True hitch weight Montana HC 362RD

[bearcat77]

Any 362RD owners out there that can give me real world hitch weight? The dry hitch weight is listed as 2885lbs, and vehicle dry weight of 13097lbs, but I realize that those numbers doesn’t really tell me jack. Fully loaded for a weekend trip, our current travel trailer runs about 1000lbs over dry weight.

My tow vehicle is a 2019 F350 srw diesel with available payload of 3100lbs. Subtract family of four and fifth wheel hitch, and I’m guessing the 362RD is going to be too much, but I’m hoping not, because we love the floor plan and haven’t been able to find a lighter version.

Thanks for any input.

[Big1]

Welcome from WA. That is dually territory but I'm sure someone will chime in.

[Fishsizzle]

Looking at specs, looks like you have a 16,000 lbs loaded 5th wheel

20% rule which seems to be what most here favor: 3200 lbs pin weight. 25% puts you at 4000 lbs pin.

Don’t ask me how I know,

Still learning, so someone else can chime in.

[sourdough]

Here is a statement from etrailer, and pretty much the standard:

"A basic rule to go by is that the tongue weight of a 5th wheel trailer is about 20 percent of the gross trailer weight."

I believe the range can be 15-25%. 15 will be too light in nearly every case and 25 is probably over kill.

[CWtheMan]

Originally Posted by sourdough

Here is a statement from etrailer, and pretty much the standard:

"A basic rule to go by is that the tongue weight of a 5th wheel trailer is about 20 percent of the gross trailer weight."

I believe the range can be 15-25%. 15 will be too light in nearly every case and 25 is probably over kill.

If you add a washer/dryer I doubt you'll be able to keep that hitch weight under 3500#.

[rbrdriver]

Our 2019 Alpine 3700 FL has a similar weight that you are describing and the true hitch weight on it (checked at a cat scale) comes in at 3300 pounds. Glad we got the dually.

[NotyetMHCowner]

Our pin weight is 3660 (26.7%) but we have a lot of stuff up front. Onan generator, washer dryer combo, 4 golf cart batteries, front closet full and basement storage full.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

Any 362RD owners out there that can give me real world hitch weight? The dry hitch weight is listed as 2885lbs, and vehicle dry weight of 13097lbs, but I realize that those numbers doesn’t really tell me jack. Fully loaded for a weekend trip, our current travel trailer runs about 1000lbs over dry weight.

My tow vehicle is a 2019 F350 srw diesel with available payload of 3100lbs. Subtract family of four and fifth wheel hitch, and I’m guessing the 362RD is going to be too much, but I’m hoping not, because we love the floor plan and haven’t been able to find a lighter version.

Thanks for any input.

Well had you skipped the Ford and gone to a Ram you would have gone from a MAX GVWR of 11,500# to 12,300# for a SRW.
IF it is truly 13,097# dry and you only add 1,000# you are at 14,000# +/- 14,000 * .2 = 2,800# minimum. Big family's, and big 5er's, you really need a DRW, they drive Soooooooo much better.

[bearcat77]

Originally Posted by NotyetMHCowner

Our pin weight is 3660 (26.7%) but we have a lot of stuff up front. Onan generator, washer dryer combo, 4 golf cart batteries, front closet full and basement storage full.

3660? Ouch! We would not have a generator or a washer/dryer, but sounds like it isn’t going to be worth agonizing over every pound. Anybody know of a similar floor plan? I’ve searched every mfr I could think of, and it seems like the 362 is a one of a kind floor plan.

[Fishsizzle]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

3660? Ouch! We would not have a generator or a washer/dryer, but sounds like it isn’t going to be worth agonizing over every pound. Anybody know of a similar floor plan? I’ve searched every mfr I could think of, and it seems like the 362 is a one of a kind floor plan.

Yeah that’s pretty cool floor plan, kinda toy hauler with 2 bathroom , but for kids not toys!

[cookinwitdiesel]

I have not come across a floorplan that compares to the 362RD, it is pretty unique. It is like a bunkhouse, but you also get a separate full family room as well. Do you need the bunk space or want to just have a separate TV room?

Is getting a DRW out of the question? That will open up a LOT more options for you with trailer layouts when looking at the full size fifth wheels. Even a SRW 3500 will get overwhelmed pretty quickly with more than a modest fifth wheel as you are seeing.

[bearcat77]

Unfortunately a drw is out of the question. My F350 is only a month old, and I don’t want a drw as a daily driver anyway. We love the idea of a separate bath for kids and adults, and full sized separate hang out areas for the kids and adults, but we’ll just need to step back from our delusions of grandeur. Our issue with the typical bunkhouse is that the bunks are usually ridiculously short (like 6’ or less) and the bunks are wasted space during the day. We originally thought we would go with a toyhauler, but of course the ones with a full sized entertaining area and a half bath have even heavier tongue weights. Thanks for everyone’s input.

[Fishsizzle]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

Unfortunately a drw is out of the question. My F350 is only a month old, and I don’t want a drw as a daily driver anyway. We love the idea of a separate bath for kids and adults, and full sized separate hang out areas for the kids and adults, but we’ll just need to step back from our delusions of grandeur. Our issue with the typical bunkhouse is that the bunks are usually ridiculously short (like 6’ or less) and the bunks are wasted space during the day. We originally thought we would go with a toyhauler, but of course the ones with a full sized entertaining area and a half bath have even heavier tongue weights. Thanks for everyone’s input.

