Extra fuel tank for TV - Page 2 - Montana Owners Club

RADHAZJOE · 12-21-2005, 01:01 PM

On a related note, has anyone found a good way to check out fuel prices. I have seen diesel prices vary fro 2.29 to 2.69 within a few blocks. Truck stops are unrelieasble for the best price in an area. without internet access while driving, how does one find out.

Montana Sky · 12-21-2005, 01:44 PM

I usually hit www.flyingj.com before I leave each morning. This way I can plan my fuel stops along the way. Another option I use if there are no Flying J's around the area, just get on the cb radio channel 19 and ask the truck drivers. They usually can give you an approx. price for a 100 mile radius.

Countryfolks · 12-21-2005, 03:58 PM

Does anyone or has anyone looked at, or considered, manufacturer published payload capacities for the TV's under discussion? If the rated payload spec is 2800 the pounds and the TV load; pin weight, hitch, fuel, passengers, stuff, etc, exceeds that, the TV is overloaded. It may well be within other ratings, but it still exceeds a design specification. What an individual decides to do with that information is up to him [her], but at least he [she] is aware of the situation.

Skip

Montana Sky · 12-21-2005, 04:07 PM

In the January issue of Trailer Life magazine there is a supplement that comes with it called 2006 Guide to Towing. This has all the rigs in there and the amount each specific truck will tow. It does not have capacity ratings but does state which style of transmission, rear end and motor it takes to handle the load. Might be worth looking into.

dsprik · 12-21-2005, 07:01 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by RADHAZJOE

On a related note, has anyone found a good way to check out fuel prices. I have seen diesel prices vary fro 2.29 to 2.69 within a few blocks. Truck stops are unrelieasble for the best price in an area. without internet access while driving, how does one find out.

Joe, Flying J is a good source, but I would definitely bookmark your state on the following site:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/gaspr...es/index.shtml

They have all the metro areas plus the bottom link which is labelled "Additional Gasoline Price Info for Cities:" This includes all the other towns/cities in the state. I have found it to be a GREAT resource.

Dave e Victoria · 12-22-2005, 03:32 AM

Rich Fox,
You are right. I went back and checked my last weighing and the truck fully loaded with everything including dogs and a full bed of gear, full tanks and all was 7620. It is obvious we are carrying too much stuff.

Skip,
If you dig around, you can find specs for things like rear axles, tires, suspensions and so on. Unfortunately, The published guide books like the one that came with trailer life only deal at a superficial level of gross weight ratings, trailer weights, and gross combined weight ratings. Tire ratings are on the tire but for the rim, you have to decipher a code on the rim. Takes a trip to the tire store. The axle on GM products is way stronger than anything else in the rear of the truck. And, I have never heard of a frame failure as a result of pulling a fifth wheel.
Dave

rickfox · 12-22-2005, 11:31 AM

David,

The door sticker on my 2500HD states the maximum rear axle load to be 6,084#, and the tires are rated at 3042# per tire. Sure sounds like the tires are the weak link.

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to ALL.

Rick

Dave e Victoria · 12-22-2005, 11:41 AM

Rick
You are correct. I would still have my 2500HD if I could have found an appropriate tire. The only answer was to go to a dually to support the 3800 pound pin weight of our Cambridge.
Dave

rickfox · 12-25-2005, 06:34 PM

Dave,

We purchased the 3400RL because my wife liked the extra counter top space, and because I liked the UVW hitch pin weight of 1770#. By the time we purchased it, the 06 spec was up to 1960#. Happily, when we took posession and had it weighed, it came in at 1980# with the various options we selected, inlcuding battery and full LP tanks.

We are currently running at about 2400# hitch weight and about 5500# rear axle weight with most of our normal gear loaded. Thus far am quite happy with the 3400 and hope to be OK as long as we don't get too crazy with what we take along.

dsprik · 12-25-2005, 07:10 PM

Rick, you have the same combo we want. How did the carrying capacity (CC) change from 2005 to 2006 in the 3400? We love the 3400, but it doesn't have the greatest CC in the Montana line. 3295 wins in that category, I think.

I just went to Montana's site and made this list up of CC from highest to lowest. The 3670 and the 3685 are not being made anymore, but there are still some people out there with the early 2006 models.

Rank Model CC
1. 3295RK 3640
2. 3685FL 3290
3. 2950RK 3165
4. 3670RL 3140
5. 3475RL 3040
6. 3255RL 2930
7. 3400RL 2680
8. 3380RL 2530
9. 3650RK 2520
10. 3500 2440
11. 2955RL 2410
12. 2980RL 2400

*On Edit~ Oh yeah... these are all 2006 specs...

Montana Sky · 12-25-2005, 08:09 PM

Dave,
There have been a few changes that will effect the kingpin weight. They added the tv and those drawers to the front wall next to the closet. In the 04 and early 05 it was still in the cabinet to the left of the dresser at the foot of the bed. The relocation of the tv added 90 lbs to kingpin. Also if you got the king size bed instead of the queen I was told it adds another 80 lbs to the total weight of the bed. I got those weight numbers from Montana rep at a rv show this summer. Also if you have the hi-gloss it adds 600 lbs to the total coach including more on the kingpin. The last two options will also kick the kingpin weight up, the second a/c in bedroom and if you have the generator in the front storage compartment.

dsprik · 12-26-2005, 01:46 AM

Boy, it sure adds up in a hurry! And if you're only starting with a 2,680 # CC... may have to have Cheryl follow me with half our gear in another car...

