A couple of questions on out 3402RL

[martyperu]

We just purchased a 2013 3402RL and are getting familiar with it.
The trailer has a LED light above the fifth wheel. How do you turn the light on?
On the sewer hose container pipe cap, taped inside are a number of screws.
Any ideas what they would be for?
We bought the trailer at a dealership about 150 miles away. I pulled it home with our present truck, GMC 2500 Duramax diesel. Pulled it well, mind you it was fairly flat country and a nice calm day. Do you think this enough truck for this trailer.

Thanks in advance for any ideas and information.

Regards Marty

[Sierra 117]

On our rig the fifth wheel light goes on with the door side scare light. Can't help you with the extra screws. I took the sewer boom off anyway. Not sure what the GVW of your rig is, but if it is 14000 lb. or higher, you will not be happy with your truck. Our GVW is 15500 lb. and we pull comfortably with a 3500 DRW. Hope this helps.

Barry

[bigskyjimmy]

I have a 2012 3402rl and that led light over the pin box comes on when I turn the scare lights on it is marked DS flood on the inside control panel and it also turns on the curbside flood The extra screws I do not know they did not come with mine, as far as your truck goes I tow mine with a 2003 3500 duramax dually and I am at the MAX limit but it does just fine although I wish I had a newer Duramax for going up the mountain passes ,What year is your GMC??? is it a DRW or a SRW?? , my DRY weight is 12,900 and about 14.5k loaded with gear and pin weight is about 2,600 (NO WATER,EMPTY HOLDING TANKS and not much in storage)it depends on what year, if it is a early duramax 2500 2001-2004 I think you are OVERLOADED my man,..... What do ya think gang???

[bethandkevin]

Others have answered your first two questions the same as me, so as to your towing question: As you can see from my signature pic, I have the same model FW. I don't know what year truck you have, but my 2008 does just fine so far. There are NO differences in 2500HD and 3500HD except for Dual wheels, springs and some frame reinforcements. The powertrain is the same thing. When I scaled last fall, I came in just over at 22,300# with 2,905# on the pin, just under the 3,000# spec. That was without any water on board which I believe would lighten the pin being the fresh water is behind the axles. I think you have to assess how you will use your rig. Will you be full timing? Travelling? Or are you towing somewhere and vacationing for a week or two and then parking it until the next vacation. I currently fall under the latter and so I am completely satisfied with my truck. If I were doing either one of the former, I would possibly look at more truck. As stated in other threads, the duelly provides more stability-no question, but the powertrain is the same. The only way to know is to use what you have. The truck will let you know if you ask more than it can deliver. I suspect though, that it will be just like a loyal dog and do just what you ask of it.

[woodtic]

I am currently towing with a 2500 4x4. Pulls fine, but you want to watch your pin weight. Air bags, timbrens, or helper springs would be a wise investment. According to information I found on www.diesel place.com the main differences between the 3500 and 2500 are spring pack, tires, wheels, and door sticker. If your tires and wheels meet the load requirements then I'd look at the springs. According the the trailer life towing guide (info supplied by gm) my truck is rated to tow up to 15,500 but cargo cappacity of the truck is only 2,500 including people, fuel, hitch, ect. So pin weight is my main concern, as my trailers pin weight can exceed 3,000. I watch the loading pretty close and sometimes use the fresh water tank to help counter balance the trailers pin weight. My helper springs do make a difference in the attitude and handling of the truck.

The choice is yours. I'm planning on upgrading to a 1 ton SWR very soon, but my 3/4 ton is doing a good job for now.

[richfaa]

Come on guys you know better....Carry capacity....pin weight. Big difference between 3/4 ton and 1 ton dually. forget the stated spec on pin weight. It is empty pin weight. We do not tow these things empty.

"There are NO differences in 2500HD and 3500HD except for Dual wheels, springs and some frame reinforcements. The powertrain is the same thing. " ...... That is a BIG difference.

[JandC]

I just purchased my first RV (3400). In preparation I upgraded my work truck to a 2012 F350 SRW 6.7 diesel. Everything I researched told me that it would be enough for a Montana 3400. I have only pulled my Montana from Wisconsin to Illinois (5 hour trip flat ground)so far but I really couldn't even tell it was back there! The original owner of my Montana is a retired over-the-road truck driver who pulled it with a Dodge 3/4 ton SRW diesel. He never stressed his truck and said it always handled great. I have to consider him an expert due to his past experience. My opinion would be you have enough truck with enough suspension, braking, and engine to go anywhere.

[DQDick]

Simple answer on your truck=weight your Monty and then consult the stickers on your drivers side door. Some 2500's can have a surprising capacity, others don't. It's not just about the engine. Braking, handling and durability are all at stake. Weigh, read the labels and make your own decision. As you can see, I pull with a 2500HD somewhat modified when ordered by the dealer.

[Irlpguy]

In one of my previous posts I provided the certified scale weight of my 2012 Dodge 3500 DRW, LB and 2012 - 3402RL Montana. The units were scaled the night before leaving on a 3000 mile trip to Arizona and back.

