HELP with brand new rig with major problems! - RV-Dreams Community Forum

Joyce2dogs2cats · RV-Dreams Community Member

HELP with brand new rig with major problems!

jayc · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think your selling dealer should have the first responsibility for making repairs. Keep in mind that this is the peak of the summer vacation season, so the dealer may be swamped with service work.

If you could relate the major things that need work, perhaps someone can help you with your problem(s).

Good luck

Joyce2dogs2cats · RV-Dreams Community Member

Hi jayc,

Since we picked up the rig from a dealer 600 miles away, we spent 3 nights at the dealership to work out what problems we thought we be there. The water issue happened twice while we were there, so certainly thought it was finally fixed. Wrong! The other major problems happened starting the first night and have continued since. They are aware of things & will address the little stuff when we can get back there later in the year, but meanwhile we thought we could get things fixed under warranty by a local dealer, but because we didn't purchase from he, he refuses to help us. The next closest service dealer is at least an hour & a half away. We are living in this, so can't exactly move out and it's not that easy to have to drive there when the local person comes to the park we will be at (for the next 2 months) twice a week! As I said, these are a major issues that need to be resolved quickly & I will gladly go into details at later, but an example would be that the Norcold refrigerator turns off if we turn on the MaxxFan in the kitchen. Luckily, after a couple of hours, we figured out why it turned off, so no longer use the fan, but 1) that's ridiculous and 2) even though unplugging the fridge from outside & replugging it in turns it on, it's stuck on #6 temperature.

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

We feel your pain. We bought a Cougar and just like you right off the bat we hand to handle issues. Manufacturers date was 1 yr. from the date we purchased so Keystone told me, when we called to express our feeling on Keystone products. We spoke of how we felt on there inconsideration and lack of quality control. When I went to the social media and Keystone forums was when we finally got a call from corp.
Good Luck. I cant tell you how many times I wanted to back up to a cliff and pull the pin, but we love her (BB) and like yall its home. Like last night we go to run in awning and it want retract. After calling a couple fellow RV'ers I was lucky enough to get it in. Good Luck, call us 252-341-6779 if ya need someone to vent to. Rush and Lola (CarolinaKids)

Joyce2dogs2cats · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you so much for your understanding, though I wish you hadn't gone through the hassles also. How long did it take for corporate to contact you?

jrzygrl64 · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm thinking if the dealer closest to you is an authorized Montana dealer I don't think they should be able to tell you "no" they won't do warranty work. I would call cooperate about that.

carolinakids · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think it was within three days later. I did post my number though. that's the way they new to contact us.

kb0zke · RV-Dreams Family Member

"I'm thinking if the dealer closest to you is an authorized Montana dealer I don't think they should be able to tell you "no" they won't do warranty work. I would call cooperate about that." From what I've read here and other forums, the RV industry doesn't work like the automobile industry. The warranty is good at the selling dealer for sure, but beyond that it is up to the dealer as to whether or not he will take care of you. That policy is at least understandable for the days when people went out camping several times a year, but totally falls down for full-timers. At least you have some dealers to go to. Consider those who buy products that are only sold factory-direct. Some, but not all, can call the factory and get permission to have a local mechanic take care of the issue, but some have to go back to the factory for any warranty work.

Joyce2dogs2cats · RV-Dreams Community Member

First of all, we just 2 weeks ago picked up a 2017 Montana 3820FK.

Since I'm still getting nowhere & looking for an authorized repair person, I'm going to try and spell out some of the major issues so maybe someone can help us!

1) We accidentally turned on the MaxxFan in the kitchen and once again lost our refrigerator. In the past, we've been able to shut the fan, then unplug and replug in the fridge, but not this time. Once again got an error message ACrE and the button keeps sticking in. HELP!!!

2) Since we never received user manuals for our AC or furnace, does anyone have a link we can go to for downloading them? We've asked since day one of picking up the rig, but are still waiting.

3) Since we do not have manuals, here's our question about the furnace. We are unable to use the bedroom furnace independently of the one in the living room. We finally were advised to use "heat pump" rather than furnace, but all we get is cool air blowing out from overhead.

3) A/C - where do I begin? Various problems. • It surges on and off. • Sometimes when it reaches the desired temperature, it shuts off and never comes back on even though it's obvious that the temperature has gotten hotter in the rig • Sometimes I am unable to get the bedroom A/C to work independently from the living room... just like the heater.

4) We finally received plugs to stop our water system from exploding. Threads on cartridge inside the cold water side of outside faucet have failed 7 times now. Twice at the dealership & 5 more since. Meanwhile, our underbelly & storage bin have been flooded along with all our stored items.

I'd love to include photos if I can figure out how. The only option I see to insert is using a url and I only have jpgs.

travlingman · RV-Dreams Family Member

1) Suggest you do a search for Norcold fault codes, might be able to find something.

2) Who makes your AC's? I would think they are Dometic so check their website.

3) Didn't know Montana's came with 2 furnaces. I thought they had 1 and it will heat the whole coach not just parts. When the furnace comes on it will blow through the vents in the floor, not the roof. Where are you located that you need a furnace right now? Have you made sure your gas tanks are on and they have propane in them?

3) The AC's are designed to shut off/on. They will start up and then the compressor will kick in. Depending where you sensor is for the thermostat could be why it gets hot. If the sensor is in the kitchen and you are in the living area could be why. Does your unit have a control for each AC, or does 1 control do both?

4) Plugs to keep water from exploding? I don't understand this. When you say your outside has blown 5 times since dealer, do you mean the outside shower or are you talking where the incoming water supply hose connects to water intake? Are you using a water pressure regulator?

As far as dealers, they are not required to work on your rig. If you are just in the area for 2 months, let the local dealer know you are full time and just traveling through for work. He might work with you since you are not a local who traveled somewhere to save some bucks from buying from him. But remember, warranty work doesn't pay as good as doing work for the paying customer.

Since you say this is your fifth camper, I figure you have checked some of the things I mentioned, but brought up in case you haven't.

I would call Montana customer service and see if they will pay for a mobile tech to work on. I don't now if Montana warranties their units if you full time in them, so don't know if I would bring that up as they might void the warranty.

Joyce2dogs2cats · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thank you for taking the time to write. If you can provide an email address, I can further expand on each point and send photos. Thanks!

travlingman · RV-Dreams Family Member

Just click on my name on this post, Travlingman, and a new window will open up. Look on the left side and you will see a link to click to send a private message.