advice on tow vehicle

[maintechfotog]

We have just bought a used Montana 2001 3575RL, with a GV of 14540 according to the tech at Keystone. Will a 3/4 ton Ford or Dodge diesel handle this? Or should we be considering a 1 ton?

We are returning to trailing after a break of 30 years, so we need to catch up with the new stuff, thanks for the welcome from you all.

[rving2us]

I currently have a 2500 Dodge towing a 3000RK. We have been coast to coast with this rig with no problems but towing is in the eyes of the tower. Good luck, happy RVing and welcome to the forum.

[Bill-N-Donna]

This is one large debatable subject. I sure do wish I knew how to answer your question but I don’t. Your decisions are what you will have to live with. I myself would rather stay within the weight limits that are set forth in the owner’s manual if at all possible. Happy camping and welcome to the forum.

[richfaa]

You have a lot of homework to do. The truck has ratings and specification concerning weight as does the 5th wheel. You need to research those Numbers and make your decision I am among those who will stay within the manufacturers ratings a spec's. Without looking it up my guess is that you will exceed more that one spec..Pin weight.Cargo capacity comes to mind. Since you have no truck and no position to defend you are in the perfect position to make the proper choice.

[daneboy]

You are opening a huge can of worms with this question. For me a Ford F250 4x4 diesel works great. However any of the three major brand diesel trucks will do a fine job. Check the manufactures recommended max. weight for towing 5th wheels. Many prefer a dualy rear axel and others don't. Just don't get a truck to small to do the job. Have fun doing the research. Welcome to the forum & happy camping.
Jerry

[8e3k0]

We pulled many 5th wheels (tandem singles and tandem duallies) in our day with many different trucks and there is nothing worse than having a GVW that is borderline for the equipment your carrying and towing. I would go the 1 ton route just to attain a better spring package, higher axle/diff ratings, plus greater braking capabilities on your tow vehicle. The 3/4 tons will handle the job but you will likely have to install air bags or add a leaf to your rear springs to keep the tow vehicle level. Duallies are great for towing but not the easiest to manouver when not towing. Stabilizers front and back will be an added option that is very benificial for towing. As others have noted, "you have to review and consider all the options to be able to tow the unit in a safe manner and stay within your budget parameters".
We enjoy pulling with our F350 dually as it gives that reassurance that you have good braking power, great stability, and yet power to climb those long steep inclines. A lot of items to consider to ensure you enjoy your home on wheels! Ellis

[Glenn and Lorraine]

As stated above

quote:You are opening a huge can of worms with this question.

Here is a thread already gone the gambit of the 3/4 vs 1 ton discussion.

http://www.montanaowners.com/forums/...ad.php?t=33829

ME? I use a 2500HD to pull my 3485SA. Nuff said.

[maintechfotog]

We appreciate all of your replies, and will consider the options carefully. Several answers suggested 'checking the numbers' I am not familiar with the numbers in question. Are they the gross vehicle weight of the trailer, the gross vehicle weight of the truck, or the whole package? Where do I locate the 'pin' weight? How do I identify or calculate the weight over the axle.
I hope the Montana manual helps with some of these points. [we are due to take delivery in two weeks]

[8e3k0]

More familiar with trucks and 5th wheels that haul frieght and not RVs but will take a crack at explaining weight. First you will have the weight of your vehicle and the weight of your RV dry so this could be Truck 8,500 lbs and RV 12,000 lbs. Now, once your load up with water, food, supplies, gen set, etc and occupants, your truck may now weigh in at say 9,500 lbs and your RV at 14,000 lbs and this is individually, so if say 2000 lbs of the hitch weight goes on the truck your truck now weighs 11500lbs and 12000lbs is on your tandem axles of your RV. (a total of 23,500 lbs going down the highway)
If your truck gross vehicle weight is 11000lbs you are overloaded by 500 lbs.
Under normal conditions the Highway boys will go by your tire ratings and yet at times by vehicle/trailer ratings and this is why it is nice to have room for that extra weight capacity with your tow vehicle.
Difficult to get a true hitch weight unless you run over a good set of scales that will measure all axle weights indivually both before loading and after loading. Keystone's specs give numbers for the hitch, but as you load your RV that weight will increase porportionally to the added weight to your RV. Say if the hitch wieght shows 2000 lbs in the specs, it is easy to increase that number to 2500 lbs pending what you place in the front section your 5th Wheel. Hope this helps and does not confuse the situation. Ellis

[Dean A Van Peursem]

Could someone put in perspective here the power and braking differences between the F250 and F350 by model year? I know on the 2003 models there is no difference. Assuming the same diesel engine and rear end ratio is used in both and as far as I know there was only one diesel engine available for the F250 and F350 except for 2003 when the 6.OL came out while the 7.3L engine was winding down. But both engines were avaialble for the F250 and F350 in that model year. From my perspective there are significant advantages and some disadvantages to a F350 vs a F250 but within a model year there is no power differences. Am I missing something?

[mcgiver2]

hey just like they all have said you have to look at everything in spec. and all but i have pulled trailers for years not just campers but also 40ft equipment trailers and i have owned at lest 5-- 1 tons and only 1--3/4 ton and the first time i pulled a trailer with it i knew the rear end wasn't stable enough so for me i never pull anything as big as a Montana with anything smaller but you do see more 3/4 out there pulling them, but i have more peace of mine with a 1 ton..............Allen

[Montana Sky]

If a new truck is in your budget, I'd get at least a one ton if not a MDT. Just remember, the larger the truck, the more options you have when it comes time to trade the coach in. For me, I use a 2500HD to tow my 3400RL. The next truck will be a one ton or possibly even step up to a MDT.

