Largest Montana

[Captain Joe]

Which Montana floor plan has the most square footage?

IMHO, I think it is a tie between the 3725RL and the 3850FL.

What to ya think?

[moutard2]

Don't count the new 3900FB out of that contest! The 2011 3750FL is also in there at 39'1".

[moutard2]

Don't count the new 3900FB out of that contest! The 2011 3750FL is also in there at 39'1".

[bncinwv]

I would venture to say the 3850FL. It is a foot longer than our 2011 3750FL and the newer ones, has the five slides, and in addition to that the kitchen slide is larger due to the addition of the washer/dryer closet in that slide. This gives it the longest length (with a couple of other models), but the five slides in conjunction with the larger kitchen slide probably equals the greatest square footage. Guess I will have to do some measurements in a couple of months to verify this.
Bingo

[DQDick]

My vote would go along with Bingo's.

[HOOK]

The 3850 is the longest of all the models. It also has 5 slides. I don't know that the story is true but I've been told that the model # is actually the square footage. Yet, 385 seems to be a lot.

[Recumbent]

I do know our choices narrowed down to the 3850 vs 3725 when looking. I'm not sure why but the 3725 has the heaviest published pen weight, but there are others that have a slightly heavier overall weight. My approach to the issue would be to measure the overall coach from the outside at the widest/longest points not including hitches or awnings, then the slides from the insides. As the differences could be a very small amount of sq. ft., a consistent standard of measurement would be important. I do think we all just have what we have, and really its the floor plan, fit and finish, along with electrical and mechanical fixtures and furnishings that seems to attract us to particular models.

[fauch]

WOW!
....what big campers you have! :-)
...kinda sounding a like a ,"mines bigger", display

[K0LCB]

Mine is big enough to make me happy!

[HOOK]

I really don't care who's is largest, but I would like to know how they are measured. I know that our 3455 specs said 38ft 9in. It measured 40 ft 7 in witha tape from ladder to pin box as required by NC law. I think Recumbent has the answer on sq footage. But, does it really matter?

[richfaa]

the largest interior square footage a 5th wheel can be has been 400 square feet but that has been increased see link.

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) has authorized its members to hike the maximum size of fifth-wheel trailers from 400 to 430 square feet and still meet association standards.The change takes effect immediately. ( that was in 2009)

The question is did Montana increase the interior square foot space.

[gkidsdlite]

My question is why don't they have a floor plan that uses four opposing slides, 2 up front that are as large as possible and 2 in the back that are as large as possible which would give you the most sq. ft.

[1retired06]

Several of the motor home manufacturers quit the super slides because of structural issues. Guess an engineer would have to determine if fifth wheel lippert frames can handle the superslide configuration. Would be nice, I know carriage was doing it on Cameos (one side) before shutting down.

[Captain Joe]

It is not the number of slides, it is how big all of the slides are in total, length and width. For example, my 3750 fit in my carport, but my 3725 does not...need an extra foot. One reason they do not put slides opposite each other is that it takes away from the patio/awning area. They were able to do it in the 3750 and 3850 because the slides on the curb side are small and far apart. On the 3725, the rear curb side slide is large and putting another slide on that side would severely limit the patio/awning area on the curb side.

I think Montana needs to add the total square footage to their specs. It would be interesting to compare.

[richfaa]

Again the Square footage is the INTERIOR square footage. Makes no difference how many slides or where they are located the interior square feet can not exceed 400 or 430 sq feet. Stated length of the specs sheet is not accurate and I have no idea where that number comes from. Years ago the length of a TT was measured by the box size hence our Terry 29L did have a box size of 29 feet but the part that we had to park from the very front of the hitch to the rear bumper was just short of 32 feet. Our 2006 3400 grew a few inches in size by the stated Montana spec sheet and this 3402 is listed as 39.2 inches and it will never fit in that space... take a tape measure at do it yourself if you what to know exactly how long you really are. We need to know much 5th wheel we have to park and it is not what is stated in the spec's. Google for the max square footage on a 5th wheel and how it is measured .

[Phil P]

Richfaa is correct about RVIA but.

They are not a regulatory agency. There is not any rule, regulation or law that limits the interior square footage of an RV.

However the larger ones that I see don’t have the RVIA sticker on them.

We had a 53 ft drop deck semi trailer and tractor come to town every winter. It had huge slides and was marked “registered in Michigan as an RV” posted on the tractor about where you would put a DOT number on a commercial vehicle.

I have seen other similar RV’s in the truck stops when I was driving semi truck.

I never saw the inside or even spoke to the owner but it was parked for short periods of time on a city street that allowed truck parking.

I can’t imagine where they traveled to in Florida because most of the RV parks can’t handle a vehicle that big.

Phil P

[bethandkevin]

quote:Originally posted by richfaa

Again the Square footage is the INTERIOR square footage. Makes no difference how many slides or where they are located the interior square feet can not exceed 400 or 430 sq feet. Stated length of the specs sheet is not accurate and I have no idea where that number comes from. Years ago the length of a TT was measured by the box size hence our Terry 29L did have a box size of 29 feet but the part that we had to park from the very front of the hitch to the rear bumper was just short of 32 feet. Our 2006 3400 grew a few inches in size by the stated Montana spec sheet and this 3402 is listed as 39.2 inches and it will never fit in that space... take a tape measure at do it yourself if you what to know exactly how long you really are. We need to know much 5th wheel we have to park and it is not what is stated in the spec's. Google for the max square footage on a 5th wheel and how it is measured .

Rich is correct on total stated length. I measured my actual length at 40'-3". Everyone should go over their rigs and know total length of tow vehicle and trailer, maximum height, width. We tend to get all worked up over weight, but actual size should be known at all times if for no other reason than to prevent damage to our rigs.

[richfaa]

Phil P is correct about RVIA they have no enforcement powers but most manufacturers did comply with their "regulations" in the areas they wanted to.
There is disagreement about the square footage and how it is measured. Inside, outside, slides in, slides out. We have also seen those customized 18 wheeler trailers that are 53 feet long by themselves. I don't know if the manufacturers follow any rule and if they do it is more based on weight and cost than any suggested regulation.

the actual length on our 13 3402 Big Sky is the same as bethandkevin 40.3" and that won't fit into a 39.2 inch space.

[Phil P]

You are correct ridhfaa.

I have some minor damage on the driver side rear of the trailer because I go in to one of the RV parks that isn’t big enough to handle our trailer. LOL

Phil P

[gkidsdlite]

Could they incorporate the sllides and awning together so it would coer the whole side or for that matter both sides and then do away with slide toppers? Just a thought!