Montana vs Open Range

[GibbsClan]

We're ready to buy our first fifth wheel and are looking at Montana High Country and Open Range Roamer. I'd love to hear opinions re' comparisons of the two. Please and thank you!!

[GibbsClan]

Thanks for all your great suggestions! I've decided on the Open Range 347RES, and I'm so excited! I have to buy a TV first. Considering ordering the fifth wheel/towing package with either a Ford F-250 Lariat HD vs a Ram 2500 Laramie.

[davidaf]

We've been happy with our Montana (our first one). No issues worth noting. No more or less issues than any other RV i've owned. Would I buy another? Sure, if we liked it. Would I buy an Open Range over a Montana? Sure, if i liked it better than the Montana. Will I buy my third Lance camper when it's time to replace it? Sure, if I like it better than brand X and Y.

Hard for me to be brand loyal with any mass produced assembly line product. As far as I'm concerned each one is unique. These aren't widgets spit out of a widget machine. Too many changes can occur on the line between hours, days, weeks, months and years. Not to mention the reliance on several other assembly line produced products that are put into each of these units. Way too many variables for constancy.

[Lantley]

goducks10 wrote:

richfaa wrote:
The fact that we accept poor quality and are willing to fix problems ourselves is exactly why we continue to have poor quality.

And that's probably the logic that's engrained in the RV business. Assume the customer will handle the small stuff and the dealer will handle the big stuff. What incentive is their for the dealer to fix all the minor cosmetic stuff or even the manufacture before it leaves the factory when the majority of owners that can turn a screw driver or pound a nail would rather fix or adjust things themselves rather than hitch up and take it to a dealer, where it could sit for days to weeks and possibly not be fixed properly.
Anyone that's own 2-3 RV's knows the routine.

What many buyers fail to do is conduct a very thorough PDI.
That means check every: latch,hinge,knob.drawer,outlet ,switch, light,tire,door,seem,roof,underbelly,tank.
Test and try out everything before you pull off the lot.
Take your time and scour the entire rig, once you pull off you are at the back of the line and you must wait your turn behind those with problems big and small.

[goducks10]

jimmyfred wrote:
..........I'd include Artic Fox in that list as well ! They build a very well designed camper ., jf

Well designed but not necessarily well built.
http://www.afnash.com/showthread.php?15125-21-Northwood-Manufacturing-Complaints

[goducks10]

richfaa wrote:
The fact that we accept poor quality and are willing to fix problems ourselves is exactly why we continue to have poor quality.

And that's probably the logic that's engrained in the RV business. Assume the customer will handle the small stuff and the dealer will handle the big stuff. What incentive is their for the dealer to fix all the minor cosmetic stuff or even the manufacture before it leaves the factory when the majority of owners that can turn a screw driver or pound a nail would rather fix or adjust things themselves rather than hitch up and take it to a dealer, where it could sit for days to weeks and possibly not be fixed properly.
Anyone that's own 2-3 RV's knows the routine.

[jimmyfred]

..........I'd include Artic Fox in that list as well ! They build a very well designed camper ., jf

[Lantley]

richfaa wrote:
The fact that we accept poor quality and are willing to fix problems ourselves is exactly why we continue to have poor quality.

There is some truth to your statement however taking an RV back to the dealer to have a minor problem resolved is often more trouble than making the repair yourself.
An item as large as an RV will always have a punch list. Buy a new house and there will be a punch list of items that you find after moving in. The same issue applies to an RV.
Fixing repair items yourself is often logistically the easiest solution vs. returning unit to the dealer.

[richfaa]

The fact that we accept poor quality and are willing to fix problems ourselves is exactly why we continue to have poor quality.

[C-Bears]

allimax wrote:
Heck, all of them have their problems. Like was mentioned before, you need to be handy in this game or everything is a major problem. Montanas and Open Ranges are both middle-of-the-road, price-wise and quality-wise. I'm happy with my choice. I feel I got what I payed for. That doesn't mean I won't look at an Open Range next time. Or a Grand Design, or....Visit the owner's web-sites and gain some information. Maybe it'll help, maybe not, because, ultimately, they're pretty much the same thing IMO.

I totally agree. If you do have major issues a lot will depend on your dealer and how they treat you after the sale. But most problems are minor with new units and you are better off to fix/adjust yourself.

[Lantley]

allimax wrote:
Heck, all of them have their problems. Like was mentioned before, you need to be handy in this game or everything is a major problem. Montanas and Open Ranges are both middle-of-the-road, price-wise and quality-wise. I'm happy with my choice. I feel I got what I payed for. That doesn't mean I won't look at an Open Range next time. Or a Grand Design, or....Visit the owner's web-sites and gain some information. Maybe it'll help, maybe not, because, ultimately, they're pretty much the same thing IMO.

X2. I could not agree more

[allimax]

Heck, all of them have their problems. Like was mentioned before, you need to be handy in this game or everything is a major problem. Montanas and Open Ranges are both middle-of-the-road, price-wise and quality-wise. I'm happy with my choice. I feel I got what I payed for. That doesn't mean I won't look at an Open Range next time. Or a Grand Design, or....Visit the owner's web-sites and gain some information. Maybe it'll help, maybe not, because, ultimately, they're pretty much the same thing IMO.

[skijlw]

We had a Montana for several years and it performed well. Not many issues. That said when we purchased a new 5er we went with a Jayco Eagle Premier. I liked the finished product better and they give you a two year warranty.

[Arcamper]

ChopperBill wrote:
You really have to read between the lines. Some folks have a "lot of trouble" but so think adjusting a loose shade, a door needing adjusted, cabinet knob coming off is a lot of trouble. They have to hook up and drive 200 miles that could be fixed by a ten year old. Go to each individual brands forum web site and get the real story.

This is what I have seen also. My 2016 Montana had a loose blade on the ceiling fan that was rubbing the motor housing. Took 1 minute to fix but you are right that many would pull it back to the dealer and come on here and talk about what junk they had bought. I do agree it should have been caught during the PDI and I agree quality is second hand when these units are built but you need to be pretty handy to own one or you may be in for a bad experience. First thing I did when I got the new unit home was tear into it to check plumbing, wiring, brakes and so on. Did not find much wrong that some additional zip ties and tightening did not take care of. Some units are bad and always will be, some are ok and have minor problems that people will say are junk and some like me have a good unit that they will maintain themselves and go camping.

[Dandy_Dan]

goducks10 wrote:
Montana has been the #1 seller in it's class for 14 years running. At least that's what Keystone says. I suppose that says something. Not sure what, but I guess there's a reason they sell more than anyone else. Bang for the buck? Floor plans?

Randy Graber who started Open Range came from Keystone and went out on his own. Also Jayco bought Open Range although OR is still a stand alone company.