New member, new TV, and new Montana - Montana Owners Club

jfaberna · 11-23-2013, 01:49 AM

My wife and I have been shopping and researching RVs since my retirement. Our first decision was to pick a TV and we ordered a RAM 3500 Diesel Dually 4x2. That should be arriving in the next few weeks. Yesterday we finally decided on a 2014 Montana 3402RL that just rolled off the line this week. It's one of the new Oyster color exterior one. We were very close between Montana and Jayco Pinnacle. Both seem well built, but Montana had floor plans we couldn't find on Pinnacle and the price was very, very good for the Montana.

I will be posting questions in this forum to help use get started right. The first will be related to the PDI and walk through. What should I make sure they do or show me? The unit will be picked up where it's cold. The PDI will be inside a shop, so should we hookup all the water and such? I'm guessing I can leave it that way, with the heat on, on the way home, since I will need to overnight before arriving home. I can winterize before parking it at home.

Any help would be appreciated, because it's been 20 years since we've been out RV'ing in a Class C. There's a lot to learn.

H. John Kohl · 11-23-2013, 01:59 AM

Welcome to the forum and enjoy both the new truck and Montana.
I suggest you use this PDI when you pick up your new Montana. There are four of them off this web page.

**DQDick** · 11-23-2013, 02:02 AM

First of all welcome to the forum, you'll love this group and be able to get any help you need. There is a base PDI on the home page (look under the pull downs) of the forum here's a link: http://montanaowners.weebly.com/chec...r-systems.html Yes, you should make them show you how all systems work and that they do work. You should be fine taking the new rig to a campground but if it's below freezing and you use the fireplace or other heater use the furnace, at least occasionally to keep warm (the pipes are next to the furnace vents for that reason). We looked at Jayco first when we bought, but felt the Monty was better in plumbing and electrical and stuff you don't see when you're looking. Those of us here fell you've made the best choice and I hope your new rig assists in you're making many wonderful memories.

K0LCB · 11-23-2013, 02:26 AM

I hope you enjoy your new adventures. I think you made a wise decision

1retired06 · 11-23-2013, 03:13 AM

Welcome to the RV crowd. Great advice on the PDI guidance above. Congrats on the new truck and fiver.

CORattler · 11-23-2013, 04:44 AM

Welcome!!
You must be very excited.
We have been very happy with our Montana and value the sage advice and knowlege offered on the MOC forum. Great people here.
Enjoy your new Montana and Dodge!

jfaberna · 11-23-2013, 05:02 AM

we are excited and a little scared. I have not pulled anything except a 18 foot boat before. So we have to travel quite a few miles to pick up the 5W and pull it home for our first trip. Going to try a lot of practice pulling and backing in the dealer parking lot before I hit the road.

jrpend · 11-23-2013, 06:43 AM

If you don't mind my asking...

How did you pick your tow vehicle? I'm sniffing around the trucks with an eye to one in the new year. I've pretty much decided on a Diesel Dually, but I'm torn between the brands. At the moment as a lookeeloo I'm favoring Ford and the GMC. What pushed you towards Dodge?

Thanks,
Jerald
Montana Wannabe

jfaberna · 11-23-2013, 07:58 AM

Well, I've heard too many stories about the Ford Diesel engines. That may be history, but Ford has had a number of issues with their diesels over the past 10 years. While the current 6.7L seems to be okay, it doesn't have the HP or Torque of either GM or RAM. I could not find a Dually Chevy to test drive. Also their cab had not been updated for 2014 like their 1500. RAM has Cummins engines and I could test drive them. They also had more towing capability than the other 2. They also have all the bells and whistles for less money. It may have come down to the attitude of dealers that I like. Both my RAM and Montana dealers offered their best price up front and I didn't have to play games.

mhs4771 · 11-23-2013, 11:03 AM

Not that it matters, but you got some bad info on the Ford. The new Ford 6.7 actually has slightly more HP and Torque than the GM. Any of the Big three will do the job fine, comes down to personal preference. What tires are coming on that new 3402? If they're not "G" rated tires, you might be wise to get them swapped out before leaving the Dealer.

jfaberna · 11-23-2013, 11:10 AM

I have a number of items to talk to the dealer about before pickup. Tires including balancing, U-bolt torquing, etc. I'm picking it up in Elkhart so I would hope upgrading the tires would be an easy thing to do. Any idea how expensive that should be? I have no idea about RV tire cost.

