We traded in this spring for a new Passport Ultralite 285RL and wonder if anyone else has experienced quality issues with this model? We've suffered several annoying problems that the dealer has already had to fix after delivery and a few more we've recently discovered that need to be addressed (more than any of our previous campers) including:
*blinds in back window and dinette window defective/broken; replaced by dealer
*folding leg of dinette never screwed into underside of table; screw missing; fixed by dealer
*slideout didn't work on 2nd trip; power cable caught in slide mechanism and cut through - thankfully fixed at campground by onsite RV tech who said it wasn't threaded in correct place to begin with and got pinched until it finally cut through.
*plastic buckle on rocking chair security strap broken before delivery; replaced by dealer
*panel at bottom of dinette warped; currently waiting for replacement part
*hitch coupler and surrounding parts lightly rusted; fixed by dealer (most likely spray painted and rust will reappear again shortly!)
*seams around both doors and where wardrobe meets wall in bedroom not flush with walls (can see light); need caulking; complained on earlier visit; not fixed; will readdress issue when camper is returned for the dinette panel replacement
*caulking around wheel wells on outside trailer siding has now all pulled loose and is held in place only by the screws! Will be returning to dealer to address this issue when dinette panel comes in.
*design flaw (can't be fixed) - thermostat across narrow hall from furnace, causing it to shut off prematurely in cold weather. We've compensated by turning the temperature up higher than we really want
it, so that the entire camper warms up; not just the hall!
*water pipes under kitchen sink never tightened; water leaked badly and was discovered on a trip; DH fixed that
Don't you think that all of these problems are a bit much for one camper? We love the layout of this model, but everytime we take it out, we discover something else that's gone wrong - and we've only used it 4 times so far!
Me ('57)
DH ('55)
3 kids (18, 20, 23)
Chipper (lab, 11) and Duke (boxer, 6)
2007 Dodge 1500 V-8/HEMI; 3.92 axle; WDH with Dual Cam
2007 Keystone Passport Ultralite 285RL
Don't you think that all of these problems are a bit much for one camper? We love the layout of this model, but everytime we take it out, we discover something else that's gone wrong - and we've only used it 4 times so far!
I'm so sorry for you that this is happening!! We are also looking at the Passport 285rl. The rear-living floorplan really works for us, and it is the lightest weight rear-living we can find that has both a dinette and a sofa (we are pulling w/a 1500 and can't really go heavier). However, since the Passport model is new for Keystone (and a replacement for the Zeppelin line, that was fraught with issues) we have been reluctant to commit. While it seems many issues I hear of with the Passports have been minor (but still annoying to have to constantly run back to the dealer!), you seem to have had some that are more serious. Thank you for at least posting so that you can give the heads-up to someone else that may be considering the Passport!!
Did you order yours, or buy it off the lot? It seems like your PDI with your dealer should have picked up on at least a few of your problems.
Although i havent had any i have heard of similiar issues with teh zepplin, this is my second season and nothing yet. One thing to keep in mind, we get what we pay for and since i paid $17k out the door i wasnt expecting high quality.
2007 Toyota Tundra Sr5 DC 4x4 8'bed 5.7 tow package 4:30 gears
2007 Keystone Outback Sydney 32BHDS
2006 HD Street Glide
1997 Yamaha YZF1000r
1995 Honda CR500r
What is it with Keystone? I have not owned any of their products, ( I'm on my 5th RV and have not experienced as many problems as some of the Keystone customers. ( Don't misunderstand me, I am not knocking the product, I just don't understand the problems that persist their product, a good example is the Zepplin. I like their layouts, I considered them when I was shopping for one, however I was talked out of buying one from a couple of friends who owned this one for a limited amount of time because they had nothing but problems. Are some of these big companies just mass producing TT, therefore compromising the quality, or do most companies have this kind of problems. My experience has been a couple of minor issues which were immediately fixed by the dealer, but nothing like this. ( Again my comments is not to knock down Keystone product, instead is a concern for the quality of the product that we as consumers are buying companies like Forret River, Keystone, Jayco, etc.
Thank you for your replies. We did catch a couple of the minor problems during our PDI (blinds, light seen around edges of doors, table leg), but the rest have happened since then. Our dealer owns the KOA campground next to the dealership, so we stayed in it the first night we took delivery, then left the camper with them to fix the stuff we noticed that first night. I think the bouncing of the camper during transit on subsequent trips jolted some things loose that weren't exactly put together very well to start with. Hopefully, after all of these things get fixed/replaced, we'll have a nice camper! I am now wary about Keystone products - I hope they're not all like this!
I have a passport 285rl and I love it but I have had a couple of things go wrong like the blinds , the wheel well , and ac froze up once but other than that we love it seems to be built really well for an ultra lite . let me know how everything works out !
Joe and Jennifer
2007 Keystone passport 285rl
2008 Ford f150 supercrew 4x4, Triton v8 , 3.73 gears
1997 Seaswirl 170 bow rider
Thanks Joe and Jennifer for your reply and vote of confidence for the Passport 285RL. We're taking it down to the FL panhandle Sunday for 8 days. Hopefully, all will go well. In August, we're taking it back to the dealer to fix everything that still needs it.
I want to hear directly from current and previous Keystone RV owners who have experienced problems with any make and model of Keystone, especially the Zeppelin II 291 model. I own a 2006 Zeppelin II and have had in the dealership twice for the same problem the slideout cables and pulleys.
Please visit my site for Keystone RV's and problems at
http://www.begnal-enterprises.com/keystone-zeppelin-II.htm and click on E-Mail Me to send me your personal experience/issues with a Keystone RV.
We bought a Keystone Passport 280BH in early July. The left bottom holder for the blinds in the dinette broke, and the sofa arm was loose. Not worth taking it in to dealer for that. We can fix those ourselves. Everything else has been flawless so far. BUT, we've only traveled with it 3 times. It's been in the same spot now for over a month, but we've used it every weekend. Nothing else has gone wrong. We had to have an ultralite, as our TV is a 1/2 ton. We didn't expect the highest quality for only $18K, but we have been very pleased so far.
So far so good for us. We have had it back for minor issues or more so adjustments but so far very impressed with the workmanship. We also built a house recently and had much more problems. My personal experience/opinion is you get what you pay for. As I talked to keystone owners in the CGs it appeared the keystone higher end owners were almost all very satisfied. When it came to the ultralight it appeared people weren't as happy or had more problems.
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