Hey all,We just purchased a Montana 3810MS and I'm trying to make sure I've got enough truck to pull this thing. Anyone that can give me some advice, I appreciate it.Tow Vehicle:2018 Ram 25006.7L DieselAutomatic4x4Long BedCrew CabMontana 3810MSDry Weight: 13385lbsCarry Cap: 3365Hitch Weight: 2745lbsDealership seems to think I'll be absolutely fine, but I'd like to get the thoughts from experienced folks. Again, any help is appreciated. Hopefully we haven't gotten ahead of ourselves.Thanks,Bob

How much does your 5th. wheel weigh by itself + all the equiptment, personal stuff and weight of all your passengers? Now what is the towing capacity of your truck?

Towing Capacity is of the truck is 17,100lbs. Total weight of the 5th wheel plus carry capacity it 16,750...but I never plan to have it loaded with 3,300lbs. I'd say I'd like to keep the total weight around 15,000-15,500lbs.Passengers in the truck is 450lbs.

Not enough truck! You should be looking at a 3500 dually. Forget dry weight, nobody pulls an empty trailer. Your maximum wet weight is 16750, 20% of that, 3350, is on the hitch if fully loaded ready to go. Now add the weight of hitch, passengers, dog, and anything else you carry in the truck to determine your payload which had better be less than the rating on the yellow door sticker. The salesperson wants the sale and will tell you what you want to hear, once you leave the lot you are on your own. He/she may have little or no experience towing so good that you are doing your homework here.

Sit tight.......the weight police are being dispatched.I'd guess your close to the published payload of the truck with the pin weight but I would head out and see how it feels before I twisted my underwear into a knot. But not to worry, the fuzz will be here soon to tell you its not possible and you're going to be a hazard to humanity.See.......ROFLMAO.....there it is.....not fast enough putting thumbs to screen again.

Dry weight 13385 with a dry pin of 2745#=====20.5% pin weightTrailer GVWR 16,750#....20.5%=====3434# wet pinNormally I would say YES.......BUTYour RAWR of 6000# is going to be overloadedYou need a 3500SRW at minimum or a 14K GVWR trailerNot really 'weight police' per seSee I am of the opinion that GVWR and payloads (which are based on GVWR) really are not limiting factors.They are MFG 'Class' distinctions & warranty issues and a Registration ToolAxle ratings......whole different ball game They are limiting factors.Stay at or under axle ratings and good to go.

Tow Vehicle for Montana 3810MS | Good Sam Community

cummins2014
Explorer
Aug 16, 2018
Cummins12V98 wrote:
cummins2014 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
AISIN is a true MD trans used in many MD applications. It is a superior trans to the 68. I have owned and towed VERY heavy with both. AISIN is superior plain and simple.

Nothing I have read makes it that superior other then the price, yes it gets a heavy load moving better in the the first two gears, and after that pretty much the same. I don't tow nearly as heavy as you do ,and the 68 does just fine

Nothing wrong with the 68 as I have mentioned. I had one for 65k towing over 1/2 it's miles at 28-29k combined with the wrong 3.42's. The AISIN allows for towing heavier and does a better job of it. There is a reason the AISIN trans allows for higher SAE towing numbers.

Just want to clear up the superior part. I can see the need with frequent HEAVY towing, but other then that , nothing superior. Yes the 68 gets it done quite nicely with the weight, and amount of towing I do.

For the average guy towing lighter loads, the Aisin, and even the air ride, money that could be spent in a lot better places.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 16, 2018
cummins2014 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
AISIN is a true MD trans used in many MD applications. It is a superior trans to the 68. I have owned and towed VERY heavy with both. AISIN is superior plain and simple.

Nothing I have read makes it that superior other then the price, yes it gets a heavy load moving better in the the first two gears, and after that pretty much the same. I don't tow nearly as heavy as you do ,and the 68 does just fine

Nothing wrong with the 68 as I have mentioned. I had one for 65k towing over 1/2 it's miles at 28-29k combined with the wrong 3.42's. The AISIN allows for towing heavier and does a better job of it. There is a reason the AISIN trans allows for higher SAE towing numbers.
Wild_Card
Explorer
Aug 14, 2018
Walaby wrote:
I thought all 3500's have the Aisin transmission... do they not?

