newbie

[mumpy69]

hello: i am a new member looking for information. I am from Pa,and was at an Rv show in Allentown. We (wife and i} looked in a 2010 montana 3400rl, love the floor plan and from what i have researched. a great price. I would like to know what size truck i need to pull this unit? I currently have an F-150 and have seen Ford is coming out with a new 2011 super duty with a 6.7 liter diesel in the spring. So do i need a n F-250 or F-350? Also would like to hear from any 3400 rl owners.

[NCFischers]

You will find out that it's pretty much of a personal choice whether you get a 3/4 or 1 ton truck. We have a 1 ton dually and I wouldn't pull with anything less but again, it's a personal choice. Get what you will be comfortable with but do get a diesel. Check out the Northeast Rally in Renfrew, Pa in June. Come and meet fellow MOC'ers and welcome to the forum. There is a wealth of knowledge here that can't be beat.

[Mudchief]

Any of the Diesels will do a good job. Like Jim stated above it is a personal choice and what you feel comfortable with.

[Art-n-Marge]

There's more to a TV beyond the diesel engine and its tranny. Experience tells me that a 1 ton is the way to go for most Montanas. You might be able to get by with SRW versus a dually, but I thought my 3/4 was a fine choice until I went to the scales. The design of the RV puts upwards of 20% or more of the weight on the pin which is carried on the rear wheels. This is where most 3/4 tons fall short.

The RV you like has a GTWR of 15,640lbs. In this case, you might even want to consider a dually, since the RV might have a pin weight as high as 3,900 lbs!

Last time I checked on the new floor plans the RV weights were much more than when I bought my 2006, and my 3006 3/4 ton didn't make it (even with a 10,000 GVWR). And, it's interesting that my 3/4 ton had a higher GVWR than some 1 ton Chevys, GMs, or Dodges of that year.

In the brand new 2011 Ford with 6.7L diesel (4th diesel engine offering in less than 10 years), it's the numbers you want to check - GVWR, FAWR, RAWR, CGVWR. You can put a beast of an engine in your TV, but if the brakes, differential, suspension, axles, wheels and tires can't support the weight, then the engine is a moot point.

Good luck with your selection.

[sunrisetosunset]

as art indicated, if your intended has a weight of 15+K.......look in the door jamb of your truck ( or literature if looking to buy) and see what the total package can be....in my case i have a 2000 f-250 srw crew cab and mine is a total wt. of 20000k (and the truck unloaded is listed at i believe almomst 9K....)so i would NOT want to tow that rig......be careful of dealers telling you 'oh you can pull anything in my lot'.....imho you can't tow much of a fiver with a 150/1500.certainly not a montana fiver. we have an 02 2955rl (one of the lighter models) and i'm barely in my comfort zone with it. i believe trailer life magazine puts out an annual tow vehicle supplement to their magazine??...good luck..and enjoy........gary

[bob n pam]

Just an FYI, we tow a 2008 Big Sky 340RL (same floor plan) with a Ford F350 6.0 crew cab dually, which handles the rig very well.

[Waynem]

And typically, an automatic transmission can tow more than a manual transmission can. Make sure you check the specifications on whatever you decide to by in helping make the right decision.

My suggestion would be a 1 ton dually, 4x4, automatic with a towing package.

Good luck.

[DarMar]

You need a 1 ton truck, whether you go with the single or dual wheel is up to you.