Which tow vehicle is best? - Montana Owners Club

Montana_3424 · 03-24-2005, 09:30 AM

I have been told that this has been a topic of many a discussion - however, I am a new Montana owner (just 2 days ago). We bought the 3650RK after falling madly in love with it. We are now ready to find the perfect tow vehicle if there is such a thng. My hubby would like to stay with the 2500 heavy duty and is interested in the duramax. I am leaning toward the 3500 Ford. I would be very interested in hearing all points of view.

Thank you,
Marcia Smith

RonS · 03-24-2005, 10:39 AM

Opinions are like noses, everyone has one - Hang on to your hat, I think your asking for more than you bargained for. Just pick the TV that your happy with, and in your price range, and go camping and enjoy your new Montana.

Glenn and Lorraine · 03-24-2005, 12:21 PM

Welcome Marcia to the MOC.

The answer to your question can be found by merely reading the signatures.
If their signature says they drive a 2500HD than the 2500HD is the best.
If their signature says they have an F350 than the F350 will be the best.
The entire discussion comes down to whatever the individual replying drives.
It's the nature of the beast, NO ONE will ever tell you to get a 3500 if they
themselves are driving a 2500.
After this thread has run it's course I do not believe you will find an overall favorite.
Like RonS said "Just pick the TV that your happy with, and in your price range, and go camping and enjoy your new Montana."

Want my opinion of the best TV???? Scroll down to my signature.

Searchers · 03-24-2005, 01:07 PM

Marcia,

Congratulations to you and your husband on the new Montana and welcome to MOC. Oh how I wish my wife thought like you. I keep telling her it's time to move up to a NEW 'perfect tow vehicle'. She says I already used that excuse 10 years ago and the one I have is just fine. I too think RonS had good advice.

Since you're only 90 miles south you might consider joining fellow Montana owners over Memorial Day in Mt. Shasta. Information regarding the event is posted under North American MOC/Western Region.

Montana_1424 · 03-24-2005, 02:59 PM

Have to agree with the others here, all trucks have there good ponts and their bad points. I use a 3500 Dodge Diesel for mine, which is a 3650 RK as well, it it works great. The only general advice I can give is to upgrade to a 1 ton ( 3500 for Dodge and Chevy, F350 for Ford). I upgraded from the 3/4 ton to the 1 ton, and it is very nice. Also, I think you will find the 3650 RK, loaded is right at or over the tow capacity of most 3/4 ton trucks, and it is nice to have a little breathing room.

Good Luck hunting and with your new unit.

H. John Kohl · 03-24-2005, 03:01 PM

Marcia,
Welcome to the MOC. As already stated it is like asking which coat or shoe to buy. Rons and Glen and Lorraine covered it best. Go with what fits you best. As you can see with my signature I have to 3500 Dually. If I had to do it again I would probably got with the dually but I know I would definitely go with the 3500 1 ton version. This does start to raise other search question. I know FLA now has a separate license for trucks over 8000 pounds I think. I have a class D license and my wife has a class E. The difference between the 2500 and the 3500 may come into play.
The big problem with the dually is finding a place to park it in the shopping centers and downtown when your not towing. The rear wheels are 8 foot across. When towing I like the idea of the extra tires back there. As you will see from many others they have the single and are just fine with them.
If your going full time remember your Tow Vehicle is your Limousine when not towing. Where I am going is do not scrimp on the comfort if you have it in your non tow vehicle now. You will spend all your time in your tow vehicle towing and unless you take along a second car you will also spend all your non towing time in it also. Get the comfort and luxury you need and want.
I would have never ordered my Luxury package on my Dodge however since I force myself to buy immediately off the lot I got it. I am not sorry and would get it if I upgrade.
Best of luck, again welcome to the forum and group. Ask questions and as you see you will get answers.
Be safe.
John

Wordsmith · 03-24-2005, 03:06 PM

Marcia, welcome to MOC! It is a great place to have questions answered or just to have a good time!

RonS is spot on about that the answer you receive will most likely always be what an individual drives—after all, there IS a reason that we drive them!

