Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > MONTANA OWNERS CLUB COMMUNITY > New Member Introductions
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 10-30-2022, 07:02 AM   #1
Kellosp
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Bluffton
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #31908
New Montana 3781RL soon to be owner

We are in the process of purchasing our new rv. Moving from a 30ft Airstream and Ram diesel 2500 4x4. Planning on moving up to a 3500 diesel 4x4 SRW. I’ve run the numbers on the truck and based on the max loaded weight of the trailer at 16,600 x .23 = 3,818. The 16,600 includes a cargo of 3,012 which I would never get to. We travel pretty light.
Here’s my math
Truck payload. 4,084
Weight
Trailer gvwr x .23 = 3,818
Hitch. 100
People. 315
Misc gear 100
Total. 4,333
Making me (249) over based on maxed out trailer
Truck towing cap 16,670
I think I’m good to go without having to go to a dually.
What does this wise group of owners think? Looking forward to being part of the clan.
 
Kellosp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 08:14 AM   #2
MandK
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2021
Location: Western NY
Posts: 469
M.O.C. #28430
We travel light too. Based on my rigs actual scaled weights, you will be over on the truck somewhere. Maybe rear axle, maybe gvwr or maybe both. Our trailer scaled last at 14500 loaded, truck’s rear axle was under but truck was 20 pounds over at 12420. Payload is 4061 but that number doesn’t matter much. This year when we head to Florida I guess I’ll have to take less of my local beer with me
I would have liked to gone dually but couldn’t figure out a work around for my HOA restrictions.
__________________
Mark & Karen
2021 3121rl - slide toppers, cottage white, TST 507 TPMS, X-Factors, disc brakes
2021 F-350, 6.7L, SRW CC LB - B&W Companion, Bakflip cover
MandK is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 08:47 AM   #3
Butchl
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Negaunee
Posts: 59
M.O.C. #29769
Remove all doubt.
Go dually!
Butchl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 09:50 AM   #4
Kellosp
New Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Bluffton
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #31908
3781rl

I was expecting replies to be recommending dualies. Hopefully, a few more of our gurus will weigh in. Thanks.
Kellosp is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 10:09 AM   #5
DutchmenSport
Montana Master
 
DutchmenSport's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Anderson
Posts: 2,544
M.O.C. #22835
Welcome to the forums and congrats on your decision to get a Montana!

Well, ... my advise on tow vehicles... well ... look at my signature block below and you'll immediately know where I stand.
__________________
Who you are right now is a sum total off all you use to be.
2019 Montana High Country 375FL
2014 Chevy Silverado Duramax, 6.6L Dually
DutchmenSport is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 10:35 AM   #6
Camp CA
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 537
M.O.C. #25828
My experience towing fifth wheel trailers for nearly 20 years is a crew cab, long bed DRW will be more stable and safer for towing a 16,600 lb (same as mine) fifth wheel trailer.
__________________
2020 Montana 3780RL fifth wheel
2016 F-350 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab Long Bed DRW
Camp CA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 10:35 AM   #7
AZ Traveler
Site Team
 
AZ Traveler's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2017
Location: Oro Valley
Posts: 3,899
M.O.C. #20477
Pete,

Congrats on a new rig.

If your truck is planned primarily as a tow vehicle a dually is a good choice assuming it will fit in your garage. If it will also be used fairly regularly for work, running to the store or other things I would lean to the SRW. You can load your rig to reduce pin weight as you get close on weight.
__________________
Zack and Donna plus Millie and Ranger
2018 3160RL

"Life is too short to stay indoors, enjoy the ride!"
AZ Traveler is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 10:38 AM   #8
DQDick
Site Team
 
