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Old 07-09-2017, 10:40 PM   #1
Duramax
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Very frustrated and disappointed

I have owned my 2017 Montana HC 352rl for about 6 weeks. Have spent 4 nights total in it and have the following issues already. Electric jacks are malfunctioning. I keep get lf jack error thus won't auto level. The mounding that holds the front panel on one of the fridge doors on has come of already. The toilet won't hold any water in bowl as in that seal is bad. The AC in the rear is not functioning properly. Runs for a bit then shuts off then back on and the thermostat is totally wrong. A lot of times I have to turn off and back on to even get it to turn on. I am just wondering if others have these issues? Pretty frustrating when you pay that much for a brand new fiver and all this already. Yes all under warranty but still a pain!
 
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Old 07-10-2017, 06:30 AM   #2
cw3jason
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Yes, the problems you are having have been discussed in great detail on this forum. The toilet is a very common problem, with a lot of fixes. The jacks could possibly be your starting point. always ensure you are nose high prior to hitting auto level, the system needs to drop the nose 3 inches before it goes into level mode. If that doesn't work, try a reset and reprogram level. all the instructions are in the manual and available online thru LCI.com. If all else fails call Lippert. they are very helpful. The AC issue has been discussed online as well and others have had similar problems, some of their solutions may work for you. use the search feature at the top of the forum.
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Old 07-10-2017, 06:46 AM   #3
1retired06
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One of the pains of buying a new unit is that too often, the first months are spent correcting things the production line or dealer should have caught. I have had more issues with the 2015 than I did with my other three Montana units combined. And I stayed at the dealer site for two nights and three days doing an absolutely detailed PDI. Things started crapping out at the 30 day mark. Having said that, once I worked thru the issues, our 2015 has been virtually trouble free for the past two years, including two six month snowbird stays in Florida. Hopefully you will experience the same.
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Old 07-11-2017, 11:50 AM   #4
Mark N.
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All I can say, is the American RV industry desperately needs some foreign competition! This same lack of quality control is what almost killed the American auto makers in the 70s and 80s because of the Japanese makers paid attention to quality, and the global markets saw that and responded. Here we are again, with TERRIBLE quality control from the RV manufacturers and they have no competition incentives to do it right.
Oh how I wish Toyota made 5th wheel trailers!
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Old 07-11-2017, 01:04 PM   #5
Duramax
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Couldn't agree more! It's mind blowing the lack of effort that goes into building these campers. I love they floorplan and layout of new rig, just dissatisfied with the quality control. I have appointment in two weeks to get it in for all the fixes, hopefully they won't have it too long so I can camp some more!
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Old 07-11-2017, 06:35 PM   #6
waynemoore
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2X on a Toyota RV
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Old 09-27-2017, 08:00 PM   #7
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Or get THOR OUT!
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Old 09-28-2017, 07:58 AM   #8
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Your AC problem sounds like your coils are freezing up. Check the threads on Whisper Quiet or new AC to find the fixes.
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Old 09-28-2017, 09:11 AM   #9
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Looked at NEW MONTANAS YESTERDAY.. The led lights on the CAP were hanging down.. the glue unstuck and the leds were just hanging! GARBAGE, TRASH, crap! ... tell the dealer to take that THETFORD OUT, THROW IT IN THE TRASH, AND INSTALL A DOMETIC AND KEYSTONE TO PAY FOR IT! Buttheads! They've had this issue for over two years!
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Old 09-28-2017, 07:51 PM   #10
rohrmann
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The toilet problem has existed for at least six years, ever since they started installing that Thetford model toilet. Replaced ours at a little over the one year point with the Dometic 310, and have had zero issues since.
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Old 10-02-2017, 11:31 AM   #11
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I replaced mine with a Dometic 320. You need to measure and see which one fits your space best. A Dometic 310 or 320.

Don't even bother fixing what you have now.
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Old 10-02-2017, 11:48 AM   #12
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The best thing to do with the to toilet is to just through it away and get a Dometic 310 or
320 I like the 320 the best that is what I put in are's.

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Old 10-02-2017, 03:40 PM   #13
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we just returned from a 3,800 mile, 16 day, maiden voyage with the "Black Pearl" Took daughter out to Salt Lake City for freshman year at college, a couple days in Zion, then back home to northern illinois. 1 blizzard in wyoming at the continental divide on I-80 and 1 snow storm in Cedar City, UT.

other than the inverter issue with our residential fridge, we had zero issues on the Monty or the new F-450. very happy
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Old 10-02-2017, 03:59 PM   #14
dfb
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if one wants to buy a Monty, do NOT ACCEPT THE THETFORD TOILET. HAVE DEALER INSTALL A DOMETIC,!
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Old 10-02-2017, 04:31 PM   #15
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We are also very happy with our 3160 with no issues- will see what the future brings,
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Old 10-02-2017, 04:36 PM   #16
1retired06
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On our 2010 replaced the thetford with a dometic 320. Our 2015 has two thetfords. After much travel and two snowbird seasons in Florida, the darn things continue to operate trouble free. If they burp, ready to replace.
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Old 10-08-2017, 10:32 PM   #17
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I installed an dometic 320 with sprayer from PPL and it works great. My wife didn't understand why i wanted to install a new toilet when there was nothing wrong with the old one. Just made a 3 week trip with the new toilet and it worked much better than the old one. The sprayer is a great improvement along with having a lip around the toilet like household models and also the water sprays completely around the bowl instead of from just one end. The water holds in the bowl without leaking out. This toilet is as good as my home toilet . The main difference between the home and rv toilet is the foot pedal vs. hand flush.This is a great improvement for around 200.00
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Old 10-08-2017, 10:55 PM   #18
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Everyone excited about GY making tires in the US and wanting different countries to begin making RVs? No matter who is putting out 500,000 RVs annually there will be problems. As long as employees rush to get a number of units out daily in order to get home and milk cows their will be problems. As long as employees are on piecework there will be problems. As long as builders will put any warm body on the assembly line there will be problems. No craftsmanship and no work ethic left in the industry. Why care when every unit made is quickly sold? If you think we have problems, visit the FR owners site.
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Old 10-09-2017, 09:27 AM   #19
richfaa
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We had thetford in our 2006 3400 and now our 2013 3402 that is 11 years and not a single problem. When and if this one breaks we will get a Dometic. It did on a couple of occasions not hold water but all it took was cleaning the gasket. We do lubricate the gasket with Vaseline from time to time.
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Old 08-07-2022, 09:53 AM   #20
toytrucker
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Inverter to fridge.

Quote:
Originally Posted by team bradfield View Post
we just returned from a 3,800 mile, 16 day, maiden voyage with the "Black Pearl" Took daughter out to Salt Lake City for freshman year at college, a couple days in Zion, then back home to northern illinois. 1 blizzard in wyoming at the continental divide on I-80 and 1 snow storm in Cedar City, UT.

other than the inverter issue with our residential fridge, we had zero issues on the Monty or the new F-450. very happy
Hi. Currently trying to figure the same problem with my inverter to fridge. If your still on this site send me a pm. Wondering what your fix was Thanks
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