What do you tow your 40' Montana with?

[mdshope]

My wife and I are very interested in purchasing a Montana 3811MS only problem is my tow vehicle is a 2012 F250 with the 6.7L Diesel engine. What are the folks familiar with Montanas towing there rig with. Does anyone tow a similar sized Montana with a F250?

[wingnut60]

Try here for some help:

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/

[pnwfireguy]

We have a 3440RL at 39'4" we are towing with a 2011 RAM 3500 4x4 DRW

[jr03vibe]

We just picked up our 3811MS, I use a 2016 GMC 2500HD Diesel regular bed truck. The only thing I did was put an air bag system on the rear suspension just before I pick up the Montana for the extra weight, which wasn't much.

[MASTERDRAGO]

Old thread but wanted to add my $0.02 worth. When we started looking at 5th wheels in January '17, I thought our '09 F250 would handle anything. Then I really started looking. My sweetheart (Joy) got set on a 39-41 foot 5r (Montana or Solitude). She found one in Mississippi at a good price. Off she wanted to go. I put the brakes on that trip after looking closely at pin weights. Using the guide at https://www.fleet.ford.com/resources...9RVTTguide.pdf the max cargo weight was ~1,700#. Way to low to handle a 3,000 pin weight. I gave her the bad news that we would "need a bigger boat"!! We spent a month finding the Ram 3500 4x4 DRW Cummins w/Aisin. Now our margins are considerable pulling the 3791RD Montana.

[tomgasta]

We tow our Montana 3820FK with a 350 Ford Diesel 6.7L Power Stroke. Seems to do great.

[MASTERDRAGO]

Originally Posted by jr03vibe

We just picked up our 3811MS, I use a 2016 GMC 2500HD Diesel regular bed truck. The only thing I did was put an air bag system on the rear suspension just before I pick up the Montana for the extra weight, which wasn't much.

I had a difficult time finding complete list of specs for your truck but after nearly a year of poking around in my own search, I would say the rig is overloaded. If what I have seen is right, the curb weight of that truck is 5,741#. With a pin weight of the 3811MS of 2,705 as a starting point, that makes 8,446# before adding hitch, fuel, passengers, or a few sticks of fire wood. That's close to 1,300# overweight with pin only (max cargo 7,153#). Air bags will soften the ride but not increase max cargo (what the axles and bearings can carry. For pins near 3,000 or over, the territory becomes dully.

[Nattblade]

I pull my 3811ms with a stock 2017 GMC Denali 2500 HD diesel. Handles like a dream. 65-70 uphill and down except in mountains. No lack of power, no weight issues or stability issues. Depends how experienced of a driver you are pulling a trailer that big. Pull with what you think you are comfortable with. Otherwise it will make for long days for you.

[Muddflap]

Originally Posted by Nattblade

I pull my 3811ms with a stock 2017 GMC Denali 2500 HD diesel. Handles like a dream. 65-70 uphill and down except in mountains. No lack of power, no weight issues or stability issues. Depends how experienced of a driver you are pulling a trailer that big. Pull with what you think you are comfortable with. Otherwise it will make for long days for you.

Just out of curiosity, what is your actual loaded rear axle weight and your rear GAWR?

[Notanlines]

MDSHOPE, you have gotten some good info here, and maybe a little baloney thrown in. There are always a number of 3/4 ton truck owners who think their "beast" will pull whatever a salesman throws at them. Your 250 is NOT a proper vehicle to pull that Montana. I believe the pin weight empty is about 2700 pounds; probably in the neighborhood of 3400 pounds when loaded for travel. When you add a hitch, fuel, you and passengers, and a few tools in your truck and you will be pushing the weight into DRW territory, 350/3500 SRW at a bare minimum. Do yourself (and us) a favor and tell us what the cargo capacity is as listed on the truck door pillar.
Also keep in mind that I listed your pin weight WITHOUT any water in the holding tank.

[Nattblade]

As we know everyone has an opinion, wether wrong or right it belongs to them. After 15 years of driving 80,000lb+semi over 2m miles accident free from coast to coast on roads most of you will never see in weather all you dually’s are in a motel I think Iknow my weight limits behind me
Yes, I agree a 2500 is maxed out with a 3811ms but not over the limit or a safety issue unless you are a white knuckle steering wheel holder that takes 30 minutes to back into a camping spot.
The biggest sales gimmick is overselling someone a vechile they don’t really need and most fall for it.
Again i put effisus on your experience in pulling something this size and controlling your overall weight. You need to feel comfortable and safe.
The difference between a 2500 and 3500. Same cab, same motor, same transmission, same wheels and 8 bolt hubs, same chassis except for rear springs for extra weight and stability which you my want.
If you have only driven something smaller and not larger most people get over whelmed in the whole weight control concept. For you a 1 ton single would probably be a wise choice depending on how far you are pulling it
My wife and I are full time going from coast to coast and having absolutely no issues. Travel safe and ignore the boloney.

[Dfb]

That fiver will push you over gvwr on the truck and most likely rawr.. Does not cost much more, dually!. Believe me, it costs way more to buy a 1 ton then have to turn around and buy a dually. Been there. The gvwr on our One on srw was 12,200.. truck weight was 9000, plus me and wife another 400. 9400 plus 200 for hitch, 9600, fuel 240.. 9840, mud flps 40, 9880 so, say 10,000 lbs for truck leaving a mere 2200 for pin weight.... Aint gonna happen! Dually Gvwr is 14400! So being a dually say the truck weighs 10400... this leaves 4000 lbs for pin and whatever else..aux tank, tools, whatever.. pin of 2700 would leave you 1300...

[Uneasyrider]

Originally Posted by MASTERDRAGO

I gave her the bad news that we would "need a bigger boat"!! We spent a month finding the Ram 3500 4x4 DRW Cummins w/Aisin. Now our margins are considerable pulling the 3791RD Montana.

Same here! Good combo of engine and transmission