Can I tow my car

BigRedLancer · 07-07-2005, 07:39 PM

I have been woondering if my 30 foot class A with a V10 gas engine has enough power to tow my Saturn car? I am fairly sure it will tow the car on level roads but what can I expect when I go into the mountains up at 8000 feet? I really don't want to go to all the expense to equip the coach for towing just to find out the coach can't handle the extra weight.

BigRedLancer · 07-07-2005, 07:39 PM

I have been woondering if my 30 foot class A with a V10 gas engine has enough power to tow my Saturn car? I am fairly sure it will tow the car on level roads but what can I expect when I go into the mountains up at 8000 feet? I really don't want to go to all the expense to equip the coach for towing just to find out the coach can't handle the extra weight.

**Gary RVRoamer** · 07-11-2005, 05:16 AM

I would think the answer is yes, but you need to check weights and ratings. How much does the Saturn weigh (remember you have have "stuff" in it) and what is the weight (laoded) and GCWR of your motorhome? Also, what is the hitch rating?

Performance, especialy on hills, will fall off as your actual combined weight approaches the GCWR. If you are a couple thousand pounds under the GCWR, performance should remain pretty good.

Are you worried about getting to the top of those mountains? If so, do not be concerned. You may go slowly in a lower gear, but you will get up them. Heat build-up in the transmission and radiator are about the only concerns when climbing hills with a heavly loaded vehicle and a slow pace helps that. You can also install auxilairy cooling if needed.

Going DOWN from 8000 feet is a bigger concern. Your motorhome brakes can easily overheat, so go slow and downshift the transmission to help. And by all means, install a toad brake in the car so it helps with the braking.