Need help from experienced 5th wheelers

[wswebster]

Husband needs to know if he should have dealer put pigtail conector in bed of truck or leave where it is? Also has anyone gone on vacation with one rig and come home with another? Happened to us. Had a 315rl now proud owners of a 3400rl. We'll pick it up Wed. Thanks in advance.

[Charlie]

If he feels comfortable with the connector in the bed then have one installed. I am on the second TV that the connector was underneath the bumper and the second trailer that I have used the under the bumper connector. There is plenty length on the cable to reach. I have a flow thru tailgate and use a 4" bungee cord to attach it to the gate to prevent it from coming loose if I made a harsh turn. If you have a factory tail gate figure out some way that it can be secured and it will be OK. It always stays secure and in place, not a problem.

[stiles watson]

I really prefer the in-bed fixture. Then there is no question about the "tail dragging".

[padredw]

Bill, just to answer your second question. Three years ago we were on a trip to Central Florida with our Jayco Eagle Fifth Wheel. We stopped on the way home at Panama City, and (to leave out all the interesting details) came upon a Montana dealer with just the model we wanted. We made a deal/trade in one day and were on the way home in our new Montana the next day. We are still delighted with our trailer. You will note that we live in East Texas so our dealer is 600 miles away.

[Wordsmith]

I had the dealer who installed the hitch put ours in the bed of the truck.

[ken]

The bed of the truck. That way it doesn't scratch the finish on the tailgate and it is out of the way when you lower it.
Ken and Velda Taylor
Dahlgren Va
2005 3475 Montana
2005 2400HD GMC Sierra Crew Cab Diesel

[Parrothead]

Congratulations on your new Monty. You picked a great one and you will love it. We have always had our connector in the bed of the truck. Stays cleaner.
Happy trails.....................

[Montana_2779]

Did the same as Wordsmith. We love it in the bed! Although not a big time-saver, just one more thing that's just a little easier when you have a lot on your mind.

[campbud]

In the bed of the truck. What a vacation you had! LOL Congratulations on your new Monty!

[sreigle]

I've had the plug both under the bumper and in the bed. In the bed was nice but remember to have a towel or rug or something to lay over the bedrails when you connect/disconnect on a rainy or dewy morning. Wet bedrails used to soak my shirt when reaching over to the plug. My opinion is put it where you're most comfortable. On the last two trucks I've just left it under the bumper. However, make sure you have something to keep the cord from rubbing off the paint on the tailgate. We have the fifthwheel tailgate and I use a small ball bungee to hold the cord against the upper edge of the tailgate so it doesn't rub off the paint.

[Montana Sky]

I will have to agree with Steve on this one. Put it where ever you feel most comfortable having it. I had the dealership install the plug in the bed when I bought my 3400RL and have found it to work great for me. Congrats on the new coach. Enjoy!

[Virgil]

I personally would get a hookup in the box. I used the rear hookup on the old truck / camper and tied it up with a bungee cord. Somehow the cord got loose and I ended up splicing the wires. I have not had any problems with the in the box plug in. Good luck and enjoy the new camper.

We haven't traded campers, but we went on a trip once and came home with a new car. One window quit and the radio quit on the old car. We had also had a few other things go wrong with it prior. Anyway the radio quitting was the straw that broke the camel's back.. lol..

[H. John Kohl]

wswebster,
1. I recommend the one in the box. If you have a failure of one receptacle you can use the other one. I refer mostly to the brakes but all wiring is important. I use the one in the box the most.
2. Yes in 03 we towed to Fl with a 33' TT and 3/4 ton. Found the used 02 Big Sky and was forced to upgrade the truck. lol. Came home with new used trailer and new truck.
Good luck and safe towing.

[Wagonmaster]

I just got around to having the hitch from our old f250 installed into the f350 and had the dealer install the plug in the bed, much more handier I think. It only cost us $30, money well spent. Jack

[Bill Hill]

Congrats on the new coach. Ours is in the bed and works great.

[Chester]

I have put a connector in the box of the truck BUT I don't like splicing into the wiring to do it. All I did was make up an extension cord that I plugged into the receptacle under the truck bumper, ran it up from underneath the box through an existing hole in the side of the box (Put a rubber grommet on it). Then I put on the receptacle to connect the RV plug into. I tied it all up under the bedrail with tie wraps. It look's really neat and I didn't have to cut into the wiring. I made this extension up about 5 years ago and just transferred it to my new truck from the old when I traded trucks. You can buy adapters for most vehicles that let you plug into the wiring without cutting it but they are usually pricey.

Good luck...

[ols1932]

I've got one in both places. Had it in the bumper when towing a travel trailer. But I had one put in the bed when I purchased the Montana. I like the bed installation best. I like the idea that the entire cable is inside the truck bed.

[BillyRay]

we have both, but we use the one in the bed.

[wswebster]

Thanks everyone. Had it put in the bed of truck and we can still use the one under the bumper for other trailers.

[DiananColin]

Like BillyRay we have both ( we moved from Mountaineer TT to fiver). With the 3400 the one in the bed of the truck is the most convenient.

Super rig - enjoy!