Community Forums

hdtrader · 07-28-2009, 07:13 PM

Hello everybody...I have a 2009 Dutchmen Dorado 24' with the Mercedes V6 Diesel and was wondering if any Sprinter/Freightliner/Mercedes owners tow with their MH. The trailer hitch is rated at 3500#...just concerned about the loads placed on the engine and powertrain. Ready to get away from the campsite without packing everything up.

thanks,
Randy

photoadjuster · 07-28-2009, 08:39 PM

Up until 2 months ago I towed a 3124 KS Trailmanor travel trailer with my 2004 Freightliner Sprinter class B Forrest River motorhome. The Trailmanor weighted in at 3,600 lbs. My Sprinter has the original 5 cylinder diesel and was rated to tow 5,000 lbs.

The Mercedes diesel pulled the trailer perfectly at the posted speed limit.

SeeTheUSA · 08-01-2009, 06:42 AM

We've owned our Winnebago View, on a Sprinter chassis with the inline 5 cylinder diesel, since August 2005 and have towed our Scion xA, 2,500 lbs. wet, from the beginning.

Never a problem.

hdtrader · 08-09-2009, 08:08 AM

...thanks for the replies. I believe my MH's tow rating is 3500# and was curious how the V6 would handle the extra load.

Randy

RV Wizard · 08-10-2009, 03:23 AM

Randy, you will definitely know your toad is back there. Be sure to have a good brake assist system for the toad.

hdtrader · 08-14-2009, 04:19 PM

Thanks RV Wizard....I hope to stay under 2500#.

Randy

porscheracer · 09-20-2009, 09:49 PM

We have an '08 Winnebago View with the V6 MB diesel. We recently got back after a 7500 mile trip (Vancouver Island and back - with a side trip to Wisconsin). We tow a '09 Escape AWD, with a weight of ~3400#. No problems, and we averaged 13.1 MPG for the trip. Just be aware that it doesn't do anything in a hurry - and have a GOOD brake system on the toad (we have US Brake). You can outrun heavily loaded semi's uphill - but not empty ones.

The Shadow · 10-11-2009, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porscheracer

We have an '08 Winnebago View with the V6 MB diesel. We recently got back after a 7500 mile trip (Vancouver Island and back - with a side trip to Wisconsin). We tow a '09 Escape AWD, with a weight of ~3400#. No problems, and we averaged 13.1 MPG for the trip. Just be aware that it doesn't do anything in a hurry - and have a GOOD brake system on the toad (we have US Brake). You can outrun heavily loaded semi's uphill - but not empty ones.

Thanks for the comments Norm. Exactly as I would have predicted. Your combo is one that I've thought about and I sure would take my brakebuddy with me. We have a Kodiak Gasser (Greyhawk with 8.1L) and tow a Tahoe. When we hit any rough pavement I can sure feel the Tahoe tug at the back of the Kodiak - and the BB sure is needed to stop properly. Your mileage numbers look good for towing that weight. We just took our MH to FLA and drove back in the toad. 7.2 MPG is all we got - less than with our previous two DPs.

What do you get when you aren't towing the Escape?
Also, what tow brackets do you have and how much work was it to put them on?
Since I'm on a roll on questions, have you had any transmission problems? I gather from the reports on FMCA the Ford 6 speed has burnt out in a few toads.

Tx

Don

porscheracer · 10-12-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Shadow

What do you get when you aren't towing the Escape?
Also, what tow brackets do you have and how much work was it to put them on?
Since I'm on a roll on questions, have you had any transmission problems? I gather from the reports on FMCA the Ford 6 speed has burnt out in a few toads.

We get in the mid 14's when we aren't towing. Not exactly a fair comparison, since we run faster bob-tailed (~70 without toad, <65 with).

We have the Blue Ox brackets - since we already had an Aventa II for our Vectra / Dakota combination. Difficulty?? Dunn'o. My physical condition doesn't allow projects like that anymore, so I paid to have it installed. (Really a sad state of affairs for someone who used to build and race cars.)

Our Escape was one of the ones that got a new transmission (at 700 miles). There are a couple of threads in the tow vehicle section you might want to look at. I suspect it was one of the first (bought in Feb., replaced tranny in early April), based on Ford's response.

The Shadow · 10-12-2009, 08:51 AM

Thanks Norm. I have seen all of the posts in the towing section and at FMCA.

My No.2 son is an engineer and also built his own DSR - so he has a ton of tools and equipment. I had him put the plates on the Tahoe and was happy it was him and not a dealer. BO said no cutting necessary. That turned out to be incorrect. My son works in the auto biz and has some front end parts on the Tahoe and thus was very familiar with it. BO's suggested solution would have resulted in a shattered fascia. Had a dealer been doing it they would have talked to BO on the phone as we did and then done what BO suggested. I think there was a change to the front end and BO didn't pick it up.

I like to say that I helped put the plates on but I'm not sure being a sidewalk superintendent counts. I wouldn't even think about doing it myself. When a dealer put the plates on our earlier Colorado he said "you might want to go for a walk - this isn't pretty to watch."

Don