comparing 5er's - Montana Owners Club

Montana_4607 · 09-15-2005, 05:47 AM

I'm shopping for a new 5er and have narrowed my search to a Montana 3500 or an Open Road 357 (Pilgrim Intl.). I'm new...This will be my first RV purchase. Any thoughts from you seasoned vets. I am mainly interested in true 4 season (Michigan ) reliability, comfort, etc. I would also like opinions on a hitch for an 05 chevy 3/4 ton duramax short box.

OntMont · 09-15-2005, 06:32 AM

I don't think either unit, or any other in that price range, is going to give you true 4-season comfort in Michigan. Three season, yes.

Obbiously, as Montana owners, we chose a Montana over an Open Road. We liked the floor plans and interior finishes better.

People who have them, swear by the auto sliding Pull Rite (Sp?) hitch for short box trucks, but we have pulled our Montana for years with a Chev 2500HD SB with no problems using a non-sliding Husky 16k hitch.

Montana Sky · 09-15-2005, 06:52 AM

My choice is go with the Montana, this is my second one and love it. I have friends at the lake who had a Montana and just traded it in for the Open Road, nice coach but I still like my Montana. As far as the hitch goes, if you can swing the extra money for the Superglide I would go for it. I have it and would not be without it on my shortbed. I like the fully automatic operation it offers, all I have to do is drive it does the rest for me.

richfaa · 09-15-2005, 07:01 AM

The open road is a nice camper..It is a tough choice. We do not yet have a Montana but went through the "choice" process you are going through.The floor plan and Keystone customer service were the leading factors in choosing a Montana.

ronstan · 09-15-2005, 11:09 AM

We have a Montana and love it BUT I think if you go on the open road forum if there is one you will find people there that swear by theirs. We liked the floor plan of ours and that is one of the reasons we have one. I don't know anything about the quality of the open road. Looked at some this spring at a dealer but not seriously. Good luck in your choice.

CountryGuy · 09-15-2005, 11:47 AM

True 4 season, look at Cambridge, Travel Supreme, Teton Homes, go wayyyyy up in price. And buy a BIG truck, BIG BIG BIG truck!

There are several other threads ongoing at present in which we are discussing Artic package and winter freeze ups, and skirting the units in the cold months when you are north of the Mason Dixon Line. Do a search here and enjoy the reading!

Just looked at your profile, IF you plan on staying in Kalkaska, you are gonna have to do some serious thinking about staying 4 seasons in a Montana. Or, some serious extra work to keep er from freezing up. That said, the new ones, 2005/6, now have the water lines in the floor instead of under the floor, and they are talking it will not freeze up till 0 degrees. Don't know of anyone (off the top of my ole tired head) that has given the new ones that kind of test. Prior years, you would need to do the improvements, or go south!

Glenn and Lorraine · 09-15-2005, 12:00 PM

As a fulltimer we picked a Montana and the 4 seasons was not important as we winter in Florida.

BUT I do have a very strong opinion on the short box hitch. For me it has to be the PullRite Superglide 16K. The Superglide is an AUTOMATIC sliding hitch. Once you have the Superglide you NEVER have to be concerned with hitting the back window of your 2500HD. Yes it is a very pricey hitch but seeing as you haven't bought your trailer (hopefully it will be a Montana) just yet. Do what I did, after the negotiations are all said and done and before signing tell the dealer you want the Superglide thrown in or NO deal. He will probably balk at first but you must stand fast and he will come around. He'll either throw in the hitch at no cost, give it to you at his cost or drop the installation labor. My dealer threw in the hitch at NO cost.

sreigle · 09-20-2005, 02:44 PM

I don't know a lot about Open Road other than they look nice, those I've looked into. Montana is the number one seller in North America for five years straight so there must be a reason for that.

We have a manual slider and have only had to use it 4 times in ten years. The curved nose on the Montana gives you far more turn radius with the shortbed than do most fifthwheels. Nonetheless, if I were replacing the hitch and was willing to spend the money I'd go with the automatic Pullrite Superglide. Under other conditions I'd go with the manual slider.

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