Hope you can figure it out. It’s a cool plan. You are not alone in the stuck between and truck and a hard place

[CaptnJohn]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

Any 362RD owners out there that can give me real world hitch weight? The dry hitch weight is listed as 2885lbs, and vehicle dry weight of 13097lbs, but I realize that those numbers doesn’t really tell me jack. Fully loaded for a weekend trip, our current travel trailer runs about 1000lbs over dry weight.

My tow vehicle is a 2019 F350 srw diesel with available payload of 3100lbs. Subtract family of four and fifth wheel hitch, and I’m guessing the 362RD is going to be too much, but I’m hoping not, because we love the floor plan and haven’t been able to find a lighter version.

Thanks for any input.

I may be rethinking a 2020 F350 if the payload is in that area. My 2016 F350 Lariat Ultimate 4X4 is near 3500. Yes, 400# less is a no go ~ looking for more, not less. Only 81,000 on it now so may just keep it!

[Fishsizzle]

Originally Posted by CaptnJohn

I may be rethinking a 2020 F350 if the payload is in that area. My 2016 F350 Lariat Ultimate 4X4 is near 3500. Yes, 400# less is a no go ~ looking for more, not less. Only 81,000 on it now so may just keep it!

Ford says bigger payloads across the Superduty line for 2020.

Maybe he’s a Platinum or KR? I think my pop in laws KR is pretty close to yours.

Also did OP say short bed? That would be about right payload for F350 short. I’ll re-read

[bearcat77]

It’s an F350 long bed crew cab Lariat. Here’s why I made the jump from a 2500 Sierra thinking that payload would never be an issue:



(These are the payload ratings for F350 SRW 4x4. Left column is GVWR. Right column is crew cab, long bed.)

But then reality strikes. Here’s my sticker:

[bearcat77]

And here’s my GVWR:



So I guess the diesel engine and Lariat package options wipe out 1300lbs of payload?

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

Unfortunately a drw is out of the question. My F350 is only a month old, and I don’t want a drw as a daily driver anyway. We love the idea of a separate bath for kids and adults, and full sized separate hang out areas for the kids and adults, but we’ll just need to step back from our delusions of grandeur. Our issue with the typical bunkhouse is that the bunks are usually ridiculously short (like 6’ or less) and the bunks are wasted space during the day. We originally thought we would go with a toyhauler, but of course the ones with a full sized entertaining area and a half bath have even heavier tongue weights. Thanks for everyone’s input.

Well a DRW as a daily driver is NOT the end of the world. So the 2019 is only a month old, many miles? Maybe the dealer will give you a decent deal on a 2019 F350 DRW.

While a TH is a good idea, where "TOYS" will offset the starting heavy pin, you would not have the toys.

Sounds like looking for something smaller/lighter.
The issue you and most (myself included) tend to ignore, and that is "Weight Creep". While a 3,500# payload sound like a lot, but hitch, passengers, and stuff in the TV BEFORE you even start to worry about the pin weight. Many don't think about the STUFF they add to a TV that eats into Payload.
My personal experance is we just bought a used 2016 Ram Laramie 3500 DRW. The Payload sticker states 5,411# Payload, well once my tool box, hitch me DW and 30# beagle hit the scales the TV weighed 9,950#, Payload down to 4,050# we account for 1,361# of negative payload.

So back to the issue of a DRW as a daily driver. Parking garage? too many drive troughs? Just don't want to deal with the size?
We full time, so our DRW is our Daily Driver. Both DW and I drive, you learn to deal with the size, where it will go and where it won't go. The places it "won't Go" will get smaller and smaller the more you drive it. We still park in the same area of many parking lot as we did with DW's Equinox! I will state I drove a 2001 Ram 2500 before and the 3500 is not really much bigger.

I posted this shortly after getting the DRW. http://www.keystoneforums.com/forums...ad.php?t=36163

No it doesn't turn as tight as the 2500 and is a tad longer, but I have been in parking garages and tight parking lots, Reverse is your friend, I back into many places.
Just food for thought.

[cookinwitdiesel]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

And here’s my GVWR:

Attachment 21162

So I guess the diesel engine and Lariat package options wipe out 1300lbs of payload?

Yes, yes they do.

Just going from base to Denali (still 4wd, crew cab, standard bed, diesel) for me cost me 370# against what the website stated my configuration should have (presumably reporting only the base). That was a shocker for me when I actually realized the truck I had just bought had a 2144# payload. If I had been smart enough to check that (payload sticker on door) as part of my purchase process, I would have smartly gone straight to the 3500 SRW.

Fully loaded for camping, I have only 360# under max GVWR for my truck, much closer than I wanted to be originally.

I would also like to add that I HATE the way Ford shows their specs in that table on their website, way more complicated and hard to find what you are looking for than it needs to be. In my opinion.

[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by bearcat77

And here’s my GVWR:


Attachment 21162

So I guess the diesel engine and Lariat package options wipe out 1300lbs of payload?

Originally Posted by cookinwitdiesel

Yes, yes they do.

Just going from base to Denali (still 4wd, crew cab, standard bed, diesel) for me cost me 370# against what the website stated my configuration should have (presumably reporting only the base). That was a shocker for me when I actually realized the truck I had just bought had a 2144# payload. If I had been smart enough to check that (payload sticker on door) as part of my purchase process, I would have smartly gone straight to the 3500 SRW.

Fully loaded for camping, I have only 360# under max GVWR for my truck, much closer than I wanted to be originally.

I would also like to add that I HATE the way Ford shows their specs in that table on their website, way more complicated and hard to find what you are looking for than it needs to be. In my opinion.

Well looks like they have the MAXIMUM that you can get is a stripper gas model.
I would say you are between a rock and a hard place.