Prospective Oshkosh owner..

[TXgearhead]

The wife and I are looking at a 2018 Oshkosh. It's on a RV dealers lot, supposedly a trade-in on a diesel pusher MH. Appears to be in very good condition. Looks good...it's the gray, charcoal, tan, and white color scheme. I found a couple things wrong just casually looking last week. The curb side skirt at the far rear was loose, and the closet door top track had pulled loose. A couple of loose cabinet doors. Exterior was very nice. It doesn't look like it was towed much at all. Salesman said it never got away from the Houston area. I might believe him.
A couple of questions: It has Sailun tires. Did the factory install these on the 2018 model year? They look fairly new and the spare still has a sticker on the thread. Also, I was disappointed that it has no receiver hitch. I'm assuming the solution is a Curt adjustable RV receiver?
By way of introduction....I'm Brent, a retired refinery Machinery Specialist and Betty is a retired calculus teacher. Two kids, 3 grandbabies, no dogs, no cats, 3 boats.
Previous RV's: Tejas cabover, Travelmaster Class C, Cougar XLite 5th.
Current: Montana High Country (for another week) and Bigfoot cabover.
Some of you may have "met" me on Keystone RV forum or RV.net
Any info you want throw our way is most welcome.

 

[danemayer]

Hi TXgearhead,

Welcome to the Heartland Owners Forum.

I think the factory would have installed Load Range H tires, either Goodyear or Sailun. Sailun has a very good rep.

If you locate the GVWR plaque on the front, off-door-side, it has the tire specs. Make sure the tires are a match to what's on the plaque.

Keep in mind that in the RV industry, warranty generally doesn't convey to a 2nd owner. So anything the dealer is promising should be in writing, with the dealer as the responsible party (not Heartland or any of the appliance manufacturers) so there are no misunderstandings.

 

[RickL]

While I can only speak for my Oshkosh ours did come with Sailuns. So far after approximately 13,500 miles they are wearing very well. No irregular tire wear what so ever.

As to the trailer hitch, yup, I had to have one installed for a bike rack.

As to other issues, yes we have had our fair share but I have to say this, after the initial batch of issues they have really slowed to zero. Other then a broken sidewall framing support (resulting in a crack) most big issues was a result of the poor plumbing of the washing machine.

A couple of items in in my opinion to look at is the suspension springs/ shackles as the originals are very lite duty. Also if it has a washing machine or you plan on installing one make sure the hose under the bed is connected.

As to the curb side skirt, I had to install a screw to replace one the had broken off. The closest doors never fulled closed off the opening so I had to redo the top brackets. Probably a one off for me was the shower door lost a screw out of one of the rollers.

Finally, we drape a towel towel over the bedroom door when we close up to move or the door rubs on the wall leaving the door with finish rubbed off.

 

[TXgearhead]

I'll double check for correct size tires, pretty sure we're good on that. I was wondering if there was a connection between new looking tires and the loose skirt material, like a blow out.
RickL it looks like it had a washer and dryer previously, just looking at the footprints in the carpet. Hopefully any plumbing issues have been resolved, but I'll dig into it. We will likely get separate washer and dryers. Do you recall what brand rear receiver you have? Welded or bolted on? I really want to carry my bicycles. I'll look at the shackles again, it does have wet bolts though, OEM? I wish it had disc brakes. LOL But, it does have the Yeti package.
I did notice a rub on the bathroom door. Was thinking there was an issue there. Maybe some Old English stain will pretty it up. I assume the glass shower doors are the same as the Montana. $330 to replace one door! Spring loaded curtain rods in the bottom tracks have worked good since.
I'm sure I'll have more questions. Thank y'all for your help.

 

[jayc]

We too have a 2018 Oshkosh and love it! It came with Sailun tires and after over 10,000 miles including two trips to the Colorado mountains, no problems at all.

We did have a Cheap Heat unit installed and it makes a great deal of difference on these cold mountain mornings, and best of all, no hauling around heavy propane tanks.

 

[TXgearhead]

I'm hitting y'all with several issues but....have you ever had an issue with the big bedroom slide in a slide? Looks like a lot of weight cantilevered out there.
Has it limited you very often on your choice of sites...i.e. always a tree or something in the way?

