When is a 2014 really a 2014?

bob8687 · 08-31-2013, 05:44 PM

We're going to be purchasing a 2014 Mountaineer (290RL) and are waiting for a local dealer to get in a Mountaineer with the interior décor we believe we want (haven't seen it yet). According to the brand new Keystone Mountaineer 2014 brochure, there are now only three optional interior decors. Here's where it gets interesting / confusing for me:

We see on-line where dealers are showing "New 2014" units--with older, now not available decors....from 2013. Add to that, we found a "2014" 295RKD on a lot that had a build date on the thing of 3/2013!

So.....'splain' it to me Lucy! Are those dealers hoping to fool you? Are the made in early 2013 units really 2013????

I'm confused!

Festus2 · 08-31-2013, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob8687

!

So.....'splain' it to me Lucy! Are those dealers hoping to fool you? Are the made in early 2013 units really 2013????

I'm confused!

No, they are not trying to "fool" you but it is confusing. We have an '08 Cougar that was actually built in the latter part of '07. It was advertised as an '08 and it is registered with both the Dept of MV and insurance as an "08. It depends, to a large extent, when they roll off the assembly line at the factory. It would also be difficult for Keystone and others to start making their new models in January, 2014 for the 2014 year. There wouldn't be enough time to get out the thousands of units that need to be on the dealership lots for the 2014 year so they get a head start by making them in 2013.

Still confused?

Move over and make room for me.

Check to see if auto have the same confusing build dates..........

bob8687 · 08-31-2013, 06:11 PM

Thanks....yeah, I get it with the late in the prior year thing--and you will find that with auto's--just ordered a new 3500 LT from Chevy and it'll be built Sept. 13 and is a 14. But it threw me with that one fiver that was built very early in '13 and is being advertised as a '14. Oh, well.......I'm going to ignore the dates and just look for the interior scheme my DW will be happy with and roll with that!

Povo · 09-01-2013, 07:31 AM

We picked up our new 2014 Cougar 327RES last Friday. Doesn't seem much different than when car companies roll out their new models. The dealer didn't even have the new brochures but we were able to see the new model on the Keystone website.

rconkin · 09-01-2013, 04:59 PM

Our 2013 came off the production line on May 8, 2012. Yes, more than 6 months before 2013.

**JRTJH** · 09-01-2013, 05:45 PM

Our 2011 Springdale was manufactured in March, 2010 and our 2014 Cougar was manufactured in July 2013. Seems like Keystone is about 6-8 months early in their production.

davvalh · 02-14-2015, 01:31 PM

Hi
I run across this with my Springdale. The specs are all 2013 as they changed the design for 2014 with a different floor plan. I think that a certain time of the year they change to the new year and what ever is on the assembly line at that time gets the new year. Just my thoughts. As I thought the dealer might have been B.S. ing me so I call the factory with the VIN they said it was a 2014.

GmaPaTime · 02-14-2015, 01:56 PM

When we ordered our Cougar the last week of August 2014, we were told that our unit would be the "NEW" 2015 model. Apparently up to that date, Keystone was manufacturing 2015 models but with older design. Since our unit was the "New" model, certain things were to be changed and/or not available anymore.

Our only complaint when it came in was the cabinet finish was not the same and we were not told prior that it would.

As far as Keystone's advertising goes, I wouldn't trust it much.

ncgrl1 · 02-14-2015, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bob8687

We're going to be purchasing a 2014 Mountaineer (290RL) and are waiting for a local dealer to get in a Mountaineer with the interior décor we believe we want (haven't seen it yet). According to the brand new Keystone Mountaineer 2014 brochure, there are now only three optional interior decors. Here's where it gets interesting / confusing for me:

We see on-line where dealers are showing "New 2014" units--with older, now not available decors....from 2013. Add to that, we found a "2014" 295RKD on a lot that had a build date on the thing of 3/2013!

So.....'splain' it to me Lucy! Are those dealers hoping to fool you? Are the made in early 2013 units really 2013????

I'm confused!

The Keystone factory made a lot of 2014's early in 13 because they were changing buildings where all the 5th wheels were made in 2014. The reason I know this is we ordered a new 2014 in July of that year and we never got it. After several calls from the dealer to Keystone they finally told them what was going on "Changing from the old plant to the new one" and ours was no where close to being built. I was then offered anything I could find in dealer stock for the same price as the one I ordered.
Having ordered the smallest Cougar XLite, we ended up with a nicer, larger, and more expensive Cougar XLite for the same money.
Later when I had a warranty problem the closest dealer to me at the time, told me my 5ft wheel was a 2013 because it was made in early 2013. I argued with the dealer that it was indeed a 14, and when he sent the VIN number in to Keystone it indeed came back as a 14. I kept the paperwork in case there were anymore issues.
My 14 Cougar XLite 26SAB is white with the older style decals like the 13's have. The newer model 14's out of the new plant have the different decals and several different updates. I hope this helps, and makes some sense...

NotyetMHCowner · 02-14-2015, 03:06 PM

A Keystone rep told me that (at least with the Montana High Country models) 2016 models start coming off the line in March of 2015. We ordered a 2015 model at the end of October. They were not able to get it made by the end of the year, so we end up with a 2016 model. But they go through "re-tooling" for the new model year starting in January and most of February. I don't understand how it takes that long to re tool, but that is what is going on. Anyway, all 2016 models are being made beginning at the start of 2015. Seems silly to me.

