Tow Vehicle for 2018 3810MS

[Bob Bo]

Hey all, we just purchased a 2018 Montana 3810MS and I'm trying to make sure I've got enough tow vehicle. Anyone that can give me some advice, I appreciate it.

Tow Vehicle:
2018 Ram 2500
6.7L Diesel
Automatic
4x4
Long Bed
Crew Cab

Keystone Montana 3810MS
Dry weight: 13385lbs
Carry Cap: 3365lbs
Hitch weight: 2745lbs

Again, any help is appreciated. Hopefully we haven't gotten ahead of ourselves.
Thanks,
Bob

[Montana Man]

You will have the power you need to pull it around the country. Legally you will be overloaded on the GVWR on the truck due to pin weight. Some here say they do it all the time and I know some that tow overloaded and have no problems. In central CA they do random weighing and snag those overloaded. If found overloaded in a wreck, that may add to liability. It will be squashed so air bags will be a must.

[Bob Bo]

You're the first to actually give me some hope. Others on other forums are tearing me up. My concern was the payload on my truck is 2,270lbs. The hitch weight is 500lbs over that.

[jeffba]

Originally Posted by Bob Bo

You're the first to actually give me some hope. Others on other forums are tearing me up. My concern was the payload on my truck is 2,270lbs. The hitch weight is 500lbs over that.

Yes, keep asking and you will find someone to tell you it is okay.

This will be a 3 bagger

[Bob Bo]

Nope, the hope is gone. I've been talking across 4 forums and it's clear I screwed up. Now I'm trying to figure out solutions. My only hope is I can work out a back out deal with the dealer, and let them know I'm still looking to purchase something smaller. I havent started living in this thing yet, and I'm already eating a big lesson.

Thanks for the posts though.
Bob

[rollingdownthehighway]

Originally Posted by Bob Bo

Nope, the hope is gone. I've been talking across 4 forums and it's clear I screwed up. Now I'm trying to figure out solutions. My only hope is I can work out a back out deal with the dealer, and let them know I'm still looking to purchase something smaller. I havent started living in this thing yet, and I'm already eating a big lesson.

Thanks for the posts though.
Bob

If you can, get a bigger truck. With a 2500 your selections on any new fiver are very very limited. The new ones will max out your payload even before you load it up.

[dvines]

Originally Posted by Bob Bo

You're the first to actually give me some hope. Others on other forums are tearing me up. My concern was the payload on my truck is 2,270lbs. The hitch weight is 500lbs over that.

I made the exact same mistake . . . bought a new truck THEN realized after reading the forums that I would be way over GVWR. I have a 2018 Ram 2500 w/ manual XSMN. I tow a 2018 HC 321MK. I went with the HC because of the lower weight. I went to the scale last week (loaded RV w/full fuel). The rear axle weight is 5680. The empty weight at rear axle is 3040. The max rear axle weight is 6500. So, doing the math, after I subtract my 300# hitch, my hitch weight is 2340#. Based on my reading, the number I was told to never exceed was the max rear axle weight and tire load capacity. As I said earlier, my max rear axle weight is 6500#, so with the RV connected, I am still 820# under the max axle weight (tire capacity is not an issue). I added SuperCoils to the rear suspension so there is no sag at all. I have only towed about 3000 miles and so far, no issues. Yes, I am over GVWR by about 700#. I can live with that. Of course, I just added a 46 aux fuel tank so that will put me a little over 1K#. You have more trailer than me PLUS your rear axle max weight is 6000#. A lot to think about. Good luck and be safe

[wade]

People always talk and worry about enough GVWR. Have you ever taken a gander at what's holding the actual rv up. Mine has a 14280 gvwr i got 6200 lb axles light weight shackles not much for spring hangers more than likley have plastic bushing plus china bomb low rating tires besides the poor workmanship of the rv itself with broken struts sagging roof slideout built crooked. Now getting a ripple in the fiberglass up above the landing gear in that corner

[BuilderBob]

Before we to far into this about trucks! I'm going to get the popcorn & the beer

[mtlakejim]

Bob Bo

Anyone on here will quickly tell you I’m deep in the get more truck than you need camp. Having said that I need to ask two questions:

Are you going to be towing the camper every week or living in it in one spot for months on end?

Can you trade the truck instead of the camper? Trucks do tend to trade really well. Campers not so much

[Bob Bo]

@mtlakjim, A little of both. We plan to be traveling around the country. sometimes staying in place for a month or longer and other times moving daily/weekly.

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by Bob Bo

@mtlakjim, A little of both. We plan to be traveling around the country. sometimes staying in place for a month or longer and other times moving daily/weekly.

Ok I will be blunt since it is my style. If it is going to put you in a serious financial bind maybe going with what you have at present is just what you have to do. You can usually get away with towing overweight as weight boys aren’t concerned with RVs in most states. I would recommend you at least drive very carefully. And of course when the situation allows it upgrade to a larger truck. Preferably a 1 ton dually. Your truck will pull the trailer and you won’t tear it up but you will be technically illegal and if you were towing it every day for thousands of miles per month be stressing the truck frame pretty hard.

