Tow vehicle for 3400RL

[Cat320]

quote:Originally posted by William H. Collier

I have ordered a 08 Ford F250,6.4, super cab, SRW,long bed, and we are seriously looking at a new Big Sky. I could have ordered any truck I wanted to however I prefer to have a truck that rides a little better empty and still do the job. According to the 07 specs the 250 is rated at 2800lbs load capacity, the 350 is 4100lbs. The only difference, as Steve said, is the addition of a extra leaf spring in the rear, which makes it ride a lot worse when empty. I use Timbrens on my current 250, my extra spring, and they only come in to play when hooked up to the Monty and I plan on using them on my new 250. There is absolutely NO sacrifice in saftey as everything else is the same, running gear, brakes ect. As I said the only difference is a better ride when empty.
Bill

Bill...I'd check those specs real carefully. I'm not that familiar with Ford (other than to know that the max capacity on an 06 PSD 4x4 cc was 2500), but lots of times the specs you read or the dealer gives are for gassers, which greatly increases the cargo capacity because it does not have the heavy diesel eng/trans combo. During my research, the only way I could determine the actual cargo capacity was to check the rear door pillar sticker.

[Chip]

From the brochure: "Trailer kingpin weight should be 15 to 25 percent of total loaded trailer weight (up to 1500 lbs on 1500 models, up to 2500 lbs on 1500HD models, up to 3000 lbs on 2500HD models, and up to 3500 lbs on 3500 models). Addition of trailer tongue weights/kingpin weight cannot cause vehicle weights to exceed Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (RFAWR) or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR).. These ratings can be found on the certification label located on the driver door or door frame."
Easy, yes, to get confused.

[Cat320]

Chip...you are exactly right, very confusing. When I started my research (had my mind set on a 3/4 D/A), I read that quote and figured I could get a 5er with up to 3000 of pin weight. What they don't tell you is that the only GM that can carry 3000 of PW is the 6.0L gasser. Here's the problem...the gasser is limited to 16000 GCWR; the D/A, when you reduce that 3000 by the weight of the D/A combo can't carry nearly that much PW, but has a GCWR of 22000.

Bottom line, the gasser will carry the PW, but can't tow anything...the D/A can't carry the PW, but will tow a house. Go figure.

[Amps]

Before selecting your next TV you should pay attention at what is coming within the next few years and not as how theses 2500 have done the job even when overloaded.
Just renewed my licence plates (2007) for Ontario and found out from the Ministry of Transportation that changes are coming and weight limits will be very seriously looked at. In 2006 they have issued lots to tickets and pulled TV/trailers off the road.
I was also advised that changes are coming to Class A and C motorhomes.
All of this will be standard to Canada and the US. So no matter where you go the same general rules will apply.
So buy the right TV before you are told to either upgrade the TV or get a smaller 5th wheel.

[Bill Frisbee]

Amps ...

I think it will go beyond license plates and will also include drivers' licenses as well. There are a lot of folks hauling Montanas that have GVWR over 10,000 lbs. The law says they need Class A licenses but most have only the Class G. Was chatting with a couple of Montana dealers at the Toronto RV show yesterday about the new Big Sky and how much it weighs. For the first time, they actually acknowledged the fact that the weights of Montana fifth wheels, when loaded by their owners, were exceeding the safe weight carrying capacity of 2500/F-250 pick-ups (and even 3500/F-350s in many cases) and that it was only a matter of time before the OPP started ticketing both vehicles and drivers for overweight conditions and for not having proper licenses. Interesting that a topic dealers have always swept under the table was being openly acknowledged - at least by these two dealers. Makes one wonder if a dealer somewhere has been/is being sued for knowingly distributing false information re license requirements.

Guess the next thing will be pick-up versions of the F-450 and F-550.

Bill

[Cat320]

Our trusty government officials are always trying to dream up more ways to squeeze more tax dollars out of the public. I envision them requiring us to have a license based on what we drive/tow...the more (heavier) we drive/tow, the higher the license fee.