- - - Updated - - -

One last question this evening. The sofa and theatre seats are a color I haven't seen before. Not chocolate, not white, sorta a butter color. We like it fine. The salesman said he thought it might not be factory furniture.
A side issue...please tell me your "leather" will last longer than Montana's 4 years!!
Here's a link to the unit..check the color please...
https://www.exploreusa.com/product/used-2018-heartland-landmark-365-oshkosh-1056186-5

 

[RickL]

I had my dealer install it. He was very clear that it is only good for about 300lbs as it is bolted. He said if I was going to pull a vehicle or a trailer I needed to have it welded. At this point I don’t have any plans other then to haul my bikes.

I was just in Elkhart the previous two weeks getting warranty work done. They replaced both slides (washer/dryer and bed) due to my plumbing issues. They replaced the schwintek motors for us. They adjusted the slides and they have never worked so good. Previously I was always worried that they were overworking every time I extended or retracted the slides. Now, if they remain like they are now I really believe I won’t have any issues.

The overall width I use to find and utilize a site is 15’ minimum. I have had any issues at the various parks but one thing I do do, is slide on cut up pool noodles to cover the corners. I have a number of fellow RVers knock on the door and thank me.

As to your furniture, if it’s original it is LCI. So that says it all. When the time comes I’ll buy lambright to replace the Lippert garbage.

 

[Gary521]

I do not think the wet bolts are original equipment. The skirts can come loose if they flop in the breeze. Check the underneath support members. My closet slider pulled from the ceiling too. I put it back up with molly anchors.

 

[HOOKERUP]

I do not think the wet bolts are original equipment. The skirts can come loose if they flop in the breeze. Check the underneath support members. My closet slider pulled from the ceiling too. I put it back up with molly anchors.

Wet bolts are OEM on MY OSHkosh,Replaced clothes hangar rod with a little bit longer than what was used with PVC.They probably saved 1/1000 of a ounce in weight by using on that barely stays in the end holders.

 

[TXgearhead]

Wet bolts are OEM on MY OSHkosh,Replaced clothes hangar rod with a little bit longer than what was used with PVC.They probably saved 1/1000 of a ounce in weight by using on that barely stays in the end holders.

I creeped around under it some more yesterday. I didn't measure, but yeah the spring hangers could be thicker. Springs looked OK. The chloroplast is bellied down a bit in the back. I'll put some thin gauge 2x2 perforated angle steel across it later. Doesn't look like the sheet metal screws holding the chloroplast have been removed. The plastic trim around the pinbox was loose and the screws pulled out.
The clothes rod in the W/D closet has a support screwed into the ceiling off center on the washer side; maybe there is a joist there. Several loose cabinet doors. Ceiling light in the walkway was dim. Closet slider track off. Other than that not much else.
We are moving forward with the purchase.
Of course the salesman offered a warranty. $5600 for 3 years. They took $1000 off with very little resistance. I declined. I've got emails going with Good Sam and Wholesale Warranty. I would like some kind of coverage for a couple years.
Guess I will pull the Montana up close to the garage and start unloading. I think it is supposed to be 99F today with our usual oppressive humidity. I picked a good time for this. If I woulda had my rear end in the mountains this wouldn't be happening. LOL Maybe next summer.
I'm sure we'll be conversing some more....

 

[RickL]

I creeped around under it some more yesterday. I didn't measure, but yeah the spring hangers could be thicker. Springs looked OK. The chloroplast is bellied down a bit in the back. I'll put some thin gauge 2x2 perforated angle steel across it later. Doesn't look like the sheet metal screws holding the chloroplast have been removed. The plastic trim around the pinbox was loose and the screws pulled out.
The clothes rod in the W/D closet has a support screwed into the ceiling off center on the washer side; maybe there is a joist there. Several loose cabinet doors. Ceiling light in the walkway was dim. Closet slider track off. Other than that not much else.
We are moving forward with the purchase.
Of course the salesman offered a warranty. $5600 for 3 years. They took $1000 off with very little resistance. I declined. I've got emails going with Good Sam and Wholesale Warranty. I would like some kind of coverage for a couple years.
Guess I will pull the Montana up close to the garage and start unloading. I think it is supposed to be 99F today with our usual oppressive humidity. I picked a good time for this. If I woulda had my rear end in the mountains this wouldn't be happening. LOL Maybe next summer.
I'm sure we'll be conversing some more....

You may or may not know that with the KIB system any light controlled by the push switches are dimmable by pressing and holding down on the switch.

 

[TXgearhead]

You may or may not know that with the KIB system any light controlled by the push switches are dimmable by pressing and holding down on the switch.

Yes I'm aware it has a complex lighting system. The salesman pointed it out, so I went with it.