New Monte vs old Monte?

[bootstrap]

Mine is an 04' and for a 20 yr old trailer, its in very good shape. Are the new ones built about the same? DW and I are about to try full timing out in our 04'. If this is something we like. I'd like to go with a new/newer 5ver. Going to a RV show might have been a mistake . Anyways, how are the new ones holding up? I was looking at the Monte website/floor plans. Wife wants a large kitchen and have it kind of separated from the living room. She likes the rear kitchen and front kitchen. I don't like the W/D location on the rear BR floor plans. So it will most likely be a rear kitchen. Id like to find one with a raised kitchen with storage under it in the back. Is there a Monte like that?

[Gonefishing]

Originally Posted by bootstrap

Mine is an 04' and for a 20 yr old trailer, its in very good shape. Are the new ones built about the same? DW and I are about to try full timing out in our 04'. If this is something we like. I'd like to go with a new/newer 5ver. Going to a RV show might have been a mistake . Anyways, how are the new ones holding up? I was looking at the Monte website/floor plans. Wife wants a large kitchen and have it kind of separated from the living room. She likes the rear kitchen and front kitchen. I don't like the W/D location on the rear BR floor plans. So it will most likely be a rear kitchen. Id like to find one with a raised kitchen with storage under it in the back. Is there a Monte like that?

Look at the 3761 fl. It has a raised living room middle kitchen with raised rear bedroom with washer n dryer. Bath an a 1/2 very roomy

[Carl n Susan]

The 3901RK is the Montana Rear Kitchen model. There is also a similar floor plan in the Hugh Country line. Both have rear storage under the kitchen.

The one issue with a rear kitchen, from any manufacturer, is that with the refer and cabinets in the rear of the coach are exposed to more up/down movement. Consequently, you have to pack those items so as to preclude content movement. There are several posts here about this.

[mlh]

If you have never had a RK rear kitchen they are prone to unload your cabinets. There is a lot of whiplash back there. A mid or front kitchen is a lot more stable. Of course there are advantages to a RK you get a nice kitchen.
Lynwood

[Derby6]

Have heard just enough I would avoid raised rear kitchen too much flop back there emptying cabinets refrigerator sturdiness etc.
I too wanted the separation but you had to get into well over 40 feet and required a Dually. Because those with separated living area, bedroom, and kitchen had raised front and back — big units. We really like our 3231CK.
Good luck

[bootstrap]

What are the other disadvantages of going well over 40' besides needing a dually?

[twindman]

Originally Posted by bootstrap

What are the other disadvantages of going well over 40' besides needing a dually?

Well, you also need a big bank account!

[Rotnjonny]

You also may encounter some limited available of sites in some parks.

[Derby6]

All costs more. Site availability, covered storage avaibility, general moveability and DW having to park said dually when shopping. To name a few.

[BB_TX]

Personal opinion is if it were me I would look at newer rather than new. Maybe something up to 2016-2018. Most likely that any major items such as frame flex have already been discovered (and hopefully repaired) and most minor things also repaired or replaced.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by bootstrap

What are the other disadvantages of going well over 40' besides needing a dually?

Like Tom said "more money" As far as 40 feet, I wish I could have but too many limitations in my case. First is turning radius. I can do a U turn in 5 lanes with my 34 footer. Don't think a 40 would make it. I have a U shaped driveway and 34' is MAX to make it around and my storage pad next to my house. It is part of the driveway so the rig sticks out into it. As Johnny said, you are limited to camp sites.
I recently left my driveway turning right onto the 2 lane road and went a bit wide to the left. I hit the gate drove all the way to the coast and nobody even honked to alert me.

[mlh]

I agree with Bill. Most campers are used 4 times the first year 3 the second and once the third year. You can get a great deal on a used camper. I have what I my barn find, a 10 year old home with 5000 miles on it when I bought it that had been kept in a custom built garage. They can be found.
Lynwood

[samroll]

The build quality is nowhere near as good in my opinion. I am a mobile tech and also own a 2012 3582RL. It is built like a tank. Very few problems and none with build quality once a few problems when it was brand new (nothing serious) were sorted out. Somewhere in the mid teens the build quality started downhill and it’s been that direction ever since in my opinion. A decade ago when you bought a Montana you knew you were getting top of the line. Now, it’s a crapshoot. We have done extensive remodeling on our Montana and transformed the interior into what suits us and there is no way I would trade it for a newer one. Just one guys opinion.

[jkxtreme]

We live full time in a 3901RK and the whip issue is a problem. We devised mechanisms to keep everything in place in the cabinets and fridge, and since doing so, have not had any issues. (pics are available) We are mindful of the weight of the fridge at the back, so we keep the stuff stored in the big slide out, under the kitchen, as light as we can. Our heavy stuff is in the front compartment. We like our rear kitchen and after attending the Hershey RV show this year there were no 5th wheels we liked better. Our unit is 42 feet and weighs 16,500 pounds so we do have a ford dually, but we have learned how to park and drive it so we love the truck. I will probably install shocks on the trailer to help control some of the rear movement and I did upgrade to H rated tires.
We lucked out with our 2023 and got a good one but I have heard that since 2015 the quality of all RV's has gone down hill. We may switch to a Class A and if we do, I won't buy anything newer than 2014.

[dfb]

Imho, I think the older are better made. We had an 03 and zero issues. Our 2015 has had issues.

[bigred715]

We have a 3000RK 35 1/2 long that has rear kitchen and never had an issue with the kitchen cabinets flying open. Sometimes the silverware drawer will come open.

[Mark7]

‘04 3295RK here… will be in snowbird mode starting this winter and had considered getting something newer, but I decided to update, upgrade and continue to use my largely trouble free rig, that I know well.

In probably 6000 miles of travel in the last 5 or 6 years on shorter trips all over the Midwest, I’ve never had anything fall out of any rear cabinet or the refrigerator.

[Derby6]

I completely get the crowd that says older is better built.
But I have to say the newer units have a lot of really nice, cool bells, and whistles.
I know some argue that’s more stuff to have problems with and there’s some truth to that but still the amenities are nice
Just sayin it’s food for thought.

[ep4me]

Well the newer oness have better runnign grear and heaver axles and wheels

[rollingdownthehighway]

Originally Posted by Carl n Susan

The 3901RK is the Montana Rear Kitchen model. There is also a similar floor plan in the Hugh Country line. Both have rear storage under the kitchen.

The one issue with a rear kitchen, from any manufacturer, is that with the refer and cabinets in the rear of the coach are exposed to more up/down movement. Consequently, you have to pack those items so as to preclude content movement. There are several posts here about this.

We have the 3700LK model (that we're selling) and never had issues with the fridge or cabinets and we don't run them that full either. The only issue I hear on any rear kitchen models is, do the RV fridge, a residential fridge aren't really made for the bouncing around.