I've joined the Marabomb Club - Montana Owners Club

millerwr · 12-02-2012, 12:04 PM

There we were on our way home from a great weekend of camping, just cruising down the highway at about 60 and the tire pressure monitoring system alarmed. My right rear Marabomb threw the entire tread off and instantly blew. All the monty's tanks were empty and it is far from being overweight. I have been meticulous about monitoring the tire pressure, but this time it didn't matter. Damage to the monty wasn't too bad, the plastic cover around the wheels was tore up and the metal piece at the bottom of the slide was bent up pretty bad. Fortunately no apparent damage to the undercarriage. I called Progressive and am waiting for the adjuster to come take a look at it. Has insurance covered this for people who have had it happen? I will be replacing all four tires and the spare with 614's this week. Should have listened better and been more proactive.

**DQDick** · 12-02-2012, 12:56 PM

Also keep the tire and contact Goodyear. They've made good on the damage for a number of folks.

1retired06 · 12-02-2012, 02:16 PM

Sorry to hear about your blowout. As indicated Goodyear has made good if you work them; a park buddy got Goodyear to replace 4 plus a spare, as well as pay for the damage repair to the trailer. Unfortunately the best of care sometimes does not help with tires not up to the task. Hope all goes well with Goodyear. Since yours is a 2011, your rims should handle the G load PSI, but best to double check.

GA Mountaineer · 12-02-2012, 02:17 PM

Keep the tire and contact Goodyear as Dick said. When we blew 1 Goodyear paid for the damage to the trailer and the replacement tire. I had to give them a estimate from the dealer for repair, and a copy of the receipt were we bought the replacement tires. Took a few weeks to jump all the hoops, but we did get a check.

gkidsdlite · 12-03-2012, 04:05 PM

I read all the posts about tires and wonder why Keystone sells their 5vers with Marathons on them and why anyone would buy one with these tires on them! What am I missing?

drsmart · 12-04-2012, 01:26 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by gkidsdlite

I read all the posts about tires and wonder why Keystone sells their 5vers with Marathons on them?

Maintain price point, maximize profit.

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by gkidsdlite

I read all the posts about tires and wonder why anyone would buy one with these tires on them! What am I missing?

Some buyers that are aware of the problem and can afford to, replace them.

Dave

mazboy · 12-04-2012, 04:42 AM

your insurance should cover everything minus your dedcution.

and get with goodyear, keep your tire, they will ask for it.

after 3 blowouts we went with G614s, so far so goooood.

mhs4771 · 12-04-2012, 11:00 AM

If you look around at an RV Show, you'll see that Keystone is not alone using the Marabombs. Even our SOB which is heavier than most Montanas had Marathons as the OEM tire, but because of the excellent info on the MOC we knew to order the optional G614s on it. There's a member on the SOB forum that did almost $5000 damage to his rig when a Marabomb blew. I even asked the Regional Sales Rep about it and the answer was "Cost".

F3fifty · 12-08-2012, 03:44 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

Sorry to hear about your blowout. As indicated Goodyear has made good if you work them; a park buddy got Goodyear to replace 4 plus a spare, as well as pay for the damage repair to the trailer. Unfortunately the best of care sometimes does not help with tires not up to the task. Hope all goes well with Goodyear. Since yours is a 2011, your rims should handle the G load PSI, but best to double check.

Not to hijack the thread, but IM going to replace the Marathons on my 2012 326 Mountaineer (Empty weight 10,800)will I need to replace the OEM wheel as well? Where does one check to see if the OEM wheel can handle the need for 100 psi?

1retired06 · 12-09-2012, 01:49 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by F3fifty

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by 1retired06

Sorry to hear about your blowout. As indicated Goodyear has made good if you work them; a park buddy got Goodyear to replace 4 plus a spare, as well as pay for the damage repair to the trailer. Unfortunately the best of care sometimes does not help with tires not up to the task. Hope all goes well with Goodyear. Since yours is a 2011, your rims should handle the G load PSI, but best to double check.

Not to hijack the thread, but IM going to replace the Marathons on my 2012 326 Mountaineer (Empty weight 10,800)will I need to replace the OEM wheel as well? Where does one check to see if the OEM wheel can handle the need for 100 psi?

