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Old 09-11-2017, 04:01 PM   #1
Coopsgrl
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Seeking truck recommendations

Hello travelers. We are about to purchase our very first 5th and know that a new/used truck will also need to be purchased. I was looking for recom's for either Ford F-250+ or Chevy 2500 High Country. The research I have been doing has lead me into some bottomless hole and I feel lost.

We are looking to purchase a Montana High Country 370BR, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to meeting members on the road very soon.

T
 
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Old 09-11-2017, 04:36 PM   #2
sambam
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If you're buying a truck, why not look at 1 tons (350-3500)? The 3/4 ton (250-2500) will do the job, but these Montanas are heavy. If you upgrade your trailer, you may still be ok with the 1-ton down the road. You can never have too much truck. Whichever way you go, I would recommend a diesel engine.
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Old 09-11-2017, 05:18 PM   #3
Lenny K
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Yup. Fully agree with sambam. Go with a 1 ton diesel. If you are going to buy used stay away from the Ford 6.0 diesel. Unless someone has bullet proofed it you will have nothing but trouble. That is why myself, a once proud Ford owner, now owns a Chevy.
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Old 09-11-2017, 05:48 PM   #4
mlh
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I drive a Ford but in a BIG Chevy fan. We can compare specs.
The Ford has more power.
The Ford transmission will handle more power.
The Chevy has a cast iron block the Ford compacted graphite iron block. Google compacted graphite iron to see the difference.
All of these specs don't really matter. The CGI block is better but that is like saying synthetic oil is better. Either engine will wear out the rest of the truck. Sure the Ford has more power but you will never notice the difference.
The ONLY thing that really matters is the butt in the seat test. Go compair, which has the features you like, which is the most comfortable. Which one do you like and the only way you are going to find out is to drive both several times. Take notes. What I like doesn't matter it's yo money. The only way you can go wrong is to not compare or take someone's word.
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Old 09-11-2017, 05:49 PM   #5
BB_TX
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I agree with above. The 350/3500 trucks only cost a little more than the 250/2500 and give you much more payload capacity with little to no difference in ride or fuel economy.

For Ford go with a 2012 or newer if you want diesel. The 6.7 diesel is a very good engine. Can't comment on years for GM or Ram.
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Old 09-11-2017, 05:52 PM   #6
mhs4771
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If GM go for 2011 up, as 2011 was when the Exhaust Brake was added, plus the box frame.
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Old 09-11-2017, 06:41 PM   #7
DQDick
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I'd go with a Dodge Cummings Desiel. They had integrated exhaust brakes way before the others and the tow/haul works well with the cruise control even in the mountains.
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Old 09-11-2017, 07:23 PM   #8
mlh
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The open question about FCA is, who will own it next. Their CEO is looking for a buyer before it collapses, and what will happened to its divisions. That buyer if it's sold will most likely be Chinese.
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Old 09-11-2017, 07:44 PM   #9
Butch & Kathy
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Go with the 1 ton. I have a 1 ton short bed and wish I had the long bed, I hate the slider hitch set up.
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Old 09-11-2017, 08:01 PM   #10
topjustice
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coopsgrl View Post
Hello travelers. We are about to purchase our very first 5th and know that a new/used truck will also need to be purchased. I was looking for recom's for either Ford F-250+ or Chevy 2500 High Country. The research I have been doing has lead me into some bottomless hole and I feel lost.

We are looking to purchase a Montana High Country 370BR, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to meeting members on the road very soon.

T
Highly recommend the F350 with camper package, long bed and factory installed 5th wheel prep. option. The new ones have a trailer backup assist option that looks incredible. Lots of horse power and torque.
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Old 09-11-2017, 08:19 PM   #11
CaptnJohn
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Coopsgrl View Post
Hello travelers. We are about to purchase our very first 5th and know that a new/used truck will also need to be purchased. I was looking for recom's for either Ford F-250+ or Chevy 2500 High Country. The research I have been doing has lead me into some bottomless hole and I feel lost.

We are looking to purchase a Montana High Country 370BR, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Looking forward to meeting members on the road very soon.

