Trailer or Tow and Lift

[robertkathy]

being new kathy and i first thought we would get a blue ox tow kit and a cruiser lift motorcycle lift.

after pricing the lift for the v rod and the tow kit for the mini cooper we found it cost more then a new enclosed car hauler.

about 1k more and the trailer protects the car and bike better not to mention hold my roller tool box and gives me a man cave.

this brings me to the reason of this post why do more rv'ers choose to tow rather then trailer.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

robertkathy-

Many of us have Class A RVs with maximum towing capacity of 5,000 pounds (horizontal) and 500 pounds tongue weight (vertical). Your coach has these specs (brochure here).

That means we can tow 5,000 pounds four-down. Using the guideline that tongue weight should be between 15 and 10 percent of loaded trailer weight, we can carry 3,500 (at 15 percent) to 5,000 pounds (at 10 percent). But, the weight of the trailer has to be subtracted. A 1,000-pound trailer means you can carry a load of between 2,500 and 4,000 pounds. For some folks, that is just not enough carrying capacity.

Another reason to tow rather than trailer is that you don't need to find a place to put the trailer when you come off the road.

[robertkathy]

i saw the 5000/500 in the brochure on my 06 adventurer 38t thanks to another member.

i have talked with lisa at winnebago in depth about my coach and found that it had been ordered many up grades including a valley ind. hitch. i was glad to find this out so i did not have to upgrade it myself since i had bought the trailer thinking i had the 10000 lb hitch before verifying it.

the combined 6760 lb of the mini cooper convertible 2700 lb the hd v rod 660 lb tool box 400 lb and the trailer 3000 lb should not be an issue for either the hitch or the w24 chassis.

the coach has a gcwr of 30000 lb with a wet weight of 20624 lb. so the chassis is rated for 9376 lb towing.

[robertkathy]

DEFINITIONS:
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): This is the maximum allowable weight of the fully loaded vehicle.
Included are fuel, water, LP, passengers, cargo, tools, and optional equipment installed by the motor home
manufacturer, dealer, or owner. This value is found on the VIN label, typically placed near the driver
position.
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR): This is the total weight a given axle is capable of carrying, measured at
the ground. Each axle has its own rating. These values are also found on the VIN label: front and rear.
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR): This is the maximum allowable weight of the motor home and
loaded trailer, including the items noted in GVWR above. For purposes of this definition, the “trailer” can be
a trailer, a vehicle towed on a dolly, or a vehicle towed by means of a tow bar. GCWR is typically specified
based on durability and performance of the tow vehicle drive train: engine and cooling systems,
transmission, drive line, drive axle, and others. The tow vehicle brakes may be rated for operation at GVWR,
not GCWR.
NOTE: If the “trailer” weighs 1,000 lbs. or more, state or provincial laws/regulations may require the
“trailer” to be equipped with brakes that are activated when the motor home brakes are applied. The
user is responsible to know and understand the laws of the state or province being traveled. The
Department of Transportation in a given state or province should be able to provide specific
information.
Hitch Ratings: SAE Standard J684 defines Class 1 trailers as “GVWR not to exceed 2,000 lbs.”; Class 2
trailers as “GVWR over 2,000 lbs. and not to exceed 3,500 lbs. GVWR”; Class 3 trailers as “GVWR over
3,500 lbs. and not to exceed 5,000 lbs. GVWR”; Class 4 trailers as “GVWR over 5,000 lbs. and not to exceed
10,000 lbs. GVWR.” Hitches are to be permanently marked with “Maximum trailer GVWR to be drawn” and
“Maximum vertical tongue weight to be imposed…” The SAE standard does not specify a vertical load
rating, as such. Traditionally, hitches are labeled 3,500/350 as Class 2 and 5,000/500 as Class 3. The vertical
tongue load value of 10 percent of drawn rating apparently comes from the collective experience that 10
percent is the minimum value that provides stable towing of a trailer. Ford's towing guide suggests 10 to 15
percent for trailers over 2,000 lbs. Within GCWR, a Class 3 hitch allows “dingy” towing a large car or midsize SUV; a Class 4 hitch allows “dingy” towing a large SUV or pickup (NOTE: Hitch ratings are
independent of towing vehicle ratings.)
NOTE: Some Winnebago Industries models equipped with a Class 3 hitch may have a label limiting
vertical tongue load to 350 lbs. Some Winnebago Industries models equipped with a Class IV hitch
may have a label limiting vertical tongue load to 500 lbs. At 228" wheelbase, 500-lb. load on a hitch 11'
from the rear axle will apply about 800 lbs. at the axle.
TYPICAL RATINGS WITH BRAKED TRAILER: (2006 Model Year Chassis)
Chassis GVWR (lb.) GCWR (lb.)
Chevrolet® G3500 RV Cutaway Chassis 14,050 17,600
Dodge Sprinter Chassis 10,200 13,700
Ford® E350 RV Cutaway Chassis 10,700/11,500 18,500
Ford E450 RV Cutaway Chassis 14,050 20,000
Ford F53 Motor Home Chassis 18,000/20,500/22,000 26,000
Freightliner® XC Motor Home Chassis (2500 MH, 5-Speed) 33,000
Freightliner XC Motor Home Chassis (3000 MH, 6-Speed) GVWR plus 10,000 lbs.
Workhorse W16 16,000 22,000
Workhorse W18 18,000 22,000
Workhorse W20/W22 20,700/22,000 26,000
Workhorse W24 24,000 30,000
Source: Chassis documents supplied by Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, Freightliner, and Workhorse.