Mine are stamped on the rim

bigred715 · 12-09-2012, 07:34 AM

Unfortunately I did not keep my blown Marathon on our long trip thru the South. We had left Mesa Arizona and were leaving San Antonio and the Marathon blew. Had about 15,000 miles on it and the spare had equal amount of mileage. Two front tires were almost new, being replaced by dealership because of excessive wear. Replaced all tires at Discount Tires with Michelins and did not keep blown tire. Maybe I could have gotten some of the money back after $1200 paid for 5 new tires.

sreigle · 12-31-2012, 08:34 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by millerwr

There we were on our way home from a great weekend of camping, just cruising down the highway at about 60 and the tire pressure monitoring system alarmed. My right rear Marabomb threw the entire tread off and instantly blew. All the monty's tanks were empty and it is far from being overweight. I have been meticulous about monitoring the tire pressure, but this time it didn't matter. Damage to the monty wasn't too bad, the plastic cover around the wheels was tore up and the metal piece at the bottom of the slide was bent up pretty bad. Fortunately no apparent damage to the undercarriage. I called Progressive and am waiting for the adjuster to come take a look at it. Has insurance covered this for people who have had it happen? I will be replacing all four tires and the spare with 614's this week. Should have listened better and been more proactive.

The damage on ours was $2200 and National Interstate insurance covered it entirely except for our deductible. I hope yours does, too.

rapidrobert · 01-01-2013, 02:56 AM

Same thing happened to me except the tire didn't blow out. It was a G614. State Farm fixed it. Interesting, went to Camping world for estimate. $1510. Then to Montana dealer in Raleigh. $855. They did a good job also. Changed my opinion about Camping World.

PSFORD99 · 01-01-2013, 06:17 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by rapidrobert

Same thing happened to me except the tire didn't blow out. It was a G614. State Farm fixed it. Interesting, went to Camping world for estimate. $1510. Then to Montana dealer in Raleigh. $855. They did a good job also. Changed my opinion about Camping World.

How old were your tires ? Goodyear will usually pay for the repair on damages done by a separated tire.

rapidrobert · 01-01-2013, 10:59 AM

They were five years old with a date code of seven years old. That's why I didn't contact Goodyear.

millerwr · 01-25-2013, 09:53 AM

Follow up to my earlier post. Goodyear paid my insurance deductible and gave me $180 back for the defective Marabomb. I had tried to be very calm and reasonable in the email I sent them about the claim, but they weren't as gracious as they have been with some others. Once they processed my claim they emailed me a release of liability form I had to sign before they would send me their check. Fortunately the tire dealer I purchased my new G614 from sold my other three Marabombs for $45 each, so I got $135 back for them. Just took my Monty in for repairs today and my dealer RV Connections in Panama City Florida had it fixed good as new in about 4 hours. Thank God I now have good tires and shouldn't have any more tire problems.

bigskyjimmy · 01-25-2013, 12:15 PM

The reason why alot of people like myself do not opt for the G614's and I would love to but they are EXPENSIVE also ALOT of people like me have never had a problem with them, you only hear about the horror stories about them you do not see too many people starting threads about how satisfied they are with them and alot of these stories are from people that have 5+ yr old Missions or Marathons which were not a good tire or they were overloaded, underinflated etc.....I think the NEWER Marathons are a good tire but just not the "right tool for the job" on some of the bigger 5th's ...I know some people have had blowouts with newer Marathons and I know IT happens but IMHO they are not "BAD" tires anymore. O.K. i know it's coming let me have it Marathon haters

Irlpguy · 01-25-2013, 12:55 PM

So Jimmy, I am not yet a Marathon hater, I just brought my unit home from the weigh scales. The truck net weight was 11,683 lbs the pin weight was 2799 lbs and the trailer axles were 12,456 combine that with my pin weight and I am at 15,256 all loaded and ready to go. Total weight of the Truck and Trailer was 24,140 lbs.
For the second time I will test my Marathons at 80# psi over the next 1500 mile one way trip to AZ.

Time will tell but I know what a heck of a lot of others that are Marabomb haters don't know, and that is the exact weight of the trailer axles and I have scale tickets to prove it.

I may yet be a Marathon hater but until then or until I have to replace them because of age or wear I will not knock them. A guy should be able to pick up some cheap new tires with everyone changing them out based on what they hear on this forum.

How's the cold draft down there, I will drive by slowly so as not to crate a wind to send any drafts through your grates...

bigskyjimmy · 01-25-2013, 02:52 PM

Thank you much Partner! I need all the help I can get ,Thanx for posting your weights I always wanted to know as i am too freak'in lazy to go to the scales for myself, and hey by the way if those Marathons do blow don't tell anybody and make me look bad HUH

**DQDick** · 01-25-2013, 04:24 PM

Look, the Marathon debate is like any other. Many go 5-7 years and never have a problem. Are you less likely to have a problem with a 614, yes, but it is still a tire made by humans and driven on roads we don't have the money to repair. Many of us full time and for that reason go for the tire we feel most comfortable with under our homes. Doesn't make anyone wrong to stay with the Marathons.

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