T
I have a 2017 370BR. You will be over payload on any 250/2500 diesel and a gasser will not work with this weight non any hill, forget mountain. I had a 2016 F250 and traded on the 2016 F350 for this 5er. On delivery the 370BR was 360# heavier than stated dry weight. The published hitch weight is also a little low. There is a lot of storage space in the entire 5er and especially the basement. Add the separate washer/dryer and a 2nd battery and PW will laugh at any 3/4. Just the 2 of us so we will never use all the cargo capacity (even with my wife's cast iron cook ware) but if done you are not far from dually territory.
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Old 09-11-2017, 08:34 PM   #12
1retired06
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One ton dually diesel long bed. Ford, gm or dodge.
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Old 09-11-2017, 08:51 PM   #13
speedster100
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Its the High Country he said and I believe they are considerably lighter than a Montana and fall within the 2500/250 series truck capacity. My advice, drive'em and buy the one you like, 3500/350 models aren't that much more than 2500/250 models if buying new. Load capacity is higher on 3500/350's but towing capacity isn't much if any higher. So it comes down to what you can afford and what you like.... 2500/250 will do what you want it too....... good luck
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Old 09-11-2017, 09:05 PM   #14
CaptnJohn
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Originally Posted by speedster100 View Post
Its the High Country he said and I believe they are considerably lighter than a Montana and fall within the 2500/250 series truck capacity. My advice, drive'em and buy the one you like, 3500/350 models aren't that much more than 2500/250 models if buying new. Load capacity is higher on 3500/350's but towing capacity isn't much if any higher. So it comes down to what you can afford and what you like.... 2500/250 will do what you want it too....... good luck
The F250 / F350 difference is in the payload. I have the 2016 F350 Lariat Ultimate 4X4 SHORT BED 6.7 with the camper package. It tows the 370BR just fine. I have a slider hitch and never used it.
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Old 09-12-2017, 03:37 PM   #15
DadsHemi
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If your look at Ford, just jump to the 450 or a Ram 3500 both are very dependable trucks. The F450 and Ram 3500 are very close in carry and pull capacity.
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Old 09-12-2017, 04:41 PM   #16
Denny and Angie Miller
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Definitely Diesel
Definitely 1 ton, preferably DRW
Definitely long bed
GM or Ford.

Do your homework on factory prepped hitch options
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Old 09-12-2017, 04:58 PM   #17
Butch & Kathy
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Originally Posted by CaptnJohn View Post
The F250 / F350 difference is in the payload. I have the 2016 F350 Lariat Ultimate 4X4 SHORT BED 6.7 with the camper package. It tows the 370BR just fine. I have a slider hitch and never used it.
CaptnJohn, what model Montana do you have? I have the same truck as you without the camper package and the first time I did not use it I shattered my rear window. If I could do it over I would have bought the long bed to eliminate the need for the slider.
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Old 09-12-2017, 05:16 PM   #18
CaptnJohn
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CaptnJohn, what model Montana do you have? I have the same truck as you without the camper package and the first time I did not use it I shattered my rear window. If I could do it over I would have bought the long bed to eliminate the need for the slider.
I have a 2017 HC 370 BR. My Cougar would hit the truck cab long before the Montana. The Cougar dimpled the cab. The Montana is a real treat getting into my storage site and into some CGs, but never needed the slider yet. A crew cab and 8' bed would mean parking in the back 40 again, not for me. Parking spaces are now made like everyone owns a Prius.
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Old 09-12-2017, 06:40 PM   #19
gary s swenson
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I moved from a Ford F250 crew cab short wheel base with a slider hitch to a Chevy one ton dually crew cab long bed and am very very happy. It tows our 5th wheel so well. I don't fight the side winds like I did with the single rear wheels. The Allison transmission is very smooth shifting. My son got a chevy dually and really liked it towing his camper. My wife was hesitant about driving the dually, but now just loves it. not really much different parking vs the 3/4 ton truck. I think it is really much safer to use when towing these big trailers.
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Old 09-12-2017, 07:19 PM   #20
speedster100
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I've had 3 GM's with the 6.5 box SRW and had 5 cougars, a Crossroads & a Montana and never needed a slider hitch yet... Touch wood never got close to the cab but I actually pay attention to distance between cab & front of trailer when backing up into spaces.
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