First major shakedown cruise to Keystone Service facility to fix some things and upgrade others

 The Bad and the Ugly, then the Good

The BAD was already mentioned in a previous post, represented primarily by the dealer 'Camping World in Idaho Falls', and by our salesman, Gavin James. They are both, equally untrustworthy and deceptive and made what could have been a great experience a deplorable one. Unless absolutely forced to, by the unavailability of another source, we will NEVER do business with them again. As several other people in the industry have stated to us on hearing of our negative experiences with CW, "they are a good place to get a low price on an RV because they buy and sell so many of them; however, because they sell for less, they compensate by not taking care of the RVs they sell, or of their customers, UNLESS they are going to charge extra for ANY service they have to do. TRUE THAT, as we have experienced. 

Unlike all the other RVs we have had together, the manufacturer (Keystone) does NOT have a Service Center that takes care of the factory warranty, like ALL motorhomes do. No, the new owner needs to take it to one of their dealers for warranty service work. Motor homes will take a new (1st year) RV under warranty whenever it comes to their service center at the factory, and will fit you into their workload, giving you priority, because you are in the warranty period. At KEYSTONE, however, there is no such care. When you call them they tell you that you have to go to one of their dealers for warranty service. IF these dealers would at least give someone under warranty the same consideration and fit them in with priority, we could accept that. However, they don't. For sure we were NOT going to take it to Camping World for warranty service, after they already lied to us about doing all the pre-delivery work and fixing the things they agreed to and promised would be fixed by delivery. So we decided to invest into taking it to the factory area, which we felt they would (should) be more familiar with these trailers and probably easier to get the parts for them So, we picked the closest dealer to the Keystone factory, which a friend and Keystone product ambassador referred us to, having been there and had work done on his rig (also a Montana) and received good service. Unfortunately, even this place, Affinity RV Group, told us that the soonest they could give us an appointment for service was in 5 months. Keep in mind that the warranty is only for 12 months and having bought it on March 31, by the time we called for an appointment in July with 3 months advance notice, we were told that the 'earliest they could give us an appointment was for late December (3 months prior to the expiration of our warranty). Now, perhaps if they were in Texas or Florida, that would not have been a problem, but in Goshen, Indiana it snows and is freezing by then. So we would have to wait until the Spring (April or May) after the warranty has technically expired.  

Apart from the issue that Camping World never showed us how anything worked on a 5th Wheel, one issue was not knowing how to work the product so perhaps something appeared not too work, when it was just O. E. But one issue was a definite bulging of either the door or the door frame, which caused the door to not close fully and often let it pop open while driving down the road, held only by the handrail bar that straddles it. This being a security concern Affinity RV Group agreed to look at it and secure it if we brought it up in October. So we did. 

Additionally, through YouTube videos of our friends Brian and Tina Jones (channel 'Jonesin2Go') who are Keystone Product Ambassadors, we also wanted to upgrade our refrigerator to a 12-volt system, install solar panels and get an inverter to be able to convert our battery 12v system to 120v power for the TVs, and other plugged in devices.  Like Brian's, our Norcold 2118SST 4-door refrigerator which originally operated with either Gas (propane) or Electric, but used a lot of it (both) and it was hard to set the temperatures for refrigerator and freezers to where we wanted them; so we changed them to a dual compressor 12-volt system, where we can set the temperature of each to our own criteria, and which uses next too nothing in power consumption as it is now on 12-volt. We also wanted to add solar panels so we could boondock longer, so though our original plan was for only 600 watts with a 60-amp controller, to save the additional expenses should we want to expand that later, we upgraded to a 1,200-watt system with a 100-amp controller. Now to expand our power bank all we have to do is add either 2 or four more batteries, without needing to upgrade panels or controller. And lastly, we needed an inverter (for solar as well) so though we could have done OK with a 2,000-watt, we opted to go with a 3,000 to be able to deliver more power for greater use if needed in the future.  For now, 600w of solar would power the refrigerator and assist the charging of the batteries. With our 1,200w we can power the refrigerator and keep the batteries charged.  IF, however, we should need additional power for say the A/C or extended use of the microwave, we still have the 5,500watt generator.

The UGLY is the news, while at JC Refrigeration in Shipshewana IN, is their calling our attention to the fact that on the top edge of the wall and the roof, there exists a gash in the rubber roof, that we had not noticed until now. Even Rod Ramey (owner of Affinity RV Group in Goshen, IN) who had climbed on and checked out the roof the day before, had not perceived that tear. So now we have another problem to have to deal with. 

Of course, we have no idea WHEN it happened, but as we have not noticed contacting any tree branches, we have to assume that it came that way from Camping World, though be it too late for us to prove it or do anything about it now. So, figuring that these folks are the best able to perform the repairs, and trusting them due to the urgency of the work, as the more water that gets under the rubber roof the worse it's going to get, they agreed to take care of it right away. So, we called our State Farm Insurance claim in, which was handled professionally and expeditiously and in less than 24 hours everything was approved and coordinated with Affinity RV Group. 

So, on Monday, 10/17/2022 we took the 5th wheel to Affinity RV Group and had a reservation at the Hampton Inn in Goshen until Thursday, by which time we hope to get our Fiver back too head back home to Star Valley Ranch in Wyoming. 

And the GOOD has probably been everything else not associated with the RV itself, and the trip itself. The trip up here was very enjoyable with generally  good weather and easy traffic (except going through Chicago, with our gun next to us in the front seat.)  What Bill likes about this RV is the fact that Mary drives as much as he does, though he can't imagine why because a motor home is soo much easier and more comfortable to drive, but is thankful for the help driving.  Mary was driving on arrival and turned into the wrong park. She was told that her reservation for Lot #66 was at a corner and end of a row, but #66 here was smack in the middle of a row, but tired and not wanting to argue, we settled into the space. The next morning we had an appointment early at Affinity RV Group, so we left before the office even opened. While at Affinity Mary  realized that the campground we spent the night at was not the campground we had the reservation (same name but with South Park after it). Whoops!!

So when we left Affinity we headed for the correct campground and liked this one much better. It has less tall trees, so we could finally try to connect to Dish to set up our TV reception. Unfortunately, nothing works the way it is supposed to on this RV. Dish said it was hooked up, but since we still had no reception, they said we would have to get an RV satellite  installer to come find out and fix whatever is amiss with the 'Satellite Pre-wiring of the RV. We called him and left 2 messages but he never even gave us a call back. So we still have no TV reception. Maybe we can find someone in Star Valley; otherwise we'll have to wait until we get to Willis/Conroe in Texas, who we know (David Nannenga, Sats2Go, 936-564-2828, www.sats2go.com) and is good at fixing RV satellite problems.

Then, we took the RV to JC Refrigeration to do the above listed upgrades. They only work on 'refrigeration and solar panels' but are very knowledgeable in those fields and the folks in the office (Myron) and all the guys in the shop are super friendly and helpful. They are Amish (or perhaps Mennonite (since they work with machinery and ride bicycles) but their work is of the same quality and ethic that the Amish are known for. If you are in this area and need Refrigeration repairs or upgrades or to add Solar power to your rig, they work with all types of RVs and are highly recommended. They are the folks that pointed out our roof gash, as they were going to install the solar panels next to the tear. Thank you Myron and Aaron.