HOOK · 11-23-2013, 12:00 PM

Welcome and come to a rally.

dsprik · 11-23-2013, 12:36 PM

You need to test drive each of the big three and see which one makes the biggest impression. Might want to take the wife along too. I am partial to GMCs although they currently have the lowest power/towing specs of the big three. 397 HP and 765 ft lbs of torque is plenty of power to pull our Montanas and it beats any of big three of a few years ago.

I agree with the statement that any of the big three will do the job.

jfaberna · 11-23-2013, 12:51 PM

So if the fifth wheel is already at the dealer with standard tires, would it be better to get them to upgrade to the G rated tire option that Keystone has or to put some other higher rated tire??

mhs4771 · 11-23-2013, 01:09 PM

If it has the OEM Standard "E" Rated ST tires, I would try and work a deal with Dealer to swap the Es for Gs. Other on here have been done that. If you can't do something with the Dealer, some Tire Dealers will take the current tires in trade, that's what we did when we upgraded to Gs on our previous Montana. No matter what, better to ask now rather than later.

Irlpguy · 11-23-2013, 01:10 PM

Congratulations on both the new Montana and leaning toward the Ram 3500 Dually. These days there is not much difference between the big three and all are plenty capable of hauling your 3402RL. I am partial to the Ram since that is what I have owned for 12 years after having owned Ford for many years.

With the 3402RL you are going to need the highest GVW you can get on the TV, my Ram 3500 is 12,300 lbs, you will want nothing less than that on your TV.

Our choice was the 3402RL because we like the floor plan the best and still do, would not trade it for any of the others, I think you will be happy with it, not to say there won't be some issues, because there are likely to be some as with any RV.

If you are able to have Keystone upgrade the tires at the factory I would do that and get the Goodyear G614's, they are optional on the Big Sky Montana's and are "G" rated at 3750 lbs and rated for 75 mph. Pretty hard to go wrong with them.

Keep checking in here for lots of information and help, lots of both on this forum.

jfaberna · 11-23-2013, 01:23 PM

I spent a lot of time on the TV specs. I ended up with the 4x2 because it's cheaper, closer to the ground, and a gravel parking lot is as off-road as I will be getting with a 16,000 GVWR trailer. By paying $50 for an upgrade to the 3.73 axle ratio, I increased my 5W towing rating to 18,900 lbs, with a payload limit of ~6000 lbs. No matter whether I go by the rear axle limit of 9000 or the towing rating, I have 2000 margin either way. That way we can load the truck, trailer and using the 25% trailer weight for pin weight, I'm good on all ratings. I wanted to get a SRW, but I couldn't make the numbers work, so DRW it is.

mhs4771 · 11-23-2013, 01:50 PM

You'll love the Dually, best move we ever made.

Mudchief · 11-23-2013, 02:27 PM

Congratulations on your new truck and Montana. Hope you have many happy times with them.

davidaf · 11-24-2013, 12:15 PM

Nice choice, sounds like you got it right on the first try. I traded a near new 2500 for my dually, lost some cash but gained a ton in comfort and confidence while towing. When I bought my first 5'er the only thing i'd ever towed was a jet ski and that was only once. Talk about nervous. Took me over an hour to back it into its parking place. Just remember you have plenty of time to get from A to B and backed into C and most of us weren't truck drivers so we all know what it's like the first several times towing and backing a new 5th wheel. I throw pride out the window and will ask for assistance anytime I feel the need. Sure beats looking like a jerk for swearing and yelling and smashing into things that I didn't see.

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