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Old 09-26-2017, 01:36 PM   #1
Wally Dad
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Crazy Couple Buy an RV

Hello everyone!

I'm Ken. My wife, Karen, and I went to the RV Show in Hershey PA earlier this month and ended up ordering a Montana 3950BR. Although we have been planning on moving into an RV full-time, we have no experience.

A series of events made it possble for both of us to work remotely. So we sold our house and got rid of most of our "stuff" in June. Moved in with our daughter in southern Indiana (payback!). Since we both work online and on the phone, we needed something that would have office space. It was a showdown between the Montana and Grand Design middle bunk models. We went with Montana.

Now we need a truck and we are leaning towards a Ford F-350 dually. I've never pulled a large trailer and I think that we are completely nuts. But, then life should be an adventure right?

Ken "Wally Dad"
 
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Old 09-26-2017, 01:40 PM   #2
Ram Montana High Country
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it'll be interesting see your posts on future adventures - GOOD choice on the truck
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Old 09-26-2017, 02:12 PM   #3
BuilderBob
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Welcome to M.O.C my self I would buy a Dodge truck but that's my preference.
Have fun with the new 5er

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Old 09-26-2017, 02:27 PM   #4
mlh
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Yes you gotta be crazy, but we all are. An F350 will make you an excellent tow truck.
Welcome and glad you are here.
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Old 09-26-2017, 02:38 PM   #5
1retired06
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F350 dually is a great choice. Congrats on the 3950.
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Old 09-26-2017, 04:52 PM   #6
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Welcome to the forum. This is a great place to connect with other crazies, learn from other folks experiences and share yours.
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Old 09-26-2017, 05:53 PM   #7
mjammersc
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Congrats on the new rig and lifestyle. Any of the big 3 350/3500 dually models will get you where you want to go with ease. Try them all and see what you like and who will give you the right deal.
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Old 09-26-2017, 06:19 PM   #8
DadsHemi
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Welcome and congrats on your new 5th, IMO Ram 3500 or Ford F450 as they are both comparable to each other. This year GM has stepped up there game but I haven't checked into the details of tow capacity. In the end it's up to your preference.
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Old 09-26-2017, 06:58 PM   #9
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Welcome to the forum! I hope the full time lifestyle works as well for you as it does for us.
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Old 09-26-2017, 07:25 PM   #10
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You are going to enjoy your rig. I have the HC 370BR which is very close. No question, go with the F350! Crazy?? We purchased this and I'm nearly 70!
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Old 09-27-2017, 04:02 AM   #11
Phil P
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Hi

I am glad to see you are looking at a truck that will do a proper job of towing your trailer.

All of the 1 ton dual rear wheel trucks are a good choice the preference is up to you.

I prefer the GM truck and when it come to the newer one that requires the DEF fluid the GM truck has the filler for this located far from you diesel filler. Not so with Ford you have to be very careful with that putting DEF in the fuel tank turns out to be an expensive recovery project.

I have a good friend that works on both the Ford and the GM diesel pickups as do I he prefers the Ford and I prefer the GM.

The point to this is they all will do the job so the rest is up to you. I know a fellow that had purchased the Dodge because it had more leg room than the other 2. I think you get the idea.

Last but not least you may want to go to one of the CDL staining schools in your area and talk to them about some driver training. You will need someone to show you how to use the mirrors and get you very familiar with “off track”. Our trailer was damaged by another driver that had no training and was new to this when he made a turn in the RV dealer’s parking lot and took the entire side out of his trailer and damaged the right rear corner of our Montana. Fortunately our trailer damage was minor. I am CDL driver and took the time to show him why it happened and how to use his mirrors.

Phil P

PS I noted the comment above I am 74 and will be 75 in a few months. LOL
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Old 09-27-2017, 08:11 AM   #12
CaptnJohn
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil P View Post
Hi

I am glad to see you are looking at a truck that will do a proper job of towing your trailer.

All of the 1 ton dual rear wheel trucks are a good choice the preference is up to you.

I prefer the GM truck and when it come to the newer one that requires the DEF fluid the GM truck has the filler for this located far from you diesel filler. Not so with Ford you have to be very careful with that putting DEF in the fuel tank turns out to be an expensive recovery project.

I have a good friend that works on both the Ford and the GM diesel pickups as do I he prefers the Ford and I prefer the GM.

