Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Montana Owners Club - Keystone Montana 5th Wheel Forum > GENERAL DISCUSSIONS > General Discussions about our Montanas
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 04-30-2005, 04:22 AM   #1
Montana_3674
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ft Wayne
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #3674
Pin weight of a loaded 2850RK

New to this forum (don't yet own a Montana).

Considering purchase of used 2004 Montana 2850RK. Interested in knowing (from current owners) the following....

1) What is your fully loaded (ready to travel) total weight?

2) How much of that total weight is on the pin?

Also contemplating purchase of 2005 Ford F-250. As most of you know, when towing a fiver with a three-quarter ton truck, the most vulnerable rating limitation is the truck's GVWR (not the GCWR). The F-250 I'm considering (SuperCab/6.75' bed/4X4/V-10 gaser) has a GVWR of 9400 pounds. Shipped from the factory with 13 gallons of gas, the invoice says it weighs 6202 pounds. Filling the tank (29 gallons), adding a manual slider hitch, my wife, myself, and as much as 150 pounds of misc cargo, will bring the loaded truck's weight to about 6975 pounds. So that leaves about 2425 pounds available for the fiver's pin weight, and whatever else (maybe nothing else) I may want to put in the bed of the truck. So the question, assuming I don't go whacko by putting a big auxilliary gas tank in the bed....

3) Is 2425 pounds sufficient allowance for the loaded pin weight of a 2850RK?

I realize that the fresh water tank in this model is just ahead of the rear end - so, by partially filling up with water, it would appear I have a means for offsetting excessive weight up front.

4) What do you think? Am I overlooking anything?

Thanks a bunch to any and all for your help.

 
Montana_3674 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2005, 06:26 AM   #2
sreigle
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
Les, our 2005 F250 has GVWR of 10,000. We're towing a 3295RK with pinweight of 3120 at last weighing. If you get the 10k GVWR package and the Camper Package in addition to the Tow Package, then you'll have the additional leaf in the rear spring packs and it would handle our pinweight just fine (same spring pack as our '03 F350 had). Because we did NOT get the Camper Package and the extra leaf, I ended up adding air bags to the rear of our F250. That easily brings things back to level and handles the load just fine. I see in the Ford towing guide the supercab shortbed does not have the 10k GVWR option available. You'd have to go to the longbed for that.

We towed this same Montana (13,980 loaded) with the 1999 F350 SC SB 4x2 V10 3.73 gears. It did a fine job.

That said, here are the numbers for a 2004 2850RK, from the Keystone website:

8,760 - UVW (unloaded vehicle weight, as delivered from the factory, without battery, without propane bottles)
11,820 - GVWR (max the trailer is rated to weigh. you will not hit this number)
1,880 - pinweight (these numbers are usually low)

Now, for what to expect in the real world. I can only make an educated guess at this based on what I've seen from our four fifthwheels.

If you are weekending/vacationing, I'd guess your total weight will be in the neighborhood of 10,000 - 10,500 lbs, maybe a little less. If you are fulltiming, I'd guess 10,500-11,000. On pinweight, I'd guess 2100-2200 if weekending/vacationing, and 2200-2300 if fulltiming.

The towing guide shows payload for your projected truck as 2900 lbs. That's for a supercab shortbed 4x4 with 6.8L V10 and 9400 GVWR. GCWR ranges from 21,000 to 23,000 depending on axle. FW tow rating ranges from 14,500 to 16,500, again depending on axle. All this assumes tow package. The guide says the numbers have allowed for a driver of 150 lbs. Passengers and gear would need to be included in the calculations.

In other words, that truck will do a super job of towing the 2850RK for you, in my opinion. I can send you some web addresses for tests including towing more weight than the 2850 with the earlier (2003/2004) versions of that truck and those had lower numbers than the 2005.

Just my opinion but I wouldn't hesitate with that combination.

oops - edited because I neglected to say what the 1880 lbs is for. As a footnote, these figures are for the 2004 model 2850RK from specs saved from the keystone site.
sreigle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2005, 06:29 AM   #3
Countryfolks
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Ft. Smith
Posts: 981
M.O.C. #116
Looks like the advertised payload capacity is 2800# [maybe 2900#?]. If you don't exceed the max payload you shouldn't exceed GVWR. It'll be close depending on the loaded pin weight, which will be higher than the advertised pin weight by several hundreds of pounds.

2800 - ~750 [your est] - ~1900 dry pin = ~150 left for adding to pin load

I would say the addition of an aux fuel tank is not a good idea [your call though].

The weight cancelling effect of the water tank will depend on the ratio of its distance behind the wheels to the distance from the wheels to the pin. If you consider this be sure to include the placement and contents of the other tank[s].

Skip
Countryfolks is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2005, 06:58 AM   #4
Searchers
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Mount Shasta
Posts: 1,488
M.O.C. #1685
Les,

First, welcome to MOC. Now, maybe I can help here with the figures from my own rig on a certified scale.
1999 2850 RK (11040 lb. GVWR)loaded for a long weekend, all holding tanks dry, hooked to a 1995 Ford 3/4 ton extended cab long bed Powerstroke diesel 4x4 with a 8800# GVW. Full tanks (39 gals.), two on board plus a 100 lb. Lab.

All axles on scale 16440 lb. total weight
Trailer axles (rated at 4400 Lbs. each) weighed 7280 lbs.
Truck drive axle (rated at 6084 lbs.) weighed 5160 lbs.
Truck steering axle (rated at 4600 lbs.) weighed 4000 lbs.
Factory spec. pin weight is 1860 lbs. on my Montana. I've never had a problem towing this rig and wouldn't expect you to have a problem either. We packed a 4000 lb. Lance camper for 4 years with our truck prior to buying the Montana. Even packed it to Alaska 7000 trouble free miles.

