truck advice

[brian ayerst]

waiting delivery early april of new 3465sa and was looking for advice from others towing 34 ft on whether I could get away with a new 2500 duramax hd Z71, in other words will the truck do the job or what problems will I run into. thankyou in advance

[stiles watson]

Brian, that question is like pouring gasoline on a fire because there is sure diversity of opinions. What you might want to do is learn all you can about weights of the vehicles and towing capacity. There are many who tow their Montana with a 3/4-ton diesel and seem quite happy to do so. Others are pulling with a 1-ton either single wheel or dually. A few use even a larger truck.

It is not original with me, but I agree. "Buy all the truck you can afford." I pulled with an F250 until I was ready to trade. Then I moved to an F350 dually. I was and am happy either way.

By-the-way, welcome to the forum. Participate often.

[Emmel]

Brian, you might want to check out the ratings on the Z71, I'm not too sure it is set up for a trailer package as much as a performance package. Actually, I've never seen a Z71 with a duramax in it, I thought the performance package was the 6.0 liter. Now, I could be real wrong about that, but if you have a duramax with the tow package, it will be fine.
If the tranny is not an allison, but is auto, you will not be able to tow in od.
If you are still looking, go the 2 dollars more and get the dually, won't go wrong there!
Oh, yeh, welcome to the forum and keep asking those questions since I could be wrong and some else will set me straight too! I've been wrong before, sometimes a lot!!!!!!

[brian ayerst]

thanks for the good advice stiles, my main concern is not cost but the size of the vehicle for daily use ie long box dually crew, I kind of think my wife would find this very overwhelming. Our house is currently up for sale and we will be venturing out fulltime so this will be our only vehicle. It's comforting to know there will be people out there with the knowledge I will need for this undertaking.

thanks again brian

[brian ayerst]

Hi emmel as I have already looked at the duramax I know the









































Hi emmel Thanks for the reply, I have shopped the chev duramax already and the Z71 Is just a suspension package which means bigger shocks and the Z71 stickers. Just thought with the bigger shocks it might handle the weight a little better.

[stiles watson]

Dianna was a little intimidated at first. A long box on a crew cab is a biggg truck. Hecky darn, I was a little intimidated myself. But she now drives it and even pulls the rig. As full timers, this, too, is our only vehicle. The learning curve is fairly short.

[bigmurf]

Stiles: People seem to forget that a dually is no wider than the mirrors. The same mirrors on their 2500's.

I have been watching here in AZ. I back in between the white lines and then watch some BOZO unable to pull a 2500 into a space. I am tempted to go over and offer driving lessons. But I doubt they would care less. JMHO

[brian ayerst]

good advice stiles, as a retired clo[conductor locomotive operator] I regularly pulled 200 cars at 12 to 14 thousand feet but think I am more apprehensive about pulling 1 trailer and 34 ft than I was the train

[brian ayerst]

good point bigmurf but do you not find it hard to find a parking spot with all that length, you definitely would not fit say in a mall or parking lot

[bsmeaton]

One thing going for you is that model Montana (3485sa) has one of the lightest pin weights of the Montana line. However, you would have to do the numbers on that particular truck. I think it will still be at the payload limit or slightly over when you consider passengers and cargo.

If you are looking for the short box GM, you're kind of stuck with a 2500. If long box is OK, I would definately go to the 1-ton myself. It's just much easier to drive it home and use it than it is to rebuild it to be what you really needed to begin with.

[Delaine and Lindy]

Brian, take a look at Truck Trend latest issue very good break down of the big 3. As for the differnce between the 2500HD and the 3500HD believe me there is a difference not just changing a spring leaf. That subject has been beat to death. I guess a person has to believe what they want. I have never heard a person wish they had gotten a 2500HD after getting a 3500HD.

As for Trucks and I have owned several 2500HD and 3500HD's, if towing a 5th wheel I would go with the 3500HD DRW because it has a long (no slider hitch) and it has a 34 gal fuel tank.