The next day we went back to Affinity to consult with them as to the tear on the roof and Rod Ramey was flabbergasted and (we think) feeling a bit guilty that he didn't see it himself when he went on the roof two days earlier. He impressed upon us the urgency of taking care of it 'as soon as possible' due to any moisture getting under the roof would create major damage to it. Given the urgency, though he could not address 'warranty work' until after December due to his work load, he was willing to separate time to do this roof work right away, and in the meantime he had his guys tape up the tears, to protect the roof until he could replace the roof. On a side note, now Mary knows why Bill was always so anal about staying away from trees with the motorhome.

On Friday we had a day off and went shopping to prepare for Nancey Corey's visit from Grand Rapids MI. Mary and Nancey have been friends for 40 years, meeting at the same bank where they both worked and have remained great friends in all that time. Unfortunately, they haven't seen each other since a trip they took together in 2015, right before Mary met and started a relationship with Bill, and both started traveling (RV'ing) together, to present. Through all our travels time was never in their favor to arrange a meeting, until now. Even now, it seemed for awhile like we were not going to have the free time for them to visit... until discovering the roof tear and opting to stay here for the weekend plus another 4 days to fix it. So, Nancey drove down from Grand Rapids (a 2-hr drive) and she and I were finally able to meet and she and Mary were finally able to visit. Nancy is a wonderful person and hopefully time will not pass as quickly in the future, until we all can visit again. 

Our time in Shipshewana and Goshen Indiana has been very enlightening for the good and bad, but the area is beautiful and the food is to die for. Shipshewana is definitely our favorite town in Indiana (so far), with all the Amish and Mennonite communities, and their buggies (there must be as many of them as there are cars and RVs). Of course the horse poop all over the streets is not that great and in our opinion they should be made to carry a basket (or something) attached to the horses' rumps to catch it, but who are we to say. However, if horses can poop wherever and whenever they want to, why can't Roxy, so why do we have to pick up after HER?? 

Following is a pictorial collection of the many sights we have been privileged to enjoy in this area and something about them... We'll be back in the Spring (March/April), to have the remainder of our warranty work done, and should be able to get a different perspective of the picturesque landscape.

COUNTRYSIDE

The countryside is picture perfect and of note every yard (whether commercial or residential, large or small) looks like it had just been mowed yesterday, with even the lines of mower passes still visible. Comparing it to the beauty of Star Valley Ranch in Wyoming, from which every road is a scenic byway, one still has to put up with derelict properties right next to a gorgeous one. Not inn Shipshewana though. See the photo of the blue house (below) which is as run down or let go as one can find in these parts. Prices are similar, though not as expensive as in our area of Wyoming, but the cold weather is still ever-present in winter there too. So, we won't be looking for real estate there, as most of our friends are in Star Valley in Wyoming.

This is as let go a property as one can find in Shipshewana 

and only because the grass is almost bare in a lot of the yard.

ATTRACTIONS - DINING

Apart from the normal shops for gifts and boutiques, what Shipshewana is most notable for is FOOD, and by that we mean meats and cheeses. There are several eating establishments (restaurants) though they are somewhat limited to the big ones like Das Dutchmen Essenhaus (www.essenhaus.com), which is Indiana's largest restaurant, and is well known for its specialty pies. Others, like the Shipshewana Blue Gate Restaurant are traditionally Amish food. However keep in mind that if you go there, just about everything is closed on Sundays.

SHOPPING

Yoder's Meat & Cheese Co.

Apart from restaurants, there are tons of places to buy food... NOT so much supermarkets, as specialty foods, like processed and smoked meats, grass-fed, grain-fed and GMO Free Beef plus Bison, and every type of artisan cheese. Among these the Yoder's Meat & Cheese Co. is our favorite, located at 435 S. Van Buren St in Shipshewana, these folks have 150 cuts of meat and over 100 varieties of cheese, a full-line of in-house smoked meats, a deli, jams and jellies, candy, salsas, popcorn (a favorite in the area), canned goods and so much more. It is easy to spend a lot of time there looking around and deciding what to get. We bought over $100 just in cheeses plus frozen BBQ pulled pork, to take back to WY for a get-together dinner with our dear friends Darren & Roz and Jerry and Sue for when we got back. 

Two photos (below) are of our front closet where Mary put in a 5.0 cu ft chest freezer, so that she could take advantage of great deals and specialty foods that we find along our travels, be it to share with friends or to enjoy ourselves. The bottom picture is after going to Lowery Meat & Seafood Market in Buchanan MI, where we got 80 lbs of brats and 10 lbs of ground sausage, plus other things. After going through Yoder's first with Mary's friend Nancy, (who drove down to visit with us) and then on our own prior to leaving the area, it is now full. When we weighed the rig upon leaving WY, we were 820 lbs overweight. Hopefully we can get that down without transferring the excess to ourselves.

 

 

E & S Sales Bulk Foods

Another interesting place is E&S Sales Bulk Foods in Shipshewana, which is sort of like the Amish version of a Costco. It is an old-fashioned deli and market selling sandwiches and ice cream, plus bulk goods (large portions) from candies to spices. Cash or checks ONLY. Credit cards are not accepted. As an example, I bought a 2lb-2oz bag of Hershey's Kisses (normally well over $10) for just $4.95.

AT JC REFRIGERATION FOR SOLAR Panel and to convert Norcold ref to 12V

Through our friends Brian & Tina Jones. who are Keystone Ambassadors (You Tube channel Jonesin2Go) we were referred to JC Refrigeration to convert our Norcold 2118SST four-door gas/elec refrigerator to a 12v system with dual compressors, so one can control the temps of the freezer and refrigerator separately, and which uses FAAR less energy to run. Actually with the 1200 W of solar there is plenty to run all the refrigeration, with plenty of power left over for boondocking. It was here that they noticed that at some point the roof had caught a branch and it had a large gash in it, which led us to spend an extra 4 days in Goshen at Affinity RV Group.

AT AFFINITY RV GROUP for Service

Back in Goshen at Affinity RV Group, a dealer of Keystone trailers and Warranty Service Center for them, they are located directly next door (behind) to a Keystone factory and the main Customer Service Center, so they have a very good working relationship with Keystone.

We were there mainly to fix the front (entry) door, which was (and still is) having trouble opening and closing, as it is either warped or the frame is, and to catalog all the other deficiencies that fall under warranty, so that when we return in Spring (April-May) they have all the needed parts from Keystone to do all the repairs. Funny thing is it works just fine as long as the RV is NOT LEVEL (not with its jacks down), but not when it is level. While there though, they also offered to repair the torn rubber roof, which was noticed by JC refrigeration in Shipshewana, when they installed the 1200W of solar panels, and while there they also re-routed the generator exhaust pipe away from under the bedroom slide, where the Onan dealer in Loveland CO had installed it. 

