Community Forums

Nick and Sheila · 08-11-2005, 04:36 AM

We are looking at FW diesels and they all had 10K towing weights, saw on another forum that FW diesel MH owners are recieving new stickers for the hitchs that is reducing the weight to 5k, anyone hear or recieve this info?

Nick and Sheila · 08-11-2005, 04:36 AM

We are looking at FW diesels and they all had 10K towing weights, saw on another forum that FW diesel MH owners are recieving new stickers for the hitchs that is reducing the weight to 5k, anyone hear or recieve this info?

jdoc · 08-11-2005, 05:09 AM

We received the new sticker last week. The sticker on the receiver hitch is wrong. The towing weight for towing a dinghy is 10,000 lbs. with the class IV or class V hitch. The stickers are reduction in towing weights for trailers. With a weight distributing hitch Max Gross Trailer Weight is 10,000 lbs, Max tongue weight is 1,000 lbs. Weight Carrying Ball Mount is 5,000 lbs with 500 lbs tongue weight. Dinghy towing is 10,000 lbs tongue weight does not apply.
Jerry

Nick and Sheila · 08-11-2005, 07:54 AM

There are not many TOADs that weigh 5K much less 10k, so what do you need to do to tow 10K? Do the other diesel manuf have the same issues with the towing weight? Could I upgrade my hitch to Class IV or V to tow 10k?

jdoc · 08-11-2005, 08:43 AM

Nick, the only problem was that the wrong stickers got put on the hitch. The stickers that they are sending out are the correct ones.
The 5,000 lbs. you are referring to are for ball mounted towing. Our Bounder came with the Class IV/V hitch. It is rated at 10,000 lbs.

Pat Z · 08-15-2005, 04:28 AM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by jdoc:
We received the new sticker last week. The sticker on the receiver hitch is wrong. The towing weight for towing a dinghy is 10,000 lbs. with the class IV or class V hitch. The stickers are reduction in towing weights for trailers. With a weight distributing hitch Max Gross Trailer Weight is 10,000 lbs, Max tongue weight is 1,000 lbs. Weight Carrying Ball Mount is 5,000 lbs with 500 lbs tongue weight.
Dinghy towing is 10,000 lbs tongue weight does not apply.
Jerry </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Jerry, I bought this rig to be able to tow a larger toad, (6500 lbs). I flat tow. Are you saying that the rating that would apply in this situation would be 10,000 lbs? I'm a little confused.

jdoc · 08-17-2005, 02:18 PM

Pat, yes you can tow that much according to the sticker, but why would you want to? Your fuel mileage is going to go down the tubes. Two years ago on our way to Tennessee we saw a TropiCal gasser towing a Dodge Dually. I can't even imagine what his gas mileage was.
Jerry

Pat Z · 08-18-2005, 02:47 AM

Oh, I agree 100%. I still plan on towing the Jeep. Occasionally when we travel our Daughter and Grandaughtersgo with us and the Jeep is to small. When I run to Nashville I don't even take a car, we use one of my Daughters when we get there. When I bought this baby last February gas, (diesel) wasn't an issue.
Thanks for the reply.

jdoc · 08-18-2005, 01:11 PM

You're welcome Pat.

satellite · 10-03-2005, 07:06 PM

Just to let any of you know what this is doing. I specifically bought a diesel (Fleetwood Discovery) because I had to tow a heavier boat (7000lbs). I never would have spent the money on a pusher if I didn't need the extra tow capacity. I personally am livid about this. Boats with surge brake systems cannot have load leveling bars. It inhibits the braking capacity.

And let me warn all of you. If you have an accident, and you are towing more than the hitch will allow. Your insurance company will not pay. So be careful. My friend and I have filed a class action suit against Fleetwood and we are rying to make them fix this problem. The suit has been filed for about thirty days now and I will start a forum for you all to get the info. when I have some.

I don't know about you, but I was told by salesman and Fleetwood "No problem you can tow your 7000 lb boat as long as you do it with a diesel". I was deceived and I won't stand for it.

The fix is easy. Put a $500.00 hitch on it like it was suppossed to have originally. Sadly, Fleetwood will not fix the problem without a fight. I hope they realize most people buy new motorhomes every few years.

What does everyone think?????

Pat Z · 10-04-2005, 02:16 AM

I agree 100%, I wanted to tow something larger than my Jeep. I think your complaint is valid.

satellite · 10-04-2005, 04:37 PM

I hope that Fleetwood is looking at this site. I love their rigs and I am going to stick with this for now hoping that this is just a little speed bump. I just wish that instead of sending out new stickers (after we bought on the premise of 10,000lbs), they should have recalled and fixed.

Steve Val · 10-04-2005, 06:38 PM

I don't know as I'd want to be towing 7,000 lbs and relying on surge brakes. I didn't like or trust them on a 2,000 lb popup.

satellite · 10-05-2005, 05:11 PM

I have owned three boats now and never had a problem. Besides you can't sink electric brakes in water to launch the boat. That's why boats have surge systems. I often got to lake havasu and let me tell you that 7000lbs is light now a days. Thanks though Steve I appreciate the input.