New Truck, new Hitch on new Montana

[suny07]

Hi guys,

First test run with or new Truck and the new Hitch.
Who would have thought that the B&W Companion Hitch is even heavier in the PUK version than in the Turnover Ball version

What do you think, is it pretty level?
Installed the hitch myself, surprised I could do that and took position over from my old companion hitch.
I am on the fence getting Airbags.
My old SRW had more squat where the Airbags made more sense. But I also do not want to blind traffic at night.

Thanks, Mike

[Daryles]

Looks great !!!
Beautiful rig.

[MandK]

Congratulations on the new rig! Looks pretty good as is, is the Montana loaded up with your gear, food, belongings? We have found via the scales that almost half of the weight of everything we put in our 3121 ends up on the pin, while we have plenty of storage, there is not a lot aft of the axles. All loaded up to go south for the winter we have just about 2000# of cargo in the trailer. About 900 of it ends up on the pin. That might make a difference if you are empty now. If you do add air bags, you might have to drop the hitch one set of holes. We pull ours very slightly nose high.

[DutchmenSport]

Looks good to me. The only thing I see that "bothers" me about your photo are the foot pads on the trailer jacks. Why?

The 2nd trip out with our Montana High Country, I lost one of the foot pads (rear drivers side). I know exactly when I lost it and where. But when I discovered it was gone, we were 300 miles farther from that location.

The price to replace that foot pad was slightly over $50, and I could not find any dealership, anywhere on our planned travel route to get a replacement. I ended up called back home and placed an order with my purchasing RV dealership from. Even then (5 years ago), it took about 2 months to get the foot pad from the time I ordered it, and it cost over $50.

I was able to use the jack without the foot pad, by the jack stump itself on a block of wood. Worked fine.

So, ever since then, whenever traveling .... even going down the road a mile, I remove all 6 jack foot pads.

Now, mine simply slip over the shaft are are held on with a spring loaded D-style clip over pin. But, by removing them, I've never lost another one, and I have drug the jacks a few times also!

So, if yours are affixed permanently to the shaft, you probably won't have any issues, even if you drag one someday. But, if they are removable, I highly recommend pulling them when on the road.

And by the way, those foot pad now run about $75 for one.

[jsb5717]

Are they foot pads or the new Lippert leveling system?

[twindman]

You look a tiny bit nose high. If you have more than 6 inches of clearance from overhang to truck side rails, then lower the hitch.
A side note - I really miss the old Montana paint jobs. Nice white with mountain scenes, etc These dark colors are just really hot, especially the slide walls which are very thin. Nostalgic, I guess.
Oh as to the sag in the truck, mine doesn't sag. It is a Chevy! LOL

[jimcol]

I had the same issue with squat on my Dodge. Remedy it with Timbrens, they are a great company. https://timbren.com/ Was happy with that cheaper solution for years. Looking at your picture if you take the squat out of the truck it looks like it's going to make your 5'er more nose high. Like Tom said, if it does you will need to lower your hitch if you can maintain bed rail clearance.

[suny07]

Thats the new Lippert System. There are even lights included on each foot.

[suny07]

Those foot’s are coming now with a plastic cover.
It’s not thos snap on rubber shoes.

[suny07]

Yeah, those paint schemes are something.
But the darker one was the one we liked most.
Originally it was supposed to be combined with our black truck.
As we were looking into a dually I also went to a white truck as I was tired of maintaining a black truck.
I hand washed and hand waxed it and it takes a toll on your Saturdays.
So I am glad the white truck looks not out of place to that paint scheme.

[newadven2023]

Hello Mike,

My wife and I had our maiden voyage of our new Montana this weekend as well. Was concerned that our 2023 Ford F250 maybe a little "squatty" but looked pretty good. My main concern was that the front would be lifted so much that it would affect handling and control. Turns out that was not an issue. We thought about air bags as well but have decided that it isn't needed.

Your rig looks good.

[Foldbak]

Originally Posted by newadven2023

Hello Mike,

My wife and I had our maiden voyage of our new Montana this weekend as well. Was concerned that our 2023 Ford F250 maybe a little "squatty" but looked pretty good. My main concern was that the front would be lifted so much that it would affect handling and control. Turns out that was not an issue. We thought about air bags as well but have decided that it isn't needed.

Your rig looks good.

New owner of 2023 Montana 3761 BP. Can't find that model....

[jsb5717]

Originally Posted by Foldbak

New owner of 2023 Montana 3761 BP. Can't find that model....

Likely a 3763BP. Looks like the 3761FL is basically the same floor plan, except with a 1/2 bath instead of the Butler Pantry.

[Sparatacus]

Congrats! It look pretty good to me.

[brycesteiner]

Looks like a treat!

[mlh]

Nice camper great truck.
Congratulations
Lynwood

[Sparatacus]

So what kind of hitch do you have, a slider of fix?

[suny07]

Originally Posted by Sparatacus

So what kind of hitch do you have, a slider of fix?

Hi,

It’s the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 25,000 lbs.
No Slider.
My truck has obviously the short bed as my old one as the Mega Cab only comes with a short bed.
When you put the Pivot Arms full “backwards” you get full clearance on the cab with a Montana.

[Sparatacus]

Originally Posted by suny07

Hi,

It’s the B&W Companion OEM 5th Wheel Hitch for Ram Towing Prep Package - Dual Jaw - 25,000 lbs.
No Slider.
My truck has obviously the short bed as my old one as the Mega Cab only comes with a short bed.
When you put the Pivot Arms full “backwards” you get full clearance on the cab with a Montana.

Thank you sir for your reply, I know that you can't wait for camping season again, I know I can't.