LODGING - Hampton Inn, Goshen IN

So while they were making those repairs we got a room at the Hampton Inn in Goshen, which allows 'pets' but charges for them, except since Roxy is a registered Service Animal (though if you ask her, she'll tell you that she's NOT an 'Animal'), they did not charge us for her. 

 

It was a very ample room and Roxy loved all the extra space. We could even see our truck from the window. The breakfast was wonderful every morning and with good, hot food, not just donuts and orange juice. In the immediate area and within walking distance are several restaurants. One of them was a Chinese Buffet (good food) directly to the side of the hotel at the end of the shopping center.

Note the trailer attached to the back, just like a car.

Another day we went to eat at a Wings, Etc., nearby. There, there was not enough room in the parking lot for buggies, so the Amish would park in the Aldi next door and walk over. Of interest here was that at the table behind us was an Amish couple with their kids having dinner, but the husband was drinking beer. And here we thought that the Amish did not drink alcohol. Guess they are like the JACK Mormons.

FOUR DAYS LATER...

In four days our rubber roof had been totally redone and dried, with extra sealer on the edges. 

And the solar panels, A/Cs Vents and antennas all replaced and it was ready to go. Still we stayed there the night to make sure all was OK with it.... it was. They have a space with sewer, electric and water for clients to stay (if available) while their work is being done. When we go back in Spring they will have a space reserved for us.

So we headed back home to Wyoming, finding snow on the ground 

when we returned and the weather turning quite cold. 

Next Blog Post will be when we head out to Texas for the Winter about November 20th.

In case Facebook cancels our profile, or takes down our post against the Biden Administration's Far Left politics...

First off, let me just say again that in 2015 I lost good friends and golf partners, simply because after years of staying mainstream as to politics (pre-2015), I chose to register to vote Republican and voted for Donald Trump in 2016 (…and posted it on FB). My radical LEFT friends, immediately told me that they (he and his wife) didn’t want to have anything more to do with me… and unfriended me on FB. Despite all the years that I had accepted their point of view, and told them that ‘while I may not agree with all you believe in, I can and do accept that your views may be different from mine, and still support your right to have your own views.’ They didn’t care. It was to be their way or the highway. Sadly, this is the way the Far Left was then and still is today (only now they’re on steroids). I hope my ex-friends are still happy with their choice for President, given what he has done to our country, to our economy… and to their retirement $$.

So, now for the main point I want to make, to be clear as to where I stand, while wondering IF or for how long FB will leave it up, or if they will just CANCEL our profile, as the left wants to CANCEL AMERICA, and as is their policy to deal with anyone who is not supporting their agenda. Just in case though, I am posting it on our website as well, in case.

Everyone is entitled to at least 1 rant in their lifetime... so here's mine. Please excuse me if you get tired of reading it, but it is important to me that I get it off my chest, and for people like my poor excuse for EX Friends (mentioned above), this is to let them (and everyone else who wants to silence the RIGHT, unless we support their rhetoric) that WE WILL NOT BE SILENCED. That is our right under the 1st Amendment. So, here goes…

How much more are PATRIOTIC AMERICANS going to take from the Biden administration and the Radical Far Left he serves, before the pressure builds to the point of no return, as it did with the war against the British and the Civil War? Or are we just going to let them destroy us, to the point that we can’t ever build our country back, IF we still have a country that has not been given away to China or Russia?

BIDEN has already all but totally destroyed our country, dividing Americans against each other, and not just between Republicans and Democrats, but also within the Democrat party, itself. On his Inauguration Biden called for bipartisan UNITY, but all his actions offer only the opportunity to UNITE IF we adopt all his crazy ideas. Otherwise, like the radical Islamists, he is determined only on destroying our ideals and all the things that have made us great and a leader among the nations of the world and respected by most. WHY? For only one reason. HATE! He and the radical Left want only one thing… a complete reversal of all the good that our past president Donald Trump achieved in his short four years. With Trump our country enjoyed as secure a southern border as was possible, we achieved energy independence, a thriving economy and world respect. We truly were the nation that almost all others looked up to and respected. Where could we and the rest of the world be TODAY, if not for this disease that the Left has spread, like a political pandemic to destroy our nation. They only want our subjugation and will accept only one thing... the Unconditional Surrender of whoever has an opinion different from theirs. Isn’t it our policy to punish HATE crimes? So why is the Left radical agenda, which is based on hate for everything that does not support them, not being punished equally?

Our currently elected officials are a joke, disrespected not only by foreign dignitaries, but by over 65% of their own citizens, as well, including MANY registered Democrats, who had originally voted for Biden but have now realized that their issues and concerns (supposedly a part of his campaign promises) are only important to him, IF they coincide with his own, which he has now shown that they were all LIES. These Democrats, have in growing numbers started to vote along Republican lines, realizing their previous error of their belief in the Biden administration, as more and more among their ranks have begun swing their support to the Right, turning their previous support towards disapproval on every issue (economy, immigration, schooling, etc.) causing a growing disapproval rating of more than about 65%. and growing, as to his administration four country. They may have had a majority of votes in 2020 (the jury is still out as to whether the election was stolen or not), but clearly by the real State of our Union (not Biden’s fabricated fantasies of it) the President's administration is NOT representative of the MAJORITY of Americans today. Yet, he and his puppet, Harris, continue to be allowed to remain in power, though half the time he doesn’t even know where he is or what he was told to say (by who knows who, which pulls his strings). In the ongoing process his administration continues to take our country and our very lives further and further down the proverbial 'rabbit hole'.

With all the ongoing shootings in most states and major cities, where rampant crime runs amuck, and police officers and civilians are shot and killed, for no good reasons, Biden and the Left seek to blame GUNS, saying that that is the reason there are shootings and rampant crime. That if they outlaw all guns, there would be no more shootings or crime. WRONG!

That is just the excuse they use to justify their way to subdue the Right. IF they can take all our guns, a little at a time, there would be no way that we could defend ourselves. YES, you heard that right, and I am not inciting violence against the government, BUT I am stating that as a citizen of this nation, we do have the right to defend ourselves from ALL enemies, foreign and domestic. The right to have and bear arms (guns) are a right we have under the Constitution, and IF the government wants mine, I will gladly surrender them one bullet at a time, until they pry my guns from my dead fingers. Mr. President, if the 2nd Amendment is not absolute, as you say, then hear this, neither is your Presidency. YOU are a servant of the People and we (ALL of us) are the People, not just the Left.

