Finally a Montana

[Boxarrow]

We have a 2020 294RL and LOVE it! It is so easily to pull that we don’t even know she’s behind us! Perfect floor plan for us as well. Enjoy the group, they are very resourceful!

[bigfrank]

Welcome aboard you will love pulling your 5th I had a pull behind and have had nothing but 5th wheels since
Bigfrank in Georgia

[DebNJim B]

Welcome from NY and congrats on moving up to the 5er.
First thing I learned while driving out of the dealer and over the curb was how different the tracking is. You'll need to make wider turns with a fifth wheel, but you'll get used to that soon. I still can't back up to save my life. Work with the cones and learn when to start to turn and keep things slow and you will get it. I also try to make a straight forward and back move at the end to take the tension off the tandem axles.
Enjoy and happy trails.

[twindman]

Jim B, you are a faster learner than I was. I ran over curbs for a year and a half!!! LOL

[Foldbak]

Well I got it home. What an ordeal it was getting it parked. It took and hour to get it in its hole with literately inches to spare. I have a u shaped driveway with RV parking to one side. Inches from my gates and the telephone cable. The dealership did a good job on explaining the trailer but I didn't get any instructions. The hookup is pretty straight forward the the disconnect was a challenge. Any input would be appreciated.



I will say that I was shocked at the fuel mileage I was getting. 2020 GMC 2500 Denali 6.6 diesel. It only has 4100 miles on it. Maybe not broke in yet?

[jsb5717]

You didn't say what MPG you got. I tend to get around 11-12 towing mine, which is likely heavier than your first, unloaded tow.

[twindman]

In towns, etc, I may only get 9 mpg. On the highway with no wind and flat, I can get 11.5. But the Rockies don't have flat and do have wind! LOL

[rames14]

Tony, welcome to the Montana family. Remember, we all started having not done it before. Just take your time. As for disconnecting, each hitch is a little different. Which hitch do you have?

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by jsb5717

You didn't say what MPG you got. I tend to get around 11-12 towing mine, which is likely heavier than your first, unloaded tow.

Sorry about that, I was getting about 9 on flat ground. Also I didn't complete my original statement regarding connecting and disconnecting form the hitch. The connections part is straight forward but the disconnect was a challenge. What is the landing leg procedure prior to disconnect? Do I use the auto level or drop the legs using the Lippert auto level in manual mode?

[jsb5717]

For disconnecting you use the front legs only to take the weight off of the hitch. I always watched it until the pin just barely lifted off of the plate. Quite often there will be a lot of pressure of the pin against the hitch bar or jaws making it very difficult to pull and release. I would get back into my truck and reverse back to relieve the pressure off of the latch so I could easily open the hitch. With everything disconnected pull the truck free from the trailer. At that point you can engage the autolevel...before putting the slides out.

[Carl n Susan]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

...What is the landing leg procedure prior to disconnect? Do I use the auto level or drop the legs using the Lippert auto level in manual mode?

Actually neither. Just press the Front Arrow button until the hitch raises off the plate, release the hitch and drive away. Then you simply hit AutoLevel to do its thing. When you are ready to leave, press the Left and Right Arrows simultaneously and the system will bring you back to the elevation where you unhooked (assuming the pin was above level at disconnect time - which it usually was).

[Foldbak]

We just returned from our second short trip. Both trips have been to different full hook up RV camps on the Sacramento delta. Roughly a 200 mile round trip. I've tested all systems and hit some pretty rough roads. I'm surprisingly pleased to report very little failure! I know it's early but so far I'm pretty happy. The build quality is completely different then a light weight bumper pull. I've had no problems backing it in. Slow small moves. Averaging 10 MPG. If fuel priced dont come down a 200 mile trip is about all I can afford.