Towing... confused. Please help.

[MT]

I'm new to this. Bought a workhorse22 Class A. Obviously 22,000lb limit, with towing as I understand it max 26,000.

Hitch says 5,000 lb limit. Does this mean If I only carry 21,000 lbs on board I can tow 5,000 lbs and that's my limit?

Any other restrictions other than tongue weight?

Any "fudge factor" built in? Was thinking of a Chevy Colorado with a motorcycle in bed which puts me about 4,500 - 5,000 lbs, and there may be times I might be slightly over 21,000 with fuel and water on board.

Thanks.

[MT]

I'm new to this. Bought a workhorse22 Class A. Obviously 22,000lb limit, with towing as I understand it max 26,000.

Hitch says 5,000 lb limit. Does this mean If I only carry 21,000 lbs on board I can tow 5,000 lbs and that's my limit?

Any other restrictions other than tongue weight?

Any "fudge factor" built in? Was thinking of a Chevy Colorado with a motorcycle in bed which puts me about 4,500 - 5,000 lbs, and there may be times I might be slightly over 21,000 with fuel and water on board.

Thanks.

[edgray]

MT: First let me say WELCOME to iRV2.com You have come to the right place for all sorts of information (some of it is pretty good) about RVing!

To address your questions, let me say that your particular hitch was added by the coach builder-not WCC. It SHOULD have a label stating its capacity to tow, and the max tongue weight.

As for your W-22 chassis, you can move a total of 26,000 lbs GCWR. If your fully loaded coach only weighs 20,000 then you can pull a 6,000 toad-SUBJECT to the limits of the hitch and its mounting to the chassis. Have a competent hitch provider check yours-and replace with a heavier rated unit if necessary. But please don't overtax your W-22 by asking it to carry and tow more than the combined weight of 26,000. Also, PLEASE use a supplemental braking system on the toad to help stop all that weighty momentmum- lawyers love RVers who don't have additional braking equipment when pulling anything heavier than 1,000 lbs. ED