It is the same with campers; I do not see many such questions here—naturally—but on rv.net people will ask about what are the best brands of 5ers, and most people will name what they have or would like to have.

Quite honestly, most any of the big three TVs will get the job done, so which one can the two of you agree on? With my prejudice, though, I would side with you!

Montana Sky · 03-24-2005, 07:58 PM

I went with the 2500HD over the 3500 for two reasons. One being in 2004 they only offered the 3500 in a dually and I did not really have a need or want a dually. Second, the 2500HD has a max king pin weight of 3,000lbs and the 3500 is 3,500lbs. Did not see a need to have the dually for only 500lbs extra kingpin weight. I had also found that my 2500HD with the Duramax towed more than then most one tons out there. In my opinion either truck will do just fine towing your coach. Congrats on the new coach and good luck with your truck purchase.

Bill Hill · 03-25-2005, 04:36 AM

Marcia,
I can't add much more than what has already been said. My signature shows my preference. My reasoning was identical to Montana Sky's and my guess is we probably bought ours about the same time. Each manufacturer is constantly trying to out-do the others each year. The only downside of this is that what may be the "best" truck this year may not be the "best" choice for next year's model. Whatever you get will be a good choice. Enjoy!

Countryfolks · 03-25-2005, 04:56 AM

Marcia, here's the Dodge site which gives you access to a pdf file that gives all of the pertinent info on Dodge specs, both 2500 and 3500. I'm sure there is one for Ford and Chev also [googled for dodge tow]. The critical number in my opinion is payload capacity. Rear GAWR [gross axle weight rating], trailor weight and GCWR [gross combined weight rating] are next in line. Good luck in finding the right truck for your needs.

http://www.daimlerchrysler.ca/EN/DOD...E-TOWING,.html

Skip

stiles watson · 03-25-2005, 05:07 AM

Personally, I really liked the customized Freightliner I saw at the Houston RV show. Big, powerful, luxurious, and would pull a stick house if you could put a hitch on it. Volvo also makes an outstanding tow vehicle. I can't afford either of these, so a Ford F250 works nicely.

scrowba · 03-25-2005, 12:34 PM

OK..I will stick my neck out and tell you the best. F350 King Ranch with trailer brake controller. Why? cause that's what I got.

Montana_1424 · 03-26-2005, 06:27 AM

Not trying to start a war here at all, just some info I have.
Guy I work with is about to start the lemon law proceedings with his new Ford, been in the shop for a bad vibration, that they can not seem to fix, replaced a lot on the truck, still cant get it right. Apparantly, this is a big problem with the whole line, F150 - F350. Ford is installing a new dampering device on the frame to reduce the vibration, and this is said to be a "cover up" of the problem, rather than a fix. Also, becasue of this new dampering device on the box, they had to redesign the trailor hitch receiver (Obviously not a problem for 5r's) to fit around it.
Soumthing you might want to look into before jumping into the next generation of Ford F350's, maybe wait until they get the "new model" bugs worked out, as I also know many happy Ford owners.

richfaa · 03-26-2005, 07:27 AM

You buy the truck that meets your needs.How do you tow, what do you tow, where do you tow. How heavy is your RV. If you live in Calif you drive and tow in an entirely different enviroment than I do here in Northern Ohio.I have a V10 F-350..If I lived in Southern Calif I would have a diesel..just drove the 15 between Corona and Vegas in a 4 wheeler..10 mile 6% grades Everything is up and down. Dodge, Ford, Chevy all good trucks. Anyone can get a good one or a bad one at any time. My criteria for a diesel was...Do I drive 30,000 miles a year or more, Will I keep the truck for 5 years or more..Do I pull heavy loads up steep grades on a regular basis. I my case no, no, no..My Ford is a V10.As far as the truck goes..I looked for the best buy for my buck..could have been any truck..in my cae Ford. I think that if you made a list of How you will use your truck it might lead you to the "proper" truck for you...

sreigle · 04-09-2005, 05:28 AM

Kozzy, I've had Fords '92 and '95 F150's, '99 and '03 F350's, and now an '05 F250. I also know many, many people with the Fords and not one of us has ever had that problem. I think that's probably an individual problem your friend is having and perhaps a few others. No different than we can find for the other makes. So it probably should not even be a factor.

