My Trucks' Better Then Your Truck!

[mhs4771]

I don't know, I pulled an RV with my V6 Chevy S10 5 Speed Manual Xmission without any problems.

But the RV was a Coleman Pop-up.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Hornet28

Seems odd that the auto maker continue year after year building trucks NOBODY likes. That must be why you seldom find used ones sitting on a lot for very long. Tongue in cheek? Of course! Oh and I need a couple bushels of that popcorn

LOL.
What I should have said is NOBODY BUYS a dually because they want to drive an extra wide truck. They do it because they consider it a safer option. A dually is a compromise you make because it is necessary. Right tool for the job as they say.

Lord knows if a Ford Ranger would safely tow our 42' 5th wheel then that's what we would own. Ok maybe not, I am 6'2"

[mhs4771]

Actually in 2005 I wasn't looking for a Dually. Was in the process of ordering a 2500 Silverado spec's out as I wanted it. Got done and the Salesman looks at the sheet and says "I've got a 3500 Dually with all the options you want, I'll make you a better deal on it". The rest is now history, on my third Dually and third Fifthwheel and didn't have to change TVs when we went from a TT to our Montana.

[Mr Pachu]

Who needs a dually? It tows good.

Please pass the popcorn.

[Slow Hand]

I almost forgot the butter. Don't you just love the Ford Ranger? What a towing beast. LOL

[mlh]

Originally Posted by Slow Hand

I almost forgot the butter. Don't you just love the Ford Ranger? What a towing beast. LOL

Yes man that 2.3 Ecoboost engine is a towing machine. I’ll bet it would pull a space shuttle.
Lynwood

[JABURKHOLDER]

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by Hooch on Wheels

Believe it or not we pull our Montana HC (only 34 ft) with a 6 cylinder Ford Ranger. I have to admit sometimes when taking off we may get honked at a few times for going so slow but I can assure you people get out of our way when we are headed down hill. Someone yelled one time "your brakes are on fire". Boy were they wrong, it wasn't my tires it was just the transmission. I am now removing my tongue from my cheek.

Your friend and mine,
Jim&Celia
Hooch on Wheels

Please note: we live in Missouri and today it's too cold to play golf, this is the result.

When I first started running charters as a very young man I bought a 12,000# boat. That eliminated docking fee costs so I pulled it to/from the water daily, 53 miles each way with a Ford Ranger 4x4. More than once I needed a tow to get the loaded truck out of the water. I was disappointed after the 2nd year the transmission was slipping badly. Not surprised....

please

[PatrickandMarga]

Originally Posted by JJ Getaway

This was interesting as my wife and I have just ordered a new 2020 Montana 3761FL and now we are in the market for a truck. The 5th wheel is 41 feet long and we would like to get a 1 ton diesel, 6.5 foot bed and prefer an SRW so that we have a more user friendly truck to drive around when the trailer is parked. We are thinking a GM 3500 (GMC or Chevrolet), RAM 3500, or a F350. I am concerned about safety in driving in high winds, bad weather, etc. but I am told that the 2019 and 2020 trucks by GM, Ford, and Chrysler that are SRW have increased the towing capacity can handle the loads. Any opinions out there?

We are in a similar situation as we just purchased a Montana 3741FK. I test drove the F-350 and the Ram 3500. Both would work, but since I will be using it everyday vehicle the ride was very rough. Then I took a test drive in the new 2020 GMC Sierra 2500hd. The ride was smoother than the other two. If you get the SRW diesel with a 10 speed Allison transmission, it can pull 18,500lb fifth wheel. It also has a great camera system with 15 views. Spending $80k for a pickup was a tough pill to swallow, but this seemed to be the best ride and great towing capacity. The 6.5' bed also has the six-position pro tailgate, a huge plus.

[Hamlej]

You can tow any trailer with any tow vehicle but to me the bottom line is the safety of myself and my family. I tow with piece of mind knowing my TV far exceeds the numbers. Let your conscience be your guide.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by PatrickandMarga

Then I took a test drive in the new 2020 GMC Sierra 2500hd. The ride was smoother than the other two. If you get the SRW diesel with a 10 speed Allison transmission, it can pull 18,500lb fifth wheel.

The 18.5K limit is fine, but what you are missing is the truck's cargo capacity. It will be 10,000 lbs minus the weight of the truck (around 8,000 lbs). That leaves about 2K lbs for people, dogs, fuel, hitch and *PIN WEIGHT*. Pin Weight on a 16.5K lbs 3741 will be at 3,000 lbs or more.