When Trump was President, the Left did everything they could to be subversive against his Presidency. They accused him of every imaginable alliance with Putin and Xi (which have now been proved false/fabricated), they tried to impeach him, and when that didn’t work, did everything except try to overthrow his administration, though they came close trying to impeach him. They would call their people (supporters) to violence, incite riots, loot and pillage, and call it ‘their right to protest’. I suspect that IF he had won the 2020 election (as he should have) they might have even gone to the extreme of assassination or a Coup D’état, and chalked it up quite justifiably (in their own sick minds), to simply doing their civic duty. Today, with even half as much dissent from the Right, they complain that we are being subversive to the government and that something needs to be done to stop us. This is WHY they want to take all our guns, and control our votes, so that we don’t do to them what they might well have done to us. Yes, the use of guns to indiscriminately shoot unarmed and innocent citizens, whether White, Black, Asian, Hispanic, young or old, children or adults is definitely WRONG. However, WORSE than that is rejecting the real cause of that violence, while blaming it on something else (like GUNS), to justify their own end, to be able to take our guns. That’s WHY the violence continues and will not end and WHY rampant disorder keeps involving shootings, and stores keep getting looted. Compare the Left’s light approach and failure to enforce the law and/or prosecute criminals to see why there is so much wrongdoing and violence in those same cities and states, and how there is no such problem in states and cities where law & order is enforced and criminals are prosecuted.

IF the Left really wants to end the rampant violence that exists in our society today, they need to endorse the need for Law & Order, and reject the movements to defund the police, rather respecting and promoting the police and all law enforcement. Also, prosecutors and judges need to be forced to punish law-breakers, or be held accountable for all the wrongdoings someone they failed to prosecute did after they had the opportunity to punish them and change their criminal behavior. It’s like kids that are not taught respect while growing up and never punished for not minding their parents… they will have no respect for authority and will cause every kind of trouble, just because they think they can. If you spare the rod, you spoil the child. That’s the way I grew up and I am thankful for my parents’ authority and teaching me respect of others.

Sadly, Biden’s presidency does not just affect us, as Americans. The whole world is also suffering due to the Biden administration’s crazy turnaround of everything that former President Donald Trump did to reverse the failed administration of Barak Obama and re-build our nation to Energy independence, a strong Border and Immigration policy, a strong stock market and Prosperity with opportunity to grow and improve our lives, for ALL Americans. The world also respected and feared us due to our military strength and Trump’s strong, but just, leadership. North Korea, Russia and even China knew better than to start any trouble, because they would be held to bear, whether with sanctions or force, if it came to that… so they behaved. Even more sadly, is that all the deaths in Ukraine are partially the fault of Biden’s weak administration and liberal policies, which have emboldened Putin to do as he pleases, knowing that Biden is not strong enough to oppose him… and Biden’s actions so far have proved Putin absolutely correct; and China appears to be heading in the same direction with Taiwan. Biden is a putz.

Our so called 'President' is a bumbling and gutless fool, a puppet who can't remember what he was told to say (by no one knows who is actually pulling his strings) and continually contradicts what his own administration states; our Vice-President is also a witless idiot who can only laugh, but can't put together a coherent sentence, so she laughs (probably at herself. These are our LEADERS. Please!!

The rest of the government also functions on the premise of, 'do as I say, not as I do, but do it or suffer the consequences'. Our southern border is no longer existent and illegals are just pouring in with the government's consent and blessing, with known terrorists, rapists, drug traffickers, and human trafficking brokers… all the worst of other societies, flooding our own. Though we have energy independence, our government is choking our production capabilities, making us energy deprived, which is killing our economy with gas prices 3 to 5 times what they were just over 1 year ago, before Biden took over the leadership of this country. And Inflation is through the roof with prices and interest rates also are rising to unimaginable highs, and the stock markets are dropping to unfathomable lows. The Police departments and Border Patrol, as well as Law Enforcement of all agencies, are being disrespected more and more, with calls for their defunding, yet are expected to come to the aid of the very people who want them gone, and do their job when violence or threats present themselves. Crime is allowed to run rampant and lawlessness is no longer even prosecuted in many Blue States and cities, or charges are minimized, encouraging the bad behaviors. And on, and on.
When confronted with something Biden cannot do legally, or when even a Federal Court or the Supreme Court rules against him, he simply does it anyway, by means of ‘Executive Orders’. So even IF the House and Senate flip to majority representation by Republicans, will that be enough to hold him at bay of his crazy ideas, or will he continue to circumvent our legal processes doing as he pleases? A President that acts like that cannot be respected or supported.

Sometimes, when peaceful opposition and resistance is given every possible opportunity to effect change, yet continues to be non-productive, and worse seeks to destroy a nation by tearing it apart, then armed resistance may be the only way to resolve differences of rule or opinions to that end, before one side completely destroys the other's right of survival. Self Defense IS a Constitutional Right. This premise was clearly demonstrated when the thirteen colonies revolted in 1775 against the oppressive British rule of the King; then again with the Civil War in 1861-1865, when the ‘issue’ was whether Slavery was going to be legal or not. Thankfully, the Union won and abolished Slavery, but it served to represent what can happen when the government acts in a manner that cannot bring about UNITY, which is the foundation of our great nation.

Now, we are faced with yet another great political division in our country, one that continues to escalate and dive us further and further into a place where the majority of our citizenry does not appear to be satisfied with, given Biden’s floored approval ratings. We are at a very dangerous point and frankly I do not see a workable solution, if Biden remains in office at the helm of our nation. If we continue the way it is going, there will be nothing left of our country to salvage by the end of Biden’s term in 2025.

SO, WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS (as I see it):
1. Let it go until our citizens have more than they are willing to abide by, and then who knows what will happen. At worst, civil unrest, which may end in assassinations or an uncertain civil war.
2. Some say that the President needs to resign or be impeached. But then what? We then have to deal with the VP, who cannot even speak coherently and can only laugh when she doesn’t know what to say. No, that won’t solve the problem. It’s not a matter of replacing certain key figures, because the problem is not about certain people, but by the whole administration and the will of our elected officials in the House and Senate, who fail to represent their constituent’s majority opinion. The latter I am confident will be resolved in November, when given Biden’s administration’s actions since taking over the Presidency, even many among the Left (but not the radical Left) are voting along Republican lines. However, what I find unacceptable is having to wait two more years to get rid of Biden’s administration/oppression, as that will certainly destroy our country beyond repairable means, making it much harder for the next administration to correct the damage created by this administration. By then, possibly we would be too weak and too divided to even defend ourselves against someone else taking us over… like Russia or China.
3. We can try to avoid all the above by accepting the fact that this administration has evolved into a rule that is NOT representative of the majority of its people… and only represents just a small percentage of people that use loud and aggressive behavior to appear to be bigger and more authoritative than they truly are, and in doing so, we can seek an alternate solution. One such solution could be to call for a Special Election to evaluate IF the Biden Administration still represents a majority of its citizens or not, and if not, then move toward a NEW election for either a Provisional President for the remaining 2-year term, until the 2024 elections, OR for a new 4-year term (2022 – 2026), or whatever new term is decided. IF a particular candidate (like TRUMP, per se, to the Democrats) is the issue, then each opposition can select ONE candidate that they can object to and he/she be excluded from running for the Presidency. However, the same would be true for any Democrat candidate that the Republicans object to, just like jurors can be objected to in selection of a jury. In such a case, an alternate (like DeSantis) would be a good candidate for the Right. Each Party can promote their own candidate and the winner of a fair, impartial and perhaps even independent election would complete either a 2- or 4-year term. Since it is now quite evident that the individual states cannot be trusted to manage their own elections, without someone alluding to ‘FRAUD’ when the vote does not go their way, perhaps it’s time to revamp our elections process, taking the burden from each state and contracting an outside firm with no ties or interest in our own elections, to manage and oversee our elections. Having worked for De La Rue International, for instance, they have served in managing elections for a multitude of foreign countries, with complete unbiased integrity and security, but there are others as well, such as Scytl Election Technologies S.L.U. and others.
4. OTHERWISE perhaps this nation has evolved beyond its original UNITED status of States and needs to separate into two or more countries… a Democrat (Left) union of States… and a Republican or Right-wing union of States, so that everyone’s ideologies can satisfy their needs. California is so far out there, that they may need to be a separate country of its own. The whole world is changing. Perhaps its time for us to adapt and change with it.