Marcia, I don't know that there really is a 'best truck for towing'. At any one time the magazines will report that one brand is king at the moment. Next year it may well be a different brand and another the year after that. The bottom line is all three manufacturers build trucks that can easily handle the Montanas.

When you get past that point you get into the other factors for your decision. One is whether to go 3/4 ton or 1 ton. I've towed with both. I do agree that the 1 ton is a sure thing as capable of handling any Montana. But at the moment I'm towing more weight than you will be with a 3/4 ton that is also rated to easily tow that amount. But that statement can be misleading. The new Fords have higher ratings with the 3/4 ton than with last year's 1 ton. That's why I'm perfectly happy towing this weight (13,980 lbs) with a 3/4 ton. I DID have to add airbags because of a small amount of rear end sag. Had I got the "camper option" on the truck it would have the stronger rear springs and I would not have needed the airbags.

I guess the bottom line in my opinion is there are a lot of us very happy towing that weight with 3/4 ton trucks. But if you want to make sure you don't have to add airbags or are in the least bit uncomfortable towing with the 3/4 ton, go with the one ton. The extra cost is minimal, assuming you're not thinking dually, and I've never been able to detect a difference in ride between the 3/4 and 1 ton trucks. I'm talking single rear wheel, not dually. And I'm talking Ford. I've not driven all the combinations in other makes so can't comment there.

I'd suggest you drive all three brands and see which meets your other needs and desires. I know the new Fords are fantastic with the much shorter turn radius and the new front suspension and the F550-design frame (even in the F250). The ride is great and they are much easier to park than my '03 was. That's for the 4x4 trucks. I'm not sure about the 4x2. That said, I'm sure the Dodge and GM's drive very nicely, too. So, understand that all three can do the job and pick the truck based on your other priorities. That would be my advice. It's hard to make a mistake so long as you get either the diesel or the V10 or 8.1L gas engines.

Native Tex · 04-10-2005, 06:07 AM

Well the best way to determine is to let your pocker book be your guide......unless you are Bill Gates. I will say that I prefer a Ford.

richfaa · 04-10-2005, 07:26 AM

the 3650 sounds like a one ton camper..check the specs on the big three then buy a little extra. Just do your homework and you will make the right choice...take your time....

HomeOnTheRoad · 04-11-2005, 04:38 AM

Here's the specifications for the 2005 models.

I don't know if this will help you compare what people are using to tow what weights -- I saved these from some post.

pinweights in order of heaviest first-2005 models
3685FL - 2340 pounds
3295RK - 2300
2980RK - 2300
3475RL - 2225
3670RL - 2160
3650RK - 1885
2955RL - 1980
3500RL - 1885
2950RK - 1880
3400RL - 1770

And GVWR, the maximum you are supposed to load the trailer to -
3685FL - 14,340
3295RK - 14,300
3475RL - 14,225
3670RL - 14,160
3650RK - 14,000
3500RL - 13,885
3400RL - 13,770
2980RL - 12,700
2955RL - 12,380
2950RK - 12,280

Last, the UVW, unloaded vehicle weight, as it comes from the factory. Add 600 pounds to these numbers for high gloss exterior.
3650RK - 11,480
3500RL - 11,445
3400RL - 11,380
3475RL - 11,185
3685FL - 11,020
3670RL - 10,560
3295RK - 10,360
2980RL - 10,060
2955RL - 9,380
2950RK - 8,620

sreigle · 04-11-2005, 04:53 PM

Kozzy, the 2005 SuperDuty is not really a new model. It's just a refinement of the truck that's been around since the 1999 model year. The 4x4 has a new front end and they all have a new frame. But drivetrain is the same. The diesel was new in 2003 but the bugs were long ago worked out. We're very happy with our 2005. Very.

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