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Old 10-21-2019, 05:56 AM   #1
kjmcdowell77
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Next Time I Buy a Tow Vehicle....

We have a 2018 Montana 321MK and have been enjoying it a great deal. However, it is a crew cab std bed and I think you probably know what's coming. We were backing into our slot and I got just a little too close to the cab with the nose of my coach.

The next thing I heard was the sound of breaking glass as the front of the 5er came though the back window. I should have been paying more attention and will certainly do so the next time. I think my next truck will be a double cab 8' bed to eliminate the problem. For the time being, this "college" course on backing up cost me about $1000.00 tuition.

Lesson learned.
 
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Old 10-21-2019, 06:36 AM   #2
1retired06
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Has happened with a lot of folks. Our truck is a crewcab longbed, and we are happy with it. Will not fit in a standard garage, but no inconvenience otherwise. We use a cover on it.
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Old 10-21-2019, 07:18 AM   #3
Daryles
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What about those sliding hitches?
Are they any good?
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Old 10-21-2019, 07:41 AM   #4
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OP You never said what kind of hitch you have. I have the B&W and I was close to my cab so I just moved the hitch back a hole and no problem. i do however watch when not on level ground even still. I have a short bed with super cab
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Old 10-21-2019, 09:33 AM   #5
waynemoore
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Long beds can be a pain in parking lots. But that’s not what I bought the truck for. I got it to pull my rig. Long bed crew cab never going to get into the rig or damage the rear window. I have had times when I have had to jackknife into a spot.
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Old 10-21-2019, 11:54 AM   #6
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Long beds are a pain lol I park in the cripple spots so the rear of my truck sticks out, I do at time try to go in a little crooked, to get the front tires past the concrete stop and get in further, but it is what it is. I use the Anderson hitch on mine fyi short side facing the rear of the cab.
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Old 10-21-2019, 12:23 PM   #7
jsb5717
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This is one of those "can of worm" discussions and full of diverse opinions...usually driven by personal experience.

I've never had problems with a short bed truck either. I don't turn 90 degrees and keep an eye on things in tight turns. It's theoretically not good for the 5er axles to turn that tightly but there are stories here of those who have needed to.

I find that with my Andersen hitch that I can turn quite tightly without making contact. The hitch does make a big difference up to and including expensive, heavy automatic sliding hitches. Many here have them and love them.

My advice is to get what you need to be both comfortable and safe.
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Old 10-21-2019, 01:24 PM   #8
Speck56
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Ordered a 2020 GMC Sierra 3500HD crew cab, 8ft bed dually to pull a 3761fl. Strike cost me couple months but I will let you all know how it works out
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Old 10-21-2019, 02:46 PM   #9
powerhaulic
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You certainly will have plenty of truck!


here is ours, 3500 standard box (now 6'9") tows like a dream.
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Old 10-21-2019, 04:33 PM   #10
richfaa
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Same here with the F-350, diesel,CC,LB Dually. The truck was purchased to pull a heavy Montana everything else was secondary. It is not a daily driver. We have a Honda for the daily stuff.
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Old 10-21-2019, 04:51 PM   #11
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I tried to get the best of both worlds. Liked the shorter wheelbase of the CCSB, but wanted the extra space a long bed gives. So ordered a SCLB. Normally just me and the wife, so we didn't need the big back seat. And in 2017 the lengthened the back seat on the SC. My wheelbase is only 4" longer than the CCSB. Just pointing out that there is a 3rd option.
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Old 10-21-2019, 04:58 PM   #12
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We have a long bed and crew cab. The length is only a problem in parking garages, which we avoid as much as possible. Like waynemoore, we bought it to pull the rig, not to park.

Our daughter had a short bed and a PullRite sliding hitch. She still managed to get a little dent in the cab. She traded it for a 6.5’ box, because that’s the biggest truck that will fit in her garage.

Knowing you cannot hit the cab of the truck with the trailer: priceless.
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Old 10-21-2019, 05:08 PM   #13
mazboy
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Always have wife look as you move.

And yes I do a window when not listening to her

Oh well, that's life
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Old 10-21-2019, 06:38 PM   #14
beeje
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Why anyone would want 3/4 of a truck bed in beyond me. Does 20-24" really make that much difference.?
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Old 10-21-2019, 07:45 PM   #15
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B&W patriot 18k slider IF I need to maneuver or back up, it takes about 30 seconds to get out pull lever and slide. Makes hooking and unhooking easier too. IMHO. I still watch if I need to cut sharp.
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Old 10-21-2019, 08:08 PM   #16
Slow Hand
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Originally Posted by beeje View Post
Why anyone would want 3/4 of a truck bed in beyond me. Does 20-24" really make that much difference.?
20 or 24" makes no difference that's why I got the short bed.

I don't daily drive my truck ether but I do use it. Diesel is now cheaper than gas so I get to drive my truck more. I have however towed my Montana coast to coast twice. I have towed it to Iowa 3 times so we have been places. For those of you who only use your truck to tow and it just sits I am sad for you
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Old 10-21-2019, 08:26 PM   #17
mtlakejim
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Previous truck was a short bed with manual slider hitch. Dented both sides of the cab and broke out the rear window on second tap. Yeah it happens. It was my fault I suppose because I was in a hurry both times with traffic waiting on me to make a sharp turn. Needless to say our new truck is a long bed.


I do understand why folks would want a short bed if a long bed is to big for the garage. But if your going to go short bed ya almost have to spring for one of those automatic slider hitches.


On the flip side, the long bed has zero problems with jackknifing even past 90 degrees. And it has the advantage of extra room in front of the hitch for say a generator or firewood etc... And lets not forget that you can carry full sheets of plywood with the tailgate up whey your remodeling the sticks and bricks!


If your looking at it from a safety and towing only aspect with no concern for how it parks then it's hard to argue that the long bed isn't the better choice. And if you work the truck outside of towing the extra room is certainly nice. It's sorta like the DRW vs SRW debate. The only reason I can see not to go with the bigger truck is parking.


And I may be wrong but I suspect that the long wheel base will have higher resale/trade in just like the dually. For certain the Crew Cab holds its value better. That might be a topic for another debate: which truck holds its value the best. I vote that it is most likely going to be the 1 ton long wheel base crew cab dually 4x4. That is certainly the most commonly used large 5th wheel towing truck hands down. Only seems logical that the most popular truck would have highest resale right?
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Old 10-21-2019, 08:37 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by powerhaulic View Post
You certainly will have plenty of truck!


here is ours, 3500 standard box (now 6'9") tows like a dream.

So what kind of hitch do you have, that look good and it seem like you are back far enough?
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Old 10-22-2019, 05:51 AM   #19
powerhaulic
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Originally Posted by mtlakejim View Post
And I may be wrong but I suspect that the long wheel base will have higher resale/trade in just like the dually. For certain the Crew Cab holds its value better. That might be a topic for another debate: which truck holds its value the best. I vote that it is most likely going to be the 1 ton long wheel base crew cab dually 4x4. That is certainly the most commonly used large 5th wheel towing truck hands down. Only seems logical that the most popular truck would have highest resale right?

Crew std box(6.5-6.9) is far more popular, and holds resale the best.
Crew std box is also more common in campgrounds from what we see in Florida.
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Old 10-23-2019, 11:58 PM   #20
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What about the new pin boxes that pivot at the trailer instead of the hitch?

My current is F350 CCSB w Pullrite Slider 24K. Works great but takes lot of room in the bed. Too heavy to remove often.
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