent RV service tech poor in this area. I assume you're dealing with Flint Hills?? PM me if you ya want.
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Old 03-20-2018, 08:27 PM   #12
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Although I'm not in to being on a welcome wagon ... I see you're about 30 miles from me in Haysville. I don't mind lending a hand as you'll find we are pretty competent RV service tech poor in this area. I assume you're dealing with Flint Hills?? PM me if you ya want.
Yes, Flint Hills and 54 Auto and RV. I fix what I can since the warranty has expired. It's become very difficult to keep up with all the problems. We had a 2004 Numar 5th wheel, wish we would have kept it. Much higher quality unit.
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Old 03-20-2018, 08:11 PM   #13
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Welcome to the MOC family from Washington St.

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Old 03-20-2018, 08:30 PM   #14
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Welcome. We had a 2010 3665 and fortunately for us, basically trouble free. What problems have you experienced?
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Old 03-20-2018, 08:41 PM   #15
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There's no way I could type that much information before bed. Haha. At one point we had 3 pages of repairs needed, just on one camping trip. We took it out here a few days ago, spring break, the rear jacks and furnace quit. It's this way every time we take it out...always at least one thing breaks. We're in our 60's and have been camping for decades, so we're not newbys and do know how things operate by now. We've owned many different brands, this was out first Montana (we heard they were the best). Maybe we just got a lemon.
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Old 03-20-2018, 09:23 PM   #16
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Originally Posted by bill-d-c View Post
There's no way I could type that much information before bed. Haha. At one point we had 3 pages of repairs needed, just on one camping trip. We took it out here a few days ago, spring break, the rear jacks and furnace quit. It's this way every time we take it out...always at least one thing breaks. We're in our 60's and have been camping for decades, so we're not newbys and do know how things operate by now. We've owned many different brands, this was out first Montana (we heard they were the best). Maybe we just got a lemon.

You can't get a better deal than taking Diesel Guy up on his offer of help. He knows how to fix these things.
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Old 03-20-2018, 10:55 PM   #17
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There's lotsa good info and people here on the MOC. Many have had good luck with Montana's and will challenge your list for any seemingly trivial things ... after all they are proud Montana owners who have had minimal issues on a Montana Owners Website ... Ha! That being said ... all RV manufacturers put out some crap from time to time and Montana's can hang with the worst of them in that category. I've wrenched on them. It seems you have one of those examples.
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Old 03-21-2018, 03:56 AM   #18
bill-d-c
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I get that. I'm just here to keep from taking it in every time it breaks. I can fix some things, just might need someone to steer me in the right direction. Sounds like I might be time ahead if I just get ahold of Atwood on the furnace. I've been told a possible limiter switch, or sail switch. I'm unfamiliar with both.
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Old 03-22-2018, 02:35 AM   #19
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Best thing you can do is list your problem on the forum. Usually someone has had that problem and can give you directions.
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Old 03-22-2018, 12:10 PM   #20
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I think you have taken the first step to getting help with any of your problems by joining the MOC forum.
Ask away and you will get solid advice in return.

And Welcome!
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