All I know is that I cannot abide by this continuing Radical Left philosophy, which is fueling hate and dissent to try to take over the entire nation, so they can destroy it for the rest of us. That is why we have moved to Wyoming and become Wyomingites. Here we can not only have our guns, but we can open carry and conceal carry them, even without a permit, because YES, Mr. President, the 2nd Amendment is strong here, to defend the 1st. I hate to have to say it, but THIS government is NO LONGER MY GOVERNMENT and BIDEN is NOT MY PRESIDENT anymore. He is no longer competent to serve as such and is overwhelmed by the Far Left’s control. His administration has mutated into an abhorrent form of rule, contrary to that which I swore allegiance to in 1980, and swore to defend 'against all enemies, foreign and domestic'. In our case, TODAY, the enemy is more DOMESTIC, represented NOT by the People (of any particular party) or by parents who demand to be responsible for their own children (without government interference), and as such are called ‘domestic terrorists’ by the government, BUT BY the present administration of Joseph R. Biden Jr. and their continuing effort to destroy our nation by dividing it and weakening it to the point that nobody else will want it either, so they can sell it to China or whoever.

However, don't get me wrong. I am NOT INCITING (as is the favorite complaint of the Left, NOR SUGGESTING THAT WE SHOULD OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT, however I am suggesting that something DIRE needs to happen, and SOON, to stop this administration’s abuse against now a majority of its citizens, as evidenced by their continuing declining approval rating. I hope we can find a solution without having to resort to violence, but the Left does not seem to be interested in ending the violence… just in getting our guns and making us weak and dependent on their power over us.

As a legally admitted alien (foreigner), Hispanic (citizen since 1980) and as a 6-yr active US Army and long-term US Coast Guard Reserve veteran, I have NEVER been ashamed of our government or country, UNTIL NOW. So, can anyone PLEASE explain to me (in a credible manner) WHY Conservative Americans are so complacent to continue to allow the Liberals to relentlessly degrade and weaken our country toward its ultimate demise? And WHY should we let them? IF Putin or Xi dropped troops on our soil with the intent on taking us over, would our citizens not take arms to try to stop them? Well, they’re here already in the form of the Far Left, so why are we not taking a stand to stop them?

I no longer follow the news because Fox News, Newsmax and Fox Nation, are some of the most conservative news media and while I respect all their on-air personalities’ commentaries, it seems to just be all talk…talk… talk, but nothing ever comes of it. Something or someone needs to effect a change, not just talk about it.

OK, I've had my say and won’t harp on it anymore, except to say that hopefully, we can find a way out of this dilemma that the Biden administration has put us in, and that the Far Left continues to push with their crazy agenda, BEFORE we either lose our country altogether, or have to resort to a breakup of our UNITED States, or worse... I want to be proud of my country and government AGAIN. I want the old America BACK… a strong and respected America… the one with Energy independence and a strong economy, the one with respect for law & order and each other. Going GREEN is just fine and a worthy change for the future, but it cannot be accomplished overnight or be pushed to that end until the infrastructure for changes is in place. What good does it do to have all EV vehicles, if we don’t have the capability of producing the energy to power them up, without overloading the grid and burning it up. But the Far Left wants to push their agendas anyway and that is just not going to work pushing it beyond its availability limits. We have started on the road to accomplish it. Ford and other manufacturers are working on the development of EV vehicle lineups. But pushing it before we are ready for it, is a sure failure.

A RE-DO election would be the best solution, but if that doesn’t work, then a clean break of the states as Red or Blue and California separately as Green. Otherwise, Civil war may come all on its own. If you don’t hear from us IF/WHEN/AFTER the **** hits the fan, we may have relocated into an off-grid encampment in the mountains… or joined the expats in Mexico or Panama.

So, I’ve had my say. Thank you for reading my thoughts, you are welcome to respond if you so desire, though I ask for constructive criticism, not obnoxious comments, if you have anything to say. There are enough assholes and rude Liberals in the world already.

Evaluation of Keystone RV, the manufacturer of our 2021 Keystone Montana 3812MS 5th Wheel.

Everything that affects Rvers, in one way or another, has a bearing on someone else. Whether it is a product or distributor, a store that caters to RVers and RVing, or an RV dealer or manufacturer, the evaluations/reviews of their products or of their own willingness to stand by their products and make things right for the consumers that have trusted them with the purchase of their products, always serve to warn or positively/negatively influence other RVers, and likewise the manufacturers and distributors. 

In our last POST we told you we would continue to UPDATE you as to our issues with KEYSTONE and their willingness to honor their warranty and 'fix' the issues that were deficient in their product.

As last stated, since bringing our new baby home, we found another issue as well as all the others identified in that post. This last issue was a water leak from the roof coming through the rear A/C and A/C vent into the living room. Given that this new problem was not going to solve itself and most likely would not wait until we could take it to Keystone Service Center in Goshen IN. So far the leak produced about 1 cup of water in a light rainstorm that lasted about 2 hours. When the heavier rainstorms of summer come, who knows what kind of leak or damage would occur. So we decided that we needed to take care of this problem right away and hopefully Keystone would agree and pay us back for our expense to do so. We used a local 28-year experienced, Certified Master RV Technician, Bob Zilka (Doctor RV in Star Valley ) 

To avoid any further damage, Bob came out right away (May 13th), while we were in Idaho Falls (Idaho) for a dentist appointment. We left the RV open for him because he is very trust-worthy. If you are in Star Valley in Wyoming (between Alpine and Afton), feel free to give him a call. We will always call back and will accommodate 'emergencies or people 'traveling through on a tight schedule'. 

When we got back from Idaho Falls, he said he fixed it none too soon as it was raining here. He used an umbrella to keep the rain from going into the RV, as he had to lift out the rear A/C, because as he stated it, it was not correctly installed by the factory. There is a hole where the A/C sits in and two hose holes (one for the intake and one for the cold air out). He said when he took the cover off, he could see into the inside of the RV because the A/C was not set into the hole correctly and the two smaller holes the gaskets were not correctly installed either. So he fixed it, installed it correctly and sealed the hoses and gaskets. We have had three other rainstorms in the past week (one a strong one)… absolutely NO LEAKS. Now, hopefully Keystone will pay us back for our necessary expense, given it was due to their factory techs screw up, but whether they do or not, we were not going to let their bad quality damage our RV further.

