2" hitch receiver rating

[Roadweary]

My 2013 Ventana has a 2 inch hitch receiver. I've read that this type of receiver is typically a class 3 receiver and should have a tow rating of 6000 pounds. However, I found a Freightliner sticker on the receiver that says it's rated for 5000 pounds. Do you think this is Freightliner just being cautious? I'd like to tow a pickup that's close to 5000 pounds. Also, has anyone upgraded the hitch on their motorhome to tow more weight? Thanks....

[Dav L]

The vehicle placard will tell you what the VEHICLE is rated to tow. The size of the receiver is only one component of capacity. Brakes, suspension, frame, weight of everything else, overhang, etc are other criteria that the placard takes into consideration.
If you are within that limit, tow it.

[Roadweary]

Thanks. My GCWR is 42,000 pounds. That’s probably 10,000 pounds over what my planned combination weight will be. Doesn’t GCWR take those other factors into account?

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Roadweary

Thanks. My GCWR is 42,000 pounds. That’s probably 10,000 pounds over what my planned combination weight will be. Doesn’t GCWR take those other factors into account?

Only giving some of the info here , what's the coach's GVWR , Is the GCWR 10,000 over the GVWR?

Newmar may have specified a , 5,000 LB hitch rating when ordering the chassis. Freightliner would be the place to go for hitch upgrading info .

[Dutch Star Don]

Typically, a 5000 pound tow rating comes with a 500 pound tongue weight rating. If you were at max on both on a 5000 pound hitch, I think you might find it a little unruly. In your situation, there will be no tongue weight and you say you're close to the 5K limit......is that under or over close. If under, you'll be fine, just keep in mind that you're close to your max and install a quality brake system on the truck.

[Roadweary]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Only giving some of the info here , what's the coach's GVWR , Is the GCWR 10,000 over the GVWR? ......

Sorry I wasn’t clear. My Ventana is about 27,000 lbs when loaded and fueled. My truck is probably 5000 pounds. Haven’t weighed it yet but curb weight is speced just over 4900 pounds. My coach GCWR IS 42,000 lbs.

[Skip426]

Originally Posted by Roadweary

Sorry I wasn’t clear. My Ventana is about 27,000 lbs when loaded and fueled. My truck is probably 5000 pounds. Haven’t weighed it yet but curb weight is speced just over 4900 pounds. My coach GCWR IS 42,000 lbs.

I was expecting you to post a GVWR. of 32,000 lbs.
JMHO: Please don't guess ( about 27,000 lbs) about your loaded for travel weight . I know all your numbers look good , but from my own experience that even with Newmar's weight sticker giving a CCC of 3,375 lbs , my loaded for travel weight at the scales puts me within 800 lbs of GVWR. I'm reasonably sure I don't load 2575 lbs of stuff on board .... but the scales say I do.
I've never had the chance to weigh, what I consider, empty to check Newmars #.

[TJ]

Skip426 is absolutely right; don't guess at the weights. Find a scale and get everything weighed. Then, you'll have real numbers to work with. And, I suspect you may be surprised by them. We were.

"Weighs about" and "probably" just won't get you there...especially when it looks like you may be pushing the limits. Chassis makers and coach builders hire skilled engineers to figure the weight specifications out...and, they don't use "about" and "probably" in their calculations.

Be safe and get the real numbers!

TJ

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Only giving some of the info here , what's the coach's GVWR , Is the GCWR 10,000 over the GVWR?

Newmar may have specified a , 5,000 LB hitch rating when ordering the chassis. Freightliner would be the place to go for hitch upgrading info .

Tried that when I ordered our coach. Freightliner would not upgrade the hitch capacity or that is at least what the salesman said.

GCWR is a good number to use. You can shift unused GVWR to tow a larger trailer as long as you DO NOT exceed the hitch rating. You cannot use unused GCWR to increase the GVWR.

[Dutch Star Don]

"Roadweary".....in case you didn't know, you can email Newmar and they will send you your weights when the coach was completed.

I finally got t weigh my coach a few weeks ago and I had added about 2200 pounds to the factory weight.

[Stuart W]

Dutch Star has a 2 inch and it’s rating is 15,000 pounds

[RKins]

A good place to get your coach weighed is a landscaping supply business - one that sells gravel, rocks, etc all by weight. The one in my town has a drive on scale. I was able to get individual corner, axle and combined weights.

[FLJOE]

I try to weigh every year, one time across the scale without my toad and one time across with it.

My last ticket showed over 3,000 pounds of "extra" stuff above my factory weight just on my coach. We are traveling full time so I realize we may pack in more than some, but I suspect most folks just don't realize how much extra gear they add.

[Rev. Roy]

There are many components in determining tow weight ratings. That equation includes brake capacity, transmission choice, drive train and the gear ratio used. A pulled weight puts a different strain on these components than a carried weight which is why I recommend staying under the tow rating.