Possible frame weld broken on new Montana
Hi guys. Our new Montana was delivered in April and last week while unhitching the unit at home, I noticed the side- nose wall of the camper had broken the silicon bead at the bottom. Once I put the w...
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Well, I'm not even sure where to start...I got a call today from the floor manager at Keystone. Remember the one that the case manager said I wouldn't be talking to anymore?
Anyway, she said that she was calling because she had heard I had some 'concerns' over what has been done so far. So I started with the aluminum plating.
I asked why she sent the ones of just the aluminum and not the steel repair to which she responded that all of the steel was intact I tried to keep my composure and asked why she and Shelley both had told, not only me, but the dealer as well, that there was actually a weld broken on the Lippert frame.
She said, no, the only broken welds were in the aluminum. She she had never said there was a break in the weld of the steel, to which I replied, then why did you tell me that you were waiting almost two weeks on a Lippert welder. She then claims that she never said that and that they were waiting on one of their welders to come and repair the aluminum.
So I stated it made no sense as they have dozens of aluminum welders all over their plant. She didn't respond except to say re-emphasize that there was not a weld broken in the steel.
I then started questioning why the aluminum was flexing so much and she said it was the missing wood in the two upper tubes of the left front. She also said that the tech had reported the relief cut under the slide was cut in the wrong position.
She said this was not the first one they have had back with the wood missing that had done the same damage. She explained that by putting the wood into the 3 tubes and then screwing long screws up through them into the top piece of wood made it much stronger. The screws that were in there were way too short because there was only the bottom piece of wood. Those subsequently pulled out.
She said by putting wood in all three and then screwing them together, it basically makes similar to a "laminated beam" in a house. It strengthens the entire area and stops the flex.
Reportedly the production manager of the assembly plant was brought over and shown what was missing and it needed to be corrected on the line. I was then told that the weight of the slide and the framing around the slide was under quite a bit of stress, which makes sense, and that the beam under it was not supposed to flex.
So, I asked the million dollar question why it did! And while I was on that topic, I asked her if all of the studs in the Montanas looked like mine did and she claimed not to have seen them and I immediately sent her the pics that you've all seen.
When she opened them she asked where those studs were and I informed her those were the ones YOUR welder just welded and plated! She said she had never seen any welded like that before and that very well may have been a contributing factor to the entire issue.
I explained that I was not a welder or an engineer, but I'd built homes and welded things myself and would be absolutely embarrassed at such *****ty work. She agreed. I asked her what the chances were that all of them in the camper looked like that and she said all of them would have been caught. REALLY NOW???????
We then started on the AC units that have not been tested or looked at yet and she once again told me the unit would be here by the 6th(Next Thursday!) I reminded her of no air flow and she said if that was the case, most likely the air ducts had come "un-taped"! She said the units will under go their electrical tests for fan speed, draw other factors now done by computer, but also the ducts would then be inspected by camera.
I asked if by chance they had come undone, would the ceiling have to come out? Only a panel or two was her reply, but can be done much quicker than you think. I asked her was the banister wall repaired to which she had no confirmation in the computer file from the techs That mind you was supposedly being done while waiting on "their welder".
She said she would check with them in the morning and call me back tomorrow with an answer. I was asked again where they would be sending the unit. I replied "Georgia!" I was then told it was a two day trip for a driver since they can only drive 11 hours a day, so I asked again if she was sure she would have it here Thursday with the nose & side wall still off of it, the AC units not checked and the banister wall unsure if it secured.
She said, "It would most likely be there". I'm not holding my breath at this point. I truly do not know what to believe. I was more confused after talking to her today than I was before she called. This is truly wearing me down even though I have tired not to let it. Sorry for the long post, but will update when I know more
Anyway, she said that she was calling because she had heard I had some 'concerns' over what has been done so far. So I started with the aluminum plating.
I asked why she sent the ones of just the aluminum and not the steel repair to which she responded that all of the steel was intact I tried to keep my composure and asked why she and Shelley both had told, not only me, but the dealer as well, that there was actually a weld broken on the Lippert frame.
She said, no, the only broken welds were in the aluminum. She she had never said there was a break in the weld of the steel, to which I replied, then why did you tell me that you were waiting almost two weeks on a Lippert welder. She then claims that she never said that and that they were waiting on one of their welders to come and repair the aluminum.
So I stated it made no sense as they have dozens of aluminum welders all over their plant. She didn't respond except to say re-emphasize that there was not a weld broken in the steel.
I then started questioning why the aluminum was flexing so much and she said it was the missing wood in the two upper tubes of the left front. She also said that the tech had reported the relief cut under the slide was cut in the wrong position.
She said this was not the first one they have had back with the wood missing that had done the same damage. She explained that by putting the wood into the 3 tubes and then screwing long screws up through them into the top piece of wood made it much stronger. The screws that were in there were way too short because there was only the bottom piece of wood. Those subsequently pulled out.
She said by putting wood in all three and then screwing them together, it basically makes similar to a "laminated beam" in a house. It strengthens the entire area and stops the flex.
Reportedly the production manager of the assembly plant was brought over and shown what was missing and it needed to be corrected on the line. I was then told that the weight of the slide and the framing around the slide was under quite a bit of stress, which makes sense, and that the beam under it was not supposed to flex.
So, I asked the million dollar question why it did! And while I was on that topic, I asked her if all of the studs in the Montanas looked like mine did and she claimed not to have seen them and I immediately sent her the pics that you've all seen.
When she opened them she asked where those studs were and I informed her those were the ones YOUR welder just welded and plated! She said she had never seen any welded like that before and that very well may have been a contributing factor to the entire issue.
I explained that I was not a welder or an engineer, but I'd built homes and welded things myself and would be absolutely embarrassed at such *****ty work. She agreed. I asked her what the chances were that all of them in the camper looked like that and she said all of them would have been caught. REALLY NOW???????
We then started on the AC units that have not been tested or looked at yet and she once again told me the unit would be here by the 6th(Next Thursday!) I reminded her of no air flow and she said if that was the case, most likely the air ducts had come "un-taped"! She said the units will under go their electrical tests for fan speed, draw other factors now done by computer, but also the ducts would then be inspected by camera.
I asked if by chance they had come undone, would the ceiling have to come out? Only a panel or two was her reply, but can be done much quicker than you think. I asked her was the banister wall repaired to which she had no confirmation in the computer file from the techs That mind you was supposedly being done while waiting on "their welder".
She said she would check with them in the morning and call me back tomorrow with an answer. I was asked again where they would be sending the unit. I replied "Georgia!" I was then told it was a two day trip for a driver since they can only drive 11 hours a day, so I asked again if she was sure she would have it here Thursday with the nose & side wall still off of it, the AC units not checked and the banister wall unsure if it secured.
She said, "It would most likely be there". I'm not holding my breath at this point. I truly do not know what to believe. I was more confused after talking to her today than I was before she called. This is truly wearing me down even though I have tired not to let it. Sorry for the long post, but will update when I know more
