Community Forums

u00jdd2 · 12-06-2012, 10:58 AM

Have a 2003 National. The hitch is rated 5000 lb towing and 500 lb tonque weight. I am using a Blue Ox tow bar rated at 7500 lb.
I have been towing a 1999 Chey Blazer that has a curb weight of 4129 lb.
I now will be towing a 2055 Chey Crew Cab with a curb weight of 5299.
In my opinion I do not believe it is nesscary to install a higher rated hitch on the MH. What do you think?

Oscar Mike · 12-06-2012, 11:15 AM

Sounds to me like the hitch is fine, but the motor home's frame is too light for the towed vehicle...IMO.

Sky_Boss · 12-06-2012, 01:19 PM

Sounds like a denied insurance claim if something happens. Are you certain that your quoted toad weight is correct? Will you be adding more weight to it by carrying stiff in it that is not part of curb weight? will your MH be near GVWR? Are you really buying something about 42 years from the future?

Bottom line to me (and you asked for opinions) is that it is a mistake to exceed manufacturer's specifications. I would not accept any vehicle brochure specifications as being exact so when you go get it weighed, it could weigh less or more. Don't forget that the truck bed will just beg to be used so you can carry stuff in it thus adding to your toad weight.

Sounds like you have already committed to this configuration. Sounds like you might be looking for validation instead of opinion.

kenandterry · 12-06-2012, 01:32 PM

Aside from the insurance claim issue (already mentioned) and if you had to try and use it..........don't think for a moment that insurance companies won't investigate every limit mentioned for any claim!!!!!!!

Maybe you've exceeded the amount of tow vehicle you're towing for the rig you've got.

Just my two cents on the topic.

Pusherman · 12-06-2012, 03:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u00jdd2

Have a 2003 National. The hitch is rated 5000 lb towing and 500 lb tonque weight. I am using a Blue Ox tow bar rated at 7500 lb.
I have been towing a 1999 Chey Blazer that has a curb weight of 4129 lb.
I now will be towing a 2055 Chey Crew Cab with a curb weight of 5299.
In my opinion I do not believe it is nesscary to install a higher rated hitch on the MH. What do you think?

Check the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of your coach, subtract the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This is what your coach can tow based on full weights. Better yet to weigh your coach fully loaded and subtract this weight from the GCWR. This is how much weight your coach can tow as certified by the manufacturer based on your actual weights.

Technically, you will be pulling more weight than the hitch is rated for. You know what they say about good lawyers...

Retiredblade · 12-06-2012, 04:16 PM

Wow! I would never pull that much weight with that motorhome.

336muffin · 12-06-2012, 04:33 PM

Flat towing is a BIG difference from a trailer. A trailer follows anywhere it is pulled, a flat towed vehicle has to be steered everywhere it is towed. There is a lot of side to side pressure on a hitch especially at slow speeds. The ratings are there for a reason. Do a search on flat towed accidents just for fun.

daveshan · 12-06-2012, 04:37 PM

I'd do two things before towing overweight.

1. Weigh the truck with it in the condition you'll be towing it. "Curb" weights as listed in the owner's manuals/brochures can be optimistic at best.

2. Crawl under the motorhome and look at the frame extensions. I found this under a Sightseer we were looking at.

There was a 1" strap welded to the other side as a "reinforcement" but the same welder did it and the welds looked just as bad.

I have a friend that tows a rock crawler on 39"s on a trailer, figure 6500lbs total, behind his Ford based class C with a huge overhang, no issues yet but darned if I'd do it.

palehorse89 · 12-06-2012, 04:39 PM

Hello , you are talking about 5% more than the rated cap. of the hitch. The hitch is tested at 125 % or more of the rated cap. The frame has higher rated and tested cap. than the hitch that is bolted to it, Will it cause you problems? because of the 5%, I doubt that a investagation would insue to see or find that you were over by 5%.
I guess it all depends if you are a "by the book " type of guy. My self........ lets roll

Sky_Boss · 12-06-2012, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pusherman

Check the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of your coach, subtract the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). This is what your coach can tow based on full weights. Better yet to weigh your coach fully loaded and subtract this weight from the GCWR. This is how much weight your coach can tow as certified by the manufacturer based on your actual weights.

Technically, you will be pulling more weight than the hitch is rated for. You know what they say about good lawyers...

NO NO NO

If the hitch is rated at 5000# it is 5000# whether or not the MH is below/at/over GVWR.

Sky_Boss · 12-06-2012, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by palehorse89

Hello , you are talking about 5% more than the rated cap. of the hitch. The hitch is tested at 125 % or more of the rated cap. The frame has higher rated and tested cap. than the hitch that is bolted to it, Will it cause you problems? because of the 5%, I doubt that a investagation would insue to see or find that you were over by 5%.
I guess it all depends if you are a "by the book " type of guy. My self........ lets roll

Your point is to ignore manufacturer limits? How about 10% based on the theory the manufacturer actually meant 125% of published is the "real" standard.

Tests are just that, tests. That assumes every hitch comes out as well constructed and mounted as the test hitch. In fact, do you know these are actually torture tested with a representative sample of productions parts or are they just computer tested? I don't the answer specifically but I don't think I want to bet my life and financial future on intentionally exceeding specs.

The OP does't appear to actually know the real weight of the toad. Maybe so but it isn't clear and, after all, it is a truck and I guarantee that if it is convenient to put something in the bed of that truck it will be done.

I won't argue too much about how thorough of an investigation might ensue over how much the toad weighed. However, if there is any indication that the behavior of the towing vehicle was influenced by the toad, it can open up that avenue of investigation. Working with a team of NTSB investigators after an aircraft accident I can assure you that they have some very detailed investigatory practices. When ever aircraft controllability is suspect, they will figure out where passengers were seated, how much they weighed, where the luggage was and all other factors affecting controllability.

I'm not foolish enough to say that a 5% excess is guaranteed to screw up the rotation of the world or destroy the MH. It is just not smart to go down that slipper slope no knowing what is at the bottom.

OH...I do know that at the bottom of every slope is a hungry lawyer.

palehorse89 · 12-06-2012, 07:48 PM

[QUOTE=Sky_Boss;

The OP does't appear to actually know the real weight of the toad.

Quote from OP:
I now will be towing a 2055 Chey Crew Cab with a curb weight of 5299

Sounds like he knows what he is going to tow to me.....

You also missed " if you are a by the book kind of guy"......

And you are more worried about the 21st than me....... I can tell

u00jdd2 · 12-07-2012, 12:03 PM

OK I heard you all and did what I should have done in the first place. I put the spare tire for the MH and a half tank of fuel in the truck. Went and had it weighted. I do not like the answer but will have to live with it. It weighted 6020 lbs.
Anybody want to buy a nice truck? Tried to kill two birds with one stone but only killed one.
Thanks to all for your opinions.

ChileRick · 12-07-2012, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by u00jdd2

OK I heard you all and did what I should have done in the first place. I put the spare tire for the MH and a half tank of fuel in the truck. Went and had it weighted. I do not like the answer but will have to live with it. It weighted 6020 lbs.
Anybody want to buy a nice truck? Tried to kill two birds with one stone but only killed one.
Thanks to all for your opinions.

...feel your pain. We had an Avalanche that weighed in at just under 6,000. Knew we couldn't tow it, sold it.
Tried the car on the dolly thing, our car not such a good fit, now have a Wrangler, setting it up for towing 4 down.