Combined Max Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

[JJ Simba05 FLSTCI02]

Here is my dilema, can anyone help.

Max combined is 26K.
Coach sits close to 22K alone
I would like to add a bike lift to haul my Heritage, not sure of weight of bike lift but Heritage is around 750# then I would like to haul my car which is about 3800# with a tow dolly which weighs about 500#

So this puts my combined gross weight about 27,050# plus the weight of the bike carier.

Is there any way to increase the combine gross vehicle weight rating?

Please let me know your thoughts

[JJ Simba05 FLSTCI02]

Here is my dilema, can anyone help.

Max combined is 26K.
Coach sits close to 22K alone
I would like to add a bike lift to haul my Heritage, not sure of weight of bike lift but Heritage is around 750# then I would like to haul my car which is about 3800# with a tow dolly which weighs about 500#

So this puts my combined gross weight about 27,050# plus the weight of the bike carier.

Is there any way to increase the combine gross vehicle weight rating?

Please let me know your thoughts

[Bob (WA0MQE)]

Is the bike lift attached to the hitch, or the motorhome frame? If its the hitch keep in mind the max hitch load. My 5,000 lb hitch states 500 lbs as far as hitch tongue weight.

I know of no way to increase the GCWR. Manufacturer's, expecially Workhorse, are pretty adamant about the weight ratings.

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Is there any way to increase the combine gross vehicle weight rating? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
YES there is, but unfortunately it requires you to buy a W-24 or UFO based coach.

SORRY, that wasn't very nice of me, but unfortunately you have already pretty much maxed out your W-22. Just pulling the dolly and car seems to use up all your GCVWR of 26,000 lbs. Adding the lift and motorcycle will definitely effect your ride and handling, and will make the plantif's lawyer really smile if you have an accident.

I know this isn't what you hoped to hear, but perhaps you can just tow the bike on a small trailer and leave the car at home??
ED

[FrontRangeRVer]

Dump the tow dolly, get a smaller/lighter toad to tow 4-down and then you might be able to do it....

Either way, you are maxed out with your chassis...

[max49]

I think these chassis's are rated a little low and could handle a little more weight than they want to be responsible for. However I don't know if any gas MH can handle 800 lbs. of tongue weight 15 ' or so behind the rear axle. Not mention also pull 4300 lbs. more behind it .
Is the W-24 or UFO rated for that much weight and tongue weight? You might need a DP.

[edgray]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Is the W-24 or UFO rated for that much weight and tongue weight? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
MAX49: both the W-24 and the UFO have a GCVWR of 30,000 lbs. The UFO beats the W-24 at 26,000 of GVWR, and probably would be better able to carry the bike, especially with the shorter overhang. I believe the "tongue weight" is going to be a factor determined by the hitch and its attachment strength, not the chassis.
ED

[JJ Simba05 FLSTCI02]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by max49:
I don't know if any gas MH can handle 800 lbs. of tongue weight 15 ' or so behind the rear axle.

The bike lift is attached to a three point add on frame mounted hitch, so the weight of the bike supposedly is distributed evenly on the frame and not just tongue weight.

[alvinc]

Are there any gas RV's with greater than a 5000 lb hitch, that was not beefed up?

The real issue is not so much the hitch, but the frame extension that the hitch is mounted to. The frame extension complicates the issue tremendously.

One of the tow dollies that allows the motorcyle to be loaded on the front of the dolly with the car behind is a possibility, but I bet the tongue weight will be out of control (too much).

[JJ Simba05 FLSTCI02]

Alvinc

Thanks for the idea on the tow dolly with the bike in front, I checked into them and they are set up so as to offset each other for tongue weight.

Now the only thing I need to do is get rid of the car we have and buy a featherweight car....

[MikeT]

Forest River is placing a 10K hitch on the UFO, which I believe is not correct considering the UFO specs. Some will think they can tow large SUV/PU trucks ---

26,000 GVWR, 30,000 CGVWR --- don't add up to 10K ---- sure if it is weighing in at 20K loaded -- but not likely--