Flat Towing with a Newmar Ventana LE 3636

[tyoneonit]

Picking up our new Ventana LE 3636 in a few weeks. Trying to decide whether to have our 2014 Grand Cherokee set up for flat towing or buying a new Wrangle Unlimited. Difference in weight is 600lbs. Any perspectives (other than lighter is better) on the difference in towing one or the other? Will the 600 lbs make much difference in the GVW of the motorhome?

Thanks,
Dave and Kathy
2.5 Border Collies & .5 Golden
TOAD-??????

[MisterT]

keep the new Cherokee, not enough difference, you won't even notice it behind you!


The Turners
2014 Thor Palazzo DP 33.3 35' 300Cummins
Reese 8" drop
Reese 2" double hitch
Allen RR 4 bike Rack, with 4 full size bikes
BlueOx Alpha tow bar system
2014 Ford Fiesta SE 4cyl Auto FWD 6spd, tow and go!

[Gordon Dewald]

With a GVWR or 35,000 and a GCWR of 45,000 you will be fine. Check to ensure the hitch capacity is also 10,000.

[capnqball]

The Ventana LE does not have a 10k tow rating AFAIK. It is most likely 5k. The 340 hp does not typically allow that much tow capacity. Unless the 36 is that much different than my 38. Verify verify and then verify some more.

[tyoneonit]

Originally Posted by capnqball

The Ventana LE does not have a 10k tow rating AFAIK. It is most likely 5k. The 340 hp does not typically allow that much tow capacity. Unless the 36 is that much different than my 38. Verify verify and then verify some more.

The 3636 has a 5000 lb tow capacity. Grand Cherokee weight is about 4600.

[vsheetz]

The 600 lbs will not make a noticeable difference. IMHO.

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by MisterT

keep the new Cherokee, not enough difference, you won't even notice it behind you!

Agreed! But you are going to test the limits of the engine.
Out Dutch Star had a 6,000# hitch (yes, it said so right on the hitch). We towed both an '05 Odyssey and a '97 GC behind it with no trouble. I also towed the Ody both four down and on a KK-460 dolly and it was the same.

[TonyDi]

[QUOTE=MisterT;2491803]keep the new Cherokee, not enough difference, you won't even notice it behind you!


I agree, I tow a GC and most of the time I don't even notice it's back there. 340 hp will tow it. Assuming you're not trying to set a land speed record over the Rockies.

[luvlabs]

If your tow limit is 5000 lbs, you need to check a few things before you hitch up and go.

1) Which transmission do you have? The Allison 2500 is weight limited.

2) What's your weight of the coach fully loaded?

3) What number do you get when you subtract your GVW from your GCWR?

If your GCWR is 35,000 lbs, for example, and your GVW is 32,000 lbs, your towing capacity is 3000 lbs and not the 5000 lbs you thought it was.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by luvlabs

If your tow limit is 5000 lbs, you need to check a few things before you hitch up and go.

1) Which transmission do you have? The Allison 2500 is weight limited.

2) What's your weight of the coach fully loaded?

3) What number do you get when you subtract your GVW from your GCWR?

If your GCWR is 35,000 lbs, for example, and your GVW is 32,000 lbs, your towing capacity is 3000 lbs and not the 5000 lbs you thought it was.

Specifications - Newmar

GCWR 45,000 GVWR 35,000 UVW 26,800 Towing Cap = 10,000?? (limited by hitch??)

[capnqball]

Gordon,
Sorry, but your figures are not accurate. If the OP had the regular Ventana with the larger engine then you may be right, but not with the LE version with the 340 hp 6.7 Cumminms.

With my 38 LE (2014) my gross is 33K. Towing my CRV and loaded for an extended trip we are right at the gross. The 36' LE will have slightly more capacity than mine, but not that much. Towing 4600 lbs you will know its back there, particularly on mountainess terrain. We've got over 12K miles on our 38 in the one year of ownership and have traveled coast to coast. The hills will slow you down. The transmission (2500 series) I believe to be rated at 33K also, so keep those limits in mind should you have warranty issues with Allison.

[Sky_Boss]

With the Grand Cherokee as a toad I calculate the OP has 1704# of weight availability left for personal stuff.

EDIT - 1544# of weight available...I Forgot to subtract propane.

From the brochure, here are the numbers I used to get to that figure:

GVWR 31,000
GCWR 33,000
APP UVW (stock - no options) 25,300
APP NCC 5700
2014 Grand Cherokee published max curb weight 4016 and minimum is 3679

Starting backwards:

GCWR 33,000 - Toad 4,016 = 28,984 (available GCWR with toad)

28,984 - UVW 25,300 = 3684 available NCC

From NCC subtract all things like fuel, water, people & people stuff:

3684 - fuel 750 - water 880 - 2 people 350 = 1704 available for people stuff.

That does not include any options added to the coach and fudge factors for the "approximate" UVW and GVWR info.

[Scottybdivin]

Originally Posted by Sky_Boss

28,984 - UVW 25,300 = 3684 available NCC

From NCC subtract all things like fuel, water, people & people stuff:

3684 - fuel 750 - water 880 - 2 people 350 = 1704 available for people stuff.

That does not include any options added to the coach and fudge factors for the "approximate" UVW and GVWR info.

I thought UVW included fuel.

This is from the brochure of my rig

UVW: Unloaded Vehicle Weight is the weight of this motor coach as built at the factory with full fuel, engine
oil and coolants. The UVW does not include cargo, fresh water, LP gas or dealer-installed accessories.

[Sky_Boss]

Originally Posted by Scottybdivin

I thought UVW included fuel.

This is from the brochure of my rig

You are correct.

Add 750# and you get 2294# Thanks for catching that!