Alpine trailer hitch 5,000 lb vs 10,000 lb

[gmcgene]

My 1998 Alpine 36FDS has a sticker on the trailer hitch that says Class lll 5,000 lb capacity.
I have read that later coaches have 10,000 lb hitches.

What makes the difference?

On my Alpine the rear engine mount sits on a horizontal piece of angle iron that is 2 1/2" X 4 3/4" and is 3/8"thick. The angle iron has a C channel vertical bracket welded to each end. The brackets are also 3/8" thick and are bolted to the outside of the chassis frame rails with 4 large bolts each. 4 of the bolts (2 on each side} also pass through the aft most frame cross member, securing it to the side rails.

The trailer hitch also has a vertical bracket welded onto each end. The vertical brackets each have 3 bolts attaching the hitch to the rear short side of the C channel engine supports.

The hitch brackets appear to be the same thickness as the coach frame rails; about 3/16"

Are the coach frame rails and engine mount brackets more robust on later coaches? Or is just the hitch made from stronger components?

Where can i find the towing weight capacity for the 1998 Alpine 36. I don't have a brochure and the data plate on the coach only lists the GVW 28,000 lbs?

Thanks for your help.

[Jeff and Cheryl]

Gene,
Towing weight is 5000 lbs.
IIRC the hitch is rated for 10,000 lbs.
Coach is rated for 33,000 lbs. Combined weight.

[RVPioneer]

The coach manufacturer determines weight ratings and capacities. The 2000 Brochure lists the 36FDS at 28K GVWR and 33K GCWR.

Later coaches were built with the 400hp ISL, 2-stage Jake brake and had a GVWR of 33,000lbs.

[Jeep401]

The later coach has a class 4 hitch 10K built by Valley. I'm not sure how the build is different, but my guess is that it isn't any different. There is more to tow ratings than just the hitch. The GCWR is 43,000 ( gross combined weight rating) on my 05 at least.

[Mule Skinner]

The oldest brochure I have is 2002. Gross vehicle weight is 31,000 and has a 10,000 class 4 hitch. Dose not give a gross combined weight.

My 2004 brochure says,
Class 4 hitch.
33,000 gross vehicle weight.
10,000 lb. hitch and 43,000 gross combined vehicle weight.

If I remember correctly there is a sticker on the hitch that says 500 lb. tongue weight or 1,000 lb. with weight distribution device.

[paul65k]

Looks like the cutover point is the 2001 MY. My 2001 has a 10K towing capacity as outlined in the GCVWR which is 10K more than the GVWR

[Tom and Patty]

I don’t believe there is a difference between 2000 and 2001 except the hitch itself and the WRV had the chassis re-certified for the additional 5k pounds.
I recall that discussion on a factory tour.

[RVPioneer]

Here’s the specs from various brochures.

2000 36FDS and SDS 10,500 F, 17,500 R
28K GVWR 33K GCWR

2000 38FDS and 40FDS 12K F, 19K R
31K GVWR 36K GCWR

2002 All models 12K F, 19K R
31K GVWR, No GVWR listed. 10K Hitch.

2003 All models 12K F, 19K R
31K GVWR 41K GCWR

2004-9 All models 13K F, 20K R
33K GVWR 43K GCWR

[paul65k]

Here are the specs for the 2001 Model Year. All models with factory hitch carried a 10K rating per brochure.

Originally Posted by RVPioneer

Here’s the specs from various brochures.

2000 36FDS and SDS 10,500 F, 17,500 R
28K GVWR 33K GCWR

2000 38FDS and 40FDS 12K F, 19K R
31K GVWR 36K GCWR

2002 All models 12K F, 19K R
31K GVWR, No GVWR listed. 10K Hitch.

2003 All models 12K F, 19K R
31K GVWR 41K GCWR

2004-9 All models 13K F, 20K R
33K GVWR 43K GCWR

[gmcgene]

Thanks to all for for your replies. Lots of good information. But, my real question is: What can I do to safely increase the towing capacity of my coach?

I am considering using my coach to tow a travel trailer, not yet identified; but assuming it may weigh 8000+ lbs and be 1500 miles away.

This will be a one time only tow.
I asked the local U-Haul service center about upgrading the hitch- they didn't have a clue.
E-Trailer will sell me a weight distributing hitch that will increase capacity to 7500 lbs.

Any suggestions?

[RVPioneer]

Originally Posted by gmcgene

Thanks to all for for your replies. Lots of good information. But, my real question is: What can I do to safely increase the towing capacity of my coach?

I am considering using my coach to tow a travel trailer, not yet identified; but assuming it may weigh 8000+ lbs and be 1500 miles away.

This will be a one time only tow.
I asked the local U-Haul service center about upgrading the hitch- they didn't have a clue.
E-Trailer will sell me a weight distributing hitch that will increase capacity to 7500 lbs.

Any suggestions?

You’ll be exceeding your hitch rating even with a WDH and most likely you’ll be exceeding your GCWR. Bolting a 10K hitch to the coach doesn’t make it capable of towing 10K.

Can the coach do it? Probably. Should you do it? That’s a personal choice.

What other options do you have? How do you intend to tow the TT in the future?

[andy29847]

Disclaimer - I was a telephone man, not an Engineer. I'm not a lawyer. The opinions expressed here are my own. You have to decide what you would do.

The information in the brochures and manuals are guidelines. What really matters is what vehicle spec is on your tag. My tag is below the driver's windshield, behind the generator slide.



It's interesting in that some of the info is obviously wrong (rear axle weight should be 19,000). Note that is does not state a GCWR (gross combined weight rating). Also note that the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is 31,000 pounds. This means that legally, I can tow whatever I want to as long as I don't exceed the 31,000 pound vehicle weight limit.

Here is the trailer hitch for my Chevy dually pickup. I'm sharing it here because it has a weight tag, my motorhome hitch does not.




This hitch is tagged as good for 1000 pounds hitch weight, or 1500 pounds hitch weight with a weight distribution hitch.

Here is the hitch for my Alpine Coach 38FDDS.




Not good picture here, but in my estimation, the motorhome hitch is built stronger than the dually hitch. In other words, based on the hitch, I wouldn't be concerned about towing an 8,000 pound trailer. I would use a weight distribution hitch with sway control to insure good handling.

I took this picture for the "make it stronger question".


It should be easy to put a piece of angle iron from the flat plate of the coach to the rear of the bracket that is for the safety chains. Less desirable might be a flat plate between the 2 brackets from the bottom.

[gmcgene]

Don't plan to tow it in the future.
Just need to get it up to my cabin in the mountains for extra bathroom and sleeping space when the kids and grand kids visit.

If I could find an acceptable trailer locally i'd hire a tow company to deliver it.

Haven't checked yet but I'm assuming that a tow from Tucson, El Paso, or Souix Falls will cost more than I want to pay.

There was a recent post on this forum about a tow hitch failure on an Alpine Coach. I can't find it now.
I certainly don't want to have anything like that to my coach or toad.

That's why I'm asking the questions. Better safe than sorry.

[Alpine36]

Yeah, our tag by the generator is incorrect also.
Pretty sure your gvwr is 28,000 and GCWR is 33,000.
That said, our coach average scales at 9,800 front and 16,100 rear, moderately loaded as usual, half tank of water, full of fuel and empty waste tanks....or about 26k total. (36FDS) Would I tow anything exceeding 7,000 lbs? Maybe if I emptied the coach and ran low on fuel and water I could make 8,000. I'd probably just use my pickup truck though.
The choice is yours, but you're getting very close to exceeding limits.
I'd definitely install a trailer brake controller and drive very cautious if you decide to try this.