Towing with Sprinter Motorhome

[RikR]

After 40 years of RV travels in mostly large gas and diesel RV's. We want to buy a Sprinter chassis but have towing questions.

We have a 4,000 pound dune buggy we want to tow from Oregon to Arizona each winter - behind our large diesel we never knew it was behind us.

I dont want to drive 1,500 miles with a bucking trailer or chugging up the mountins.

Love to hear other sprinter owners experiences with towing

Thanks

[dosxx]

Just returned yesterday from a trip from Denver to SW Colorado. Pulled a Ford Fiesta which weighed (2715lbs). Had the entire rig and toad weighed at a CAT scale shortly after leaving.

No issues on Interstate and state Hwy's up and down rolling hills. Maintained 70 without issue. Didn't know it was there. Had to climb over Wolf Creek pass (10857ft). No complaints. I certainly was not going to accelerate to 65mph but had no problem maintaining the speed limit which varied between 45 and 50.

Downhill the 7speed transmission had no problems maintaining 40mph downshifting between 3rd & 4th gear.

Round trip almost 700 miles we averaged 14.3mpg

Not sure how it will handle fully loaded and pulling 4000lbs. Wolf Creek pass is a pretty serious pass and the Sprinter in my opinion handled it nicely.

Good luck! We love our Tiffin Sprinter!

XX

[Loggenrock]

You need to verify the towing capacities of different manufacturers on Sprinter chassis'. Many state a towing capacity of 5k, whereas our Coachmen has a 3500# capacity. GCVW for ANY Sprinter 3500 is 15,250#. So, even if the MoHo manufacturer states it has a 5000# towing capacity, you need to subtract trailer/toad weight from fully loaded coach weight. Sprinter 3500 GVW (chassis alone without trailer) is 11050#, so unless you know your loaded weight, 15,250-11050=4200# for tow load. That said, our Prism has towed our 3200# Forester over 35k miles just fine, including a couple trips up thru Eisenhower Tunnels and surrounding hillsides.

[Winterbagoal]

We tow a 4500 lb Wrangler with our 2018 Navion 24V.

As previously stated, the Sprinter's GCWR is 15,250 lbs and the Sprinter GVWR is 11,030. We run our Navion at around 10,600 lbs loaded for travel and use the difference between the two to pull the Jeep.

15250 lbs - 10600 lbs = 4650 lbs towable weight. We're running close to the GCWR limit, but it works.

We haven't towed in the I-70 Glenwood Canyon area yet, but we will eventually. Over 8,000 miles towing back in February, from Ontario to Louisiana to Arizona to Florida and back to Ontario, we averaged 12.75 mpg. We usually average around 15 mpg when not towing.

I would say I feel the difference when pulling the Wrangler, versus not, but it's not that big difference in accelerating, handling, or stopping.

[Mr.Goodbar]

We flat tow our 2014 Honda CR-V (4,200 lbs) behind our Thor Citation which has a 5,000 lb hitch capacity. Going to FL on I-24 we go thru Monteagle Pass, no problems. Gone thru the PA mountains, no problems. Went to Las Vegas via I40 but didn't hit the big mountains, still no problems. The 3.0L turbo diesel has plenty of low-end torque to get up the mountains at 65 mph.

[Vongreg]

Tow a 2019 Jeep Wrangler Sport, loaded for camping it weighs 4260#. My Thor Citation loaded loaded for camping (peeps on board) weighs out at 10,660# full fuel load. I don’t fill my water tanks, maybe ten gallons at most as I don’t need the water for septic purposes. The Sprinter handles hills without a problem. I have done I-70 over the Rockies, no worries on that.

[Crabb E]

Just did Sacramento to San Diego and back last week towing a Jeep Wrangler 2 door. No problem going over the Grapevine and most of the time didn't feel it back there. Got 13.5 mpg. Love the size of our 2019 Jayco Melbourne 24L especially in Los Angles traffic. No more worries where to stop and refuel. Any gas station with diesel is now fair game. We went from a Tour Master 38' dp and would never go back.

[Hermbike]

Auxiliary Braking
What brake system are you using? The Jeep weights almost half the weight of the Sprinter, that’s my worry. I had a Terraine which worried me so I down graded to a Sonic which weights in at about 2900. Also I use a Brake Buddy.

[Winterbagoal]

Originally Posted by Hermbike

Auxiliary Braking
What brake system are you using? The Jeep weights almost half the weight of the Sprinter, that’s my worry. I had a Terraine which worried me so I down graded to a Sonic which weights in at about 2900. Also I use a Brake Buddy.

Patriot II 2016 - stops our JKU on a dime and gives 9 cents change.

[Crabb E]

Brake Buddy. Works great. Stops on a dime. Just be sure you set it up correctly and you should never have a problem

[Vongreg]

Invisibrake

[DariusB]

Towing a 2019 Jeep Cherokee Trailhawk (4205 lbs w 1/4 tank) behind a 2019 Navion. Total GW loaded for 10 days with wife and dog , no water in holding tank, is 15450. No problems anywhere. I am getting 12.3 mpg this trip, Sacramento ,Seattle, Olympic Peninsula and back. I have pulled the Sierras over Donner and the LOOOOOONG summit out of Salt Lake with no problems. One thing I have discovered is the speed is much more manageable using cruise control as much as possible. When pulling hills the gas pedal is just not responsive enough after you have to get out of it for whatever reason ( i.e. clueless drivers). I use the slap shift a LOT . drop to 3rd at 55MPH no problem -3200+or- rpm right there. Maintains speed nicely on typical "slopes" you find out there.

[Hooligan]

2016 Siesta 24ST- Flat Tow 2008 Suzuki Grand Vitara 4x4 (3400#) Avg 13.5 towing 15.5-16 otherwise. I use 4th gear when towing... Sprinter 5 spd transmission, 5th gear is overdrive. 4th is 1:1. at 62-65 still under 3000rpm and no lugging. A lot less downshifting.

[van-gogh]

Understand and the following link may be a very helpful tool now and in the future.

I do wonder if you were FLAT TOWING, Trailering the Vehicle, or Front Wheels lifted?

Towing Planner - towing capability calculators