[FLSTS03]

DMJ,
Also note that not all trucks are created equal, my 07 dodge 1 ton has a GVW of 12200(great) yet because I have a 3.73 rearend I'm rated @ 21k combo(not so great), if I had gone with the 4.10 my total combo would have gone to 24k. Then throw in Chevy/GMC-Ford as thier numbers are different from Dodge. At least you know what you are towing and that is a huge plus..Good Luck, Steve

Here is a link to Dodges towing basics(chk list,weight cal)

http://www.dodge.com/hostc/towing/basics/checklist.do

[8e3k0]

To answer Dean's question without a tech manual in front of me, I'll try and work from memory. In the 2003 the F350 generally came with 4.10 gear ratio or higher especially in the dually as our son had one with the 7.3. Your rear diff is heavier, bearings are heavier, braking surface area on a 350 is larger per wheel and especially on the rears, therefore giving more stopping power for larger loads, springs are heavier, frame modulus is heavier than the F250. The F250 came with a 3.55 or 3.73 ratio. Power: same engine and same tranny in a 6 speed manual, auto I can't say. The only way you may gain power is the difference in ratios and rpms at the same speed. Simply the F350s will rev higher do to the higher ratio.

[MAMalody]

I don't know about your 3575RL, but mine is an '03 and the gross is 14040. I use a F350 SRW Diesel and have not problems. Well, in five years I have had to have the rotors smoothed twice. I think next truck with be a 450, 550 or MDT. I think my 350 is a just borderline. I would rather have a greater margin. I installed an exhaust brake two years ago to help with this.

[Art-n-Marge]

I have been burned by this.

Since I went by the numbers I bought a 3/4 ton, but I am finding in actual real life I probably should have gone with a 1 ton. It sounds like you want to stay with single rear wheels (not a dually). The capacities and the CGVWR are great on paper, but the thing that I am really pushing is the 5th Wheel pin weight. In all the numbers (Front GAWR, Rear GAWR, CGWR, Trailer ratings) I have 500 to 1000 lbs leeway except at the hitch pin. I have NO tolerance there!) so I have to be very careful how I load the truck bed and the front of the trailer (like the ample garage). Just because there's room doesn't mean it should be carried. I have removed many items to get to an acceptable weight.

If I had gone with the 1 ton I would not have to worry because the 1 ton gives more capacity especially over the rear axles/truck bed, where the 5th wheel pin will be located.

If you have a choice, I agree with 8e3k0 to go with the 1 ton. I chose the 3/4 ton because the price of the 1 ton was MUCH higher compared to how much difference in capacity. Now I kick myself because that little difference in truck bed capacity would have solved my loading problems.

Of course if you just went out and got a new Ford F450 with 26,000 lb towing capacity, then you could tow my truck and my trailer along with yours and not worry it at all.

Good luck with your decision.

[Dean A Van Peursem]

8e3KO,

Thanks for that input. I suspect your memory is better than mine on the 2003's but I do own a 2003 F250 4x4 with a 7.3L Diesel engine with a 3.73 ration rear end. I saved the 2003 Ford F250/350 Sales literature but right now I just cannot find it. If and when I can find that 2003 literature we may address this again. When I purchased my 2003 F250 I was only configuring it for towing an equipment trailer, not a 5th wheel. And the towing specs and the payload on the receiver hitch fit my needs. Had I thought about then of pulling a 5th wheel I would have gone to a F350 to get the higher Payload. Interestingly the 2003 F350 Dually had slightly less towing capacity than the F250 with SRW and towing capacity was more important to me than payload at the time. But what I was really pursuing here is: I read occasionally TV owners mention that 350's have more power than 250's, but don't mention the rear end ratio difference to achieve it in the same statement. My thoughts on this have always been and still are given the same rear end ratio on either a 2003 F250 7.3L D or F350 7.3L D, there is no difference in power since the engine & transmissions are identical. Now I fully accept that there are other significant differences but power isn't one of them. I'm really confused right now about the difference in 2003 F250/F350's relative to the rear axle, springs and brakes and I think this is due to these specs also change on whether the truck is a 2x4 or a 4x4. Hopefully, when I find my 2003 literature maybe I can clear this up. Google searches haven't helped much so far.

[RickW]

You can find Ford Specs for 2002+ at https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...03_default.asp

[exav8tr]

quote:Originally posted by RickW

You can find Ford Specs for 2002+ at https://www.fleet.ford.com/showroom/...03_default.asp

Rick, That's a very good AND interesting site. Do you know if GM has a smiliar one?? Very easy to read and notable that the newer ('06 and further) 250's and 350's are pretty much the same in their capacities, albeit small differences.....

[richfaa]

Lets get back to the OP's question......".We have just bought a used Montana 2001 3575RL, with a GV of 14540 according to the tech at Keystone. Will a 3/4 ton Ford or Dodge diesel handle this? Or should we be considering a 1 ton?"... The OP has no truck and he is asking us the old 3/4 1 ton question. I am encouraged at the honestly of most of the relpies.