Here again are those figures:

My Dodge 1 ton GVWR = 12,300, shown on drivers door frame.

My Montana GVWR = 15,804 as per Keystone certificate.

Together the units weighed 24,140 lbs. No water in tanks, very little heavy canned goods but all other necessities. I do not have a second AC unit or Generator in the trailer.

Trailer axle weight - 12,456 lbs

Truck loaded but not hooked up - 8884 lbs

Pin weight 2,799 lbs

Combine the pin weight and the trailer axle weight for a trailer GVWR of 15,255 lbs so just under the 15,804 lbs factory spec. Adding the pin weight to the truck totaled 11,683 lbs, again just under the factory 12,300 GVWR of the truck.

Now the big question: Is a 2500 adequate to handle a loaded 3402RL?
By all means it will pull it down the road, and since the power train is basically the same in a comparable model year 2500 as a 3500 then it will even pull it up hills and into the wind. That is where it ends, the DRW 3500 has a GVWR considerably greater than a 2500, if you question that look at the sticker on your door.

I am very careful about the loading of both my truck and trailer but I would never add water to the fresh water tank to lessen the pin weight, it might do just that, however I question that idea. One thing for sure, it will add weight to the rear axle of the trailer, so what have you gained.

It is very simple to take your 2500 to a scale and scale it loaded with whatever you will carry in it on a trip, including passengers and full of fuel. Take that weight and deduct it from the GVWR on the door sticker and you will have the carry capacity of the truck. I pretty much guarantee you will not have anything close to 2700 lbs which is what you will need to not be overweight once you hook up to you new 3402RL.

Oh yes you can turn the LED above the pin box on/off with your remote, which also turns on the DS flood light. Caution! If you turn it on with the remote you must also turn it off with the remote.

Good luck with the new Montana, I am sure you will have many great camping trips and lots of enjoyment from it. Be safe, don't travel overweight and you will feel much more secure in knowing you are within the capacities of both the truck and trailer.

[bigskyjimmy]

He still has not said what year Duramax and SRW or DRW?? do you load the 5th to the gills??... you out there martyperu?

[mhs4771]

He did say it's a 2500, so unless he did something really crazy it's a SRW, and even if a current year, most likely over on cargo cap and the trucks GVWR.

[bigskyjimmy]

[OOPPSSS..you are right Michelle and ANN, the 2500 did not come in DRW... DUHHH my bad......Nevermind

[Mynabird]

As you can tell in our signature, we pull with a 3500 Dodge dually 4x4.

We had a 2500 05 Dodge SRW before and pulled an '08 2980fl with no issues. Bob wanted a dually and we are happy with the '11.

As others have said, depends ON your activity with it and how comfortable YOU are with the braking AND the towing.

[dykeleonard]

I have a 2011 3400RL and pulled it originally with a 2006 2500HD Duramax and now with a 2013 2500HD Duramax and the truck doesn't even know the Montana is back there.

[martyperu]

quote:Originally posted by bigskyjimmy

He still has not said what year Duramax and SRW or DRW?? do you load the 5th to the gills??... you out there martyperu?

Sorry I took so long to give all info. The truck is a 2008 extended cab 4X4 2500 Duramax with the Allison autoshift transmission.

[martyperu]

Sorry for not giving all the information. The truck is a 2008 Extended Cab 4X4 2500 Duramax.

[bigskyjimmy]

Yep you would be overloaded but having said that some people do it with Airbags to control the squat, you got plenty of power but you are over the max rating pin weight etc.. I would upgrade if I was you but it's your call ,when you start towing these big boys you gotta get the right tool for the job,I use to have a 1999 f350 V10 WITH air bags and tried it once with the new 3402 and it would do it but 2 weeks later I said the heck with this and did the right thing and stepped up

[HOOK]

May I say, IMHO, that it is not about towing the coach, but about controlling it in bad situations. Such as a panic stop with a hard turn. The second tire multiplies stability. When the brakes are hard applied in a turn, the tire or tires on the side away from the couch is the point in question. With one tire there is the possibility of tire/ rim seperation. Chances are much improved with dual wheels.

[mhs4771]

There is no question about towing, as any of the big 3 Diesels will pull just about anything out there, but as Rich and Larry say, it's the carrying capacity and the ability to control these monsters when things go bad.

[richfaa]

Don't understand why folks justify the 3/4 ton truck with the "it will pull it fine".. comment. Of course it will it has the same drive train than the one ton .The spec's are clear and easy to find. Carry capacity, easy to find and easy to calculate. What one does after understanding the spec,s and applying them to their rig is their business. There is no law that I know of that says one has to be within the spec's. Stopping is a issue. Add 13/15K on to the truck and it will take longer to stop..DUH...That would be the same with any vehicle add weight and the stopping distance increases .. One needs to understand that, make sure your braking system is properly set up and you drive accordingly.