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06-12-2017, 08:06 PM
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#1
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Greensboro
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #19434
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2016 RAM 2500 Bed Height Too High
I bought the RAM 2500, diesel, crew cab, 6.5' bed to pull our 2011 Montana 3455SA and it pulled it fine but the front of the camper was a little higher than I would have liked. Recently we decided that the 3455SA was just too much trailer for us and we wanted to go with something that we could back up our driveway, instead of parking it in a storage lot, so we sold it.
We started looking into the Montana High Country 318RE and 325RL thinking one of them would work for us. Due to the much shorter overhang, we would be able to back one of them up our drive if they were level.
Well, it looks like because of the excessive height of the RAM's bed that we are up the creek without a paddle. The hitch pin box plate on the High Country is about 48" from the ground and the CURT slider plate, with the RAM puck adapter, is 59" from the ground and I do have it set to it's lowest position.
The 11" rise is going to lower the back of the trailer so much that there is no way we will be able to get it up our steep driveway.
Anyone have any suggestions as how to overcome this problem?
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06-12-2017, 08:12 PM
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#2
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 978
M.O.C. #19630
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Get a different pin box?
I tow my 2010 2955RL with a 2014 Ram, same truck bed and my trailer tows level. I also use a pullrite slider which is not height adjustable.
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06-13-2017, 07:36 AM
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#3
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Site Team
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
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Same here. 2011 Dodge Maxi Cab and it wasn't a problem for our 2010 3665 RE or our new 2017 3720 RL.
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06-13-2017, 08:26 AM
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#4
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Greensboro
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #19434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick
Same here. 2011 Dodge Maxi Cab and it wasn't a problem for our 2010 3665 RE or our new 2017 3720 RL.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prndl
Get a different pin box?
I tow my 2010 2955RL with a 2014 Ram, same truck bed and my trailer tows level. I also use a pullrite slider which is not height adjustable.
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Would you guys mind measuring the height of your trucks bed floor from the ground?
My 2016's bed floor is 40" from the ground and the Curt's plate is 19" from the bed's floor. I went by my local RV dealer yesterday and measured the High Country's pin box plate and they were 48-49" from the ground. Even with the 2-3" squat after connecting the trailer to the truck, the front of the trailer is about 8" high and the back of the trailer is lowered about 8-9"
Because my driveway is so steep, even if the trailer were level, at one point the back of the trailer would only clear the driveway about 2-3".
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06-13-2017, 08:50 AM
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#5
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 978
M.O.C. #19630
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I measure 39".
I have a 4x4 also.
Can you get the measurements of your old 3455SA?
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06-13-2017, 12:46 PM
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#6
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Greensboro
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #19434
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Quote:
Originally Posted by prndl
I measure 39".
I have a 4x4 also.
Can you get the measurements of your old 3455SA?
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I looked and I don't still have those measurements but as I recall the base plate of the pin box was about 56" from the ground and when coupled to my truck the front of the trailer was maybe 2-3" higher than level.
I wonder if something like this would help solve the problem:
https://www.etrailer.com/Accessories...71-384-00.html
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06-13-2017, 01:02 PM
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#7
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Montana Master
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: STAYTON
Posts: 1,118
M.O.C. #18157
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 762x51
I bought the RAM 2500, diesel, crew cab, 6.5' bed to pull our 2011 Montana 3455SA and it pulled it fine but the front of the camper was a little higher than I would have liked. Recently we decided that the 3455SA was just too much trailer for us and we wanted to go with something that we could back up our driveway, instead of parking it in a storage lot, so we sold it.
We started looking into the Montana High Country 318RE and 325RL thinking one of them would work for us. Due to the much shorter overhang, we would be able to back one of them up our drive if they were level.
Well, it looks like because of the excessive height of the RAM's bed that we are up the creek without a paddle. The hitch pin box plate on the High Country is about 48" from the ground and the CURT slider plate, with the RAM puck adapter, is 59" from the ground and I do have it set to it's lowest position.
The 11" rise is going to lower the back of the trailer so much that there is no way we will be able to get it up our steep driveway.
