Thoughts and experience on Montana's High Country technology

[djkarau]

Since your trailer is leaning to the left side, isn't that the side with the three sides, including the kitchen. Could it be that with this extra weight is the weight of any food in the fridge/cupboards plus all of your cooking utensils?

I hadn't thought of our 5th wheel "bottoming out" on one side...good point!

[jawildman]

Our 2010 Dutchman Grand Junction 345RE is about 500# heavier on the driver's side (3 slides to 1 large slide on the passenger side). No affect on my truck (Dodge 3500 dual) or visible that I can see, though I have not checked any measurements.

This is one of the things I'm going to be looking at the next time I purchase a 5er. Left to right and front to back balance, with and w/o cargo.

As a thought, if the pantry/kitchen is on the heavy side, can you move some of the canned goods, dishes, etc to the other side of the trailer?

[jackson47]

Hello Jawildman,
There may be a couple of important differences between our units. My unit gross weight is 12500 lbs sitting on two 5200 lb axles. The lenght of unit is 38 feet. I did my best to get an accurate weight when I weighed each side of the trailer. The driverside (3 slides) weighed 4760 lbs. The rating for each side is 2600 lbs/per tire or 5200 lbs for a pair. That means 440 lbs under rating. The total weight on the trailer axles (reweighed whole unit) was 8720 lbs. Unit fairly empty.
Latest issue after parking unit at home I noticed that the decals that wrap around the front cap were split on bothsides right along edge of cap. Any thoughts.

[jawildman]

Something is flexing more than it should. Can you see the pin box/hitch mount area?

[jackson47]

Not really unit has fiberglass that trims out the area where the hitch mounts to trailer. What would I be looking for ?

[jackson47]

We have a 343 RL Montana High Country. Do you have load range E tires on your unit? Also any listing problems. My unit has three slides on driverside and lists to that side.

[jackson47]

The latest wrinkle. Just brought my unit home from an authorized Keystone repair center. They had the unit for 5 weeks and did not resolve any of my concerns about the listing of the trailer. What I discovered when I parked the unit.
1. I measured the distance from the frame to top of axle both sides the driverside (3 slides) was 7/8" closer to axle than other side.
2. While I was crawling under my unit I notice that the vapor barrier above one of the tires was wearing away showing bear wood and the tread on that tire showed wear. The tread edge had small chunks of rubber missing all the way around the tire.
I am so confused since Keystone repair facility says nothing wrong with unit. Now I have to return to have them look at the wear. I guess they did all of the measurments required by Keystone but no one has checked to see if the unit was level over the axles.

[anchorman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by djkarau I'm looking to purchase a new 5th, we are currently very interested in a 2011 Montana High Country 343RL. I'm finding it very difficult to find out exactly what Keystone has done to cut 2000 lbs off of a similarly equipped Montana as compared to a High Country. If they cut corners on quality stuff it isn't very apparent from the look and feel of the units. Does anyone know what the Helium Technology is or have any experience with a High Country model?

We,ve been dragging ours around for about a year. Can't say precisely what they did, but here are acouple observations. The slides are cable driven. That could save some weight. The sides are aluminum but the sides of the slides are fiberglass. There is no bumber. Our cabinets and table/chairs are solid wood. We haven't found any skimping and we really like the High Country. Our '08 Chevy HD Diesel tows it beautifully.

[chief02]

Just buy an Excel.

[gringo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by djkarau I'm looking to purchase a new 5th, we are currently very interested in a 2011 Montana High Country 343RL.

I'm finding it very difficult to find out exactly what Keystone has done to cut 2000 lbs off of a similarly equipped Montana as compared to a High Country.

If they cut corners on quality stuff it isn't very apparent from the look and feel of the units.

Does anyone know what the Helium Technology is or have any experience with a High Country model?[/QUOTE

we pucrhased a new 2007 montana , ordered. A lot of plumbling problems , water leaks, water running out of the compartmens and carpet also wet , now the oil for the sliders is now leaking. only $500. to replace, hope this might be helpful.

[anchorman]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chief02 Just buy an Excel.

Getting an Excel and dumping the Montana High Country brings 3 issues. First, my HC is 38ft and the biggest Excel I can find is only 37 ft.
Second, my truck ('08 2500HD Silverado w/6.6diesel-Allison tranny) won't tow the weight of an Excel so I'd have to shell out $$$ for a 3500, probably a dually. That's big bucks.
Third, an Excel costs half again as much or more than a HC. More $$$.

I'll stick with my 343RL. Tows nicely, very spacious, paid for, but most important ----MY WIFE LOVES IT!

[jackson47]

The Helium Tech is just sales talk.
Before you buy make them upgrade the mattress support system with a sheet of plywood.
We had the typical list of small fixes with one exception. The trailer listed on the three slide side. the springs could not carry the load. After two months fighting with Keystone they agreed to pay for extra leaf spring each side. The trailer rides level now.
They saved a little weight with 5200# axles. I would have preferred 6000# axles.
Other than that the trailer is very comfortable nice interior and exterior lots of compliments. My wife loves the kitchen.

[gringo]

i have a 34 rl monatana, not too happy with it, many plumbing problems, and now the oil pump for the sliders is leaking? It weighs in at about 15,000 lbs. I pull with dully truck. we are in s. texas, endinburg, getting ready to head back to kansas, work with the core of engineers as gate attnedents in marion, ks. while down here we make many trips into progresso mexico , wtih no problems, dentists are much cheaper there and also many meds.

[TEAMTJ]

I've owned two new Keystone 5ers in the last six years. Both had numerous problems and lacked quality. I finally got smart, did my research and bought an Excel. Excel is more money but will be on the road longer after a Montana is rode hard and put away wet. Excel is far better quality which equals longevity. That is how I justified the extra initial cost of my Excel. I will say that Keystone's customer service wasn't too shabby though. It all comes down to what is in your budget and what you will be using your 5er for. If you are a weekend warrior, I'm sure you'll be happy with a Montana. But if you will be full timing, I have a suspicion you will be disappointed.