Since you haven't bought it yet, move to the 3500 (or F350) capacity trucks and save yourself future disappointment.

[beeje]

Originally Posted by PatrickandMarga

We are in a similar situation as we just purchased a Montana 3741FK. I test drove the F-350 and the Ram 3500. Both would work, but since I will be using it everyday vehicle the ride was very rough. Then I took a test drive in the new 2020 GMC Sierra 2500hd. The ride was smoother than the other two. If you get the SRW diesel with a 10 speed Allison transmission, it can pull 18,500lb fifth wheel. It also has a great camera system with 15 views. Spending $80k for a pickup was a tough pill to swallow, but this seemed to be the best ride and great towing capacity. The 6.5' bed also has the six-position pro tailgate, a huge plus.

The amount of listed weight a truck can pull is mostly irrelevant since the payload capacity WILL be reached well before the towing capacity. The truck you mentioned above has a payload capacity of 3597lbs in a crew cab configuration. (which most people have)

So using the 3597lbs payload# subtract all people in truck (lets say you are a family of 4) 600 lbs (very conservative)
Hitch 250 lbs (normal)
stuff in bed 200 lbs (very conservative)
Full fresh water 500 lbs (approx. weight of 66 gallons)
1550 lbs

3597 lbs (payload max)
-1550 (weight of stuff before pin weight)
=2047 lbs (left to carry pin weight)

A new 3741fk has a dry weight of 13755 lbs
Cargo carrying capacity of 2745 lbs
= 16500 GVWR

16500 lbs x 20% = 3300lbs. You will (possibly be 1253lbs over CCC)
16500 lbs x 25% = 4125lbs. You will (possibly be 2078lbs over CCC)

Moral of the story is that the 3741fk and the vast majority of Montana's ever manufacturer are CLEARLY in Dually territory...…..

Are there people towing (heavy campers ) with 2500 trucks ? You bet, I see them everywhere I go. And guess what, EVERY single one of them is more than likely towing beyond the cargo carrying capacity of what there truck was designed for.

[Sandra_David]

I've got some kettle popcorn too...but not sure how many times I want to reread this post.
Good luck to the person looking for a truck. IMHO drive them all and get the one you like. Driving a dually gets easier everyday.

[geodkarl75]

Didn't know where else to get a good answer so will ask here. Can I buy a premade receiver hitch that bolts on or do I have to have one made?

Thanks for any help figuring this out

DeWaine

[Hornet28]

You should be able to buy a commercially made hitch. Around here the places that used to make hitches quit because of liability

[QKnot]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

When I first started running charters as a very young man I bought a 12,000# boat. That eliminated docking fee costs so I pulled it to/from the water daily, 53 miles each way with a Ford Ranger 4x4. More than once I needed a tow to get the loaded truck out of the water. I was disappointed after the 2nd year the transmission was slipping badly. Not surprised....

please

That reminds me of the last time I was in Warrenton, Oregon and saw a Grand Cherokee pulling something similar, front tires barely touching the ground. Well, he wasn't so much pulling it as he was stuck on the side of the road on his phone. He was a few miles from the ramp and was gone by the time I came back.

And don't get me started about the guy we saw hauling a bumper-pull toy hauler with a Tacoma and no weight distribution on i-5. I still don't know how he was able to steer the thing but he was going much faster than I was.

I'm happy I have a 3500. I'm just glad I didn't learn the hard way.

[bshgto]

Originally Posted by Sandra_David

I've got some kettle popcorn too...but not sure how many times I want to reread this post.
Good luck to the person looking for a truck. IMHO drive them all and get the one you like. Driving a dually gets easier everyday.

My truck is the best cause I like it. Wife says she likes it cause it makes her feel Macho???

[PSFORD99]

Originally Posted by Slow Hand

I got some extra popcorn if anybody wants some.

Well in that case ,lets discuss the best truck. Is there a reason someone can come up with that the Cummins is not the best motor out there, forget the truck, the best motor.

[Dave W]

[QUOTE=PSFORD99;1166307]Well in that case ,lets discuss the best truck. Is there a reason someone can come up with that the Cummins is not the best motor out there, forget the truck, the best motor. [/QUOTE


Why? What makes it the best engine?

[mlh]

The Cummings is a great engine. They just started using compacted graphite iron blocks in their 1000 pound feet of torque engines just like Ford has always used in their 6.7 engines.
Lynwood