Class A what to tow

[hrhc88]

ok so very new here, wife just inherit, a 2004 Winnebago Sightseer 35N W22 Chassis Chevy Workhorse Engine, from her father, very good shape, well kept with 30K miles, so we started watching tons of videos learning about it, still have long ways to go, any way trying to figure out what to flat tow.
We own:
2023 F150 FX4, towable but just over 7000lbs, RV hitch rated 5000 lbs
2019 Hyndai Santa Fe, not towable
2002 F150 Super Cab 4x4 Automatic with no Neutral on 4X4 switch, not towable

GVWR 20,700 , actual per Cat Scale 18,140
GCWR 26,000

in my mind our 2023 will be too heavy and on the max so we are looking into either old 2000's Ranger truck or older 4 door jepp.

Last resource trading in Santa Fe for a newer jepp.

If you have a respectfull and productive suggestion need help please.

No schooling, sarcastic or insulting comments please.

[TonyMac]

First and foremost, get something that fits your usage. If you like 2-tracking the back country for that perfect fishing hole, a jeep is a great choice. It can do dinner and the opera, too. If you're solely paved roads and museum type, why tow around all that weight.

[Camp CA]

Good advice above plus stay within your rv's tow limit and gross combination weight (GCW) (weight of the loaded motorhome (GVW) plus the weight of the fully-loaded trailer or toad). You can find rv towables in this link: https://www.roadmasterinc.com/content/pdf/dtg_2023.pdf. Download the vehicle's owner's manual to confirm towing instructions for the selected vehicle.

[Isaac-1]

Keep in mind just because your coach is rated to tow 5,000 pounds does not mean you have to buy a 5,000 pound TOAD. Our coach is rated to tow 5,000 pounds, we own 2 flat towable cars, a 2017 Jeep Cherokee Overland edition that weighs in around 4,300 pounds and a 2007 Toyota Yaris that weighs in around 2,300 pounds, and I can tell you that the 2,000 pound difference can be felt while towing. With the Yaris I have to keep my rear camera on to know it is still back there, with the Cherokee there is never any doubt and it probably shaves 5-8 mph off my max comfortable driving speed

[followingsea]

Originally Posted by Isaac-1

......and I can tell you that the 2,000 pound difference can be felt while towing. With the Yaris I have to keep my rear camera on to know it is still back there, with the Cherokee there is never any doubt and it probably shaves 5-8 mph off my max comfortable driving speed

I have a Honda Del Sol and a Saab 9-3 and the weight difference is noticeable.

I suggest you find a steep hill or mountain pass and see how you do going up and down without a TOAD.

[W&L Dan]

Honda accord is towable if you buy a 2014 or older even with a auto trans good luck on your new adventure.

[Arch Hoagland]

With our 2004 Monaco W22 we have pulled a 2004 Suzuki XL, a 1991 Mazda Miata and currently a 2000 Lexus RX300. All were 4 down flat towable and easy to tow.

The Miata weighed 2,200 lb and I liked towing it the best.

Where are you located? Will you be towing in mountains?

[cotton top]

I had the same situation you are in 6 yrs ago - same weight ratings etc- after looking at cost of tow bars etc and would have to change every time I changed vehicles, I went with a tow dolly- can use almost any Front wheel drive vehicle. Have pulled 5 different ones and have been happy with that choice.

[prevostart]

We Tow a 2011 Honda CRV it has been all over the country and no problems light weight easy Let idle for 3 min and go they recommend every 4 or 5 hours to let idle for 3 min so when I stop for a break I start engine for 3 min now good for another 5 hours,2014 was the last year for towing Honda's, I have a few friend that tow full size trucks that's a lot of weight to tow around

[hrhc88]

I am in Texas but already got the travelling bug to Alaska so definitely need to be light.
Thanks all for your input, very helpful, I will feel much better with a light load behind us so this is what I will target.

Regards

[Cousin Ed]

7000 lb is most likely the max weight of the F-150; weigh it. They have a lot of aluminium in the and it might be under 5K. Our Silverado weighs 5600.

[AlfaBaz]

Originally Posted by cotton top

I had the same situation you are in 6 yrs ago - same weight ratings etc- after looking at cost of tow bars etc and would have to change every time I changed vehicles, I went with a tow dolly- can use almost any Front wheel drive vehicle. Have pulled 5 different ones and have been happy with that choice.

Couldn't agree more!

[TonyMac]

Tow dollies typically weigh between 330 to 551 pounds, depending on the model and its features. Tow bars weigh less than 100 pounds. That's why I went with a tow bar; I didn't want that extra 2-400 pounds. However, I tow a 4wd Blazer ZR2; the 4wd and ZR2 packages adds that 2-400 pounds back on, maybe more. My towed weighs in at 4300 pounds with full fuel and ready to tow, tow bar and brake package included.

[Flyer15015]

OP,
Since you have a W-22 chassis and the GM 8,1, if you are going to tow anything, you should first check and see how your hitch is attached to the frame of the coach. My '04 PA has the flimsiest of frame extensions and the receiver hangs down about a foot, which any engineer with a modicum of common sense would laugh at. I would like to see a picture of how your hitch is attached to the frame. That said, I fixed mine with a pair of 2 x 2 x 1/4- inch angle iron struts. See pic.
We tow an '02 Dodge grand Caravan on a first generation (no brakes) Master Tow Dolly, and with several trips to Florida it has proven itself to be a great way to haul the car. See pic.

You could haul the '02 F150 on a dolly if you installed a driveline disconnect on the rear driveshaft. A cheap solution. I did it on a '78 Chevy C-10 full sized van many years ago and it worked fine. Towed it all over the country on a dolly for several years.

Mike in Colorado