Tow vehicle for 3400RL - Montana Owners Club

skyviewman · 12-08-2006, 01:26 AM

We are in the process of purchasing a 3400RL and tow vehicle. Can I tow a 3400RL with a 2006 or 2007 Dodge Ram 2500 2wd single rear wheels and posi track with a Cummins diesel. Dealer says no problem but we think he is only after the sale and we want to confirm with some owners. Also are there any specific items we should consider for towing this coach. All suggestions regarding the truck or coach are welcomed as we are new to this and need all the help we can get.
thanks in advance

jrgwdenner · 12-08-2006, 01:31 AM

Welcome to the forum! Many members tow with 3/4 ton trucks. You can glean a great deal of info on this subject if you do a search of topic using the search engine link in the upper right hand corner of any page. You've definitely come to the right place to get an answer to your question about your truck and you've picked a great floorplan already.

DonandBonnie · 12-08-2006, 01:37 AM

I can't speak for a Dodge, but we took all of the specs for the Montana to our Chevy dealer. He went through the books and showed us that a 2500 would be borderline. We opted for a 3500 with DRW to make sure that we had all bases covered. The salesman that we are dealing with is known in this area for making the proper match between the trailer and the tow vehicle. He works with contractors and farmers and has a lot of repeat business.

richfaa · 12-08-2006, 01:47 AM

You have a wise and honest salesperson.He served you well.

Emmel · 12-08-2006, 02:21 AM

skyviewman, opinions will very on this subject depending on what that person is personally towing with.(ie:my signature) My opinion would be the Dodge Ram with 2wd diesel will be very adequate to pull your 3400 anywhere you want to go. I personally feel(my opinion) the 2500 will serve you well for towing. IF you have any suspicions at all and the price difference is no concern, go with the 3500 swd. You can't go wrong there.

noneck · 12-08-2006, 03:34 AM

Ditto on previous answers...when your into the 3/4 ton and have Diesel its pretty much a good match. MHO is the dually drives extra road, bridge tolls and a small amount of stability increase so I opted not to go with it. Having said that...I've been towing prior to this setup, way over-loaded (97 Chevy 1/2 ton 5.7L with 9.5k Fleetwood 5th wheel). Needless to say my present TV/RV are a dream come true!
Chuck

DonandBonnie · 12-08-2006, 04:36 AM

When you make your decision on 2wd vs. 4wd you may want to consider where you will go with your Montana. If you stay on all good road and camp ground surfaces, 2wd should work fine. If you get off into any soft ground with either the Monty or your truck, you may welcome the 4wd.

illapah · 12-08-2006, 04:44 AM

Buying new, I would suppose that going for the one ton is not that much more expensive. I like the 4WD. I had a 2 WD and got tird of getting stuck so last two tow vehicles are 4WD. Sometimes all I had to go in 4WD was a few feet, but without it I don't know how easy it would have been with 2WD. BTW we do live in snow country. If in south, I don't know if I would go 4WD.

Bluegill · 12-08-2006, 08:17 AM

I dont have any "Specs" with me to back up my forth coming statement...
But when I was looking around... the Hitch Weight on the 3400RL was around 1800#'s and the rear payload on a 3/4 Ton is 2000#'s. I wanted to be on the safe side in case we wanted to put some extra weight in the bed of the truck. (did I figure correctly?)
I do believe that a 3/4 Ton will do the job... but like a previous post said... "that a 2500 would be borderline."
So we went with a 1 Ton. I feel a little more at ease with it.
(I may be all wet here with my payload numbers)

indy roadrunner · 12-08-2006, 09:45 AM

Well I don't full time strictly vacation and week-end stuff so I don't do the miles others do, but the my 2500HD with the duramax and tow package suites me just fine. We pulled the hills of Tennessee no problem at all when we went to Florida. To each their own, I also have to figure that my TV is also a daily transportation issue for me also. And the other thing is we don't have everything we own packed into the 3400. So I probably run a little lighter than most and that is also something to take into consideration.

Gene Chaltry · 12-08-2006, 10:31 AM

I have been pulling my 3400RL all over the country with a 2500HD Duramax diesel 4X4. I have had no problem whatsoever. Went through the Rockys with no trouble. I would go with the 4X4 because you are going to get in some soft sand one time or another. Good Luck and happy RVing.

