2001 36 MDS tow rating?

[AllTheWaySth]

Alpine Gurus,
seriously looking at purchasing a 2001 36 MDS with the 350 Cummins. can someone confirm the tow rating for this model? I've been searching this forum and find both 5000# and 10,000# ratings.

Thanks, Garrett

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Hi 50th,
I checked the ACA tech library, 2001 owners manuel, for the specs on the 2001 36-foot coach. The towing capacity is 5000 lbs. The coach came with a Class 4 10,000 lb towing hitch. Hope this helps.

[AllTheWaySth]

Jeff,
Thanks for looking that up. Not the answer I wanted, but better knowing now then after the purchase.

Garrett

[Rich and Cork]

I think there is some confusion. The hitch is a class 4 rated for 10,000 lbs. The cargo carrying capacity is about 5,000 pounds, which is the total loaded weight on the axles. If you had about a 7500 pound load with about 15% on the hitch, that would be about 10000 pounds, leaving you about 4,000 pounds of other "stuff" in the coach.

[Dave Fernandez]

Hello & Welcome Garrett:

I own a 2001 38ft Alpine, and it was rated at 5000#. I questioned WRV once about the difference between the newer models with 10,000# tow rating and my 5000# tow rating. I was told the there is no difference in the frame or the hitch, but they could not tell me I could tow over 5000# because that’s what they rated the 2001 at, and could not change what was printed.

I have towed a 7500# Suburban around for a while and all over the US, until a young man rear ended me doing over 80 mph, and I was only doing 55 mph. The Suburban was totaled and the tow bar “S” and the Suburban kissed the back of the Alpine. No damage was done to the frame or the hitch, and only fiberglass damage was done to the body of the Alpine. See the Pictures of the kiss. The other car was also totaled.

I now tow a 2004 Yukon which weighs in at 6500# with no problems.