Montana High Country Tow Vehicle

[illahee]

We are considering a Montana High Country 343RL, with a weight of 9670 and hitch weight of 1740. Would like to go to a regular Montana or Alpine, but our tow vehicle is a 1994 F250 Supercab 4WD, with a 7.5 L, 460 engine, 4.10 rear end, but our GCWR for this truck is 18,500. Truck weight is 6500#. Truck is in excellent condition, with only 46,000 miles. Any comments or suggestions on this combination would be appreciated.

Thanks

Roy

[JRTJH]

You didn't list the GVW of your truck. The cargo capacity (truck GVW - truck weight) will give you the payload, and will help when figuring the max pin weight of the trailer. Remember that pin weights often increase as much as 1000 lbs when the trailer is loaded for a trip, so an empty (advertised) pin weight by Keystone does not include batteries, propane, water, cargo such as clothing, food, tools, camping gear. With your GVW and your GCVW you'll get a better picture of whether the trailer is a good match for your truck.

[mhs4771]

You may well exceed the rear axle ratings. Our Montana has a dry pin weight of 1715, when weighed at the Montana Rally we were at 2600 Lbs, so yep real world pin weight can be 1000 Lbs more than dry easily.

[illahee]

The GVW according to the door decal is 8800#. Total scale weight for the teruck is 6480, witrh 3580 for the front and 2900 for the rear. GAWR for the rear is 6084 and 4600 for the front. The increase in hitch/pin weight is very helpful info. Thanks

[JRTJH]

Some numbers (this gets complicated)

Truck WT 6480 GVW 8800 GCW 18500
Truck GVW 8800 -6480= 2320 payload MINUS hitch weight (150-250 lbs)
(so actually about 2100 lbs left for passengers/hitch/cargo)
Truck GCW 18500 -6480=12020 remaining for cargo and trailer.
Truck Front Axle 4600 - 3580 = 1020 remaining
Truck Rear Axle 6048 - 2900 = 3148 remaining

You will put virtually no additional weight on the front axle with a fifth wheel.

Trailer: WT 9884 GVW 12500 = 2616 Payload

Pin 1700 Empty up to 3125 full

Based on average pin weight 15-25% of trailer weight.
ie: empty (15-25% of 9884) 1483-2471
full (15-25% of 12500) 1875-3125

Assuming you have at least 245/75R 16 load range E tires (3400 lbs each) on the truck, you should be right at your max towing that trailer if it is moderately loaded.

Most people carry about 1000-1500 lbs of camping equipment/etc in their RV, so you're looking at weighing about 9884 + 1500 = 11384 ready for a trip.

That would give you a pin weight range of 1707-2846. So, depending on how you load your trailer, you could be within the load rating or overloaded, depending on whether you load the trailer "front heavy" or "tail heavy", Keep in mind that you need to maintian the pin weight between 15-25% to maintain good towing stability. This means it will be "tricky" to load for trips and maintain weight ratio, something few of us really want to "fuss with" when getting ready to leave on a trip.

I'd think that your truck will handle the trailer pretty well unless you start going "overboard" on what you drag along with you. Most of your extras (generator, firewood, toolbox etc would need to be stored near the trailer axles to maintain a low pin weight. If you loaded that type cargo in the truck bed, you'd be potentially overloading your truck even with a low pin weight on the trailer.

My guess would be, if you do go with this trailer and keep your current truck, it wouldn't be too long before the price of gas and the "near overload" gets you to thinking about a new diesel truck. Of course that depends on how much towing you do annually.

Not an easy question and certainly no easy answers. You'll probably be asking yourself, "How big is my wallet" sometime during the second camping season as you start thinking about a beefier truck.

[Festus2]

[QUOTE=JRTJH

I'd think that your truck will handle the trailer pretty well unless you start going "overboard" on what you drag along with you. Most of your extras (generator, firewood, toolbox etc would need to be stored near the trailer axles to maintain a low pin weight. If you loaded that type cargo in the truck bed, you'd be potentially overloading your truck even with a low pin weight on the trailer.

[/QUOTE]

John:
Trouble is it isn't always possible to store many of these items "near the trailer axles". On your unit and mine, which have similarily located storage areas, they are situated a fair distance in front of the axles as are the propane tanks, batteries, and any stuff you might put in the front storage compartment. We have a rear kitchen, so in some respects, our "load" is pretty much evenly split between the two axles.
Typically, when we carry firewood, it goes in the truck bed as I don't want to take up space in the side storage compartment. Not only does the firewood take up valuable space but also can be a bit "messy".
But I am not anywhere near max with my truck and 5th so for me, I am not overly concerned about loading stuff in the truck bed. Having lots of "wiggle room" does have its advantages!

[illahee]

Thanks for the info and suggestions. The more we think about it, it might be best to get a new truck now, break it in, use our 27 Alpenlite for a couple of years then step up to a larger trailer. Now we need to decide which truck to look at. Decisions, decisions....

Roy

[mhs4771]

I can confirm, very little weight change on the front axle with a properly installed 5th Wheel hitch. My TV solo, but loaded for tow, full fuel, driver & passenger, in-bed tool box, and hitch: 4900 Lbs Front, 4100 Lbs Rear. Connected to 5er: 5050 Lbs Front, 6550 Lbs rear.

[JRTJH]

Richard, I totally agree, "wiggle room" in RVing is spelled L U X U R Y...

Roy, You probably are onto the best idea yet, Get the tow vehicle you think you'll need and then get a trailer to match. But make sure you're pretty firm on the trailer. Upsizing after buying a new truck can get REAL expensive.

From predictions I've seen lately, with the government subsidies ending for ethanol production, the demand for gasonline will increase (as will the price), diesel is going to be a good option. Today, in this area, for the first time in years, diesel was only 20 cents more than regular gas. At this rate, I may start wishing for a diesel even with my minimal annual mileage.

[atanchor]

We tow a 2011 High Country 343RL with a 2008 Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel and 3.73 rear. Absolutely no issues at all. Generally get 11.5 mpg at 60mph if it isn't too hilly. We put a 51gal gravity feed aux fuel tank in the bed and off we go. I've played the weight /scale game and everything is below max.

[LT. A.J.D.]

Some very interesting opinions posted on this subject and a lot of accurate weight distribution information. Coming from a trucking family I remember my dad saying, "ALWAYS BUY A TRUCK AT LEAST ONE SIZE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NEED." Based on that advice, I'll bet you end up with at least a 1-ton 3500 or F-350 series tow vehicle.

LT. A.J.D.

[jje1960]

Originally Posted by LT. A.J.D.

Some very interesting opinions posted on this subject and a lot of accurate weight distribution information. Coming from a trucking family I remember my dad saying, "ALWAYS BUY A TRUCK AT LEAST ONE SIZE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NEED." Based on that advice, I'll bet you end up with at least a 1-ton 3500 or F-350 series tow vehicle.

LT. A.J.D.

Simply 'agree' with this perspective.

[cmssorrell]

Originally Posted by jje1960

Simply 'agree' with this perspective.

Originally Posted by LT. A.J.D. View Post
Some very interesting opinions posted on this subject and a lot of accurate weight distribution information. Coming from a trucking family I remember my dad saying, "ALWAYS BUY A TRUCK AT LEAST ONE SIZE BIGGER THAN YOU THINK YOU MIGHT NEED." Based on that advice, I'll bet you end up with at least a 1-ton 3500 or F-350 series tow vehicle.



I agree also !!