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05-14-2013, 02:37 PM
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#29
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Senior Member
Gulf Streamers Club
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Cincinnati
Posts: 19,925
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The forces created when stopping, turning, hitting bumps all has to be taken into account. Sure you could pull a semi with a gentle pull and stop, but how about going down a mountain pass? If your rig is said to be a Class III hitch, with 500 lb tongue weight and 5000 lb tow limit, I wouldn't push it past those numbers. Remember everything is 15 years old too.
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Bob & Donna
'98 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager DP being pushed by a '00 Beetle TDI
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05-14-2013, 03:02 PM
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#30
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Junior Member
Fleetwood Owners Club
Join Date: May 2013
Posts: 6
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picture
Quote:
Originally Posted by fighterpilot
Ah sooo-missed that line. Thanks for pointing that out to me. Since it addresed hitch and not chassis, I guess that means the hitch they installed is only rated for Class three. But since the chassis can do more just have to change the hitch. If I used a wt. distribution system Class III hitches can go on up in weight capacity to as much as 10,000lbs. At least that is what I just read when I google Class III hitches, but that is not to say the vehicle to which the hitch is attached can handle that load. I understand that, but it says this chassis can handle up to 7000lb load. Since I am not using a weight distrubiting system will have to change the hitch. Will try to find the best qualified hitch guy to look the situation over and say yes or no on changing hitch. Might have to get with Ford turck expert to talk about the F53 chassis of that vintage to get their opinion as well.
I survived 200 combat mission over Vietnam, 500 carrier landings in the Navy's newest and fastest fighter at that time, and I agree have to know your limitations.
Maybe with the help of this forum, Hitch experts, and the Truck Chassis experts I can define what that limitation is. Wish I could talk to National Rv. Thanks FP
Agree with lite in closet, flash didn't work in that case--taken when we were inspecting MH so I could bring back and read all the different written stickers on the motorhome. Saves, copying them at the time of inspection.
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like your aircraft picture , I worked on them back in the 60s
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05-14-2013, 07:16 PM
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#31
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 344
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Truck 771 you had your hands full with the old F8 Crusader. I was flying them so know how they used to bleed. Thanks for your service. FP
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05-14-2013, 07:45 PM
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#32
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Senior Member
American Coach Owners Club
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: SW Florida
Posts: 2,971
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BFlinn181
The forces created when stopping, turning, hitting bumps all has to be taken into account. Sure you could pull a semi with a gentle pull and stop, but how about going down a mountain pass? If your rig is said to be a Class III hitch, with 500 lb tongue weight and 5000 lb tow limit, I wouldn't push it past those numbers. Remember everything is 15 years old too.
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I'll have to go along with that, as I can't imagine what it would take to have a steady 5K lb pull, if the toad only weighed 5K, but there's no way I'd ever attempt to exceed it's rating. Now, some percentage over GCWR, I'm not so concerned with and they're all over the highways, but not about to be messing with what could be an inferior hitch ass'y. I really wonder how many people actually weigh them and do the math. We never did in the old days with passenger cars pulling heavy travel trailers. I mean most don't bother to weigh their rig for airing up the tires and think all you have to do is to look at the sticker or pump them up to what's max on the tire and further without knowing what the wheel capacity is?
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07 Revolution LE 40E_1 1/2 Baths_Spartan MM Chassis_06 400HP C9 CAT_ Allison 3000
Dinghy_2010 Jeep Wrangler JKU ISLANDER
1998 36ft. National Tropi-Cal Chevy Model 6350 (SOLD)
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05-14-2013, 08:01 PM
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#33
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 371
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Fighter, I've followed every post you have made since your very first. My observation of your quest is that you are looking for a brochure, mfg. statement, hitch supplier, welder or whomever, to give you a document stating what you want to hear or rather what you wish to hear. No disrespect intended but you have flogged this old horse 'til it barely breathes.
