Quote:
quote:Originally posted by FreeRoamn
Hello,
I am looking for some advice on this set up and what options/changes I may need to make this work.
I am looking at buying a Montana 3160RL and my current tow vehicle is 2013 2500HD Duramax Crew Cab Short Bed 4x4. with a 16,000lb Husky hitch. I was told by a salesman at the Florida RV Super Show that I would need new springs and certification for my truck due to the tongue weight of the new trailer.
Truck specs: Max 15,800 Trailer Weight, 2,706 Max Payload (I am assuming this translates to max 5th wheel tongue weight?) 24,500 Gross Combined Weight
2017 Montana 3160RL - 11935 Dry Weight, 4065 Cargo capacity, 16200 GVWR, 2520 Tongue weight
With that said, by my calcs, I could be a bit overweight IF everything was maxed out? Would airbags be an option? Is anyone else towing using a stock 2500HD one of the shorter Montana's?
Thanks in advance!
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I have a 2015 2500 Denali with DMax, hauling a 3790. So my truck and RV are both marginally heavier than yours. Your truck is rated for a trailer at 15800, I am up at 17100. Mine tows great, the only weights I am exceeding are the rear axle (marginal) and the GVWR (more than marginal), but I have an extra spring fitted. (On this and other sites it has been reported the only difference between 2500 and 3500 is the springs, I accept this but can't confirm it's authenticity).
I quote my truck max weights, yours should not be all that different: Truck GVWR 10,000, Front axle 4800 rear axle 6200. (Note the GVWR is much lower than the combined front and rear axles). Weighing my truck with no driver, full tank and 5th wheel equipment mounted: front axle 4580, rear axle 3360
As recommended by others a weigh bridge is a necessity. You will find that with driver and passenger your front axle is going to come in very close to GM's stated max and little you do with the RV loading is going to change it. How you load the passenger compartment will.
So with my weighed axles of 7940lb plus your 'conservative' pin weight of 2520 you come in at 10,460. With a more factual pin weight you will probably be closer to 10800, making additional springs or air bags necessary
With the 3790 I take advantage of the rear storage for all the heavy items, despite this my pin weight comes in considerably heavier than that quoted by Keystone.
The 2015 2500 truck is rated for the same payload as the 2016, but in adopting a common SAE Automotive standard the 2016 has a max trailer towing capacity of 13900lb compared to the 17100lb of the 2015. Going to a 2016 3500 SRW is not a solution, since this has the 10,000lb GVWR limitation and only 100lb more on trailer towing. The 3500 DRW meets some higher loadings.
Don't forget to check the load rating on your rear truck tires, tire loading is often overlooked.