Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum - View Single Post

Art-n-Marge · 10-07-2009, 08:08 PM

Bob,

To answer your first question the percentage of hitch pin weight for a 5er is between 18-25%. Others will state 15-22% but I am finding with our Monty's it's the higher percentage. I will be shopping for new 18" wheels and tires. The BF Goodrich is okay, but the word is great for Michelins, then probably Bridgestones at the high end. Hopefully Lonnie or Glenn (the tire guys) will be by to mention other brands that work well.

The real test is the ACTUAL weight at the pin. I have been burned by the paper and label estimates and nothing beats the actual weight measurements. You also don't mention your pillar ratings (RAWR, FAWR and GVWR) for your model year F-250. Here's my story:

I have a 3500RL listed @ 12,040 and guess what? With all the storage compartments for heavier stuff at the front of the rig and everything else in the rig, I measured my rig at 13,000 lbs with 2700lbs (21%) at the pin. This is within the estimate of 18% to 25%. Check your TV's RAWR first (my 2006 Ford F-250 PSD was 6100lbs), then your GVWR (my 2006 PSD Ford was 10,000lbs). My problem was that the measured RAW and GVWR for my TV was over by about 400 lbs! I did have Firestone Air bags to remove the sag and keep the TV level and I have the same wheels and tires as you that supports 3200# or 6400 lbs max, but this does nothing to increase the weight capacity. I could still tow on the highway and up the hills, but I was not comfortable being overweight.

I ended up purchasing and installing an extra "overload" leaf spring and brackets from Ford, to turn my rear end into a comparable rear end of an F-350. In order to complete the upgrade to a RAWR of 7,000 lbs (like an F-350) and a GVWR of 11,200-11,500 lbs (like an F-350) I MUST upgrade to at least 18" wheels and tires that support 3,600 lbs each. I found these were the two differences between the weight ratings of an F-250 and an F350 - overload leaf spring, plus hardware and bigger wheels and tires with higher weight capacities. Then I can tow within specification.

In a nutshell, you can upgrade your wheels and tires to 18" or bigger to install tires with higher weight ratings but without at least upgrading your F-250 leaf springs you will still not be able to support anthing heavier without upgrading them, too.

I hope this makes sense. I recently spent many weeks on this research before pursuing this. A Montana is really too heavy for most 3/4 ton TVs. Check your 2008 F-250 ratings and maybe you do have a higher weight rating than my 2006. I do know that the 2008 leaf spring packs are very different than a 2006. Then check your pillar label against the actual weights to know if you are within the weight ratings.

Hang in there and I wish you luck.

10-07-2009, 08:08 PM	#2
Art-n-Marge Montana Master Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Murrieta Posts: 5,816 M.O.C. #9257	Bob, To answer your first question the percentage of hitch pin weight for a 5er is between 18-25%. Others will state 15-22% but I am finding with our Monty's it's the higher percentage. I will be shopping for new 18" wheels and tires. The BF Goodrich is okay, but the word is great for Michelins, then probably Bridgestones at the high end. Hopefully Lonnie or Glenn (the tire guys) will be by to mention other brands that work well. The real test is the ACTUAL weight at the pin. I have been burned by the paper and label estimates and nothing beats the actual weight measurements. You also don't mention your pillar ratings (RAWR, FAWR and GVWR) for your model year F-250. Here's my story: I have a 3500RL listed @ 12,040 and guess what? With all the storage compartments for heavier stuff at the front of the rig and everything else in the rig, I measured my rig at 13,000 lbs with 2700lbs (21%) at the pin. This is within the estimate of 18% to 25%. Check your TV's RAWR first (my 2006 Ford F-250 PSD was 6100lbs), then your GVWR (my 2006 PSD Ford was 10,000lbs). My problem was that the measured RAW and GVWR for my TV was over by about 400 lbs! I did have Firestone Air bags to remove the sag and keep the TV level and I have the same wheels and tires as you that supports 3200# or 6400 lbs max, but this does nothing to increase the weight capacity. I could still tow on the highway and up the hills, but I was not comfortable being overweight. I ended up purchasing and installing an extra "overload" leaf spring and brackets from Ford, to turn my rear end into a comparable rear end of an F-350. In order to complete the upgrade to a RAWR of 7,000 lbs (like an F-350) and a GVWR of 11,200-11,500 lbs (like an F-350) I MUST upgrade to at least 18" wheels and tires that support 3,600 lbs each. I found these were the two differences between the weight ratings of an F-250 and an F350 - overload leaf spring, plus hardware and bigger wheels and tires with higher weight capacities. Then I can tow within specification. In a nutshell, you can upgrade your wheels and tires to 18" or bigger to install tires with higher weight ratings but without at least upgrading your F-250 leaf springs you will still not be able to support anthing heavier without upgrading them, too. I hope this makes sense. I recently spent many weeks on this research before pursuing this. A Montana is really too heavy for most 3/4 ton TVs. Check your 2008 F-250 ratings and maybe you do have a higher weight rating than my 2006. I do know that the 2008 leaf spring packs are very different than a 2006. Then check your pillar label against the actual weights to know if you are within the weight ratings. Hang in there and I wish you luck.