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Old 03-09-2007, 04:02 AM   #1
mwebber78
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Shopping 342PHT - What truck?

I am attempting to shop the Mountaineer line, specifically the 342PHT to see if it is reasonable to upgrade in the next 1-2 years to a 5ver.

WHen it comes to the tow vehicle they will be one of the newer gen. of HD pickups from the big 3. I know they have increased capacities and ratings in the new Chevy/Ford lineups of 250/2500HD's. Is a 2500 going to have enough to tow a 342PHT. Anyone towing a similar sized Montana/Mountaineer with a 250/2500 series truck?

From my early shopping the new HD Chevy has the following capacities for a D/A model, 4x4 ext. cab 6.5 box:

Max trailer: 14,300
Max payload: 3,353
Max GCWR: 22,000

Ford with Navistar engine:

Max trailer: 15,900
Max GVWR: 23,000
Max payload ? ? ? I can't make out their lousy website for the 2008 as they have a jumbled mess of a chart.
 
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Old 03-09-2007, 04:23 AM   #2
ols1932
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Any of the 1-ton trucks will suffice. You can pull with a 3/4 ton which we do and have done for going on 7 years of full timing, but the 1 ton has a little stronger chassis.
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Old 03-09-2007, 04:29 AM   #3
mwebber78
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How does the payload rating of each individual truck relate to the pin weight of these trailers? My basic understanding is that the pin weight of the trailer can not exceed the max payload capacity of the truck. For example, Chevy says max paylad is a little over 3K. The dry pin weight of the 342PHT is around 2200 lbs and add a few hundred for loaded weight. Does that give you a quick yes/no on the ability to tow that particular rig?

Thanks
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Old 03-09-2007, 05:58 AM   #4
Amps
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Don't forget the payload must include the weight of:
passengers, hitch, fuel, tool box & tools, running boards, box liner, and whatever is added in or on to the TV plus a safety marging.
That is how I ended up buying a 3500 so weight is not much of an issue for me anymore.
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Old 03-09-2007, 06:41 AM   #5
mwebber78
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It seems that on most models a 3500 SRW only increases the payload a tiny bit. Seems you need a DRW which is out of the question for us to gain the most payload?
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Old 03-09-2007, 08:12 AM   #6
nailbender
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I have a 06 Ford F-250 4x4, super cab, diesel and it has a cargo capacity of 2465 lb. It have about 200 lb.extra capacity when hooked up to our Montana 3075. When looking at trucks, be sure to check the cargo capacity sticker on the door. My truck is rated at 2800 lb. in the Ford brochure, wish it was. Unless you really load a F-350 with a lot of heavy stuff, it should be enough truck for your needs.
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Old 03-09-2007, 11:32 AM   #7
tcorbitt
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342PHT, Great choice, we love ours.. Pulled with an F350 Powerstroke, Crew, SRW, Shortbed, pulls like a dream.
Any of the big 3 HDs will do a great job. I would recommend the 350/3500s to get the extra weight capacity, something you will aways find a way to user. If GM, and short bed, I think you can only get the 2500HD, but not a problem, they are more than up to the task.

Enjoy shopping,

Tim
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Old 03-09-2007, 11:53 AM   #8
flstf
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We have the 342PHT with a short bed Chevy 2500 D/A. Pulling and stopping are great, tows better than the lighter Laredo we traded in. We love the Mountaineer!
Good luck on whatever choice you make.
Joe
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Old 03-09-2007, 11:57 AM   #9
sreigle
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I don't know how it works for other brands but in the Fords, the F250 and F350 single rear wheel have the same frame, axle, brakes, and front suspension. The F350 has one more leaf in the rear suspension, giving it more payload capacity. Some of us add airbags to the F250 to avoid any drooping of the rear end. I am not sure whether the dually has the same frame and brakes as the single rear wheel or not.
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Old 03-09-2007, 01:14 PM   #10
Cat320
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by mwebber78

I am attempting to shop the Mountaineer line, specifically the 342PHT to see if it is reasonable to upgrade in the next 1-2 years to a 5ver.