What I can not fully understand is that on one occasion you admit to having bought the wrong motor home the first time but were fortunate enough to sell it quickly. Now, you have bought another one yet you still ask the same questions you did as before. Seriously, what gives? As experienced as you are life regarding your age and having been through what you claim to have been through, I am really surprised by your extreme concern over this issue. I knew a guy once who had a heart problem, much like mine. After being examined by at least three competent doctors who told him he needed an operation, he continued his search to find a doctor who told him he didn't. Satisfied with the answer he proceeded along fine for about six months and then, you guessed it; he croaked.
Did you actually weigh your F8 before every flight or did you rely on what the experts who built it said? Or the flight crew that loaded it or the many, many people that you hoped did there jobs in the right way to insure you got those 500 missions? I suspect the later...... I'll leave it at that and probably end up being chastised by the monitors. So be it.
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'92 Gulf Stream Sun Voyager. Tweaked 5.9 Cummins, complete interior makeover (previous owner).
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05-14-2013, 08:46 PM
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#34
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 344
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Coaster you misread my posts. I sold the first MH because of its size. 40 feet. I didn't appreciate the difference in driving issues compared to my 34 foot experience. I never questioned it towing capability.
This Dolphin numbers indicated it could tow 7000lbs so asked for input as to their paper work. Thru this forum I found that National put on a 5000 lb hitch. I just need to get a professional integrate a more capable hitch into the chassis.
As far as my F8 days I did trust my experts, but still looking for "experts" here. I have lots of opinions which I appreciate but as I read the posts it is opinions. I reference paper work from which I draw my "opinions".
Below is another take on the issue from another forum.
"'You can swap out the hitch very easily. I swapped my 5K lbs one out for a 16K lbs one. The hitch cost $250 on Amazon. Was very easy to mount the new one. I also tow a Jeep, which weighs about 5K lbs and my trialer is around 1.5K lbs.
I spent a lot of time working on this issue, and you will be fine doing what you are proposing. In my case, spoke to chassis manufacture, Ford, who explained to me that their chassis was rated to pull X (can't remember the exact amount, was like 12K or 15K lbs.)
Then spoke with the coach manufacture, who told me that they put a 5K lbs hitch on for to prevent seveer overloading. The coach manufacture did agree that the chassis was rated for what Ford designed it for, but they choose to install a smaller hitch for the idiot factor. Their thinking was, if we put a 10K lbs hitch on, people would try to hook up a lot more than 10K. So we put a 5K and knowing that people probably wont exceed 10K.
In my case, my load is around 6,500 lbs. I swapped out the hitch to the biggest one I could find.
This is kind of the wrong place to look for answers to your question. Their are a lot of people who tell you the sky will fall, your coach will explode, and you will put their familys life in danger by changing out your hitch, trust me on this, I made the same mistake you did when I asked the same question.
IF you go to any of the racing forums, off-roading forums, etc., you will find hundreds of people who will gladly help you through this. If you ever go to any races, off-roading places, or big weekend events, you will see thousands of MH all towing everything imaginable, and none of their rigs are RATED to tow what they are pulling. Evey single time I go to an event, I ask everyone I can, if they have ever had a problem, the answer is alway NO. Also ask if they have ever heard of anyoen having a problem, the answer is also NO.
Good luck!"
We'll let this horse die. As far as I am concerned I feel comfortable with the proper hitch I can tow 7000lb, 4 down and will pursue that. If some one here can make a case that such wouldn't be legal I would be interested. No more opinions however.
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05-15-2013, 01:30 PM
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#35
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 344
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While under the MH looking at my fuel leak problem I took some pictures of the hitch system. If we are going to tow more than the 5000/500 rating it is now I will change the hitch and the structure that fastens it to the frame. Thanks for the guidance.
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05-15-2013, 08:59 PM
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#36
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Senior Member
Holiday Rambler Owners Club
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 9,746
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If your frame has extensions welded on, thats whats going to need to be strengthened.
But, thats only my opinion !
__________________
Ben & Sharon
2008 43' Holiday Rambler Scepter PDQ
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05-16-2013, 06:37 AM
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#37
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Posts: 344
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Good opinion. That is the case and it is a pretty sorry extension at that. I can see why their sales brochure says class III hitch.
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