Anyone have any suggestions as how to overcome this problem?
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With a 2500 your pickup is going to settle probably 6-7" with the weight of your trailer.
Mark
__________________
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
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06-13-2017, 01:26 PM
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#8
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Montana Master
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: 1000 oaks
Posts: 978
M.O.C. #19630
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Actually Mark, mine only settles right at 2".
I know when I was searching for the perfect 5er, after buying the truck, I was worried the the bed sides were going to be too high. I went around measuring pin heights and overhang heights and was convinced I was not going to be able to tow anything. Hooking up the 5er showed me my worries were unfounded.
I say go out to a dealer and actually hitch up the rig and see where the numbers come to.
Also, my Monty already has the "flipped" springs (spring over) from the factory.
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07-28-2017, 08:18 PM
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#9
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #20259
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I just bought a 3455SA, but have not purchased my truck yet. What would you guys suggest, been looking at 2017 2500 6.4 bed and need to know what 5th wheel hitch is recommended. Can someone tell me if I need a slider hitch on this truck. Or is a different truck recommended for this trailer. 12k empty.
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07-28-2017, 09:06 PM
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#10
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Greensboro
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #19434
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You'll really like the 3455SA but I would suggest that you look at a Reese Airborne Sidewinder and a standard, non-sliding, hitch.
I found that in my RAM 2500 that a slider (I had a Curt) was too high which made the nose of the trailer too high. I removed the slider and installed a fixed hitch that could have the height adjusted and installed the Sidewinder on the trailer.
That combination really works well for me and I have found that by the sidewinder moving the pivot point back 22" the trailer really tows nice and it's MUCH easier to back up. Not only that but there is no way that I would ever have the nose of the trailer hit my truck's cab unless I were to somehow jackknife it beyond 90 degrees.
I know a lot of folks will suggest getting one of the "automatic" sliders but they are VERY heavy and if you get a 2500 diesel you are going to be very close to the GVWR of the truck when you hitch to the Montana. If you do go with a gas engine version then you'll have more weight carrying capacity to play with.
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07-28-2017, 09:12 PM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #20259
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Great, any suggestion on standard hitch. Totally in the dark on this. Is your 2500 the 6.4 bed?
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07-28-2017, 09:23 PM
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#12
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Greensboro
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #19434
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Yes, mine is a crew cab diesel with the 6.4 bed and it has the "puck" system installed. I have a Curt 16021 base and a A16 (16520) hitch head.
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07-28-2017, 09:48 PM
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#13
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New Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: Fort Worth
Posts: 5
M.O.C. #20259
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ok, I will check these out. Do you have the 3455SA? How close does the trailer get to the cab when turning sharp. Do you recommend air bags.
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07-28-2017, 09:54 PM
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#14
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Feb 2017
Location: Greensboro
Posts: 58
M.O.C. #19434
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We sold the 2011 3455SA because we couldn't get it up our driveway and had to keep it at a RV storage lot which we found to be inconvenient. We now have a 2014 318RE High Country.
I've never measured the distance between the cab and nose of the trailer but I guess it's around 18".
What year is your 3455SA?
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07-29-2017, 06:00 PM
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#15
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Seasoned Camper
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Bixby
Posts: 59
M.O.C. #20088
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we have 2013 ram 2500 short bed with the b and w companion hitch love the hitch u can adjust it in one inch increments and strongly recommend the air bags
__________________
Pete and Susan
2018 Montana 353 RL
2013 Dodge 2500
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08-03-2017, 05:42 AM
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#16
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Montana Master
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: westminster md
Posts: 2,328
M.O.C. #17894
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I have a 2011 3455sa. My 2014 gmc 3500 long bed drw with a curt 24k hitch tows it almost perfectly level. In my opinion these heavy campers are too heavy to tow with any 2500 3/4 ton truck. Once you load up the camper/truck bed/truck passengers etc. your truck will be overloaded. These heavy rigs should only be towed with the proper tow vehicle, which is any late model diesel dually truck.
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