Cat320 · 12-08-2006, 11:37 AM

As usual with this question, we are getting the "pulls fine" answers. Of course it pulls fine...any diesel will 'pull' any Montana fine. Pulling is not an issue. The issue is the ability of the 3/4 to handle the pin weight. The empty pw of a 3400 is 2000, a realistic pw is 2500. 2500 is over the GVWR of the majority of 3/4 ton trucks...and that's before you add passengers, cargo, the weight of the hitch, tools, the extra fuel tank people like to add, etc. So skyviewman, as Paul Harvey would say, the rest of the story is that it will pull fine, but you will be over weight...your truck/your money/you'll be in it/you decide.

ray fischer · 12-08-2006, 12:20 PM

Skyviewman, dealers will often tell you anything to make a sale. The 2500 ctd will pull it with no problem, but you'll be way, way over GVW due to pin weight. The dodge 2500 has a gvw of 9000 lbs, the curb weight is about 6800 lbs. When you add 290 lbs for a full tank of fuel, 300-400 for 2 passengers, 150-250 for a 5th wheel hitch, then the 2000 pin wt increases to 2500+ once you add propane, battery, clothes in front bedroom, storeage in basement you'll be atleast 1000lbs over gvw. My 2500 pulls mine so well I forget its back there. My next TV will be a dually. Otherwise I love my Dodge 2500 ctd. I just added an overload spring to equal the suspension of a 3500 srw. Good luck in your decision, Ray

Montana Sky · 12-08-2006, 12:41 PM

On my 2500HD I am over on the GVWR, but under on the GCVWR, and the GVWR ratings on the coach. Stopping, starting and stability have all been excellent with this truck. My Montana is not the heaviest load I have pulled with this truck, it is the heaviest kingpin weight I have pulled though. If you can find a 1 ton that meets your needs, I would say go for it. Always nice to have extra capacity to carry more fuel or gear in the truck.

pud2 · 12-08-2006, 12:54 PM

Ditto on Cat320 post. I had a 3/4 ton and my truck pulled her fine but you could tell it was back there. I now own a 1 ton as you can see in my signature and it makes a lot of diff in stability and overall handling. Power was never the issue it was being over the gvwr. Go with the 1 ton you won't be sorry especially because there is not much of price diff. Good luck.

Tom Gina 06 · 12-08-2006, 01:49 PM

I am currently towing with a Ram 2500 3/4 ton. Even pulling my 28 ft Forest River I knew it was back there when hitting rough road. As a result I put in an air bag system. It was the best addition I have ever done for towing. My 3/4 ton tows the 3400 just fine and with the 5th Air Borne and air bags the stability is also good. But as others have said I too will be in the market for a 1 ton dueley sometime in the next year or two. Just a comfort thing for me.

Remember the.......

jkbeaudin · 12-10-2006, 03:47 PM

I tow a 3400RL with a 2005 Dodge 3500 SRW.

With a 2500 you will be over GVW on the truck, and GVCW that the truck has with the truck and trailer. Also I wouldn't be surprised if you are also over your Axle weight on your rear axle of your 2500.

Loaded with goods but not any water, your 3400RL will add around 2400 lbs of weight to your axle weight of your 2500. Go get your 2500 weighed and see if you can accept the extra weight on your rear axle. Make sure before weighing that you have the load you would normally carry in the truck including the 5th wheel hitch and full fuel.

By the way, the cumins should have no problemn pulling your 3400RL. The weight issue is a problem with your axle and tires.

jkbeaudin · 12-10-2006, 03:52 PM

2nd reply to this topic:

I will be upgrading to a 3500 DRW when Dodge makes available the new engine with 6 speed auto in spring of 2007. The DRW will allow me to move all of my tools, air compressor and stuff like that to the bed of the truck and remove that weight from the axles of the 3400RL.

This will give us a better margin from the total weight that the 3400 can take.

Cat320 · 12-11-2006, 06:41 AM

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by jkbeaudin

2nd reply to this topic:

I will be upgrading to a 3500 DRW when Dodge makes available the new engine with 6 speed auto in spring of 2007. The DRW will allow me to move all of my tools, air compressor and stuff like that to the bed of the truck and remove that weight from the axles of the 3400RL.

This will give us a better margin from the total weight that the 3400 can take.

Sure will.
The cargo capacity of my truck (off the sticker on the rear door) says 4257 lbs.

av2pilot · 12-12-2006, 08:28 AM

We pull our '07 3400 with a '99 Dodge 2500. I did have to swap the rear end from a 3.54 to a 4.10 and she pulls great now. If I was in the market for a truck; though, I'd go for the 1 ton just for the added capability.

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