We have a CAT scale about 40 miles from us and it sounds like we will need to spend some time there when we first start loading our 3400. Just curious...how much do they generally charge at these scales?

Dave e Victoria · 12-26-2005, 02:31 AM

from $5.00 to $10.00 depending on local market. Around here (AZ) it is $7.00

dsprik · 12-26-2005, 04:23 AM

I take it that's per weight, Dave? Or can you get both axles and the trailer all weighed at one price? What is the procedure for getting these weights, anyway... I've never done this.

Dave e Victoria · 12-26-2005, 06:26 AM

The cat scales is set up to give you the weight on each axle. Price is usually per weigh. So, roll on the scale so each axle is on a seperate weighing pad. Move off on the green light go to the office. They will collect money and give you a print out showing weight per axle. If you get weight with and with out trailer before getting your print out some places will consider that one weigh.

Once you have the two weight reports, the truck by itself is just that. Subtracting truck weight from combined weight gives you trailer weight. Then drive axle weight for combined minus drive axle for just the truck gives pin weight. This assumes the in is located directly over the center of the drive axle. If it is slightly forward, the front axle will get a little more weight which will have to be added to get true pin weight. If teh pin is slightly behind the rear axel, the front will show up slightly less and you should subtract the difference from the pin weight. These front axle corrections should be so small as to be insignificant.
Hope that helps
Dave

dsprik · 12-26-2005, 03:54 PM

Thanks, Dave! Sure does! I am saving this for my files.

rickfox · 01-03-2006, 04:18 PM

Good Evening All,

2 days ago I posted a response but for some reason it never made it. That's how it goes some time.

All of the CAT scales I have been to here in Texas charge $8 for the first weigh - some scales weigh up to 3 and some up to 4 axles at a time - these are all weighed at the same time at a single cost. You can then unhitch and go back for a re-weigh. This generally costs $1 for each re-weigh.

As far as carrying capacity is concerned, the various weight measurements I have taken all show that each 10# of cargo added causes the 3400RL hitch pin weight to go up by approximately 4#. This is true since essentially all the storage area is ahead of the axles. For example, each added pound of weight stored in the front closet adds almost 1# to the hitch weight - By the way, the rear kitchen unit I previously had (more storage area behind the axles) still added approximately 3# of hitch weight for every 10# of added cargo since much of the storage is still ahead of the axles.

The botton line is that, if your TV is a 3/4 ton truck you will overload the rear axle by the time you reach approximately 2850# hitch weight. By running the numbers this adds up to about 2300 cargo added to the 3400RL, even with its realatively low UVW hitch weight. Things are not any better with the rear kitchen models since, although there is additional storage behind the axles, they usually start out with higher hitch weights.

Hope what I said above all makes sense.

Rick.

Montana Sky · 01-03-2006, 05:17 PM

Rick,
If you happen to have them handy would you please post your weights from the scale? I noticed in another post you stated you added airbags to your 2500HD. I have been pondering the idea of having them installed as well, but have not as my truck sits approx 1.5" off level and I have not noticed any major jerking or bumpy rides as of yet. Just wondering how much difference in pin weight our 3400RL's are. Thanks =)

Sweetfire · 01-03-2006, 08:09 PM

You guys have got to move to Idaho, local scales on Hwy 55 are on all the time even when there is no one around. I've been told it's that way at most of the non-freeway scales around here. So if you're on Hwy.55 near Horseshoe Bend stop in for a free weigh out.

Wrenchtraveller · 01-08-2006, 03:55 AM

The legal system is changing everything and here in British Columbia, Canada we have our Auto Insurance company saying if you are over your GVWR and are involved in an accident your insurance is void.

Your legal payload is the GVWR of your truck minus the weight of the truck. Because every option changes the weight of the truck, you have to weigh your truck to know your true payload.

In my case my GVWR is 11200 and my truck weighs 7400 pounds. My payload is 3800 pounds .

The wife and I and our two big dogs will add 450 pounds to the truck. No, I won't break that down. That gives me 3350 pounds for the pin weight of my loaded up Monty. I should be ok but I won't know until I weigh it this spring. They leave the Govt scales open after hours and it is free to weigh your axles on anything you drive.

This is one of the reasons I went to the 05 Ford because in SRW they have the highest GVWR.
Dodge and Chev are 9900 and Ford is as high as 11500 for SRW.
Watch for Dodge and Chev to match or beat this in the next few years because of liability issues.

One last point, You can add all the aftermarket weight control stuff you want but you can not change the legal GVWR of your truck. A team of Philadelphia Lawyers can not change your truck's ratings so make sure you are getting a truck that can legally haul your Montana.

The Ford SD F250 is basically the same truck as the Ford SD F350 SRW.
It truly is, but not in the eyes of the LAW. Take care, Don

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