The question you posed always sparks a heated debate on here and as I mentioned I am always way deep in the get more truck than you need camp. But I am heavy duty oilfield and live in the mountains. I do recognize there is often a difference between what would be the ideal tow vehicle and what fits someone’s lifestyle and circumstances.

If your going to switch anything I would look at the truck not the trailer. The depreciation on an RV is really bad but 3/4 and 1 ton trucks tend to hold their value much better. I actually made money on my trade in of a 3/4 ton.

The debate between truck size, brand and features can rage for several pages on here. Everyone has their take on it. Get a bag of popcorn and a beer and enjoy the show

[The Bone]

I have a F250 and tow mine all over the place. I have put 30,000 miles on my rig so far. It weighs about the same as yours. it's 34' Had it 2 years. I have no problem anywhere. However if I was to go bigger than I would need a bigger truck so I am sticking with the size I have. Going with a DRW is way overkill. Funny they don't really cost that much more till you register it. I have a SRW and it cost me over $600 for a 3 year old truck.

I doubt to much that you will get pulled over considering what I have seen going down the highway Obey the speed limits and There will be no need to worry.

[beeje]

Towing a unit that is that heavy is CLEARLY in dually territory.

[mlh]

Try pulling your camper with the truck you now have. Then make a decision. Do you feel safe? If you don’t make a change. If you do enjoy. I’m betting you will feel safe.
Lynwood

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by mlh

Try pulling your camper with the truck you now have. Then make a decision. Do you feel safe? If you don’t make a change. If you do enjoy. I’m betting you will feel safe.
Lynwood

That is probably true if you have never towed with a dually. I felt safe towing my previous Mountaineer with my SRW 3/4 ton. I would probably still be in the 3/4 ton is plenty truck camp if I had never experienced a larger truck first hand.

It wasn’t until after I bought the 1 ton dually that I realized the difference and just how unsafe BY COMPARISON the 3/4 ton had been. Until you experience both trucks your really not qualified to judge. Basically you have to experience the difference to understand it.

[mlh]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

That is probably true if you have never towed with a dually. I felt safe towing my previous Mountaineer with my SRW 3/4 ton. I would probably still be in the 3/4 ton is plenty truck camp if I had never experienced a larger truck first hand.

It wasn’t until after I bought the 1 ton dually that I realized the difference and just how unsafe BY COMPARISON the 3/4 ton had been. Until you experience both trucks your really not qualified to judge. Basically you have to experience the difference to understand it.

Thanks Jim. Well actually I have towed with a DRW truck. My brother had 3500 DRW Chevy, great truck. We towed my Montana with my 250 Ford and his truck. He was a diehard Chevy fan. Even he couldn’t tell any difference in the way his truck pulled or handl my camper except mine had a lot more power. Not throwing off on the Chevy my truck had been tuned.
Lynwood

[mtlakejim]

Originally Posted by mlh

Thanks Jim. Well actually I have towed with a DRW truck. My brother had 3500 DRW Chevy, great truck. We towed my Montana with my 250 Ford and his truck. He was a diehard Chevy fan. Even he couldn’t tell any difference in the way his truck pulled or handl my camper except mine had a lot more power. Not throwing off on the Chevy my truck had been tuned.
Lynwood

Your experience obviously varies from mine. But I towed with new stock trucks I owned and in the mountains. So I got really good tests between the two. While both would pull fine there was a major difference on stability both in curves and braking under load. Only stands to reason a wider stance dually would be more stable and that 1/3 more rubber on the road will stop better. Remember pulling power is not the only measure of performance. I will say again it isn’t how quick you can get it up to speed that matters, it’s how quick and stable you get it stopped. After all we aren’t driving race cars!!

[mlh]

Originally Posted by mtlakejim

Your experience obviously varies from mine. But I towed with new stock trucks I owned and in the mountains. So I got really good tests between the two. While both would pull fine there was a major difference on stability both in curves and braking under load. Only stands to reason a wider stance dually would be more stable and that 1/3 more rubber on the road will stop better. Remember pulling power is not the only measure of performance. I will say again it isn’t how quick you can get it up to speed that matters, it’s how quick and stable you get it stopped. After all we aren’t driving race cars!!

My experience varies from yours again. The tires on me 20 wheels are 9.5 inches wide for a total of 38 inches of rubber on the road. My E450 mayor home the tires are 6.5 inches wide for a total of 39 inches of rubber on the road. Since the front tires do most of the heavy stopping I doubt there is much difference in stopping between my 20 inch wheels and my MH.
Lynwood

[wade]

I remember growing up in the 70s 80s and even in the 90s , people bought rvs on what they could afford and towed them with what they had , it may of been a big old impala with a big block motor or some brand of pick up. throw some springs on it or air bags, a transmission cooler and maybe a different gear ratio and probably some 10 ply tires. don't ever recall of having any troubles, don't even remember any of our camping group even blowing tires. just saying, all this hype about tow rating