Keystone West hit with flood

[rhagfo]

The Umatilla River flooded Friday flooding the Keystone facility in Pendleton, OR. The water was deep enough to move some finished units around in the storage yard. Let’s hope Keystone does the right thing with any damaged units. Interstate 84 may be closed for up to a week.

[jsmith948]

Agree with Russ on his hope that Keystone does the "right thing" with any units exposed to flooding.

But - the cynic in me has to ask: How would you know if the unit you purchase during the next few months was, in fact, floating around in the parking lot?

Thanks for posting - valuable info.

[Frank G]

Originally Posted by jsmith948

Agree with Russ on his hope that Keystone does the "right thing" with any units exposed to flooding.

But - the cynic in me has to ask: How would you know if the unit you purchase during the next few months was, in fact, floating around in the parking lot?

Thanks for posting - valuable info.

Keystone's Insurance will pay for them and remove for resale with a salvage title. It is not financially feasible for Keystone to salvage all or part of a unit.

[Pull Toy]

I would pay special attention to the “build date” of any unit built at that factory. I would also have the dealers drop the coroplast to check for rust or musty smell. The most obvious ,sign, to me, would be excessive rust on the black iron pipe used for the main gulp gas line or rust on the suspension.

Obviously, a soggy rug or water marks on any interior panels, I’m out of there

Good Luck,

[flybouy]

Originally Posted by Frank G

Keystone's Insurance will pay for them and remove for resale with a salvage title. It is not financially feasible for Keystone to salvage all or part of a unit.

That is if they have insurance. I have no idea if they do or do not.

Many large companies are self insured i.e. they have money in a an account that is administered by an insurance company that's typically used for "outside clams" meaning a customer sues them. For internal losses the company typically takes it on with capital. In my working days in the large retail and restaurant sector I've rebuilt many locations damaged or destroyed by cars running into them, fires, and natural disasters.

[Alpine]

At about 55 seconds you will see Keystone's facility.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GBbhkMfMYA

[Weekender 1]

If history repeats itself and I believe it will, DOUBLE DOWN!


They will collect insurance and a company will come in, buy the damaged units and resell them as salvaged for the worst ones, the rest, discounted new.

Keystone gets there money back and insiders within Keystone will reap a bonus. Double Down.


Natural disaster brings out the greedy in humans EVERYTIME!!

[jsmith948]

Even if Keystone writes all of the finished units off as salvage or whatever, there are stacks of components - frames etc. that were partially or completely submerged.

Sometime in the near future, we will read posts by new Cougar owners complaining about the inordinate amount of rust they are seeing on the undersides of their trailers. Will the axles and wheel hubs that were subjected to flooding be dis-assembled and have the bearings replaced?

I would be reluctant to buy a trailer assembled in that location for some time to come. But, that's just me

[JRTJH]

Like Jack stated, EVERYTHING that was flooded has the potential for water damage and issues "downstream" <pun intended>.

From the CONEX boxes (cargo containers) filled with TV's from China to the Furrion KeyTV systems, the In-Command systems, the refrigerators, furnaces, microwaves, sofas, luan sheeting, carpet, just to name a few.

Honestly, "rust on frame/axle components" (that are routinely exposed to water when towing in the rain) is only the "tip of the iceberg" when it comes to this kind of event.

Hopefully, Keystone will do the right thing and we'll find the "RV salvage stores" in the area having "Busting at the Seams" sales in the near future. That said, much of what I listed above is shipped from China in CONEX boxes on the deck of freighters, so if the CONEX's are sealed, there's likely no water damage inside them. It's the stuff that was sitting around waiting to be installed on trailers that were on (or projected to be on) the assembly line in the next week or so.

Looking at it statistically, for trailers built in the Oregon facility, it sort of stacks up this way:

"APPROXIMATELY"
100% of the weeks production
25% of the monthly production
8% of the quarterly production
2% of the annual production

So, when looking at the "built by Keystone" decal on the side of the trailer, the "MFG DATE" for 2020 and possibly some early 2021 model year trailers will become a "critical consideration" for trailers built with the WE nomenclature with MFG dates in "late January/early February, 2020.

[Canonman]

There is also a Lippert Components plant located next door to the Keystone plant. No way they escaped the flood damage either.

[grantda]

I would think you would ask the question in writing. Get their response in writing, then if problems arise later from water damage you are all set to hold their feet to the fire if necessary.

[+Ruff Rider]

It would be easy to tell if your RV was in a flood.
First look for warped sub floor. Next look in crevices for mud. There is no way to get every speck of mud out of a trailer.

[Jerry S]

Originally Posted by rhagfo

The Umatilla River flooded Friday flooding the Keystone facility in Pendleton, OR. The water was deep enough to move some finished units around in the storage yard. Let’s hope Keystone does the right thing with any damaged units. Interstate 84 may be closed for up to a week.

Soon to be sold at a dealer near you.

[rlh1957]

WOW. I didn't know I might need to carry an anchor for my rig also!

[flybouy]

Don't forget the bilge pump!

[rlh1957]

Some folks need a bilge pump all the time... Never fails every trip I hear someone else's "I learned about camping from that" story, where they turned the rig into the turd bowl hooking up the city water to the black flush port, turning it on and not realizing what they had done.

[rodgebone]

Canonman

There is also a Lippert Components plant located next door to the Keystone plant. No way they escaped the flood damage either.

the Keystone plant next to Lippert is a different plant from the facility shown in the video. THAT plant (& Lippert) are a mile east on the other side of the interstate. not sure if they were affected but like the plant in the video they are also located next to the river although the interstate bisects the plant/river. ALL of the Pendleton Keystone facilities are in the flood plain... so yes, buyer beware!