The point to this is they all will do the job so the rest is up to you. I know a fellow that had purchased the Dodge because it had more leg room than the other 2. I think you get the idea.

Last but not least you may want to go to one of the CDL staining schools in your area and talk to them about some driver training. You will need someone to show you how to use the mirrors and get you very familiar with “off track”. Our trailer was damaged by another driver that had no training and was new to this when he made a turn in the RV dealer’s parking lot and took the entire side out of his trailer and damaged the right rear corner of our Montana. Fortunately our trailer damage was minor. I am CDL driver and took the time to show him why it happened and how to use his mirrors.

Phil P

PS I noted the comment above I am 74 and will be 75 in a few months. LOL

I prefer Ford but that is irrelevant ~~ you comment on DEF filler locations is where we disagree. GM has the filler tube under the hood far from the tank. At 5'11 I'd need a step stool to fill the tank and no one wants to slop the light acid mixture on anything. The Ford diesel and DEF tubes are located together but one would need to be very drunk not to see the diesel cap is larger and green compared to much smaller blue DEF cap. Most can also read as both caps are labeled. I have yet to see any but Ford adding DEF in the truck lanes. I'd like to see one trying to manipulate that hose over to fill at around $2.50 gallon.
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Old 09-27-2017, 09:34 AM   #13
Lenny K
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Welcome to the forum Ken and Karen. As most other members have said, go with any of the big 3 for your choice of dually. They all perform well.
Have safe travels and lots of great adventures.
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Old 09-27-2017, 10:26 AM   #14
Phil P
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Originally Posted by CaptnJohn View Post
. I'd like to see one trying to manipulate that hose over to fill at around $2.50 gallon.
The Ford dealers in our area report about 1 DEF in the fuel tank a month and about 3 diesels in the DEF tank a month.

The only one I have personal knowledge of was a fellow that has been driving diesel pickup trucks for a long time. He managed to put DEF in the fuel tank

I agree with you I find these reports to indicate a deficit in the intelligence department.

Other than that I don’t have any negative comment on the Ford.

Again is you preference just be aware the possibility is a greater risk than with the GM.

I know nothing about the Dodge I manage fleets and there just aren’t and fleets with a Dodge base in my area.

Phil P
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Old 09-27-2017, 01:21 PM   #15
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Well... check my signature. That would be my setup and the reason we ordered this floor plan was so we could work remote and see some sights.
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Old 09-27-2017, 01:24 PM   #16
jeff_banning
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Phil P View Post
The Ford dealers in our area report about 1 DEF in the fuel tank a month and about 3 diesels in the DEF tank a month.

The only one I have personal knowledge of was a fellow that has been driving diesel pickup trucks for a long time. He managed to put DEF in the fuel tank

I agree with you I find these reports to indicate a deficit in the intelligence department.

Other than that I don’t have any negative comment on the Ford.

Again is you preference just be aware the possibility is a greater risk than with the GM.

I know nothing about the Dodge I manage fleets and there just aren’t and fleets with a Dodge base in my area.

Phil P
.

Def in the fuel tank would be a hard mistake to make. BUT, I have pulled up to truckstop pumps and the DEF handle is near the Diesel handle and I can see a newby dumping DEF in a tank thinking he was getting Diesel... this would be the same problem Ford, GM, or Godge though.
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Old 09-27-2017, 02:53 PM   #17
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We all can find reasons to justify our purchases. You can't buy a bad diesel truck from any of the American manufacturers. Go drive them all several times and choose the one you like.
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Old 09-28-2017, 04:33 AM   #18
Phil P
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X2 Lynwood
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Old 09-28-2017, 07:42 AM   #19
richfaa
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We drive the Ford F350 Dually.We drive the Ford because we live in Ford Country and have many Friends who work or have worked at Ford . We get a pin number for the Ford friends and family plan every year and it is a huge discount therefore the Ford. We would drive any of the other two if we could get the discount.
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Old 09-29-2017, 08:43 AM   #20
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I personally would go with the Ford . I presently have a F-350 SRW. The dealer told me that a dually was not needed. I agreed as the truck will be full purpose not just pulling the Monty. I now have about 60,000 miles pulling the Monty and have yet to encounter any problem and only have to buy 4 tires at a time versus 6. I have been across the Rockies several times and in high winds in Kansas and Nebraska and to Alaska and back. The truck just loves to pull.
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