WHen it comes to the tow vehicle they will be one of the newer gen. of HD pickups from the big 3. I know they have increased capacities and ratings in the new Chevy/Ford lineups of 250/2500HD's. Is a 2500 going to have enough to tow a 342PHT. Anyone towing a similar sized Montana/Mountaineer with a 250/2500 series truck?

From my early shopping the new HD Chevy has the following capacities for a D/A model, 4x4 ext. cab 6.5 box:

Max trailer: 14,300
Max payload: 3,353
Max GCWR: 22,000

Ford with Navistar engine:

Max trailer: 15,900
Max GVWR: 23,000
Max payload ? ? ? I can't make out their lousy website for the 2008 as they have a jumbled mess of a chart.
You must be getting these numbers from a brochure/web site. There is no GM 3/4 D/A that can carry the 3353 noted above. That number is for the 6.0L gasser. For the D/A, you must subtract the weight of the engine and transmission...that weight reduces the cargo capacity. To further muddy the waters, the 6.0L gasser only has 16000 GCWR, and, as correctly noted, the D/A has a GCWR of 22000. The gasser can carry the pw but can't tow much, the D/A can't carry the pw, but can 'tow' any Montana.

Bottom line, "towing" is not the problem, any diesel can "tow" any Montana...check the pin weight (realistic, not what's in the brochure), add the weight of passengers, cargo, fuel, tools, 5er hitch and compare that to your cargo capacity. To find the actual capacity of any truck, look on the sticker on the left rear door pillar, it will tell you the maximum weight you can carry including everything.

When I travel...I have 2500 pw and 800 lbs of other 'stuff'...well over the capacity of any 3/4 ton.
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Old 03-09-2007, 02:52 PM   #11
Montana Sky
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Bert,
what was the empty pin weight of your coach as it came from the factory??
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Old 03-09-2007, 04:45 PM   #12
Wrenchtraveller
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My 2955RL has a 2600 pound pin weight. Because I have an auxiliary fuel tank, carry a few tools, and travel with two big dogs, my rear axle ends up with 6700 pounds of weight on it. I have an 05 F350 with an 11200 GVWR. I do have a 7000 pound rear axle which you only get with 18" tires rated at 3640 pounds.
If I had the 17" tires that come on most F250's I would be over the tire ratings as well as the axle ratings.

I give this example to show that a higher GVWR does not necessarily give a higher payload. A newer F250 with a 10000 pound GVWR might weigh 1000 pounds more than a Chev 2500 with a 9200 pound GVWR. The Chev has a higher payload.

In British Columbia, the highway weigh scales are open to the public so I am always weighing my vehicles.

Some people can stay within the ratings with a 3/4 ton model in any make.
Some people choose to tow over their GVWR and feel it is fine because they have done it for years over many miles. This is their choice but we can all give examples of things that are done all the time, good or bad.
In my own case, I would be over my GVWR and my rear axle rating if I drove an F250. I am happy to own an F350.



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Old 03-09-2007, 05:19 PM   #13
mwebber78
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Thanks for the info - the info I got on the new 07' HD was straight from their spec sheet on 5th wheel towing.

Basically I do not want a 3500 dually - so a SRW will have to do. I will have to study the difference between the costs of a 2500 vs a same equipped 3500 truck. They don't make this easy since there are a hundred different pkg's and overall I think (GM, Ford) make it hard to price them on purpose.

Have a good one - great group of people here. I got this site off of www.rv.net
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Old 03-10-2007, 01:30 PM   #14
Cat320
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Quote:
quote:Originally posted by Montana Sky

Bert,
what was the empty pin weight of your coach as it came from the factory??
Dave...1975.

mwebber78...check that sticker I mentioned earlier...that is the ONLY way to find out what the true payload of a truck is.
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Old 03-10-2007, 03:09 PM   #15
Montana Sky
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Thanks Bert
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Old 03-14-2007, 10:01 AM   #16
spadasak
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We have 342pht and what a coach! We have an '06 F350 crew cab, srw long bed with the 6.0L and it tows the 342 with a smile. I bought them both at the same time and the family is very happy.
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