New front end and short bed truck - Montana Owners Club

bsmeaton · 11-05-2006, 08:24 AM

The new front end on the Montana is claimed to support the turning issues with a short bed truck, however I've had two Dealers tell me that they still highly recommend a slider hitch for the short bed truck even with the new front end.

Anyone with the short bed and new front end have any experience in the actual turning potential? Does it truly eliminate the need for the slider or not?

Cat320 · 11-05-2006, 09:18 AM

Obviously with a longbed truck, I'm not in the market for a slider, but wondered if those friendly dealers sell sliders??

JimF · 11-05-2006, 09:28 AM

We have a long bed but were told by several Montana dealers that the new front allows more turning radius for a short bed BUT a slider is need for maneuvering more that just gentle backing.

Mudchief · 11-05-2006, 09:37 AM

Brad, I have the new front cap and a short bed truck. I am glad I have a slider hitch. I do a u turn in front of my barn before I back in and I would not want to do that without a slider. I am convinced I would hit if I didn't have it. With the new shorter king pin I think you lose what you gain with the cap. Under normal use it may not be a problem.

bsmeaton · 11-05-2006, 10:26 AM

Dennis,
I didn't realize they shortened the pin as well. Thanks.

BTW - can you hitch up with your tailgate down (is there still enough room for that?).

Brad

LonnieB · 11-05-2006, 11:21 AM

Brad, I don't have a shortbed, but I do have the new front cap with shortened pin box, and I CAN hook up with the tailgate down.

Montana Sky · 11-05-2006, 11:25 AM

I was talking with a fella a few weeks back at a rest area. He has a Ford shortbed and a new 07' 3295RK. To make a long story short, this is his first 5th wheel, he always had travel trailers. His dealership told him there is no need for a sliding hitch as the new front end cap takes care of it. On his first trip out while pulling into a Flying J the two met! Did almost $6,000 in damage to his truck and coach. He now has a Superglide.

I do not have the new front end cap, but do have a shortbed and a sliding hitch. I can do a full U-turn without any trouble. This is only my opinion, if you are towing with a shortbed go for a sliding hitch. They are much cheaper than fixing the damage to your truck and coach if they were to meet.

illapah · 11-05-2006, 11:56 AM

I have the Superglide hitch. On the first time out with the new 07 Monty I was wondering where all that extra room was with the new front cap. I thought that I had lost some room behind the truck bumper and the slider didn't seem to be working as the front of Monty seemed real close. I did get out once to see if the slider was operating (it was). I still look at the rear of the truck and the front of the understorage area on turns. I don't think I would clear a turn with the tailgate down!
I thought that the kingpin seemed shorter but chalked that up to a new 5th. I do think that I had a lot more room between truck and 5th with our provious 2955RL. Maybe a better aerodynamic rig with the new front cap and kingpin?? I don't have any love for the mirror gizmo, I use the center of the vented tailgate to guide in. When the kingpin is aligned with the center of the tailgate, I am good to hitch. Never even thought to look at the mirror the 4 or 5 times I hitched with the new 3295RL.

illapah · 11-05-2006, 12:01 PM

One more thing, I am chicken to try to hitch with the tailgate down. Anyone done this yet to let me know how much room for error there is??

Ozz · 11-05-2006, 12:10 PM

Brad, my boy, I completed the first leg of our journey with 3800 miles, and buku campgrounds, many many really tight back in turns, no problems what so ever, I have come close to the cab, and will test it sometime with a complete jackknife. I haven't used my slider yet with my shortbed.
We hitch with the tailgate down all the time with an angle as well, Sue says I have around 12" of clearance on the tailgate ends. Don't know the angle on that figure, but angled.
ozz

jimc · 11-05-2006, 12:18 PM

OK - no need for another discussion of long- vs. short-beds and sliders or not. I have a short bed and have pulled three 5ers with no problem - just watch what you are doing. The hitch in my pickup is mounted directly over the rear axle. My Montana has the new front cap, and the answer to the original question is "It depends". If you are on flat ground, you can jack-knife the pickup and not hit the window in my pickup. If you have any dip at all in the parking spot, then you stand a good chance of contacting the window. So, the answer is, always back your rig carefully, and you won't have a problem with a short-bed pickup and no slider.

