Which would you buy Cougar or Montana HC?

[GeekSquadOfUn]

I'll admit the gel coating finish on the Montana HC is a big plus....

I still love my Cougar ��

[Frederick]

I would give the Keystone Alpine a look I have one and like it very much

[CaptnJohn]

I have had both before my Montana. Only a few cosmetic problems with both. Preferred the HC of the 2.

[wagonicfolding]

Entry level trailers are going to be made cheaper then mid level trailer. So that being said. I have seen some people do not like some brands of trailers who have posted. With any trailer you first year you may have problems and need some fixes. Pretty standard in the industry. Each manufacture has different levels of products to make it affordable for everyone.

So for example Keystone make an entry level trailer known as the Sprinter, and Hideout.

They are both good trailers they are just entry level trailers and not built as well as the mid level products like the Cougar. The cougar is a mid level product built with better quality. The higher end of the keystone line would be the Montana High Country, and higher yet the Montana. So all these companies want to cater to everyone. So to say good or bad it is all in what you want.

For example I have a Forest River Hemisphere. It is an upper mid level trailer, and it is perfect for my needs. I like Forest River for the quality and price in all ranges of trailers that they make. Being in this business it seems they give you a lot of extras with the product you get. Examples would be if it comes with a BBQ you will get a really nice spatula, They will provide silverware tray, TP holder, towel rack, paper towel holder, sewer hose fitting, some cases heated mattress, water filter just to name a few. Here is what you need to do is look at lots of different manufacturers, and when you look at the products they have to offer do this test. Open and close all the cupboards, cabinet doors, drawers. Remember what they feel like and how solid they open and close, and compare them to the other manufactures. The ones that feel the most solid at the best price is going to be better built. I hope that helps.

[Greg L]

The Montana is a much nicer trailer over all

[JRTJH]

Originally Posted by Greg L

The Montana is a much nicer trailer over all

Nicer ???? There is so much to finding an appropriate floorplan, color scheme, weight/capacity trailer that's towable by the existing tow vehicle that "nicer" is about 10th or 15th down the list of "considerations before buying".....

[04ctd]

Originally Posted by wagonicfolding

They are both good trailers they are just entry level trailers and not built as well as the mid level products like the Cougar.

The cougar is a mid level product built with better quality. The higher end of the keystone line would be the Montana High Country, and higher yet the Montana. So all these companies want to cater to everyone. So to say good or bad it is all in what you want.

I hope that helps.[/COLOR]

this is the key...buying as much trailer as you can afford, and HOPING that price point brings a better skilled tradesman, and a better built trailer.

you can only hope that ever dollar increase in price, is an equal increase in quality.

we have a 2020 Cougar 364BHL (two months old?), and it has a VERY SOFT floor in some spots, that just annoys me to no end.

the Dometic Fridge is $130 a month to keep running (most 50 amp sites charge you for electric due to the amount you use, and to pay for their infra structure upgrades to 50 amp)

if I was going to "live in" or "long term" i would get a domestic (home style) fridge and put some solar on it to run the fridge while driving.

there's a LOT to consider.

the pleather seats are pure misery, my removable booth seats are starting to wear holes in the corners, because I have to set there as a desk to work.

we got a 7 year extended warranty, just because of the sorry seating material

I think a used F-450 may be a good investment!

[gearhead]

I'll comment some more on this old thread since I previously commented.
Last summer (2019) we traded the Montana HC in on a used 2018 Heartland Landmark Oshkosh. It was a financial bath but we knew it would be.
My thoughts so far:
We really like the floorplan and the room. It's 40ft long and that has been an issue a few times. I would prefer something around 37ft. It has a closet for washer and dryer. We bought separate Magic Chef W&D from Home Depot with relatively inexpensive 5 year warranties. Lots of cabinets in the bedroom with a full width hanging closet. Bath room is typical and has a good sized shower. The den is good with what I believe is 100% vinyl sofa and recliners. Kitchen has a huge residential Insignia 4 door refrigerator. No problems with it so far. Truck charging seems to keep up with it while on the road. It has 8,000 pound axles with shock absorbers with 17.5" wheels with LRH Sailun tires. Great tires but they are very heavy to manhandle around. The best thing to me is that full body paint. So far it's easy to keep clean and no issues from being exposed to weather. It's 18,000 GVW and I run about 17,400 with around 4,400 pin. I would get a Goosebox but it isn't rated for that much pin weight.
If you're looking outside the Keystone brand a Landmark may be a choice. I tried to buy a used Redwood from PPL in Cleburne Texas but got jerked around and finally gave up on them. We couldn't find a clean used DRV when we were shopping but they show up occasionally.

[Sulphur1]

None after all the chassis potential problems! And I have a Cougar HC that could fail any time due to poor construction methods IMHO.

[Stircrazy]

I would say buy which ever one has the floor plan you like. I have a cougar, we looked at montana HC but in the end decided on the cougar because of the floor plan. am I disapointed in it, not at all, compared to other brands light weight 5th wheels it is built like a tank and the finnishes inside are leaps and bounds above companies ch as jaco and a few others. I wouldnt hesatate to live in it if I had to.

Steve

[Jim2366]

I like our Cougar it pulls great, and like the open floor plan. The Mrs picked the floor plan because of the bedroom was large, and the new front window. Its only a year old and we have stayed in it 35 nights and there is nothing that is broken or needs repaired. I want to find covered storage to keep it from the weather here in Missouri.