Howdy Folks

[troutchasers]

Greetings from SE Alaska. After 18 months of learning and research and spending WAY too much time on vacations walking through dozens of 5th wheels we have narrowed the choice down to a Montana 3400, 3455 or 3465. Of course we are still “discussing” floor plans and specs, but we have come a LONG way!! We will order new from the factory through a dealer about this time in 2011. The wife will be retiring and it’s off to Florida to spoil the grandkids. She was born and raised in Alaska. After 30 years here for me one of the happiest days of my life is going to be giving someone an excellent deal on a used snowblower.

Of course we have a tabletop full of questions. What options to order or not, how to handle a dealer that you won’t ever see again and are paying cash, and of course the usual “can my TV handle the job”.

We are looking forward to making new friends.

Cheers,

Robert & Kerri
Snowbird wanabee’s!!

[DarMar]

Welcome to the MOC family Robert & Kerri. You will glean a wealth of friendship and information from your stay here, just ask away. We don't think you can't go wrong with any one of those floor plans you have selected. For us we just changed from a 3400 to a 3455 and are very pleased with our decision for our situation. The big plus for the 3400 for us was the closet at the entry door and the big plus for us with the 3455 is the enclosed bathroom, so in the end we still really like either model. Again, welcome and keep us posted!!!

[stiles watson]

Welcome!! If you are going to Florida the main upgrade you need to do is a second A/C unit. I like the Sewer Solution to manage the discharge of waste tanks. I find the triangulation stabilizers Like the JT's to be useful. Some kind of shock absorbing arrangement at the hitch, either a shock absorbing pin box (like Trailaire or 5th Airborne or Mohr/Ryde) or a shock absorbing hitch. The pin box is cheaper than the hitch. There are lots of other things to do to tweak your rig to your taste, but being cool on hot days, having a reasonably smooth tow, taking the wiggle out of your setup, and efficient management of tank discharge make the RV experience much more pleasant. Other things are pluses.

[CamillaMichael]

Welcome! Hope your choice of Montanas meets all your expectations and is a joy to use.

[exav8tr]

Robert and Keri, We bought our Montana from Simmons RV in Anchorage in Aug of '06 and he stored it for us until May of '07 when we left. We set up at Ft Richardson for two weeks for a shakedown. I bent an awning arm that they replaced. We then towed it to Fairbanks to be sure of suspension, then headed out the TOK escape route and haven't been back. Just make sure when you pick it up you do a thorough PDI and camp somewhere near your dealer in case of mishap. The model you select is truly your choice. I would recommend spending a day in each one, if possible, to determine the floor plan you want. We felt the 3400 was a good unit to full time in but others are just as good, depends on what you like. We like the wrap around island in the kitchen, wish we had a bigger fridge. Window awnings help in the heat also along with the second air. A good surge protector or electrical management system in imperative. You will find the bed is not the greatest and we added a foam topper from Costco. This winter we will be adding a Bear Air Bed, as we are both beginning to have problems with our backs. Read every thread on here and gain some great knowledge that will help you make an informed decision. BTW, choose your hitch carefully. I feel the TrailerSaver air hitch is one of the best on the market for fulltimers. Your choice in truck should be a one ton diesel with or without dual wheels. Study, Study Study and Good luck and don't be afraid to ask questions on this forum......WELCOME TO THE BEST DARNED FORUM ON THE WWW.

[stevemc]

Welcome to the forum Robert and Kerri. This is a great forum with a wealth of information and many helpful (and wise) folks. A trek from Alaska to Florida will be an adventure in itself. Good luck in your search for the perfect model.

[Sinterior]

Welcome to the MOC!