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 weight back on the truck, you could see the gap at the bottom trim move. The dealer says nothing he can do about it and I've emailed my factory rep, Montana Customer Service and Lippert. I've heard from Montana's Owner Relations only so far. I was asked a hundred questions as to how this occurred(like I know) and everything from what kind of hitch I use and what kind of truck I tow it with. I know they are just doing their job and patiently waiting to see what can/will be done. I have some trips coming up very soon that have been paid for for over a year and worried about making them. I've sent them the video I have below as well as several more pics from every angle. Just waiting to see where to go and what to do next. I have friends that work at an RV plant in Indiana and says possible weld or a wall-frame mount has come loose. Have any of you ever seen one do this?Gap at bottom widens

nremtp143 wrote: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 weight back on the truck, you could see the gap at the bottom trim move. The dealer says nothing he can do about it and I've emailed my factory rep, Montana Customer Service and Lippert. I've heard from Montana's Owner Relations only so far. I was asked a hundred questions as to how this occurred(like I know) and everything from what kind of hitch I use and what kind of truck I tow it with. I know they are just doing their job and patiently waiting to see what can/will be done. I have some trips coming up very soon that have been paid for for over a year and worried about making them. I've sent them the video I have below as well as several more pics from every angle. Just waiting to see where to go and what to do next. I have friends that work at an RV plant in Indiana and says possible weld or a wall-frame mount has come loose. Have any of you ever seen one do this?Gap at bottom widensThey're asking all the questions so they can weasel out of fixing it somehow.Hopefully you will be OK. In mean time lots of reading about Lippert 5th wheel failures. I tried to keep away from anything Lippert after our 5th wheel fell apart. But still ended up with Lippert doors. https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=614&q=lippert+frame+recall&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiz-piiiJzOAhUdS2MKHex8B2AQ1QIIdSgEhttps://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lippert+5th+wheel+failures

Lippert Frame Issues..........LINK

My Heartland Sundance did the exact same thing and it ended up going back to Indiana for frame repairs around the pin box and main structure. Heartland paid for the RV to be transported both ways since it was under warranty. Its also a Lippert frame. If I recall correctly Heartland disassembled the nose and walls and Lippert sent their welders in to do the repairs, then Heartland reassembled. My complaint was that they cut into the side walls and then patched it back. The fiberglass work was done poorly, but the frame has held up since 2012, so far with no flex. From what I understand not all cases are that extreme, but regardless, its a pain to have to have repairs done that should not happen in the first place. The RV industry builds them too cheaply and we are buying them up like hot cakes only to find out afterward that no matter what brand you buy they're all poorly built.

might start hunting for your own welding shop ,your far from first in line.also talk to your insure ,you never know.

I had a similar issue with a Keystone Everest, which went back to the factory twice. As it turned out, there was nothing wrong with the frame, it was a flaw in the way they attached the side panels to the vertical studs allowing the sidewall to slip up and down. Really looked bad, but as it turned out it was not a serious issue. Seven years later, everything is fine.

Possible frame weld broken on new Montana | Good Sam Community

Miles_Away
Explorer
Jul 31, 2016
I had a similar issue with a Keystone Everest, which went back to the factory twice. As it turned out, there was nothing wrong with the frame, it was a flaw in the way they attached the side panels to the vertical studs allowing the sidewall to slip up and down. Really looked bad, but as it turned out it was not a serious issue. Seven years later, everything is fine.
midnightsadie
Explorer II
Jul 30, 2016
might start hunting for your own welding shop ,your far from first in line.also talk to your insure ,you never know.
wrgrs50s
Explorer
Jul 30, 2016
My Heartland Sundance did the exact same thing and it ended up going back to Indiana for frame repairs around the pin box and main structure. Heartland paid for the RV to be transported both ways since it was under warranty. Its also a Lippert frame. If I recall correctly Heartland disassembled the nose and walls and Lippert sent their welders in to do the repairs, then Heartland reassembled. My complaint was that they cut into the side walls and then patched it back. The fiberglass work was done poorly, but the frame has held up since 2012, so far with no flex. From what I understand not all cases are that extreme, but regardless, its a pain to have to have repairs done that should not happen in the first place. The RV industry builds them too cheaply and we are buying them up like hot cakes only to find out afterward that no matter what brand you buy they're all poorly built.
Old-Biscuit
Explorer III
Jul 30, 2016
Lippert Frame Issues..........LINK
path1
Explorer
Jul 30, 2016
nremtp143 wrote:
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 weight back on the truck, you could see the gap at the bottom trim move. The dealer says nothing he can do about it and I've emailed my factory rep, Montana Customer Service and Lippert. I've heard from Montana's Owner Relations only so far. I was asked a hundred questions as to how this occurred(like I know) and everything from what kind of hitch I use and what kind of truck I tow it with. I know they are just doing their job and patiently waiting to see what can/will be done. I have some trips coming up very soon that have been paid for for over a year and worried about making them. I've sent them the video I have below as well as several more pics from every angle. Just waiting to see where to go and what to do next. I have friends that work at an RV plant in Indiana and says possible weld or a wall-frame mount has come loose. Have any of you ever seen one do this?
Gap at bottom widens

They're asking all the questions so they can weasel out of fixing it somehow.

Hopefully you will be OK. In mean time lots of reading about Lippert 5th wheel failures. I tried to keep away from anything Lippert after our 5th wheel fell apart. But still ended up with Lippert doors.

https://www.google.com/search?biw=1366&bih=614&q=lippert+frame+recall&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiz-piiiJzOAhUdS2MKHex8B2AQ1QIIdSgE

https://www.google.com/?gws_rd=ssl#q=lippert+5th+wheel+failures

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Possible frame weld broken on new Montana

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