Ken / Claudia · 02-14-2015, 11:51 PM

The 10th digit of the VIN is and has been the year. That has changed from letters to numbers and is now back to letters. Started with A in 2010, so a 2015 would be E. Here is the big BUT, really the maker of any vehicle can call it what ever year they want. Was it the ford f150s came out in 1994 called a 1996 model. Due to a body change? I have not looked at any but they should have had the correct digit for which year they were actually made. My trailer is listed by keystone as a 2013 the VIN is D for 2014. The date keystone typed up as the build date is 07/2012. Go figure. Boats are called HIN and same thing is seen there. the last 3 digits are the month/year. My boat was a custom built licensed in 06/2008, the build date 05/2008 the HIN says built in 08/2008.

Dooley · 02-15-2015, 09:40 PM

Yeah we just purchased a 2015 Alpine 3510RE , and not currently in possesion of it as of yet . I have been trying to research on tis model and its not even on Keystones web page , nor is there any 2015 models listed !! confused

KanTC · 02-15-2015, 10:27 PM

Hi Dooley,

Go to the Alpine link below... click on the blue tab "View all Floorplans".
All of those shown, including the 3510RE, are the 2015's.

http://www.keystonerv.com/alpine/#/floorplans

Terri, the Chevy co-pilot

Ram189 · 02-16-2015, 08:22 AM

I am not sure of the exact rule or law where a trailer is concerned but I am sure it is very similar to a car/truck.

Usually anything built after March of any said year with any kind of change can be labeled as the next year.

IE.- Anything built with a model change after March of 2015 is a 2016 model. Anything that is changed before March but built after January is a 2015.5 model change.

It is very confusing but that is how I understand it to work. I remember back 15 or 20 years ago if you were going to release a new model it was kept under wraps and there was a big unveiling party for the thing. My dealer got fined for selling a Ford Escort before they said we could sell them.
You used to have to hide new products until a certain date. Could not let anyone test drive them, ect. It was a funny way to do things but made for lots of excitement and anticipation.

Kickin It · 02-17-2015, 05:07 PM

I agree with Ram. My new unit has a build date of 5/14 and it titled as a 2015. It seamed very odd to me when I saw that.

Texascoastalfish · 03-24-2015, 09:34 AM

We were looking at 2015 Cougar 327RES models. We had pretty much decided we wanted the 327 and we called the dealer to show us that model. The dealer had (2) 2015 models on the lot, but didnt immediately disclose that fact. He showed us the 1 model and it did not look like the exact same floorplan as the on the Keystone website. My wife was telling him "Nope this is not it ! This is not the one I saw". 2 coaches down unbeknownst to us was the "newer" 2015 Cougar 327RES " non High Country" all buttoned up. I walked up and looked at the model # on by the door and said . "Hey here is another 327, but it doesnt say High Country above the Cougar logo ?"He seemed a little like " ah hell they found it" but played along and stated it was the "new Floorplan" and after we looked inside that one and verified it was the same as the website ( larger 2 person shower, different entry layout, and a bit different furniture, the L shaped sofa is a foam bed,, not a standard pullout mattres, but they have taken away the keyless entry and the electric Weber grill that the High Country had.
We bought the newest model and we are picking it up on the 27th, but it just seemed odd (or maybe not in retrospect) that he didnt come out and say we have 2 floor plans, early 2015 and late 2015 . I know he wanted the older inventory gone, but to forget he had 2 ogf them ? Please....anyway there are 2 2015 Cougar 327RES plans out there right now and they are willing to make really nice deals on the early floorplan

Ken / Claudia · 03-24-2015, 10:11 AM

That story reminds me of how lazy and lousy salesman can be. Toyota lost a sale to me about 30 years ago. I went to the nearby dealer told him what I wanted in a new truck including color. He than takes me back outside and stands in the bed of a truck and looks over 3-5 acres of lot trying to find one. I ask about looking it up inside, no we just do this. I left, I did not have time to wait for him to learn the inventory.

NotyetMHCowner · 03-24-2015, 11:11 AM

Yea, we ordered a 2015 model, then thought we were ending up with a 2016 model, now realize it is just a totally remodeled 2015 model. WTH? Apparently they may decide to change the whole trailer, (I mean width, length, closets, etc) and still call it the same model year until after April or May then it becomes the new model year. It doesn't make sense to me but we will probably NEVER order another camper again. When we find what we want, we will buy the one we are looking at. Not order one because there is no telling what you end up getting.

Road-King · 03-24-2015, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotyetMHCowner

Apparently they may decide to change the whole trailer, (I mean width, length, closets, etc) and still call it the same model year until after April or May then it becomes the new model year.

It really doesn't seem that model year means anything in the RV world. I have seen other Alpines, same model and year as mine, with some BIG differences. It's not like ordering a automobile.

Quote:

Originally Posted by NotyetMHCowner

It doesn't make sense to me but we will probably NEVER order another camper again. When we find what we want, we will buy the one we are looking at. Not order one because there is no telling what you end up getting.

I think this is the best advice for anyone. I would never order one either. You can't bank on anything the dealer tells you. You will only know for sure what you ordered when you get it. It's a roll of the dice.

NotyetMHCowner · 03-25-2015, 03:32 AM

We are staying with the one we ordered but will be making some changes to it when we get it. They lowered the hutch down, I guess so short people could reach the top shelves better. Problem is, now you can set a coffee maker on the hutch because the upper cabinets are too low so we will be raising them to the ceiling. Also DW doesn't like the new backsplash at the hutch and stove area so that will be changed as well.

I think it is usually out of the dealers hands anyway. They don't know what changes the manufacture is going to come up with each time.

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