Forum Discussion

scottkeen's avatar
scottkeen
Explorer
Feb 10, 2017

Montana 347THT Toy Hauler and Daily Driver Tow Vehicle

When I first joined the forum, I think I mentioned that I wanted to bumper-pull a travel trailer with my V8 4Runner SUV.

I've now come around to wanting a 5th wheel toy hauler to also haul my 430 lb motorcycle and double the garage space as an office. I will be full-timing with just me, the dog, and the cat. The Keystone Montana 347THT looks like the perfect rig for what I want. It has a GVWR of 14,145 lb (10,660 dry).

So, next step is to sell my 4Runner and get a heavy duty pickup truck, which would also be my daily driver. I don't plan on moving around much, maybe every 3-4 months (or sooner if I don't like where I'm at), so the truck has the purpose of being my daily driver first, and my tow vehicle second.

My question is: Based on the 14,145 lb GVWR of the Montana and that the truck is my daily driver, do I want a Single Rear Wheel or Dual Rear Wheel truck?

Part of me says "just get the F-450 and be done with it". But the truck will also be my daily driver, so if a F-350 SRW will do just fine then I'd rather do that.

FWIW, I'm not looking to make a huge financial commitment on the 5th wheel, as it will be my first trailer and I'm expecting that I'll find out things I like and don't like. So, I'll be looking on the used market for something 10 years old or newer.
  • KD4UPL's avatar
    KD4UPL
    Explorer
    Feb 10, 2017
    While a SRW truck should handle that trailer a dually would be better if you don't mind driving it around. I daily drove a crew cab dually for many years and it really wasn't any big deal. The length was more of an issue than the width. I regularly took it thru bank and restaurant drive thrus. It fit but it was kind of tight.
    I'd skip the Ford 6.4, particularly in a rig that sounds like it might sit around a lot and do a lot of short trips. If you were towing all the time it might be different. The 6.4 is a complex, expensive, and trouble prone engine that also gets rather poor fuel mileage compared to other diesels.
  • Okie1's avatar
    Okie1
    Explorer
    Feb 10, 2017
    Just bought a 2016 F350 SRW, I bought the SRW because it too is our daily driver and when not towing my wife drives it most of the time. DRW is just a pain when not towing and the SRW handles it great.
  • BB_TX's avatar
    BB_TX
    Nomad
    Feb 10, 2017
    I have not owned one, but the 6.4 has been discussed as having poor fuel mileage. I would move up to the 6.7 if you want to stay with Ford.

    And yes, the newer 350/3500 SRW trucks should handle that trailer fine.
  • JIMNLIN's avatar
    JIMNLIN
    Explorer III
    Feb 10, 2017
    I would shy from any '03 and up 6.0 or 6.4 Ford engines. Check out Ford diesel forums for problems/out of pocket expenses some owners have had with these two engines. There are reasons Ford quickly dropped them both.

    You don't need a DRW for that size trailer however the newer gen one ton SRW truck are better suited for 3500+ lb payloads in the bed.

    Only you can decide if a one ton DRW will fit in your daily driver scenario.
    I have both trucks and no way my crew cab long bed DRW will physically fit where I go in the big city or some job sites or in pastures.

    Ram has several 3500 SRW trucks with 12000-12300 gvwr and 7000 rawr packages good for around 3800 lb in the bed.

    If you choose the F350 SRW these can come with a 10000 gvwr or the same truck in a 11200 gvwr. Choose carefully.

    The 3500 SRW GM will do anything Ford or Ram can do. The newer gen SRW trucks are all good trucks.
  • scottkeen's avatar
    scottkeen
    Explorer
    Feb 10, 2017
    Thanks for the replies.

    The TV I'm looking at is a 2008 F-350 SRW 6.4 turbo diesel. It has a FW tow rating of 15,200 lb. The next generation 2011-2016 F-350 SRW goes up +500 lb to 15,700 lb.

    My reservation with getting a dually is how it would be as a daily driver, since that would be the primary purpose of the truck, and TV is the secondary purpose of the truck.
  • MFL's avatar
    MFL
    Nomad II
    Feb 10, 2017
    A newer 350 SRW will handle that FW just fine. Toy haulers often start with a higher pin wt percentage, to offset the loaded garage. If a future larger FW is a consideration, 16K GVWR, or more, then you might want to just get the DRW right now.

    Jerry
  • md_procouple's avatar
    md_procouple
    Explorer
    Feb 10, 2017
    Also think about a Dually, that's what we have, a F-350. The weight is bit more distributed. just a thought... Good Luck and Happy Camping !!
  • Old-Biscuit's avatar
    Old-Biscuit
    Explorer III
    Feb 10, 2017
    I have a 2007 Dodge 3500 SRW and tow 34' 5th wheel.
    5vr GVWR is 14,375#
    5vr Scaled is 13,873#

    Towed it FT for 7 yrs.
    Over on Trucks GVWR of 10,100# BUT within rear tires MAX Load Rating and under Trucks RAWR

    Newer 350/3500 models are more then adequate for a 14K 5vr.

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