Front Cap redesigned?

[dke1955]

Montana specs state under towing: Max Turn™ front cap and radius frame with Hitch Vision. Question..do any of you happen to know if the front cap now allows 90 degree (or close to it) w/o the need for a slider hitch? Have a buddy who purchased a Landmark and this is the case with his...manu. designed front cap to allow 90 degree w/o need for slider with a SWB truck.
I am looking for all options to keep weight down, ie., Anderson vs. Pull-Rite but on the other hand do not want to get myself in a position of hitting truck cab just to save 200 lbs. of weight ( like my other buddy who on his first trip opted not to pull release lever on his hitch and crushed cab on his PU and cracked front cap of his trailer...he also had a flat that weekend...I felt terrible for the guy....what a nightmare). Thanks everyone! Happy Thanksgiving!!!

[MARK A]

When I installed my B&W hitch, they told me I’d be fine with my Ford. As the hitch location is farthest back, GM maybe and Dodge a no go without a slider. That being said I do NOT have 48” from the pin to the back of my cab so technically I can’t get a completely 90* turn (very close but not quite)It has been my experience, 90* turn situations are the result of poor planning. Even driving semi for years.

Mark

[BuilderBob]

That's y you get a long box and you don't have to worry about it!

[BB_TX]

I don't think the Max Turn terminology is new. If I remember correctly that is what the label on my 2007 was called when I bought it new. 2007, I think, was the first year of the contoured front caps. Before that they had squared off lower front corners.

Don't know about the 90 degree turn. A good friend had an SOB with a squared off front cap that he broke his back window on a tight back in turn with his Chevy short bed. Bought a 2008 Montana with the contoured front cap and had no more problem. Although he was also more careful about tight backing turns.

[BandBmalin]

I just swapped out my manual slide hitch with a Demco autoslide. I tried a couple of times to back in without sliding the manual one because it was a pain and the trailer got pretty close to my cab - close enough before 90 degrees that I would go through the pain of sliding just to avoid the horror stories I've read about here. The manual slide was enough of a pain, however, that I sucked it up and bought the Demco and it is so much nicer to simply not worry about hitting my Dodge 2500 cab. I have too much invested in my trailer to risk it.

[AZ Traveler]

You can try to get by without a slider but its really easy to get into trouble with a little inattention. I would bite the bullet and get the Anderson hitch or an auto slider.

[Montana Man]

dke1955

What is your tv specs and trailer? Somebody here will have the same combo and can tell you what works for them.

I can do 90's but I have the b&w puck. What is nice is that it isn't even set for the rearmost position.

[CarWin]

Originally Posted by BuilderBob

That's y you get a long box and you don't have to worry about it!

Not everyone can have/use a long box tow vehicle. Blanket statements like this are not good input for the OP,or anyone for that matter.

[twindman]

Agree with CarWin. Even the Ford/Dodge are 6 inches to a foot longer than Chevy. I can just squeeze into my garage with 1 inch in the rear and maybe 18 inches in the front to walk around. No way would a long bed work.

[h2ojocky]

Long bed won't fit in my garage and therefore I have a short bed. I also have a auto slider as my trailer is the older squared off front. There have been many people on this forum that have a short bed with the Max turn and never need a slider. My philosophy is better to have it and not need it, than need it and not have it!

[dke1955]

Originally Posted by Montana Man

dke1955

What is your tv specs and trailer? Somebody here will have the same combo and can tell you what works for them.

I can do 90's but I have the b&w puck. What is nice is that it isn't even set for the rearmost position.

I have 2017 Ford Powerstroke F-250 SWB. I am looking at, and will most likely purchase 3121RL. If anyone has this combo and can offer their experience I would appreciate reading what others have done. Thanks again.

[dke1955]

Originally Posted by twindman

Agree with CarWin. Even the Ford/Dodge are 6 inches to a foot longer than Chevy. I can just squeeze into my garage with 1 inch in the rear and maybe 18 inches in the front to walk around. No way would a long bed work.

YEP! Me too!!..(have to take hitch off to close the garage door!)..

[richfaa]

For us the advantage of having a long bed truck outweighs any negatives of course being long timers the trucks only purpose is to pull the Montana.

[beeje]

I have had a pickup of some sort for over 40 years. Not one of them was a short bed. I just do not understand the fascination most people have with a short bed. Why buy 3/4 of a truck when can buy the whole thing. LOL

By the way I have a 1700 sf pole building that the camper lives in, and my truck resides outside. The truck fits in with no problem, but every time I want to work on something I would have to move it.

[Kyle and Lisa]

Originally Posted by richfaa

For us the advantage of having a long bed truck outweighs any negatives of course being long timers the trucks only purpose is to pull the Montana.

Same here being full time, and when we had a garage the boat and wife's car were parked in the garage and truck outside.

[BandBmalin]

Someday, we may be retired and/or full time, but for now my truck is mostly for non-towing and spends much of its time at the airport as I travel often for work. I can't imagine trying to park a long bed, crew cab in those spots. Add in the extra width of a dually...

[MARK A]

Originally Posted by dke1955

I have 2017 Ford Powerstroke F-250 SWB. I am looking at, and will most likely purchase 3121RL. If anyone has this combo and can offer their experience I would appreciate reading what others have done. Thanks again.

Our 3610 is exactly the same as your 3121 except ours is longer.
My 2012 F350 w/B&W Companion is an awesome combo. You’re going to need air bags or something for the rear of an F250. But the combination is sweet. As I stated, you won’t achieve a FULL 90 degree turn but it hasn’t been an issue for 3 years.

Mark

[BuilderBob]

I did not mean to offend anyone with the comment about buying a long box over a short box but it just makes a lot more sense to me and a lot of others to do so. you have more room for a fuel tank and work box and any thing else you can put back there and you wont hit the back of the cab and you don't need a sliding hitch.

[AZ Traveler]

Originally Posted by BuilderBob

I did not mean to offend anyone with the comment about buying a long box over a short box but it just makes a lot more sense to me and a lot of others to do so. you have more room for a fuel tank and work box and any thing else you can put back there and you wont hit the back of the cab and you don't need a sliding hitch.

Bob,

I do not believe there was offense taken. Clearly the OP already has a truck so changing trucks was not his question. Todays trucks should run 15 years easy, no reason to rush out and buy a new one.

Its great to be an American and have lots of choices. One choice does not fit all and we all have different situations driving our choices.

[Montana Man]

Originally Posted by dke1955

I have 2017 Ford Powerstroke F-250 SWB. I am looking at, and will most likely purchase 3121RL. If anyone has this combo and can offer their experience I would appreciate reading what others have done. Thanks again.

That trailer may overload the truck by weight, not power. I would recommend checking the GVWR of the truck compared to the trailer. If unsure how to do that, ask. Some folks do not mind being legally liable and overloaded.

This combo will require load leveling of some sort. Do you have the puck hitch system?