Good luck in your travels.
Don
Searchers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2005, 08:20 AM   #5
zzuroweste1
Established Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Pensacola
Posts: 47
M.O.C. #3581
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by sreigle

Les, our 2005 F250 has GVWR of 10,000. We're towing a 3295RK with pinweight of 3120 at last weighing. If you get the 10k GVWR package and the Camper Package in addition to the Tow Package, then you'll have the additional leaf in the rear spring packs and it would handle our pinweight just fine (same spring pack as our '03 F350 had). Because we did NOT get the Camper Package and the extra leaf, I ended up adding air bags to the rear of our F250. That easily brings things back to level and handles the load just fine. I see in the Ford towing guide the supercab shortbed does not have the 10k GVWR option available. You'd have to go to the longbed for that.

We towed this same Montana (13,980 loaded) with the 1999 F350 SC SB 4x2 V10 3.73 gears. It did a fine job.

That said, here are the numbers for a 2004 2850RK, from the Keystone website:

8,760 - UVW (unloaded vehicle weight, as delivered from the factory, without battery, without propane bottles)
11,820 - GVWR (max the trailer is rated to weigh. you will not hit this number)
1,880 - pinweight (these numbers are usually low)

Now, for what to expect in the real world. I can only make an educated guess at this based on what I've seen from our four fifthwheels.

If you are weekending/vacationing, I'd guess your total weight will be in the neighborhood of 10,000 - 10,500 lbs, maybe a little less. If you are fulltiming, I'd guess 10,500-11,000. On pinweight, I'd guess 2100-2200 if weekending/vacationing, and 2200-2300 if fulltiming.

The towing guide shows payload for your projected truck as 2900 lbs. That's for a supercab shortbed 4x4 with 6.8L V10 and 9400 GVWR. GCWR ranges from 21,000 to 23,000 depending on axle. FW tow rating ranges from 14,500 to 16,500, again depending on axle. All this assumes tow package. The guide says the numbers have allowed for a driver of 150 lbs. Passengers and gear would need to be included in the calculations.

In other words, that truck will do a super job of towing the 2850RK for you, in my opinion. I can send you some web addresses for tests including towing more weight than the 2850 with the earlier (2003/2004) versions of that truck and those had lower numbers than the 2005.

Just my opinion but I wouldn't hesitate with that combination.

oops - edited because I neglected to say what the 1880 lbs is for. As a footnote, these figures are for the 2004 model 2850RK from specs saved from the keystone site.
Would you mind sending me the websites you use for these figures...this is helpful...I am using a 04.5 dodge 3500 srw diesel. I would just like to add the facts to my knowledge so I can help friends in their quests for a great fifth wheel set up..thanks
zzuroweste1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2005, 12:04 PM   #6
lightningjack11
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Spring Hill
Posts: 2,725
M.O.C. #59
Les

I have measured my Pin wt fully loaded twice and both time it was 2350 plus or minus 50 lb.

The axle measurements of my truck are about 8500 which is just below my GVWR 8800.

My truck weighs about 6000 with one tank full.

I expect the 2004 model pin wt will be slightly heavier.
lightningjack11 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04-30-2005, 12:47 PM   #7
sreigle
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by zzuroweste1

Would you mind sending me the websites you use for these figures...this is helpful...I am using a 04.5 dodge 3500 srw diesel. I would just like to add the facts to my knowledge so I can help friends in their quests for a great fifth wheel set up..thanks
For the current models, go to www.keystone-montana.com and click on Specifications. On earlier model years, I saved those off onto my system when they were the current ones. I also have the 2005 specs saved. I have the 2003 and 2004 Montana and 2003 Big Sky specs saved. Let me know if you want them and I'll email them to you.

sreigle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2005, 06:39 PM   #8
Montana_3674
New Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Ft Wayne
Posts: 3
M.O.C. #3674
Steve, Skip, Don, Tom.... Thanks loads for your responses. I truly appreciate your help.

As to the comment suggesting I should not add an auxilliary fuel tank.... Yes, I'm aware that I wouldn't have sufficient remaining capacity within the 9400 pound GVWR of the F-250 mentioned in my original post (a truck which I have located). If I want to add the extra tank (and I probably should, for a thirsty V-10 with 4.30 axle), I'll need to find a one ton truck. So far, I've been unable to locate a V-10/4.30 F-350 SuperCab, 6.75 ft bed (the crew cab and/or 8 ft bed won't fit in my garage). I'll go to a Ford dealer to have a search done with their locator software. Forddirect.com, which I have been using on my own, doesn't do searches for specific option criteria - only by F-250 or F-350.

Thanks again for the responses so far.

Montana_3674 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-02-2005, 01:17 PM   #9
sreigle
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
Les, we had the V10 in a 1999 model and had the 29 gallon tank (supercab shortbed). We didn't add another tank for a couple of reasons. One was the extra weight. The other was we can't go that long without need for a stop for nature calls and to stretch a bit anyhow. There were times when the gas price was right and those are the times I wondered if an auxillary tank might be a good investment.
sreigle is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
2001 2850rk --3000 miles--like new Montana_3180 Trailers, Tow Vehicles & RV related items for Sale 0 07-12-2005 12:50 PM
2850rk Montana_3689 Trailers, Tow Vehicles or RV related items Wanted 5 06-19-2005 06:43 AM
2001 2850rk Montana_3689 Montana Problems, Problem Solving & Technical Help 4 05-05-2005 04:50 AM
Montana 2850RK Wanted Montana_731 Trailers, Tow Vehicles or RV related items Wanted 0 12-24-2003 05:25 AM
2850RK Mods lightningjack11 Additions & Improvements 0 12-18-2002 01:13 PM

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Montana RV, Keystone RV Company or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 01:37 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.9
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.