SKOOBDO · 11-05-2006, 02:44 PM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by illapah

One more thing, I am chicken to try to hitch with the tailgate down. Anyone done this yet to let me know how much room for error there is??

I've always hitched up with the tailgate down on my previous trailer and the current one. There is room left if you're straight or at a slight angle. You should have no problems. One thing for sure, it would be a pain in the butt if I had to lift the tailgate up and down to hitch up everytime by myself. Allison

bsmeaton · 11-05-2006, 02:46 PM

Thank you all for the feedback -

For some reason I thought the new front end eliminated the short bed issue, but I knew something looked a little too shallow when looking at the front end on a new one versus an old one. I think I'll just keep my slide for that "just in case" feeling as I currently have with the 2955RL (so much for the saving money on an air ride hitch idea).

Good news on the tailgate as well - thanks. I read in some thread that the owner of a new monty couldn't reach his hitch with the tailgate down and that sounded like a real pain.

Brad

LonnieB · 11-05-2006, 03:53 PM

Brad, maybe I'm wierd, but I've never considered trying to reach the hitch from the tailgate. I just reach over the side of the pickup, no problem.

JH Sechelt · 11-05-2006, 06:04 PM

With my 2006 2980RL (old style cap), I didn't really have any issue with the truck & trailer making contact. I had been in & out of dozens of camp sites and many more service stations.
Last fall when I was down in Marysville, We pulled into a large empty casino parking lot and tried to make (what I thought was a large circle) and the trailer made contact with the truck, putting a dent in the back of the cab just right of the back window. I didn't slide the hitch back as I didn't think the turn was that tight. I was going slow and I just straighten out the turn, but a little too late. You wouldn't really notice the dent if I didn't tell you about it. No one was more surprised then I was. I always drive with caution when pulling in & out of tight spots like service stations or camp sites. Now I know just how tight I can turn before it hits.
Only the second time I've ever had truck & trailer make contact in 10 years of driving short box trucks. 1st time the trailer touched the rear window but no damage, I guess the rubber seal around the window had enough give in it. You just have to be aware that it can.

J&D

bsmeaton · 11-06-2006, 04:18 AM

Lonnie - not ME reaching the hitch

-

somebody had a picture with thier dually long bed and the tailgate hit the Monty before the pin box reached the hitch. That would be a pain, as I'd have to send the DW to lift the tailgate as I backed up, or just take the gate tailgate off. Based on feedback - it must be the exception rather than the rule, and my shortbed should be alright. If not, I'll use the slider to dock which puts the hitch further back.

Brad

Montana Sky · 11-06-2006, 05:18 AM

Brad,
If the tailgate down becomes a problem, you could always buy a Custom Flow tailgate for 5th wheel towing. This would reduce the need for opening the gate to begin with. I switch my tailgate every spring, just makes life easy for when I want to tow the coach. Just a thought....

Cat320 · 11-06-2006, 07:55 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by bsmeaton

Lonnie - not ME reaching the hitch

-

somebody had a picture with thier dually long bed and the tailgate hit the Monty before the pin box reached the hitch. That would be a pain, as I'd have to send the DW to lift the tailgate as I backed up, or just take the gate tailgate off. Based on feedback - it must be the exception rather than the rule, and my shortbed should be alright. If not, I'll use the slider to dock which puts the hitch further back.

Brad

Not me...I can hitch up with the tail gate down.

rickfox · 11-06-2006, 12:52 PM

Just a comment,

Rougher road surfaces cause the trailer to resist turning, thus allowing the TV to turn into the trailer more quickly. Eg. you will run your trailer into the back of your TV more quickly when on asphalt than when on smooth concrete. The difference is easily noticable.

Also, longer trailers do the same, thus also allowing the TV to turn into the trailer more quickly.

Bill Frisbee · 11-09-2006, 01:29 AM

It is also the case (at least it was a year or so ago) that all short bed pick-ups are NOT the same. The distance between the axle and the rear of the cab (ergo the clearance for the Monty in a turn) varies. As I recall, GM products had the greatest clearance, Ford was in the middle, and Dodge had the least.

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