Mountain Master 3500 & Sea Breeze 34'

Medium-duty trucks for towing heavy trailers have been the rage lately, and for good
reason. They work great and improve towing safety. Not everyone needs such a big rig,
though, so the slightly smaller Mountain Master/Chevrolet 3500 combination is designed to
provide competent towing ability with easy drivability and the functional convenience of a
medium-duty tow rig. Based on a Chevrolet Silverado 3500-series LS 3500 two-wheel-drive
(2WD) chassis-cab truck, essentially the same rig as a Silverado 3500 dualie pickup, the
Mountain Master has a traditional all-metal “work truck” bed with a fifth-wheel hitch and
storage compartments. Powered by the Duramax 6.6-liter diesel engine, the truck is rated to
tow a healthy 15,300 pounds, and that’s enough to cover a whole lot of popular fifth-wheel
models. We matched the new truck to the Sea Breeze 34-foot fifth-wheel from National RV, a
model that features a traditional floorplan with a mid-unit entry door, a galley and
entertainment center in the streetside slideout, a sofa bed and dinette table in the
opposing curbside slideout, and padded swivel lounge chairs near the picture window out
back. The bath and bedroom occupy the forward areas, with the horizontally opposed bed
tucked into a small streetside slideout, a wardrobe filling the front wall and a vanity
table and storage curbside. The broad spectrum of fifth-wheel trailers that do not need to
be towed by a medium-duty truck can be successfully handled by a rig like the Mountain
Master/Chevrolet combination, which offers pickup comfort with solid towing ability and
dependable power, plus the convenience of the aftermarket bed features. This truck was a
natural match for the Sea Breeze trailer, a full-featured unit of impressive build quality.
For more about the Mountain Master 3500 & Sea Breeze 34′ test, pick up the August 2002
issue of Trailer Life on the newsstand. Then subscribe to Trailer Life – so
you can stay informed on the latest tow vehicles, tests and previews, RV equipment and
technical information. National RV Inc., (909) 943-6007, www.nationalrv.com Mountain Master
Truck Equipment L.L.C., (888) 686-6278, www.mountainmaster.net