Towing and Toads

[Doublez]

I have a 2000 forest river reflection with a spartan chassis. The hitch is only rated for 4000#s which isn't really much weight at all... has anyone upgraded these receivers or have an idea how I get to 12,500 without buying a newer coach. I know they were "designed " from the factory for 4000# tow load but that's pretty lame. Thanks for reading

[marjoa]

Originally Posted by Doublez

I have a 2000 forest river reflection with a spartan chassis. The hitch is only rated for 4000#s which isn't really much weight at all... has anyone upgraded these receivers or have an idea how I get to 12,500 without buying a newer coach. I know they were "designed " from the factory for 4000# tow load but that's pretty lame. Thanks for reading

So you want to know if you can upgrade your existing hitch to tow 12,500lbs.? Did I read that right? If so, it's hard to believe that you're asking how you can—triple—the tow capacity of your existing MH/hitch. It's not so much the ability of the receiver. Heck, you can upgrade that puppy by welding 12" "I" beams on it if you want to...but it's the limit of the drivetrain you need to be worried about. aka transmission, drive shaft & U joints, engine HP, torque, suspension etc., etc. If you tow more than it's rated for, you not only will overwork all these systems, but again, braking, slowing down and stopping will be a BIG problem (if not impossible) for you and endangering others around you.

[JC2]

I agree with the previous poster. Your setup was the result of several engineer type folks arriving at the figures they did based on many facts to support there conclusion. Your choice(s) seem clear to me. Accept it as fact and be safe, ignore it and be prepared to live dangerously under Murphy's Law doctrine or Upgrade to a more substantial tv. Pretty simple really when you think about.