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High country · 12-16-2010, 09:53 AM

I just bought a new 2010 Montana High Country 5w A few weeks ago. The day i picked it up at the dealer ship i did not get 10 miles away before i realized that the breaks on the 5w were not working (stoping 11,ooo lbs with truck only not fun) . I decided to head on home and try and trouble shoot the problem there. I first called dealer and they were not much help. They said it was prob. the truck break controler. I told them thats not it . I traded in a 2009 cougar TT that i had towed in to them and it's breaks worked fine when i brought it up there. So i did a test on the truck the truck was fine . Then i hooked up my 32foot gooseneck race trailer which is a Tripple axel trailer took it for a short pull breaks worked fine. So at this point the dealer had closed for the day. Next moring i took Rv back to them . Two weeks later i finally get my new Montana back and a 100 phone calls later. My hats off to Keystone MFG for working with the dealer in trouble shooting the problem , which turned out to be the Magnets in the break system. ( which i told the dealer from the start that it was either the Ground or the Magnets) So if you ever have trailer breaks that stop working and your wires are ok it probly is your Magnets.

Kevin G.

Ray,IN · 12-17-2010, 05:19 AM

Was an explanation ever offered as to why this even happened? Sounds like there was absolutely no quality control before it rolled out the assembly door.

RustyJC · 12-17-2010, 06:46 AM

You would think that the transport driver might have noticed something amiss before he ever got off the manufacturer's lot. I certainly don't understand why he would take it out on the road with no brakes, but at the least I would have thought that he would notify the dealer that the brakes aren't working.

Strange......

Rusty

Ray,IN · 12-17-2010, 09:32 AM

Rusty that certainly is a vaild point, unless it was a HDT toter. Those guys claim to not even know they are towing something.

High country · 12-17-2010, 10:07 AM

I asked the same question to the dealer if the transport driver had said anything about brakes. He said nothing to them. Keystone's Montana line service director came up with the idea of replacing the magnets pretty quick ,so this must be something kind of common. I would have to say though that this is my second keystone rv and I like there over all quality. After all they are built by people and things are not going to be perfect.

Kevin

powerboatr · 12-17-2010, 11:12 AM

i would imagine, based on prior exp. that the transport driver...knew they didnt work but didnt want to wait around to get em fixed.
I took delivery of a LARGE enclosed trailer a few years ago. brakes didnt work from day one....
it was found the wires to be pinched and cut by frame where they ran the wires through a SCREW...or would that be screwed through the wires??
so you can bet they didnt work leaving the factory either...where was QC?
or the driver that delivered it? it was large so it came across on its wheels.

good to hear the manufacture got involved....
and your road safe

mhs4771 · 12-18-2010, 10:29 AM

Checking the brakes if one of the first things I do. Manually apply the brakes as leaving the driveway to make sure they're working. You would think anyone getting paid to transport these rigs would do the same before leaving the Mfr lot, but time is money so guess that driver was willing to take a risk and run without trailer brakes.

dunerbill · 12-21-2010, 10:52 PM

if you can always test run the rv before you pay

at least hookup and test in the lot some.

remimber once you pay GOOD LUCK !

dunerbill · 12-21-2010, 10:56 PM

i also met a guy with a 29 cougar that added new up graded wheels and tires
and tire monitors that screw on the valve stems and has a monitor in the truck

a great addition tells temp and air on trailer tires

i ve seen several 5th wheels that needed upgraded 6 to 8 lug rims. more welding,
and a tire that can carry more weight. remember the manufractures put on the least expensive equipment to sell it.

watch the wheels, welds suspension mounts, tires be sure all is up to the task

mhs4771 · 12-22-2010, 05:44 PM

High Country, you might want to check out the Montana Owners forum if you haven't already. Plenty of helpful info on Montanas and a group of very helpful folks. Get those problems fixed and enjoy.

High country · 12-22-2010, 08:35 PM

Thanks for all the responses. some great ideas

Kevin G.

bstark · 12-30-2010, 05:07 PM

The other thing to replace throughout is those stupid rust inducing Marr (twist-on) connectors. Solder all connections and even replace the wiring if it's lighter guage than #14. Pull it out of the axles and run it behind the axle tubes for the crossover to other side. Ideally the wiring should be no less than #12 from the pigtail back. They really do screw this part of the build process up even after all the years of magnet brakes.