Montana High Country sidewall cracks at the front slide

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Symptoms: Keystone service bulletin KSB-210122 V2 names 2020 through 2023 High Country Montana fifth wheels, along with Montana, for a crack at the bottom corner of a slideout at the gooseneck. An earlier version of that bulletin names 2020 and 2021 High Country Montana fifth wheels and says units in that population may develop sidewall cracks at both front slideouts. This site's High Country year list runs through 2021, so the 2022 and 2023 High Country years named in the later bulletin are not separate pages here. NHTSA complaint ODI 11642276 was filed under a 2022 Keystone Montana and says the coach is a High County 385BR. The owner spells it that way. A crack appeared below the front bedroom slide, the slide stopped working correctly, and a flex check the owner describes measured over 1 inch against a 1/2 inch figure the owner was given. The complaint says the shop found broken aluminum framing welds and that Keystone provided procedure KSB-210122 V2. Montana Owners Club threads describe the same kind of crack on Montana fifth wheels: broken welds between the Lippert frame and the aluminum uprights, and welds coming loose around slide cutouts. One of those threads says Keystone covered a repair on a six-year-old 3790RD. The model year is not stated.
Likely causes: The bulletin is a repair procedure for that corner crack. It says broken welds on the sidewall tubes are addressed when the wall is reinforced. The 2022 complaint describes broken aluminum welds on a High Country floorplan. The forum posts describe broken upright welds and slide-opening welds on Montana fifth wheels. They do not show one cause on every High Country.
Common fixes: KSB-210122 V2 says the remedy is to remove the sidewall skin, add reinforcement, replace the skin, and add expansion joints at the top and bottom in front of the slide opening. It is written for trained technicians and asks for pre-authorization and photographs if a dealer submits it for warranty. The earlier version tells the shop to repair cracked joints, add gussets, and add wood where sidewall tubes are empty. Forum accounts say Keystone has authorized that repair on some Montana fifth wheels. The bulletin says not every listed unit needs the repair.
DIY difficulty: Not a DIY job in these sources. The bulletin says the work is for trained RV technicians.
Parts needed: KSB-210122 V2 names panel-bonding adhesive KRV 207257, sealant KRV 346665, expansion-joint cover KRV 426646 or KRV 600813, a fiberglass skin, lumber, and screws.
Warranty notes: The bulletin says not to assume warranty coverage. A dealer submitting it needs pre-authorization and photographs. The flat-rate code in KSB-210122 V2 is 7301342A. The 2022 complaint is filed on the Montana model and describes a High Country floorplan. It does not decide coverage for another High Country.

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Official recalls for the 2021 Keystone Montana High Country

Owner reportFrame

Symptoms

Keystone service bulletin KSB-210122 V2 names 2020 through 2023 High Country Montana fifth wheels, along with Montana, for a crack at the bottom corner of a slideout at the gooseneck. An earlier version of that bulletin names 2020 and 2021 High Country Montana fifth wheels and says units in that population may develop sidewall cracks at both front slideouts. This site's High Country year list runs through 2021, so the 2022 and 2023 High Country years named in the later bulletin are not separate pages here. NHTSA complaint ODI 11642276 was filed under a 2022 Keystone Montana and says the coach is a High County 385BR. The owner spells it that way. A crack appeared below the front bedroom slide, the slide stopped working correctly, and a flex check the owner describes measured over 1 inch against a 1/2 inch figure the owner was given. The complaint says the shop found broken aluminum framing welds and that Keystone provided procedure KSB-210122 V2. Montana Owners Club threads describe the same kind of crack on Montana fifth wheels: broken welds between the Lippert frame and the aluminum uprights, and welds coming loose around slide cutouts. One of those threads says Keystone covered a repair on a six-year-old 3790RD. The model year is not stated.

Likely causes

The bulletin is a repair procedure for that corner crack. It says broken welds on the sidewall tubes are addressed when the wall is reinforced. The 2022 complaint describes broken aluminum welds on a High Country floorplan. The forum posts describe broken upright welds and slide-opening welds on Montana fifth wheels. They do not show one cause on every High Country.

Common fixes

KSB-210122 V2 says the remedy is to remove the sidewall skin, add reinforcement, replace the skin, and add expansion joints at the top and bottom in front of the slide opening. It is written for trained technicians and asks for pre-authorization and photographs if a dealer submits it for warranty. The earlier version tells the shop to repair cracked joints, add gussets, and add wood where sidewall tubes are empty. Forum accounts say Keystone has authorized that repair on some Montana fifth wheels. The bulletin says not every listed unit needs the repair.

DIY difficulty

Not a DIY job in these sources. The bulletin says the work is for trained RV technicians.

Parts needed

KSB-210122 V2 names panel-bonding adhesive KRV 207257, sealant KRV 346665, expansion-joint cover KRV 426646 or KRV 600813, a fiberglass skin, lumber, and screws.

Warranty notes

The bulletin says not to assume warranty coverage. A dealer submitting it needs pre-authorization and photographs. The flat-rate code in KSB-210122 V2 is 7301342A. The 2022 complaint is filed on the Montana model and describes a High Country floorplan. It does not decide coverage for another High Country.

Montana High Country sidewall cracks at the front slide

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Montana High Country sidewall cracks at the front slide

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