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 > Tow Vehicles & Towing
Click Here to Login

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 09-06-2009, 08:37 AM   #1
NewFlyLady
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Roseville
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #8071
? On Dodge 2500 heavy tow package

So we have not really towed our RV for more than 800 miles 4 years ago. I have been living in it 2 weeks a month but my job is going away and at the end of the month we are towing our 3380 back to Montana. One of the things we noticed years ago was that people were blicking their brights at night thinking we had ours on. This lead us to beleive that we may need to add some heavy duty springs to the truck to prevent this. We do have the heavy duty package so I was wondering what other have done or suggest.
 
NewFlyLady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 08:52 AM   #2
H. John Kohl
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: New Bern
Posts: 4,294
M.O.C. #311
Send a message via AIM to H. John Kohl Send a message via MSN to H. John Kohl Send a message via Yahoo to H. John Kohl
The first thing I would do is weight (at truck scales) your truck and trailer then just your truck. This will give you the figures to calculate pin weight as well as provide you with all other weights.

I thought about adjusting my headlights down a little but other commented that was not a good idea. Never did it.

If you are now going to tow a lot then putting air bags on the rear axle of the truck will help eliminate that.

There should be many more posts to help you with your decision. Good luck.
H. John Kohl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 09:13 AM   #3
KTManiac
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location:
Posts: 560
M.O.C. #8818
I had to adjust my headlights down, as the previous owner had them set too high to begin with.

Adjust your lights per the manufacturers manual without a load, and get some Firestone air bags to keep the 5er from compressing the rear springs more than a couple inches from unloaded height. Then, you should be good.

Or, you can just adjust your lights to the proper height with 5er loaded, and bring them back up when not hauling the 5er. Just make sure to count how many turns of the adjustment screws you make and know which direction to turn them to get back to the proper setting. The downside to this method is that you will, at some point, forget to adjust them for the proper height, miscount turns, or turn them the wrong way. Lots cheaper than Firestone bags though,

If your lights are properly adjusted for unloaded suspension and putting the 5er on compresses the rear and makes them shine too high, you probably need the air bags.

KTManiac is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 09:20 AM   #4
jimcol
Montana Master
 
jimcol's Avatar
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Kansas City, Missouri
Posts: 2,702
M.O.C. #7992
Send a message via AIM to jimcol Send a message via MSN to jimcol
I had the same issue with our 09 Dodge 2500. I added timbrens to the truck. Did not adjust the headlights after adding the timbrens but could tell a noticable difference when towing. Seems to have solved the problems as I don't get the flashes from oncoming traffic like I did prior to adding the timbrens.
__________________
2006 3000RK
2009 Ram 2500
jimcol is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 09:25 AM   #5
1Happycamper
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Essex
Posts: 1,123
M.O.C. #6880
I would recommend the firestone air bags. You can adjust the air so you truck and trailer ride level. Have had mine on for two years and just love them.

Bill.
1Happycamper is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 10:35 AM   #6
HughM
Montana Master
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Weeki Wachee
Posts: 814
M.O.C. #7219
The ride and comfort will be noticed after adding Fireston Air Bags. I wouldn't tow a big rv without them.
Hugh
HughM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 11:24 AM   #7
tim43
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Fayetteville
Posts: 657
M.O.C. #9178
Concur with the advice on air bags and you need to do a very serious tire inspection since your tires are four plus years old and the recommended replacement window is about five years. Tim
tim43 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 12:32 PM   #8
Art-n-Marge
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Murrieta
Posts: 5,816
M.O.C. #9257
Send a message via MSN to Art-n-Marge Send a message via Yahoo to Art-n-Marge
Here's another endorsement for air bags. The advantage to airbags is that they are adjustable which will then allow for better aim of the headlights.

Before attaching the trailer and with the air bags at the lowest recommended pressure (mine is 5-7 lbs on both sides), I measure the top of the rear tire to the respective fender edge (mine is about 11 inches). Then I attach the 5er, and prepare for towing. The truck's backend is much lower now. Then I inflate the bags evenly on either side until the tire to fender distance is back to less than 11 inches. This will provide very close to the same headlight aim as before the trailer was attached. In my truck this is about 60-65 lbs pressure in the air bags.

I do not use the same 11 inch height otherwise the trailer angle is too high in the front, but not enough to cause issues (I hope).

I should note I have a 4x4 and my truck sits more level when unloaded than my 4x2 did where the rear end was much higher than the front. I think this is just the way 4x2's versus 4x4 sit. I also still have plenty of room between the 5er overhang and the sides of the truck bed.

I hope this is helpful.
Art-n-Marge is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 02:16 PM   #9
bigmurf
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: Sunshine
Posts: 1,445
M.O.C. #538
Don't tow at night>
bigmurf is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-06-2009, 02:48 PM   #10
NewFlyLady
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Roseville
Posts: 57
M.O.C. #8071
Thank you for all the input. Looks like airbags may be the way to go. We will do some investigation. Tim43, I hear you on the tire inspection. I have had them covered for the 4 years the 5'er has been stationary (with the exception of towing it in for warranty work), so hopefully that has helped. A good inspection is in order.
NewFlyLady is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2009, 01:28 AM   #11
Tom S.
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Waterford
Posts: 3,693
M.O.C. #7500
Air bags will also help level the trailer. Installation of just the bags is pretty simple. If you get fancy and add an onboard compressor and inside the cab display with control, it's more complex (and costly).
Tom S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2009, 06:24 AM   #12
farmboy
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: North Vernon
Posts: 261
M.O.C. #9087
Send a message via Yahoo to farmboy
Sounds to me like your truck is overloaded. I have a 2500 also and mine is level with 5er and no air bags.
farmboy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-07-2009, 07:42 AM   #13
billhoover
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: SW
Posts: 255
M.O.C. #7895
Air bags will certainly level the truck, but they do not add any increase in cargo capacity.
billhoover 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
Timberins for '06 Dodge 2500 4x4 brenkco Trailers, Tow Vehicles & RV related items for Sale 0 12-26-2011 12:19 PM
Dodge Ram 2500 with 5.9 Cummins Hammer501 Tow Vehicles & Towing 11 04-24-2007 11:22 AM
99 Dodge 2500 Diesel Rear End av2pilot Tow Vehicles & Towing 7 11-05-2006 11:50 AM
Dodge 2500 SB and 3400RL Montana_6099 Tow Vehicles & Towing 13 08-08-2006 04:19 PM
3685FL Dodge 2500 Cummins Montana_1460 General Discussions about our Montanas 0 04-28-2004 04:59 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 03:03 PM.


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