What Motorhome to buy for towing a 2 car trailer.

[Guyver280z]

Hi everybody. I've been looking for a Motorhome capable of towing a two car trailer, but when I search RVs nobody mentions its towing capacity and most of the time the owners only know the motor's HP but not the Torque rating and I know that's what I need to figure out if its going to be good or not for my needs.

I'm looking to spend less than $35,000 on the motorhome and I've found some big diesel pushers for around that price or less, but some research has led me to believe that the engines on those are not going to be enough for my towing needs, so here's what I need and I hope you guys can tell me from experience what would be a good RV to buy.

-I don't need a lot of room so actually a short RV that sleeps 4 people is good enough.
-Is a Diesel pusher better for towing that a front engined diesel?? and is a V10 gasoline engine an option?? (I rather do diesel tho)
-I want to tow a two car trailer with two lightweight racecars (maybe 2,200lbs each, so maybe no more than 8,000lbs.
-Also I don't need it to be super fast, but just reliable on uphills (no warming up or running out of power)

Thanks a lot for your help!!

[Triker56]

Anyone that has a 10K pulling capacity will work.
But they are a lot of DP in your price range that can only handle 5K.

Ask any owner to look by the drivers seat on the wall and give you the GVWR & GCWR weights. You want the ones that has a 10K difference.

Any of them with a DP engine will get you there.

Probably won't find any gas units or front engined diesel with a 10K hitch.
Other the some Class C's that will be out of your price range.

[lllkrob]

Originally Posted by Guyver280z

Hi everybody. I've been looking for a Motorhome capable of towing a two car trailer, but when I search RVs nobody mentions its towing capacity and most of the time the owners only know the motor's HP but not the Torque rating and I know that's what I need to figure out if its going to be good or not for my needs.

I'm looking to spend less than $35,000 on the motorhome and I've found some big diesel pushers for around that price or less, but some research has led me to believe that the engines on those are not going to be enough for my towing needs, so here's what I need and I hope you guys can tell me from experience what would be a good RV to buy.

-I don't need a lot of room so actually a short RV that sleeps 4 people is good enough.
-Is a Diesel pusher better for towing that a front engined diesel?? and is a V10 gasoline engine an option?? (I rather do diesel tho)
-I want to tow a two car trailer with two lightweight racecars (maybe 2,200lbs each, so maybe no more than 8,000lbs.
-Also I don't need it to be super fast, but just reliable on uphills (no warming up or running out of power)

Thanks a lot for your help!!

I would suggest you contact the Featherlite Corportion. They specialize in purpose built vehicles for race team applications. They also handle used vehicles they have built I believe.

[wa8yxm]

Towing capacity is the lower of two numbers.. And it is impossible to determine one of them at the factory.

1: The rating on the tow gear. Mine, for example is rated 5,000 pounds I drive a gasser.. Most DP's are rated 10,000 or above (This is a sticker on the hitch receiver)

2: The maximum COMBINED Gross Vehicle Weight less the Actual Vehicle Weight.

So if your motor home, loaded for travel, with both you and your partner, tips the scales at say 24,000 pounds, and the Max CGVW rating of the rig is 30,000 you have six thousand to spare.

Of course at 30,000 you may need a commercial license and have to pay more for fuel.

(So drop the trailer before you re-fuel at the 26000 and under rate).

NOTE that vehicle weights above are examples.. i do not know how much Stuff you will cary.

[enjoyrv]

Gunner; Also keep in mind combined length restrictions for the motorhome and trailer as it varies by state. Several threads on that subject and DMV websites are good reliable sources as well.

[Chiefbvfd]

I would think a DP with a 10k towing package should do the job...

[wa8yxm]

Regarding length..I think there is a trailer called a STACKER

instead of towing Rear: Car-Car--Motorhome (Front).

It towes

Car
Car---Motor home (Front)

[Maxout]

Only the hitch weight from your tow trailer will need to be added to the Motorhome GVW and under the GVWR. That being said you would likely be looking for something diesel rated at least 350 HP and 800-1000lbs tourque to get up the grades at a reasonable rate.

[NHRA225]

I've been towing a 26ft enclosed Race trailer for years (9600) lbs loaded, I've always been a little confused on the difference between the Tongue Weight and towing capacity. either way my early 90's Eagle tows with ease and stops even better. In the OP's case I believe that towing set-up will be way over length as most states the max is 65 ft. I have never been stopped or even looked at twice when running down the road. I'm 64 ft 8 in
Stackers: Are great to tow 2 cars and equipment but are very heavy on the Tongue weight unless the MH would have a Tag axle.
I would think in that budget range you could find a few Motor Homes that will do the job.

[Statgeek]

Have you looked into the "Super-C" type that are out there? They are essential semi-trucks in the front end (front-end diesel), and a large C or small A in the living space. Not for me, but I walked through one a couple of weeks ago and instantly thought that it was the beast for someone who wants to tow a lot. Was already ready for trailer air brakes AND trailer elec brakes... for starters.

[spritz]

Could you use a MH with a garage ( like a Toy Hauler) and then just a dolly or single trailer?
just a idea,Tim

[Guyver280z]

Thanks a lot guys, really helping me out a lot in here!!!

I think now I know what to look for (GVW and GVWR) capabilites pretty much.

[Mekanic]

Originally Posted by Statgeek

Have you looked into the "Super-C" type that are out there? They are essential semi-trucks in the front end (front-end diesel), and a large C or small A in the living space. Not for me, but I walked through one a couple of weeks ago and instantly thought that it was the beast for someone who wants to tow a lot. Was already ready for trailer air brakes AND trailer elec brakes... for starters.

Some call them truck conversions
here is mine, Quite Easy to build if you into building perfomance cars. mine tows the 6K Jeep+trailer combo with ease. and gets 10MPG @ 65MPH 1994 F-700 (5.9L Cummins Diesel regeared for highway use and the power is turned up).GVWR is 23.7K and it weighs 13.5K as you can see it has more suspension and brakes than I will ever need. It has air brakes. It uses the same radiator as the same model trucks that have the much bigger engines. It will NOT over heat.
If you turn the power up on a lot of the 1 tons diesels you can sometimes find yourself in need of a larger radiator.

[Triker56]

Originally Posted by Guyver280z

Thanks a lot guys, really helping me out a lot in here!!!

I think now I know what to look for (GVW and GVWR) capabilites pretty much.

Did you mean.
GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating)
GCWR(Gross Combination Weight Rating)
The maximum weight rating of a vehicle included the vehicle, its contents and the weight of anything being towed).

Originally Posted by Statgeek Have you looked into the "Super-C" type that are out there? They are essential semi-trucks in the front end (front-end diesel), and a large C or small A in the living space. Not for me, but I walked through one a couple of weeks ago and instantly thought that it was the beast for someone who wants to tow a lot. Was already ready for trailer air brakes AND trailer elec brakes... for starters.

Probably be almost impossible to find one of those on OP budget.
"I'm looking to spend less than $35,000"