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 06-19-2005, 10:33 AM   #1
Montana_3921
New Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: boise
Posts: 6
M.O.C. #3921
fifth wheel hitch

Im shopping for a new fifth wheel hitch to pull my 3655 fl with my 1995 dodge 2500 longbed diesel If anyone has any advice id appreciate it. Im new to the fifth wheel world.
 
Montana_3921 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2005, 10:38 AM   #2
Montana_1892
Seasoned Camper
 
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location: airway heights
Posts: 90
M.O.C. #1892
hi, most any hitch will do the job for you, i'd go with a 20,000 pounder, installation is relatively easy, no special tool except a heavy duty drill or welder, dependant on how you are installing. We ran a '01 Dodge 2500 with a Cummins, 5spd, 4x4, Banks Chip, exhaust brake for several years and found that it was not up to the task of pulling our 3670RL. So if you see excessive tire wear, rough ride, etc. you heard it here first ...
Montana_1892 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2005, 11:03 AM   #3
sreigle
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
I agree just about any brand will do. You will need one rated for at least as much as the GVWR of the trailer. The highest GVWR of any Montana is 14,400 (plus or minus 50 lbs.). So a rating of at least 15k is recommended. In my opinion, Grey-ghost's advice of going with a 20k hitch is sound as it will allow you to use the same hitch should you someday trade for a heavier fifthwheel. Ours is a 15k and it has performed perfectly for several years now.

Another thing I'd recommend is to make sure the hitch pivots side-to-side as well as front-to-back. Otherwise if you have to block one side of the trailer more than an inch or two you'll have to put blocks under the truck's rear wheel to keep it close to the same plane or the hitch will not release. Been there. With a 4-way pivot you can go to four or five inches without blocks under the truck wheel. Believe me, it's hard to get the block under the truck wheel in the right place when trying to hitch up again. At least it was for me. Most hitches these days are 4-way but some are not, so make sure.

Good luck. You're smart to ask the questions.
sreigle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2005, 05:56 AM   #4
ken
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: King George
Posts: 688
M.O.C. #345
If your any where near the east coast, I have a Reese 20K for $350.00. We traded trucks and this was on my old ford. It towed a 2003 3655 for 15,000 miles. Your dodge will do fine. our email is kv_taylor@hotmail.com in Dahlgren VA.
Ken and Velda Taylor
Dahlgren VA
2005 3475 Montana
2005 GMC 2500HD crew cab diesel
Quote:
quote:Originally posted by sprice44

Im shopping for a new fifth wheel hitch to pull my 3655 fl with my 1995 dodge 2500 longbed diesel If anyone has any advice id appreciate it. Im new to the fifth wheel world.
ken is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-20-2005, 05:32 PM   #5
Montana_2779
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Woodlands
Posts: 211
M.O.C. #2779
Agree on the notes above about hitch rating. Our truck is rated to 16.1K. Didn't figure there was any sense in having the hitch be the limiting factor in our towing equasion (a 15K hitch would reduce our tow rating by 1100 pounds in simple math). Heck, when you pay a bundle for a towing vehicle, shouldn't the vehicle itself determine the limit for the load?! We love our PullRite, but most major brands are going to have good quality and long life expectancy if properly maintained. Hard to wrong in a high-quality, competative market!!
Montana_2779 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2005, 06:33 AM   #6
Montana_1424
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Syracuse
Posts: 286
M.O.C. #1424
I have a Reese 16 K hitch, with a pivoting head, and it pulss our 3650 RK just great.
Montana_1424 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-21-2005, 12:31 PM   #7
sreigle
Montana Master
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Oceanside
Posts: 20,028
M.O.C. #20
Good points, Pete. In our case, the hitch has traveled from truck to truck and fifthwheel to fifthwheel. When we bought a new FW that weighed 6600 lbs, a 15k allowed movement upwards in weight. With a Montana weighing 14,360, the 15k hitch has reached its limit... If we someday buy a heavier fifthwheel, then maybe I can justify the superglide!
sreigle is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-22-2005, 04:56 AM   #8
Montana_2779
Montana Fan
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: The Woodlands
Posts: 211
M.O.C. #2779
You'll love that Superglide, Steve. We got the stationary PullRite since we bought the long-bed, single-cab truck. However, we got the manufacturer's video on the Superglide....THAT was IMPRESSIVE!! If we ever go to a smaller bed, that WILL be our next hitch!

Good luck on the hitch, sprice44!
Montana_2779 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2005, 03:39 PM   #9
Montana_4027
Established Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: San Diego
Posts: 17
M.O.C. #4027
I'm looking for a new hitch also...... What about the 'air-bag' type hitches. They look like it would really smooth out the ride and any shock between the truck and trailer.
Does anyone have experience with these units??
Montana_4027 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
Best 5th wheel hitch artfuldodger Tow Vehicles & Towing 41 04-10-2018 09:14 AM
Best Fifth Wheel Hitch 35mastr Tow Vehicles & Towing 27 05-16-2012 01:32 AM
Gooseneck hitch vs. Regular Fifth wheel hitch Montana_2020 Tow Vehicles & Towing 4 11-11-2005 07:22 AM
5th Wheel Hitch gblass1 General Discussions about our Montanas 14 07-19-2005 12:03 PM
5th wheel hitch Montana_462 General Discussions about our Montanas 0 11-05-2003 04:47 AM

» 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 06:42 AM.


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