Mike

Nope
Walaby
Explorer II
Aug 14, 2018
I thought all 3500's have the Aisin transmission... do they not?

Mike
cummins2014
Explorer
Aug 14, 2018
Cummins12V98 wrote:
AISIN is a true MD trans used in many MD applications. It is a superior trans to the 68. I have owned and towed VERY heavy with both. AISIN is superior plain and simple.

Nothing I have read makes it that superior other then the price, yes it gets a heavy load moving better in the the first two gears, and after that pretty much the same. I don't tow nearly as heavy as you do ,and the 68 does just fine
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2018
AISIN is a true MD trans used in many MD applications. It is a superior trans to the 68. I have owned and towed VERY heavy with both. AISIN is superior plain and simple.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Aug 14, 2018
Wild Card wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Bob Bo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Truck will "pull it just fine" but with a 20-25% pin that a 5er can easily have I HIGHLY suggest the 3500 LONG BED SRW with AISIN!!! Don't forget the towing package with the pucks and then since you will have the best truck for the job buy the best hitch a B&W. You WILL be more than happy with both.

If you really want the icing add the Factory Rear Air Ride.

The new truck as the 5th wheel prep package/puck's, and the rear air ride

EXCELLENT! BUT does it have the AISIN??? Well worth the $$$. You may want to continue shopping. Nothing wrong with the 68REF but when you are at that level why not get the best possible.

Thats your opinion not fact.

Towing fairly heavy with 3.42 gears(SRW) and the Aisin works much better than the 68RFE which has taller 1st and 2nd gears. The only place the 68RFE is better is the reverse ratio.

Chris
Wild_Card
Explorer
Aug 13, 2018
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Bob Bo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Truck will "pull it just fine" but with a 20-25% pin that a 5er can easily have I HIGHLY suggest the 3500 LONG BED SRW with AISIN!!! Don't forget the towing package with the pucks and then since you will have the best truck for the job buy the best hitch a B&W. You WILL be more than happy with both.

If you really want the icing add the Factory Rear Air Ride.

The new truck as the 5th wheel prep package/puck's, and the rear air ride

EXCELLENT! BUT does it have the AISIN??? Well worth the $$$. You may want to continue shopping. Nothing wrong with the 68REF but when you are at that level why not get the best possible.

Thats your opinion not fact.
Cummins12V98
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2018
Bob Bo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Truck will "pull it just fine" but with a 20-25% pin that a 5er can easily have I HIGHLY suggest the 3500 LONG BED SRW with AISIN!!! Don't forget the towing package with the pucks and then since you will have the best truck for the job buy the best hitch a B&W. You WILL be more than happy with both.

If you really want the icing add the Factory Rear Air Ride.

The new truck as the 5th wheel prep package/puck's, and the rear air ride

EXCELLENT! BUT does it have the AISIN??? Well worth the $$$. You may want to continue shopping. Nothing wrong with the 68REF but when you are at that level why not get the best possible.
Me_Again
Explorer III
Aug 13, 2018
Bob Bo wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
Truck will "pull it just fine" but with a 20-25% pin that a 5er can easily have I HIGHLY suggest the 3500 LONG BED SRW with AISIN!!! Don't forget the towing package with the pucks and then since you will have the best truck for the job buy the best hitch a B&W. You WILL be more than happy with both.

If you really want the icing add the Factory Rear Air Ride.

The new truck as the 5th wheel prep package/puck's, and the rear air ride

Aisin transmission??

I tow a 16K 5th wheel with a truck with the same ratings. Your Montana has a higher dry pin weight. I suggest you use the lightest hitch you can find and keep the load in the trucks bed down to keep with in the trucks 7K RGAWR.

Hope you got the Aisin, did I already say that?

Chris

Forum Discussion

Tow Vehicle for Montana 3810MS

About Fifth Wheel Group

Related Content

Montana

Keystone Montana for fulltiming??

Grand Design vs Montana

Grand Design Solitude vs. Montana

Chinese Vehicles