[TimButterfield]

I'm researching towards getting our first RV. After looking at several other brands, TTs and 5ers, we are now looking at the Montana. It will mostly be used for several months at a time before moving to a different location. We will be using a SRW truck instead of DRW as it will be a better daily driver especially while we are at home in the Chicago 'burbs. We have a 2012 Ram 2500 Crew Cab Long Bed 4x4 Cummins, 3.73 axle ratio, with Timbrens added. Since other items are the same, I'm using 3500 SRW numbers for capacity checks (mostly rear GAWR due to tires). If we get a Montana, I'm planning to get the Mor/Ryde hitch pin and a Hensley TrailerSaver BD3 air ride hitch to reduce transient load spikes a little. The 3700RL we saw was nice, but turned out to be a bit tight on truck pin capacity. The brochure we received had a 2,135 hitch weight for it instead of the 2,525 weight I saw on the web site specs page after getting back home. The 3000RK and 3400RL might work okay and we hope to look at those next.

I have read through many of the threads on the 94 pages of the general discussion forum and have learned much already. Some of these may become tweaks to my own version of the PDI checklist, like verifying the spare matches the other G rated tires, swapping the plastic black tank flush value with a brass one, etc.

After that reading, I now wonder about the RK and whether that location would result in more item bounce compared with a central location. Maybe the RL would be preferred for that aspect. I have heard the 3400RL is the most popular model of the most popular fifth wheel. Perhaps we will end up with one yet.

Tim