Not knowing that Bob would have been able to come out that soon, the day before, on May 12, 2022, we wrote to The Keystone RV Customer Service (Owner Relations) trying to see what might be the procedure to take our RV back to them in Goshen IN, since the dealer Camping World did not live up to their promises to take care of the issues with our RV before delivery. They offered for us to take it back to them 'later', but they are in Idaho Falls, ID (91 miles away from our home) which at 8mpg on our diesel F350 would cost us 23 gals of diesel at $5.95/gal now... $136.85, all because they LIED to us about having fixed it in those 3 days we gave them after buying it. One of the issues is a warped door, which would best be handled at the Keystone RV Customer Service Center in Goshen, rather than the dealer having to order one and then wait until they get it. Below ids the EMAIL we sent to them at their 'Owner Relations' email contact address they offered on their website... 

to ownerrelations@keystonerv.com

May 12, 2022

Attention Keystone Customer Service 

To whom it may concern,

We recently (03/28/2022) purchased a leftover NEW 2021 Keystone Montana 3812MS Fifth Wheel (VIN 4YDF38120M4704484) at Camping World of Idaho Falls, ID. There were several issues on it that needed fixing, which our salesman promised that they would fix them before we took delivery. So we left it with them for 3 days, until 03/31/2022, and then only until then, because they pressured us to take delivery by the end of the month, but assured us that all repairs would be done. They LIED.

On the delivery date (03/31/2022) they rushed us through the closing process and had the RV parked in their parking lot ready to just pull out with it, and the salesman said that his tech would show us how to hook up the fifth wheel (our very first one, as we have always had diesel pusher before it) so we could be on our way, while he attended to another delivery he had at the same time. Lo and behold it was not until we arrived at home with it and set it up and opened it up, that we noticed that they had fixed absolutely NOTHING of all the issues reported to them, and had NOT even detailed it, as  they said they would do inside. There was still glue or sealer stuck on the tiles, sawdust all over the wardrobe and cabinet floors, the valance still had the scratches on it, the door handles still scratched where they apparently were banging on another door's handle, and other issues, PLUS the entry door would not close securely for two reasons, 1) it is bowed (touches at the top and bottom of the doorway, but is about 1/2" separated from the doorway in the center, so the only way to close it is to slam it hard. Even so, 2) the latch striker plate was installed too low, so the door latch hit the plate outside the hole. The striker plate had to be moved higher so the latch would go into the slot. I had to take care of this myself, in order to be able to lock the door, even half-assed, as to raise the striker plate any higher would leave the screw hole exposed. However, there is still the issue of the door bowed (or warped) which requires slamming the door to close it.  The issue with the valance in the hallway across from the bathroom door is that as the door fully opens, it rubs on the valance scratching it. Also that door swings all the way fully open and the handle hits the other door (closet/cabinet), scratching it.

Now, while parked on our lot (without having moved it since bringing it home, and not having even loaded it with anything, following a rain shower, the next day we discovered a water leak coming out of the driver-side rear A/C vent (apparently coming from the rear A/C area). As we said, we haven't even tried the plumbing or shower to know if there are any other problems there. 

When I confronted the salesman about all these issues that he promised to fix before we took delivery, he said "Oh, well the tech was supposed to tell you that we had ordered a whole new bathroom door and we'll replace it when it gets here". I explained the problem is with the valance, not the door, as a smaller door would not fit right, so she said "OK so we'll order a new valance too." So I asked how it's going to be installed when it gets to them, and he said "You'll have to bring the RV back to us." It is a 100 mile trip each way , which with my F350 at 8 miles/gal, would cost us 25 gals of diesel at about $5/gal, that's $125 round-trip, all because they would not fulfill their end of our agreement. So he said to us, "OK, IF you are going to be so HARD-HEADED about it, I will take the door, valance and hardware and go to your house and install it myself." NO, that's not an option either. First I would not have anyone so rude over to my house, and as he is not a technician, he could void my warranty. I would rather take the RV to the Keystone Service Center during a trip to your area, so that way nothing has to be ordered and can be corrected by the people who know how to do it right.

We are www.RoughingItGently.com and maintain a blog of our travels with recommendations and warnings of good and bad products and services during our travels. If you go to our website, you will see the negative reviews that Camping World RV Sales earned from us, as well as a view of our purchased NEW 2021 Keystone Montana 3812MS. Despite our negative impression of Camping World, as your dealer, our impression of the Keystone Montana 3812MS RV (despite being a Thor product) is still a good one. ALL RVs have initial issues which need to be addressed, so we don't fault you for having them as well. The difference between a good and bad impression comes from the willingness of the manufacturer or dealer to fix the issues that are deficient, as agreed. In that your dealer was delinquent, whereas hopefully you will not be as well. We are no giants, but do have over 40,000 followers to our blog, internationally.

So, since we are planning a Fall (November 2022) trip up to your neck of the woods (near Elkhart-Goshen), we would rather take it to your Service Center and let you do the repairs correctly, as we have no faith in Camping World or most RV dealerships, who just have excuses telling us how bad the factory is. Would we need to arrange an appointment for that, and if so how far in advance should we call and who should we call.

QUESTION: In the meantime, we will be upgrading the RV with a Cummins-Onan LP 5500w generator (through Bill Bergstrom, Bill's Service and Repairs LLC, a Cummins Onan dealer in Loveland CO), a Traveler Dish satellite, solar panels and an Inverter with four 6V batteries, plus a Furrion Vision S 5" Monitor (3 camera wireless RV Backup System). Can you give us some recommendations as to size/capacity/rating and specs you would recommend for the solar panels and inverter for this unit?? We will do mostly campgrounds but may occasionally boondock as well.

We know and have used a Certified Master RV Technician named Bob Zilka (RV Doctor, in Thayne WY)  on previous rigs for warranty work with Fleetwood. Is he authorized to do warranty work for Keystone as well? 

While searching online, we could not find much information as to a Keystone Service Center, to fix New Warranty Issues that escaped the factory's Quality Control, though while we have never had a 5th wheel before (all were diesel pushers) we would imagine that you do have one, like all other manufacturers. So if you could direct us as to who we need to contact and their contact information, we would be glad to call them.  You can also call us to enlighten us and answer our questions.

