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Old 03-18-2019, 06:19 AM   #81
Woodworker
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I had a 2016 Duramax 2500 and had to get the 3500. I chose the long bed and dually for stability. I have the 2018 3121MS 5th wheel. It's heavy, especially when loaded and the 3500 has plenty of towing and stopping power.
 
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Old 03-18-2019, 09:11 AM   #82
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I bought a 3455sa hickory edition and had a 2001 2500 Chevrolet crew cab and 6ft box it pulled it fine but we were at 44lbs of the max axle weight the only reason I upgraded to a 35500 dually was the extra braking power and stability the duel wheels gave me and it does a wonderful job
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Old 03-18-2019, 04:25 PM   #83
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Enough Truck

I've read threads like this over and over again...and yes..I think about getting out the popcorn too and watching this going back and forth. I will say this...We bought a new 2017 F350 diesel the end of last year with the upper GVWR of 11,500 (not the standard 10,000) because based on the campers we were looking at we knew we were going to be over with the standard F350. We really didn't want to have to get a dually because it would be my husbands daily ride as well as the tow vehicle. We thought we would be fine. We ended up getting the 3791RD which was a bit heavier than we had planned..but still thought we would be ok. We loaded it up with the normal things..camp grill, chairs, basic dishes, camp table...the usual. Although the hook up is there, we didn't purchase a generator..so really..just the normal stuff onboard. When we rolled over the CAT scales we were ok on the camper weight and on the combined total (GCVR), and ok on the axles for the camper and the truck axles..BUT we were over on the payload for the truck by about 250 lbs. Now we were able to balance some of that out by rearranging some of the weight to the rear and to over the trailer axles and take some weight off of the pin. We've pulled the Montana for a year now..and Yes we can pull it, yes we can stop it, yes it feels fine driving down the road...but for piece of mind when a tire blows or to help with stability on a windy day, to make sure we have the most of what we need going down hill...or if we decided to put a generator on so we could boondock and still feel ok...for a million little reasons that all revolve around piece of mind and flexability, we will be getting a dually next week (before we go on another big trip). So it kind of surprises me that if we are over with the upper F350...that people are willing to drive around pulling similar models with a 250 and think that they are fine. That is a lot of weight to literally be throwing around the highway if something happens. I think it is owed to all the other people driving down the highway to at least try to be as safe as possible. Drive legally, check your tires, use rear cameras...whatever helps make it safer for not just you and your loved ones...but all those that are around you on the road.
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Old 03-18-2019, 04:47 PM   #84
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LindaV, I could not have said that any better, however people are just going to do whatever they want to do thinking all is going to be ok, putting all of us on the road in potential danger.
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Old 03-20-2019, 01:20 PM   #85
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GMC HD is fine

We have a 2015 GMC Denali HD Diesel and have pulled our 31 foot Montana High Country all over the country. Towed from Orlando to Michigan UP, Alaska, Nova Scotia and this past Oct out to Utah and all the parks in that state. Pulls the rig without a strain. Had a 2005 F250 prior to the GMC and it also pulled our rig equally wel. I'd have no concern at all. Love the GMC with the Duramax and the Allison transmission! Ken
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Old 03-20-2019, 07:29 PM   #86
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Don't give up on the Montana! Look at the Montana HC 305RL. It's 35' any your TV should handle it nicely.
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Old 03-20-2019, 07:31 PM   #87
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Originally Posted by John McLean View Post
My goodness am I learning a lot. Thank you all. All said and done, I believe my wife and I are going to be purchasing another Cougar, a 315RLS, that our truck (2003 GMC HD SRW with the Duramax/Allison set-up) is more capable o9f handling safely. The driver also feels more comfortable with this somewhat lighter weight.
Good John, like I stated earlier, you do what YOU feel comfortable with.
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Old 03-20-2019, 07:54 PM   #88
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Congratulations on the Cougar! Cougars and Montanas are very similar, both manufactured my Keystone, and they have many of the same features. Before our Monty, we had a Cougar. Our only problem was the placement of the bed - we prefer the bed in the bed in popout on our unit rather than the wardrobe in the popout.
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Old 03-21-2019, 05:24 PM   #89
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Hahaha on the nukes. They are the best! No carbon footprint.

We purchased a 2019 Montana High Country 313RL, within the limits of our 2500HD Duramax diesel.

Happy Camping!
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Old 03-21-2019, 08:51 PM   #90
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enjoy
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Old 03-26-2019, 07:52 AM   #91
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When towing Overweight, you have to ask yourself What If?
What If? you are overweight and get into an accident? What if? Someone is seriously injured or even killed?

