3400RL vs. 3650RK

[trukdoc]

Just my thought.
But my vote would be rear living. I just spent a weekend backed up to the lake. And just loved the view of the lake sitting in the rear living room. If the kitchen was there I would not have the same view. We have been to many campgrounds where we can back up to a great view. And argueably there are times we are backed up to the rig behind us and must leave the windows closed.

[CountryGuy]

Rick and Wanda

That is a point, I love it when we get such a spot, cause when I am sitting at my computer (desk) I am looking out the back, HA HA, sometimes I look out so long I forget what I am supposed to be doing on the computer! Course, we all know I spend WAYYYY too much time on my computer, so there ya go! All in the priorities and personal choice. Ain't life/Montana grand??? OHHH YEA!!!!!!!!!!!!

Carol

[bigbuck56]

Hi all. I'll add my thoughts just because I'm a happy owner of a new 3400. Picked it up last Thursday. Also, first post to this site and new to the Montana's. Traded in a Jayco and boy what a difference. Left the dealer and drove for about an hour and set up camp for 3 nights. What we liked best about the 3400 was the counter space plus we have 2 boys that still want to camp with us and so the sofa bed is where they sleep. We can go in and out of the camper without disturbing them plus it's a short walk in to get a fresh cup of coffee.

That's it for now. Looking forward to a lot of great trips in our new camper.

[CountryGuy]

Ed & Lisa

CONGRATS!!!!!!! and Welcome to the forum!!

May you have MANY MANY happy days in that new unit!!!

[yvonnenid]

Well, I would like to put a good word in for the 3670. Talk about open space! It is so spacious. We just love looking at the lake out the huge back window. Also, our 06 3670 has oodles of counter space and tons of cabinets. I can't believe Montana does not make this model anymore. We just love ours!

[sreigle]

As far as all the weight being in the rear of the coach, that's probably an easy, but erroneous, assumption to make. Looking at the specs, the 3650RK and the 3400RL are nearly a wash in all weight categories. And our rear kitchen 3295RK has one of the heaviest front end weights (pinweight), which means less weight aft of the axles. I suspect axle placement plays a role in that because it is obvious with all the appliances in the rear there is a lot of weight there. So I hope nobody decides against a rear kitchen because they think they're heavier in the rear. What is important is relationship of weight behind the axles compared to in front of the axles. The rear kitchen Montanas are very well balanced. We've towed this one roughly 50,000 miles and it tows beautifully.

Welcome aboard, Ed and Lisa! Check out the section about the rally coming up in late September in Indiana. I just hear there are over 60 members signed up now. Great place to meet these fine folks.

[jsrang]

Steve brings up a good point. We've had our 3650RK for 2 years FTiming and have not had any problem w/weight distribution due to the kitchen being in the rear. The Monty pulls beautifully because it is so well balanced. We bought the rear kitchen unit because my wife fell in love with it and therefore it was an easy decision for me, and we haven't looked back.

Hopefully this will prove helpful in your selection. Go with your final decision and I'm sure you will be happy with it.

[indy roadrunner]

Hey Ed and Lisa - welcome ---look forward to hearing from you some more.
I just got back from a campground in which I had a nice lake view out the back window. I would think that one of the selling points on the 3400 for me was the visual ability out the windows. And that big picture window in the back depending on your location also lends to the openness feeling in the living room. Strange though that people cannot figure out that those are pretty close to one way windows. I can be sitting in my lounge chair and someone will walk up and try to look in the rear window not realizing how good we can see out. Funny at times to see people pointing and talking - you know they are talking about your Monty.

[bardave]

Relative new to this forum...but I have looked at every Montana in the Houston area at least 5 times each... (also many other models - been in and out of over 150 of them)) I have come to the conclusion there is no such thing as the perfect 5th wheel....even those 90K 5vers all have an issue...but they are nice.... everyone of them have many likes and a few dislikes... you have got to purchase the one that gives the least amount of heartburn to both of you.
I have decided on the 3400.... but I am still trying to calculate weights... that is a MAJOR problem, as the weight in the brochure is wrong, the weight on the label in the coach is phoney, trying to find out axel weight, 6K or 7K, trying to determine what each tire can carry...Mission E rated tires...some say 3025 each, some say 3500 each. should I get G rated tires.... etc etc... some folks say do not pull a 3400 coach with a F350 diesel SRW.... some folks say they pull it with a 2500 short bed chevy...some folks say the 3400 is too heavy for anything but dually.. (I will not buy a dually - but wont go into that here) then there are others that pull it with the Single rear wheel axel.... so confusion abounds for me... I am ordering my 07 F350 Long Bed, Diesel, SRW tomrrow... but confusion continues regarding the 3400 weight issues... I may just downsize the 5ver that Im gonna buy

[sreigle]

Bardave, that F350 will do a beautiful job for you. GVWR on our 3295RK is higher than on that 3400 and we're over the GVWR by 60 pounds (14,360). We've towed it for 50k miles and the Ford diesel does a great job with it. Whether the truck you plan on buying can handle it is a non-issue in my opinion.

I don't understand the carrying capacity differences between the 3295 and the 3400 but I don't expect there to be a problem with the 3400 handling what we'll load into it. We'll still be careful but we'd do that anyhow.

The tire weight capacity is stamped on the sidewall. It's in excess of 3000 pounds per tire. I'm not sure if the new axles are 6000 or 7000 pound axles, either. When ours arrives I'll crawl under and see if I can figure it out.

[jsrang]

Bardave, I have pulled my 3650 RK Monty with the Chevy 2500 HD Shortbed D/A SRW for 2 years now and have had no towing problems whatsoever. Just load it up, get it weighed, then remove the things you don't really need, and get ready for an awesome travel experience. You can't go wrong if you stay close to the weight specs specified.

Jim

[Cat320]

Bardave, good move with the F350 srw, it will do a fine job for you. A number pull with 3/4s, but 99% are over GVWR. If you have any srw 1 ton Ford questions, ask Wrenchtraveller, he has one.

[richfaa]

It is a good thing to stay within "all" weight spec's on both the TV and the Camper.It is just good common sense.

[Wrenchtraveller]

The gross axle ratings for the Montanas are on the label on the front side of the unit or at least they are on Canadian models. My 06 2955RL only has axles rated for 5080 pounds each so they both are rated for 10160 pounds and the unit has a 12140 pound GVWR. I had the unit loaded right up including a full tank of fresh water which some people claim lightens the pin quite a bit.

All I had was 9700 pounds on the axles and 2600 pounds on the pin so I was at 12300 GVW and 160 pounds over my coach's limit. No big deal but I was also just under my truck's 11200 GVWR so I am sure glad I have an 05 Ford F350 SRW. I would be over a 1000 pounds over with an 05 F250 or any of the pre 05 SRW 1 tons.

The mission tires I have are good for 3520 pounds each so they would support 7000 pound axles.

[sreigle]

That's a good point about water weight and how it affects the pinweight. Keep in mind, also, that if the fresh water tank is forward of the axles then the water will add to the pinweight. Behind the axle, it reduces pinweight.