Thanking you in advance for your assistance,

Guillermo (Bill) Garcia-Godoy

and Mary Thronson Olson

30 Last Chance Circle 7337

Star Valley Ranch, WY 83127

Cell: 352-233-0351 Bill

Cell: 321-271-7465 Mary

  

TODAY is May 23, 2022. In the last 11 days we have received NO CONTACT from KeystoneRV.com.  NOTHING... not even an acknowledgement of our contact, which does not speak very well of them. But then, they are a part of the THOR family, so everything negative we have heard and experienced of THOR Ind., must be true  perhaps we should have heeded it. On the other hand, if you are looking for a Class A (especially a diesel pusher), we can earnestly recommend Fleetwood RV. Those folks stand behind their products. Tiffin Motorhomes (Phaeton, our last diesel-pusher), once a very prominent and quality product, has also fallen by the way side, but then Bob Tiffin also sold his company to Thor Industries last year. Isn't it funny how that works? Thor keeps buying quality companies to improve their image, but no sooner they take over a quality manufacturer, the manufacturer's quality takes a dump.  

IF you are looking to buy an RV, Buyer Beware of Keystone RV. No need to ask about a Warranty because apparently they don't seem to honor it, which would explain all the 2-3 stars on their reviews as to Warranty. Even though we are willing to take the RV to them at their Service Center, they won't even take the time to respond to my communication.

We will keep trying to contact them, even if we have to go to their Main Office go to see someone starting at the bottom and asking to see the next one above that person, until we get to someone who gives a damn. Or maybe we'll have to go to a News service and taking it more PUBLIC.

In the meantime, since we have a following of over 40,000 viewers who check out our website, we'll keep reporting our experiences to our readers. We are not paid for our reviews and call them the way we experience them. A good review is good, because the product, manufacturer, warranty or whatever the issue is, just because it is. A negative review is bad for the same reasons. You are free to contact us with any questions you may have or comments as to our reviews, at roughingitgently@gmail.com 

We look forward to your visit on our next post. Happy trails!

UPDATE December 30, 2022

We have become so disillusioned with this KEYSTONE product (Montana 3812MS) that we have opted to trade out of it for another diesel pusher motor home. We had been warned that KEYSTONE is a THOR product, and from past experience with Thor we should have paid heed to them and ourselves. THOR SUCKS, as does KEYSTONE. They build a shoddy product that does not stand up to the elements and it is ieasy to understand why they won't provide their own warranty service... because if they did they would be swamped, constantly. 

IF you are considering buying a Keystone product, or ANY THOR product, don't complain when you wish you had paid attention to this warning, because it will be your own doing (and undoing). You have been warned. That is all we can do.

CONSIDERING WHERE TO REGISTER YOUR RV?

 The benefit of this lifestyle we have chosen... RV'ING, is that we are Wanderers. We are usually retired or work-at-home (or RV) and travel aimlessly, wherever we want, and as our name implies we live and travel, 'Roughing It', but 'Gently'. As such we are free to choose our residence wherever we want it to be... usually considering such factor as whether there is a State Income Tax or not, or being near our loved ones or other such reasons. In our case it was just the beauty of this area and the fact that Wyoming (the Cowboy State) represents the way of life we live for, and where most people are of the same mind set (Conservatives), as well as that every resident can Open Carry, or Concealed Carry without a license, and hunting as well as great fishing is plentiful, surrounded by beautiful scenery.    

In this crazy world that we are currently living in, and more so in this crazy environment and political climate within the United States, it would be beyond us to accept that there are many Liberals in the RV lifestyle, because no matter what type of RVing one is into... be it in large diesel pushers, small diesel pushers (Super C's), regular gasoline-powered Class A's, Class C's, Class B's, or even if it is just tent-campers, fuel is a necessary commodity that we need to use to get us to where we want to go. We cannot even fathom how those with a Bus diesel-pusher can afford to continue to enjoy our otherwise magnificent recreation. At the rate Biden-omics is going, it would not be unfathomable that Diesel #2 fuels will soon be at $8.00/gallon or higher, and Regular Unleaded will also be over the $7/gal mark. Even IF an all electric RV was developed, can you imagine how much the electric bill would be and how long it would take to 'fuel' it up electrically, for the limited distance it would travel?

Our other vehicle (the energy-efficient one) is a 2022 Ford Explorer XLT with a 2.3L Turbo (a peppy 4-cylinder) that 1) can be towed behind a motorhome (if we ever got another one); 2) can tow up to 5,300 lbs., 3) sits 4 (2 captain's chairs) with the 2 3rd-row seats folded down to allow our GSD rescue (Roxy) the full back of the car for her to sprawl out in, and 4) is supposed to have a 22mpg City and 28mpg Highway, though in our Wyoming area, we get about 26.8 average mpg. We opted to get the Explorer, as configured for several reasons, but especially because we opted to get a 5th wheel to travel (and live in when needed), which would require a diesel one-ton truck to pull it.... rather than another motorhome. 

IS IT BETTER TO REGISTER AN RV IN FLORIDA (OR ELSEWHERE) VS WYOMING.
In Wyoming, RVs (like all motor vehicles) are valued-based on their Base NEW MSRP (reduced yearly by 15%), so with a $300,000 - $400,000 Base MSRP on a diesel pusher, registrations would be through the roof. Just on our new 2021 Montana 3812MS, valued at $94,695 base MSRP, the registration was over $1,800 for just 1 year (2021-2022). In Florida our previous diesel pusher RV (MSRP $302,980) cost JUST $140 to register it in Florida for TWO YEARS. So, is it beneficial to register an RV in Florida over Wyoming? 

NOT REALLY, because of...

RV INSURANCE is a lot less expensive in Wyoming (at least in our area, which is not a dense population zip code). Actually, when you compare the differences of Vehicle Registration in Wyoming vs Florida, as well as the cost of RV Insurance in Wyoming vs Florida, the differences combined level out and make it about the same. While it would be ideal to have insurance in Wyoming and Registration in Florida, that is not a possibility. The RV's insurance has to be issued in the same State as the vehicle's registration.  Sorry!!

SO WHEN CONSIDERING WHERE TO REGISTER YOUR RV, CONSIDER ALSO THE COST OF INSURING IT AND COMPARE WHICH OPTION IS MOST BENEFICIAL TO YOU.

Everything that affects Rvers, in one way or another, has a bearing on someone else. Whether it is a product or distributor, a store that caters to RVers and RVing, or an RV dealer or manufacturer, the evaluations/reviews of their products or of their own willingness to stand by their products and make things right for the consumers that have trusted them with the purchase of their products, always serve to warn or positively/negatively influence other RVers, and likewise the manufacturers and distributors. 

Camping World: Our Review of their Product, Sales and Service, RVs and Company Standing

We have come across Camping World several times before, in search of other RVs that we have bought over the years. Luckily we found one we liked at an affordable price elsewhere, because the Camping World company philosophy has always seemed the same. In our ever so humble opinion, their company motto should have been "Buyers Beware!".

Unfortunately, the only floorplan we have liked in a 5th Wheel is the 3812MS, and the only one in our price range is a leftover 2021, and the only one like that was at Camping World (CW) Pocatello. Well, I had been talking with Gavin James in CW Idaho Falls, and he seemed like an honest and conscientious salesman, as opposed to the salesperson BilI talked with at the Pocatello store, so we offered him the opportunity to dealer trade for it and sell it out of the Idaho Falls store (a big mistake).