Simple answer. The Real Police are going to investigate and gather up your belongings and take your Truck and Trailer. They will Weigh it all!! If you are determined to have been Overweight guess what? You will be charged with the appropriate crime/s You committed that led to this accident. Then guess what? You are on Your Own!! Your Insurance Company will NOT Cover You!! You will Loose Everything and become a Criminal at the same time facing Prison and Fines!!!
DO NOT TOW OVERWEIGHT
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Old 03-26-2019, 08:09 AM   #92
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Originally Posted by wet002 View Post

Simple answer. The Real Police are going to investigate and gather up your belongings and take your Truck and Trailer. They will Weigh it all!! If you are determined to have been Overweight guess what? You will be charged with the appropriate crime/s You committed that led to this accident. Then guess what? You are on Your Own!! Your Insurance Company will NOT Cover You!! You will Loose Everything and become a Criminal at the same time facing Prison and Fines!!!
DO NOT TOW OVERWEIGHT

Big foot, Unicorns and the above post....


Break out the tin foil hats.
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Old 03-26-2019, 08:22 AM   #93
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Back to reality - My bro inlaw recently purchased a new 2019 Chevy 2500 HD. Duramax/Allison. Crew cab short bed. His payload sticker on the door pillar reads 2028lbs.
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Old 03-26-2019, 08:27 AM   #94
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You need to talk to you insurance co. I did and Allstate said they would cover you. They have no choice. Allstate said they couldn’t even cancel my policy. They said I was grandfathed in. They can and will raise my premium.
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Old 03-26-2019, 08:57 AM   #95
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I had a 2015.5 2500HD Duramax ccsb. Wife and I decided on a big fifth wheel and I agonized over the truck decision for months. 2400 pound payload sticker. Rear tires rated at 3095 pounds.
I decided it would cost me around 2 grand to put capable tires and some suspension enhancement on my truck, but it would still be a 6ft 6 inch bed and I might need a slider hitch. My mind was made up when a Ford F250 pulling a fifth wheel smaller than we were looking at had a rear tire blowout north of here on the interstate and truck and trailer were completely destroyed.

Tried to trade for a dually Duramax at more than one dealer but was insulted, ended up with a new Ram 3500 crew cab 4x4 dually 8 ft bed with cummins/aisin and a 5400 pound payload.

Then about a month later we bought the Montana HC 384 br. Pulls it very well.
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Old 03-26-2019, 09:13 AM   #96
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Originally Posted by Creeker View Post
Back to reality - My bro inlaw recently purchased a new 2019 Chevy 2500 HD. Duramax/Allison. Crew cab short bed. His payload sticker on the door pillar reads 2028lbs.
2028! No longer an HD but an LD for LITE Duty.
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Old 03-26-2019, 09:30 AM   #97
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I went back and forth on this for several months. We had a 3731FL in our sights. Many said the right 3/4 ton would pull it. Ultimately, the conservative engineer in me won out and we went with the something comfortably rated to tow the rig we wanted. We are so glad we did. Not only does it pull it comfortably, the dually provided stability, when pulling in strong winds, beyond my expectations.


I trust the things I hear from insurance agents just slightly more than a salesman selling me a $60k truck or 5'er. All aren't that far off the trustworthiness of a DC politician IMHO. When push comes to shove the insurance company lawyers and/or the lawyers arguing a civil suit will be glad to point out to a court that your truck wasn't rated to pull your rig.


Spending a few extra $$$ (it's really not that much) on a truck that is rated to pull your rig isn't going to cost you near the amount that a "what if", unforeseen, accident will cost you. Be smart. Be safe.
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Old 03-26-2019, 10:32 AM   #98
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As said many times, "pulling" is NOT the issue! Any diesel will "pull" any Montana. The problem is the weight carrying ability (actually the 'lack' of that ability) of all 3/4 ton trucks.
Check out post #93, a 3/4 ton truck with 2028 # weight capacity. That is way under the pin weight of most Montanas, not counting the weight of the pin box, people, tools, extra fuel, cargo, etc. Take 20% of the Montana's GVWR, that will be the about the pin weight. So with a 15k RV, the 3/4 above will be 1,000# over weight with pin weight alone.
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Old 03-26-2019, 10:42 AM   #99
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Simple. The numbers are there for the RV and the truck and with a little homework anyone can interpret them. The choice stay within all specifications as they are there for good reason or I don't care about them. Our choice do what you want and no need to justify.
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