F25 and Montana - too heavy for me?

[Montana_6186]

Hi there, I'm brand new to the forum and need some assistance please. I was told by a Montana owner to post here. We are looking at a 35' Montana 3295RK with a pin weight of 2,460 and an overall dry weight of 11,055 and carrying capacity of 3,405. Our current Outback has a pin of 1,300 (approx) and dry weight of 7,000 (approx). We have a spray in bed liner and I know that adds weight, I don't even notice the trailer currently. F250, diesel, super crew, 6.3l, short box 2wheel drive.

I can't find my owners manual that explains all this in my truck but I remember the guy at Ford said with our current set up we could move up to a heavier trailer for sure.

This seems heavy, can anyone please advise? Of course the dealer says we will be fine, we trust them somewhat because we bought our first unit therem just want to make sure.

Thanks

[Bob Pasternak]

fearnofish: A properly equipped 3/4 ton diesel from any of the "Big Three" will handle any Montana without trouble. There will be people tell you you need a dually, 4 wheel drive, and numerous other things, but I think your truck should handle it ok. I'm not sure what hitch you have, but if it's not a slider, you might need to check into one.

'05 Dodge 2500 SLT Quad-cab Cummins. Auto 4X2 LB 3.73. 15K Reese. '06 Montana 3000RK.
I bought a Cummins engine, it just came wrapped in a Dodge.

Seen on a tombstone in Tombstone, AZ "Here lies Lester Moore: 4 slugs from a .44: No Les no more."


Our '06 3000RK. Length: 36' 2". (Nose cap to ladder.) OAL 52'. Dry weight (2 filled gas bottles.)10340. Pin weight: 2240

[drhowell]

My 3280RL comes in around 12,000 lbs loaded with a pin weight in the 2000 lb range. My 04 F250 6.0 handles it with no problem. There are some members pulling 3400's with F250's. As Bob suggested the short bed may be more of a problem in turns unless you have a slider hitch.
The 7.3 doesn't have the pulling HP the 6.0 has but you can still do hills at a respectable speed. The main concern is the weight pushing you down hill. Just be aware of the extra stopping distance needed and set your speed accordingly.

Farmer Don [MOC 3628]
Barbara & Fuzzy (the Bichon)
2001 3280RL
2004 Ford F250

[Charlie]

Check my signature....I have about the same TV that you are describing. The only change I had to make was adding the Firestone air bags, otherwise the 7.3 pulls the 3295RK very well.

Charlie
2001 F-250 Lariat SC 4x2 LB 7.3L PSD
BD Power ECM 80 HP Performance Chip
BD Power X-Monitor LED Digital Gauges
Firestone Ride-Rite Air Bags
2005 3295RK

[mallardjusted]

From your original note, you say you have the 6.3 diesel. If that is correct, you must have a pre-1999 truck. I believe the payload capacity of the earlier trucks was nowhere near the 1999-2006 models. You could have a problem pulling the heavier weight. Even the newer ones would be at or above payload capacity, but there are some things you can do to alleviate that. There should be a bunch of previous posts on F250 questions to help determine whether you should go bigger.

Ask the dealer if he has a similar used unit you could tow around the block?

... Semper Paratus ....
Matt, Amy, & Chocolate Labs Sasha & Webby
- 2004 3255RL Montana, 2005 F-350 CC 4X4 PSD
- Advance truck bed folding cover
Washington state.

[Devildog]

I pull my 3295 (2006 model) with the below listed 2500HD diesel. Added Air Lift Helper Springs, tamed the beast.

Now granted, I (speaking only for myself) am overweight on the GVWR, but not the axle. Overall GCWR (gross combined) I am still under about 2000 lbs. 9200 was my GVWR and I am at 9650 according to a cat scale. I will move up to a dually next purchase, to cover the overweight issue, and allow my wife to get her washer and dryer.

Pulling, like a wildcat. Air helper springs control any bounce and are better than sway bars. As recommended, if you are in a shortbed, get the slider hitch, check into your campground, slide it back and set up camp. when leaving, get to checkout, slide it forward. Just peace of mind.

Jim, Angie and Anna the Wonder Retriever
2001 GMC Sierra 4X4, CC, D/A
Air Helper Springs, New Engine
2006 3295RK fitted with some of the improvements from valuable MOC owners!

[indy roadrunner]

Another happy 3/4 ton puller. See signature.

Phill & Gladys
Sometimes me sits and thinks - sometimes me just sits.
06 GMC 2500HD Duramax 4x4
06 Montana 3400RL
Bichon - CEO

[sreigle]

Welcome aboard, fearnofish. I don't know much about your truck but can tell you we are towing a 2003 3295RK loaded to the gills with an F250 and have no problem towing it. You will find pinweight will probably be more than the brochure says, depending on how you load it. We are heavily loaded and our rig scaled at 14,360. Most will be less than that. I added the Firestone airbags to the rear suspension to make the truck ride level because the F250 doesn't have the overload spring like the F350 does unless you got the Camper Package (meant for slidein campers). If you have the overload then you probably won't need airbags. The 3295RK has one of the heaviest pinweights of the Montanas.

If you have the V10 or the 7.3 or 6.0 diesels I have no concerns about your truck's ability to handle the 3295RK. I don't know much about the diesels older than that.

Good luck. The 3295RK is a great model.

Just food for thought, I got tired of cranking my neck around when sitting in the recliner in order to talk to someone on the couch. After we saw what another member did we went back to ours and swapped the location of the recliner and the dining table. We really like it this way. Several others have since done the same thing. Others not. Just food for thought. None of our furniture is bolted down although the table originally was.



See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

[Cat320]

What you need to do is check your weights. Do the numbers. Check the sticker on the left rear door or pillar of the drivers side of your truck. The sticker, entitled "Tire and Loading Information," will have a section that says, "The combined weight of cargo and occupants should never exceed ____ pounds." That's all you can carry and stay within GVWR. Get that number, then make an educated decision. I did an extensive study on this subject before I ordered my new truck. Based on real numbers, from real trucks, applied to real pin weights, compared to real cargo capacities...most of the 3/4s on the road pulling Montanas are over weight. Talking facts here, not "pulls fine...never had a problem...etc." Of course it pulls fine, it's a diesel. Pulling is not the problem.

Here are the problems with 3/4s:

-If you get the diesel, the truck is so heavy (leaving only around 2300 to 2500 payload) it cannot carry the pin weight without going over GVWR.

-If you get the gasser, it will carry the pin weight (no heavy diesel engine) but the GCWR is so low, it can't tow the Montana and stay within GCWR.

So do the numbers for your truck...no doubt it will pull it fine...you have to decide if you want to be over GVWR.

[Montana_6099]

We pulled our new 3400RL over the Continental Divide here in Colorado with our 3/4 ton Dodge.

The truck would have pulled it up the mountains at 65mph+ if we would have let it.

You won't have a problem. I do suggest the Firestone airbags. We added those per a suggestion from sreigle.

Glad we did that! Truck sits level when loaded.


New owners of 2007 3400RL. 2005 Dodge 2500 Cummins HO, 38RE, BW Companion 5er hitch.