 

Imagine that... a unit sale that he did not even have to earn... just a freebie that fell in his lap. Now, we were not asking for anything special, that he shouldn't have given to EVERY customer; BUT we were expecting honesty and common consideration. When they brought the unit over from Pocatello, they said that it had still not been detailed and that they would do so as soon as we did the paperwork for it. They did not budge on their asking price, not one cent... so the least we expected was at least being able to count on their cleaning it inside, and ideally getting a sewer hose and water hose, as all other dealers include in their sales. Heck, motor homes even get a full tank of gas. 

During our walk through, upon actually seeing the trailer for the first time, we pointed out several 'issues' to Gavin, that were wrong with the trailer, like a door that rubbed the valance in the hallway window, and a door handle that had been scratched by rubbing on another handle on the full opened door, and scratches and chips on the closet doors, plus others, like a lot of sawdust in the main closet, and black glue on the living room floor. In all cases Gavin  would say "Don't worry, we'll take care of that... it's not a problem", and since we were not going to take delivery of it until three days later, they would have plenty of time to take care of those issues, since according to Gavin that would all be taken care while they were 'detailing' it. We also told him that we wanted to go over the trailer before we took it to make sure that all our issues had been taken care of. 

Factory sawdust is all over the cabinets. You would think IF they had 

detailed as they promised, we would not have had to deal with this.

The headboard is completely separated from the wall on 

the LEFT side, and partially separated on the RIGHT

Sealant or Glue or whatever sticky gunk this is all over the floor tile

 (which looks like someone stepped on it and wiped their feet instead 

of cleaning it, is all over the floor tiles.

Perhaps more of the stuff on the floor is also on the leather of the Thomas Payne recliners.

The non-carpet carpeting under the stove has a small tear on it.

There are several dings on the wood edges of the slides, which is really minor but could have been corrected at the factory with a marker of the same color as the wood... or included in the RV such a marker, as it being a color/shade that is not common (like brown, this is greyish), there is nothing the buyer can fix it with.

Something that we had not even noticed when we first looked at it, because the front door was already opened... the front  door was warped (bowed in the middle), which proved to have difficulty closing fully and locking (as the video shows). It turned out that either because the door was warped or because it had been installed incorrectly, the striker plate was out of alignment with the latch, and even if the door was slammed hard the striker plate was installed about 1/8" too low, so the handle latch would not go in to the striker plate. I had to move the striker plate up 1/8", so as not too leave a screw hole showing in the door frame. It now closes and locks, but one still has to slam the door hard to get it to latch. It needs a NEW DOOR. They could have told us that too, instead of hiding it.

We had agreed that in order to help him attain his 'delivered units' for that month (March 2022) we would pick it up on March 31st, but give him those few days to fix all the issues he had promised to fix... and true to our word, WE did just that... HE didn't. He LIED and then covered it up. Unlike to him, to us a promise made needed to be kept. Unfortunately, unbeknown to us, Gavin does not hold to the same values. When we arrived to pick up our trailer (as promised) he had positioned the trailer in the parking lot, headed out at the exit of the dealership, so once we hooked it up we could just LEAVE. Later, we found out that he also had another delivery that day, which explained WHY he was so eager to get us gone, so that we would not notice that he had NOT DONE ANY of the things he had promised to get done..... NO Detail... NO Repairs... NO CLEANUP... NOTHING, which we only found out about when we got it home. That's what we get for trusting in Camping World RV Sales. 

When we got the RV home and walked through it, expecting to find that all the issues we had pointed out to Gavin had been resolved, you could not imagine the surprise and pain we felt at the betrayal of Gavin's lies. We called him to let him know that we were not happy with their lies, since the coach was not 'detailed' as promised (floors still had glue on floors, scratches were still present, door still rubbed against the valance, and door handle was still gouged, etc. His response was simply... "Oh, you mean Jesse (the tech) didn't tell you?... We did not want to just repair it so we ordered you a whole NEW door and handle." So how is that going to fix it... are you expecting us to have to take it back to you at some point in the future, at an extra expense to us of a 182 mile trip, that we have not planned for??" we asked. Gavin says Yes, we'll call you when they are here".  THE NERVE!! In all the time we were there to pick up our trailer, fulfilling our promise to him to take delivery by the end of the month, he never had the honesty to look us in the eye and tell us that he had not lived up to his end of the bargain and that he expected us to have to return the trailer in the future... because he knew that we would have said that we would not take delivery, until those issues were resolved, which would have hurt his 'delivery schedule'.        

Finally, with every other RV we have purchased: a 2013 Coachmen Encounter (used), a 2016 Thor Challenger 37LX (new), a 2015 Fleetwood Discovery 40E (new), a 2020 Tiffin Phaeton 40-IH, all motorhomes, each dealership has always included a sewer hose and a water hose as gifts to celebrate the purchase (sort of as a good-will gift). However, with this 2021 Montana 3812 MS  5th Wheel (also new), purchased at Camping World, where they sell all sorts of camping equipment and one would think that they would want a new customer to continue to buy their camping equipment there, they could have included a sewer hose and water hose (neither expensive gifts) and both of very little cost to the dealership, but NOooo, not Camping World. So we'll return the favor and will never buy anything else from that or ANY OTHER CAMPING WORLD.

We love our new 2021 Keystone Montana 3812 MS 5th Wheel, however, but we are very disappointed (even disgusted) with the Camping World organization and sales force...   We have a follower of our website, who is looking to buy a large Toy Hauler and was interested to know what Camping World RV Sales was like, as they had not heard good thing about it. We wrote them back to explain that we had not had any experience with them, but would report our experience through this purchase. They probably won't be buying there after hearing of our experience with Camping World that is.  Apparently Camping World has not learned that you get more from buyers by living up to your promises and dealing with honesty and good-will, than by lying, hiding things and making decisions for your customers and not consult it with them. We still don't think they will, but they should.  Hopefully dealing with Keystone will be more pleasing.

UPDATE
Since bringing our new baby home, we found another issue, unbeknown to us before, as it had not rained before. After a rainstorm, we found a roof water leak in our Salon (Livingroom), coming from/through the driver-side rear A/C vent, apparently from the rear A/C (see photos and video). We have a little tray to hold the water, but hope that Keystone will give us an appointment to take it to their service center, as we obviously cannot depend on the dealer, Camping World to fix anything. (See photos and Video). A further UPDATE post will be published when/if all these issues are resolved by Keystone.

 

* Thanks for following our Travels Blog. As always we love to share with you our many travel adventures and destinations. We try to evaluate new products and apprise you of their positives and negatives, and warn you of the ones that are either dangerous or not in the best interest to the RV community. We are NOT PAID for any evaluation, so you can be assured that our views are strictly based on the facts... the positives being because they work and the negatives because they don't. We call them as we see it, as things are presented to us.

We'll see you on our next post, and as always feel free to write us with any questions or comments you may have.... roughingitgently@gmail.com