DQDick's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Wilsey
Posts: 18,799
M.O.C. #11455
Welcome to the forum! Whether you travel light or not, the pin weight is your biggest concern. Only two truck tire manufacturers make truck tires with more than a two ply sidewall and too much pin weight will work on them. You can guess how I know.
__________________
Dick, Joyce, Diego, Picatso and Gustav
2017 3720 RL, and 2013 HC 343RL
Pullrite Hitch, IS, Disk Brakes, 3rd AC, Winegard Traveler, Bathroom door mod, Dometic 320, couch for desk swap, replaced chairs, sun screens, added awnings, etc.
DQDick is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 10:49 AM   #9
Camp CA
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 537
M.O.C. #25828
Which two tire manufacturers and spec has 2 ply sidewall? Mine claims to.
__________________
2020 Montana 3780RL fifth wheel
2016 F-350 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab Long Bed DRW
Camp CA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 05:15 PM   #10
Butchl
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Sep 2021
Location: Negaunee
Posts: 59
M.O.C. #29769
Spend a lot of money on a rig and tow vehicle, and take safety shortcuts?
Doesn't make sense to me!
Good luck
Butchl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-30-2022, 07:34 PM   #11
OldJimi
Established Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: Pensacola
Posts: 49
M.O.C. #31788
I recently went through those calculation myself with a similar GVW trailer. Bottom line for me was that I didn't want to worry about barely squeezing inside any of the max weight caps. I got a DRW, the safest choice.
My previous 5er weighed dry around 9500# and I pulled it with a Ram 2500 Cummins 5.9, worked out well. A friend told me then, it's not really the strength or thickness of the steel that limits what you can haul, it's how much rubber you have to keep you off the pavement.
__________________
'22 Montana 3231CK, TST TPMS, LevelUp, Furrion Vision S, Wingard 360/GW1000, '19 Ford F-350 Lariat 6.7L DRW 4x4, Timbrens, Pullrite 2600-1P
OldJimi is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2022, 03:13 AM   #12
Joint Venture II
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Mar 2022
Location: LYNDEN
Posts: 286
M.O.C. #30751
Quote:
Originally Posted by OldJimi View Post
A friend told me then, it's not really the strength or thickness of the steel that limits what you can haul, it's how much rubber you have to keep you off the pavement.
Very good advice.................
__________________
2003 Holiday Rambler Navigator 43PKD 500HP 11L Cummins ISM
2005 Keystone Montana 2955RL (sold)
1999 F350 SC (sold)
Joint Venture II is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2022, 06:45 AM   #13
carl n wanda
Established Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2022
Location: SAN ANTONIO
Posts: 10
M.O.C. #31909
I use a Super Duty F350 Dually with the diesel engine and it handles great. We full time RV so I'm loaded pretty heavy. My pin weight is 3720. My trailer axles are 11960. So I'm well within the carrying capacity of the dually. I would suggest a dually most definitely. Dually's carry with them some special considerations by themselves such as not being able to go through normal car washes, not being able to fit into many fast food drive throughs, etc. I get about 11-12 mph with my 10 speed trany going around the mid 60's on the highway with the 410 rear end.
carl n wanda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2022, 06:54 AM   #14
Montana Man
Montana Master
 
Montana Man's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Carson City
Posts: 2,017
M.O.C. #21963
There is one way to know if you are good on the weights and that is to weigh them. Short of that I would estimate you will be overweight with this combination. My rig is similar to what you are considering. The RAM is a mega cab which has a higher gvwr than the other cabs and I’m over by 70 lbs. Gawr will also be near or over weight as well. One must use the door jamb sticker numbers to calculate gvwr and not use advertised capacity. It gets a bit more involved than what I’m posting. Keep up your research, it’s a learning process. Going by feel, the dually would be the right tool for the job.
__________________
2016 3160, Legacy, Sailuns, Splendide 2100 xc vented, 1 1/2" axle lift blocks, disk brakes. 2014 Ram 3500 SRW SWB 4X4 6.7 Aisin Mega Cab, EBC slotted disks and brakes, Titan fuel tank.
Montana Man is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-31-2022, 04:35 PM   #15
Camp CA
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Bencia
Posts: 537
M.O.C. #25828
Quote:
Originally Posted by DQDick View Post
.......Only two truck tire manufacturers make truck tires with more than a two ply sidewall..........
Curious which ones? Thanks.

General Tire Radial Grabber all season HTS LT tires on my tow vehicle have 2 ply polyester on the sidewall.
__________________
2020 Montana 3780RL fifth wheel
2016 F-350 6.7L Diesel Crew Cab Long Bed DRW
Camp CA is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2022, 01:23 PM   #16
Alain L.
Established Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Ottawa
Posts: 17
M.O.C. #21390
My last weight in Fully loaded I had a pin weight about 3800 Lbs. With my wife and I plus a 20 lbs dog and a some stuff in my dually I was under the 14000 lbs by less than 300 lbs. Go dually you won’t have regrets.
Alain L. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2022, 05:59 PM   #17
DVess
Established Member
 
Join Date: May 2020
Location: Jasper
Posts: 46
M.O.C. #26260
3781RL Owner

We have the 3781RL. Previously had a 4 ft shorter 5er that was a tad lighter. The last year we had that rig we went to a dually 1 ton and that is what we pull the 3781RL with. There is no comparison if you travel in windy areas. The difference towing through South Dakota was notable. If you plan to travel (esp out West) go with a dually, you will not regret it.
DVess is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2022, 06:38 PM   #18
Rondo
Site Team
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Omaha
Posts: 6,749
M.O.C. #7560
I'll probably catch some crap on this post but.......
I'm not getting into any argument concerning which is better, a SRW or a DRW. I feel which ever you feel comfortable in is what you need to be driving. One can always add extra springs or bags to an SRW and get almost the same results except for the having more rubber on the ground with the dually. I prefer the SRW over the DRW but again this is my personal choice. It is all up to you and your personal choice and comfort.
Rondo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-06-2022, 09:17 PM   #19
Lee-CI
Montana Master
 
Lee-CI's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2021
Location: Northeast TX
Posts: 932
M.O.C. #30262
No crap from me Rondo.....
I try and stay out of these conversations for the most part. Yellow stickers / number of tires / comfort zones / preferences..... Each of us has to do what is best for ourselves.
__________________
Lee, Edith, Lil' Bit & Cuddles
22 MHC 331RL, Surge Guard 35550, SumoSprings, Kodiak disc brakes, 412Ah Lithium, Gen 3 Goosebox, Sailun 85s
22 Ram 3500 CC DRW 6.7 CTD Herrin Hauler Classic Bed, 45 gal AUX tank
Lee-CI is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
3781rl, dually, towing

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:25 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.