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Old 11-08-2010, 11:21 AM   #1
RKassl
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Potential Hitching Problem with 3500HD

First, let me say we have not bought the truck yet.

Today we went to the dealer and brought home a 2011 3500HD SRW to see how it would potentially hook up to the Monty.

First, Pullrite told me the magic number to watch was 18 1/2". This is the distance from the capture plate to the bed of the truck. This number comes from the use of their 3" riser kit for the higher bed walls of the new truck and the current hitch height. I backed the new truck under the Monty and centered the the pin over the rear axle. The wife had a yardstick and we raised the Monty so the capture plate was 18 1/2" from the bed.

At this point I had 6 to 6 1/2" bed rail clearance, not too bad to start with. When I measured the front to back level of the trailer, the front was at least 5" higher than the back, very obvious nose high. Not good.

The part of the Lippert frame where the Morryde pin box bolts to was next to be checked. There are for a lack of a better description "wings" than hang below the Morryde pinbox at the very back of the unit . The lowest part measures about 20" to the bottom of the bed box, the side rails measure 21", so if I jacked the trailer these "wings" behind the pinbox would hit the bed rails of the new truck. Again, not good.

I called Lippert about these "wings." They have heard of the problems many times, especially on the late model trucks, on all brands. But they cannot support or talk about the fix some people do, which is to cut them off at an angle matching the bottom of the pin box to ultimately clear the top of the rails.

The 5" of new nose height can be traced to the 2" of increased height from the bed to ground on the 2011 as compared to my 2004 and the 3" riser kit for the Superglide. The Montana did not look good at all so nose high.

The height of the 2011 2500 and 3500 are the same so that is no answer.

Has anybody faced situations similar to this one? This is very disappointing but unless the fit is correct and safe I cannot make the move to the new 2011.

What do you think?

 
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2015 Montana 3440RL Legacy Edition, G614's, Pressure Pro TPMS, Dish Tailgaters
2016 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 CC SRW, Iridium Metallic, Duramax Allison Transmission
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Old 11-08-2010, 11:41 AM   #2
farmboy
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Don't forget that your truck will settle approx. 2 " or more as the weight of the pin is put on the truck thus bringing the trailer into a more level attitude.
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Old 11-08-2010, 12:40 PM   #3
Illini Trekker
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Bob your warrenty is over on the frame if you cut the wings off and added more steel to stiffin the pin box back up that will give you the clearance you would need?
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Old 11-08-2010, 12:42 PM   #4
RKassl
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You are right, the reports vary from 1 to 3" squat. But that back of the pinbox "wing" will still hit the truck.

Thanks
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2016 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 CC SRW, Iridium Metallic, Duramax Allison Transmission
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Old 11-08-2010, 01:32 PM   #5
mhs4771
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Bob, unless you are dead set against a Dually you might want to check one out. I have a 2955 and it only causes about 1 inch of squat and give me between 6 and 6 1/2 clearance and the Monty is perfectly level, I wonder if the drop frame on the newer models changed the actual placment of the pin box. What wheels did that SRW have under it? I have the stock 235/80s on 17 inch rims (all you can get in a Dually). Really hate to see you pass up one really great TV.
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Old 11-09-2010, 05:02 AM   #6
pbahlin
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I've got a 2010 3500 4x4. Look at the signature picture and you'll see a level rig when loaded. I get more than 3" movement down under load and that's with about 3000 lbs on the pin.

As for the 'wings', I measure 27" from the center of the pin to the aft end of the wing on my Moryde. My bed opening (with Access cover rails) is 57" so they don't hit the rails. It's 61" without the rails. Plus, I don't ever want to turn at a full 90 degrees anyway. I don't think that is good for my tires or rims. At 90 your basically scuffing tires, not rolling them. If I have a really tight backing situation I prefer to make a couple of passes, keeping my biggest angle to the truck at 45 degrees or so anyway.
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Old 11-09-2010, 10:43 AM   #7
RKassl
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Hey thanks to everbody for their insights. I went over to my Montana dealer this morning. This is where I bought the Monty and where they put my Superglide in the 2004 2500HD several years ago.

My fiend Al, a great RV mechanic, who has seen everything told me just get him the right frame brackets and hardware and he will get it to work for me.

I guess, what the hell, lets do it. Now to make the decision between a 2500 and 3500 SRW. This is where the fun begins!
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2016 GMC Sierra Denali 3500 CC SRW, Iridium Metallic, Duramax Allison Transmission
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Old 11-15-2010, 04:41 AM   #8
thor
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just purchased the 2011 dually chev.the weight rates are what you should look at there is a differnce from the 2500 and 3500 srw.there is a difference between the 3500 srw and the dually .i quess it is just the difference in the weight you think you are going to be towing.i pulled the 2005 3400rl with a 2003 2500 4x4.for6 years with no problems. the new 2011 can tow with even more capacity.i bought a dually for future trailer weights that might get heavier
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Old 11-16-2010, 04:56 AM   #9
drsmart
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by thor

just purchased the 2011 dually chev.the weight rates are what you should look at there is a difference from the 2500 and 3500 srw.there is a difference between the 3500 srw and the dually .i guess it is just the difference in the weight you think you are going to be towing.i pulled the 2005 3400rl with a 2003 2500 4x4.for6 years with no problems. the new 2011 can tow with even more capacity.i bought a dually for future trailer weights that might get heavier
Thor. Awesome truck. Check this out:
http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2010/11...e-rockies.html
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Old 11-16-2010, 08:02 AM   #10
thor
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drsmart. thanks for the posting.it was a good read.both trucks are nice but it looks like gm did thier homework on this one .thanks again
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