Cart before the Horse? Just got 1st 5er... Need truck wisdom

Highly recommend you do some research before jumping on the RV bandwagon (especially with such a large fiver) butt naked.

Until SAE's J2807 towing standard is universally adopted and applied nothing can really be believed by any of the manufacturers. The irony is all the major manufacturers were involved in the creation of the standard, but now each is waiting for the other to comply. The only mfg to comply is Toyota but of course no Toyota today could possibly pull a 12,000+ lb fiver. The standard was revised, agreed on and established with a implementation date of 2013. This gave all auto manufacturers sufficient time to prepare for and implement the new standard. Yet, still nothing. So until then (maybe 2014 trucks?) we have alot of marketing lies & BS to put up with.

Go with the biggest diesel you can afford. Definitely would want a 1 ton long bed but don't need a dually although it would surely help smooth the ride and added safety. 4W drive is needed depending on where you live, season of travel and destinations.

- Maintaining speed on a specified grade
- Timed acceleration on level terrain
- Timed acceleration up a specified grade
- Response to trailer sway
- Braking characteristics at GCWR
- Hitch receiver structure and strength

It's the reason I have a Ford but now I'm bragging. Do your research.

I bought a 2008 dodge ram 1ton srw diesel (6.7) I had a 01 dodge 2500 with a 5.9 diesel and got 300,000 miles and still going!!!! That's why I bought an other one. I have a 08 KZ sportster toy hauler that has a dry weight about 11000 and with it loaded its close to 16000 . This truck has no problems pulling it .

Yu have the process right.
1. Find the trailer.
2. Now that you know how much it weighs find a tow vehicle that will handle it. Look at the truck specs from the manufacturer to find out how heavy a truck configuration you need to handle the trailer.

Get a long bed, that will give you more room and the longer wheel base is more stable than a short bed. 4 wheel drive is not needed for an RV.

Go Dogs wrote:
I know I will sound like your Dad, here. Stop, if you don't know what you're doing-don't do it. Withdraw your bid, do some more homework. This is a LOT of money to be throwing around. Lot's more fivers, where this one came from.

What he said.

"STOP, If you don't know what you're doing - don't do it"..:(

Unless you won the lottery - put it on hold - while you do your homework.

~

MontanaNewbie wrote:
Hello Woodall Wisdom!
I have just put in a bid for a 2008 Montana 37' fifth wheel. I'm so new to the game I don't even have the vernacular down, so pease excuse my ignorance. I am headed out this weekend to get my TV (tow vehicle, right?) I have read on this forum about doing my research on the tow capacity. I believe I need a 1 ton to tow this since I have read 2 different weights for it, 1200 and 9450, I'm going with the larger # to be safe. I'm unclear about height issues. Do I need to be sure my 5er and my TV match in ground clearance? Also, I understand that if I get an 8' bed I can use a standard hitch, and if I get a 6' bed I will need a slide hitch. Is this accurate? If so I would love any wisdom on which would be best. I have an 18 month old who is in a carseat and have been reading about safety in a 4 door truck (quad cab). Again, I'd appreciate your wisdom! Here goes!
Anna

Hi Anna - buy more torque than you need.

OK, I was in the same situation as you about 8 months ago. First of all, you are doing the right thing (IMO) by buying the 5er before the truck. I bought a 37' Cedar Creek with optional heavy duty running gear - GVWR is 15,500. I believe your Montana will be almost the same. When I'm loaded for a month-long trip, I weigh about 14,500 or so and have about a 3,000 pound pin weight.

I agonized over what size and type truck to get for quite awhile before and during my 5er purchase. Did lots of research on towing weight restrictions on trucks. Almost everyone on this site suggested that I would want at least a 1-ton diesel 4X4 with almost no agreement on truck make. But the concensus was that any of the big three HD pickups would do. SRW or DRW was always a question that was difficult to get agreement on. In the long run, the DRW won out for me. I got the truck in my sig and have been VERY happy with it! BTW, I would probably have been happy with a Ford or a Ram too. But I got the Chevy. The dually seems to give lots of lateral stability while towing and when you are experiencing strong crosswinds, that is important.

Both my wife and I have no trouble driving and handling the bigger truck, either while towing or solo. Took a very short time to get used to it but after that, a breeze! Backing is still a bit of an issue, especially backing toward my "blind" side. But we work together on it and manage to git 'r done - and we are improving.

Good luck and enjoy that 5er!

16000 gvw is the max for a 1 ton SRW diesel truck after that a dually would be necessary. Dually's are a pain in the butt when not towing. I pull a 16250 gvw fifth wheel with a SRW 2012 diesel F350 and it pulls and drives towing very well and according the CAT scales everything is in Ford's specs.

homefor2 wrote:
If you decide you need a dually to haul a heavy trailer, don't worry about it unless you do a lot of city parking or have a garage that is too small. I was a little hesitant because it was going to be our only vehicle. Now both the DW and I drive it daily and have no regrets about the 3500 4 door with an 8 ft. bed. Parking just means we may have to walk a bit farther but we can use the exercise anyway. Most people that say they don't want a dually have never driven one for any extended period. Once you get used to it it's no big deal with a few exceptions as noted above. Keep in mind the fenders don't stick out any further than mirrors on SWR trucks. Just my experience. Others will argue differently.

Totally agree!

RV's always weigh more than they say and the pin weight is always MUCH more than they say.

Towing with a Dually is stress free.

We pull a Montana 3400 RL, 37'6", with a 2011 F-350 6.7L diesel SWR ex. cab, 8'box,and wouldn't want anything less. It does a great job.

john&bet wrote:
A 37' Montana will have a GVW of 14k+. The two number you posted are no where near what a 37' Montana will weigh even dry. I would get the model number of it, the gvw of it and post an update here for better advice. I have an '05 32' Montana and it's empty weight is over 10,000.

My 2008 Montana has a 15500 GVW, On the scales partially loaded 12740, probably around 13000 fully loaded Hitch weight 2420 partially loaded ,probably around 2600 fully loaded. Never had it to the scales fully loaded , but the weights I had can't be too far off fully loaded , mostly what was added was clothes ,and food.