As for the F-450 I just can't understand the need to remove the Cab to do engine work? And the F-450 isn't doing well on fuel 6 to 9 towing and 11 to 13 over the road. That info comes from owners on the Ford site. Good Luck with your decision... GBY...

Oh yes the Toyota won the Truck of the year, don't understand how it can be called a HD. Trying towing a Montana with it.

[H. John Kohl]

Brian,
As stated do the research and buy more, not less.
You stated you are going full time so also remember that vehicle will be your "Cadillac" both when and not towing. The intent of that statement is to put all the luxuries in it as you would if you bought just a car. I will be your only vehicle while on the road. I would not have done that originally but this one had them in it and I am glad I have them. I will get them again if I upgrade.
Welcome to the forum. Let us know what you decide.

[mail2us]

Brian, as many state here do the weight calc. if you truly want to be correct. Most truck dealers can't help you cause they don't know. Some RV dealers may know. As you can see there are some diverse and some bias opinions of what is right and wrong but it comes down to your choice. Below is from GM and lists what the Z71 Package includes. I went with it cause of off-road use. The skid plate has really helped.


Suspension Package: Z71 Off-Road (optional on LT and LTZ models)
The Z71 Off-Road Suspension Package includes 46 mm shocks, off-road jounce bumpers, 34mm front stabilizer bar, high capacity air cleaner, heavy-duty automatic locking rear differential, Skid Plate Package and Z71 decals on rear quarters.
Requires P265/70R17 on-/off-road blackwall tires, P265/70R17 on-off-road white outlined-letter tires, LT45/70R17 all-terrain blackwall tires, P265/65R18 on-off-road blackwall tires or P265/65R18 on-/off-road white outlined-letter tires. Requires 17-x 7.5-inch custom aluminum wheels or 18-x 8-inch aluminum wheels. I love my 2500HD diesel and so does my Montana!

[tom41]

Brian, I full time and bought a F350 dully 1 ton, of course my 2980 has a heavy pin weight. I was advised by serveral "old fulltimers" to go with the bigger truck. I have never regretted it either. As far as my wife driving it, well shes 5ft 3" tall 125 lbs! she doesnt have any problem. of course you do need to choose your parking places. But thats not a problem. As far as my needs, I couldnt get by with a short bed, I carry alot of "STUFF"! lol

[richfaa]

If you wish to see the difference between a Single wheel and Dual wheel in term of spec's go to Ford site and build your own truck.Build the same truck one with Single and one with dual wheels and let he numbers do the talking. I would guess you can do the same with the GM web site, had posted this not to long ago but can't find it. Buy what you wish..but know the difference..

[bigmurf]

quote:Originally posted by brian ayerst

good point bigmurf but do you not find it hard to find a parking spot with all that length, you definitely would not fit say in a mall or parking lot

Parking garages are a problem due to height of antennas. I park in mall lots. Dually is no longer than other long beds. I do not go thru drive thrus or most ATMs.

[richfaa]

I found the numbers...08 F-250 Ford,LB,CC, 4X4, 6.4L
Payload package 1C 2280 Max Payload 10,000 GVWR

F-350..Dually Same truck Payload package 1C 4830 MAX Payload 13,000 GVWR

F-350, Single wheel Same truck Payload Package 1C Max payload 3640 11,500 CVWR

That is more than a Spring.

[mail2us]

I think Brian's original question was about 2500 Duramax??

[Waynem]

One thing to remember on a DRW. The rear fenders are wider than the front, and they are made of plastic. (That is NOT from experience)

Do some research. As Rich posted, the 1 ton out hauls safely the others.

Other than that, if you can park a luxury car in a parking space, you can park a 1 tone CC LB in the same space. You may have to make a few point-to-point turns, but you can get it in there.

My problem is getting the belly down the doorway without hitting the car next door.

Hey! There's something for the next rally! Parking contest.

[richfaa]

The GM build yiou own vehicle does not provide the specific info like the Fordite..

Here is what they do provide

2500 GVWR 9200 lbs

3500 Dual rear wheels GVWR 11,400 lbs
3500 Single wheels GVWR 9900lbs

I would guess that is also more than a spring.