Community Forums

CowgirlDeb · 11-18-2019, 06:21 AM

We are shopping and researching 1998-2005 Class A's for the best towing capacity based on chassis, transmission, engine, and Hp. Too many of the selling websites don't have this information filled in and mfr. websites often don't have specs on the old models. It appears that Freightliner + Cat typically have huge towing along with torque & Hp for towing. I'd love to have a chart that showed these specs according to mfr. Help!!

We will be towing most of the time:
21' flatbed + 800 lb. ATV + 1500 lb. UTV or
16' horse trailer + 1000 lb. horse + tack

Skip426 · 11-18-2019, 08:23 AM

Welcome to iRV2.

While I'd love to help , all I can do is muddy the waters .

Newmar Dutch Stars of my vintage ( 1999) the coaches built on Freightliner chassis With Cat engines , had lower tow ratings ( 5000 lbs ) compared to those built on Spartan chassis with Cummins ( 10,000) .

The Cummins engine had 200+ ft.lbs more torque even thought HP rating was the same.

On some newer coaches , the trans series is the limiting factor , as coach builders would order a smaller trans ( Allison 2500 series for example ) to save some $$$ and de-tune the engines to avoid burning it up .

An online search for the sales brochures of any coach you're interested in may help answer your question about tow capacity , otherwise you have to search the unit for the RV weight sticker. As the photo below.
Keep the 100 lbs, of GCWR ( Gross Combined Weight Rating ), per engine HP
in mind while shopping, and look for Allison transmissions of the 3000/3060 series as a minimum.

robertkathy · 11-18-2019, 08:41 AM

what is your budget, and size you are looking for?

hayward3411 · 11-18-2019, 02:29 PM

My 2008 Fleetwood Expedition has a 10,000 lb rating. The most I have towed was about 5,000 lbs, no problems.

FIRE UP · 11-18-2019, 07:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CowgirlDeb

We are shopping and researching 1998-2005 Class A's for the best towing capacity based on chassis, transmission, engine, and Hp. Too many of the selling websites don't have this information filled in and mfr. websites often don't have specs on the old models. It appears that Freightliner + Cat typically have huge towing along with torque & Hp for towing. I'd love to have a chart that showed these specs according to mfr. Help!!

We will be towing most of the time:
21' flatbed + 800 lb. ATV + 1500 lb. UTV or
16' horse trailer + 1000 lb. horse + tack

CowgirlDeb,
Well, we happen to have a coach that's in your era of range, that you're looking at. It's an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD (36') with the CAT C-7 330HP and the Allison MH3000 6-spd trans. It has a 10,000 lb. towing capacity. We've owned that coach now for 8 years and have towed, over 50K miles with it. WE tow two different toads. One, a '15 Jeep JKUR that tips the scales at close to 5,000 lbs. based on how it's built and loaded up. The second toad is a bit more. It's an '11 GMC Sierra 1500 4x4 Extended cab.

Now, normally when we tow the truck, it has what's called a Rampage motorcycle lift/carrier in the back. And that carrier is hauling our 2008 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing. The truck itself weighs exactly 5,300 lbs ( I know, 'cause I weighed it) and the bike, right close to 900 lbs. The lift, right close to 275 lbs. So, all-in-all, with the truck toad, we're dragging along behind us, right close to 6,700 lbs.

That coach, and that C-7 CAT, do absolutely flawless in towing that setup. Now, it's not the fastest RV and toad on the planet but, it gets us to our destinations, with ease and is dependable. It pulls grades decently and has a very good exhaust brake for descending them. We've got over 90, 000 miles on it and, the brakes are still good for a minimum of around another 50K miles. We're very happy with that era coach.
Scott

MSHappyCampers · 11-19-2019, 08:55 AM

Hi Deb & Craig! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined the gang!

I can't advise you on the Freightliner chassis but wanted to say hello!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

gpounder · 11-19-2019, 09:53 AM

Most of the larger DP have the 10,000 lb rating and there is no correlation to type or size of the engine. It was simply a manufactures decision. I think the few with lower ratings cheeped out by using a less robust hutch structure.

People that tow normal cars don't complain about performance but if you were tow something very heavy approaching 10,000 lbs I would guess it would be noticed. At that point your adding 25-30% load to your engine. There is a reason why there are 3 substantially different sized DP engines.

LifeSalt · 11-22-2019, 09:27 AM

We just bought a 2003 Winnie Ultimate Freedom 40', 400hp cummins, 1200 ft lb torque, spartan chassis, 6spd Allison tranny. Max tow is 10k lbs...... GVWR is 33,700lbs, GCWR is 43,700.......

Mr_D · 11-22-2019, 09:39 AM

Our 2000 Dutch Star 4090 on Spartan chassis had a 6,000# hitch but a 10,000# rating according to Spartan but Newmar rated it for 5,000 as I remember. Traded it off almost 5 years ago for the present rig with it's 15,000# rating.

Gary RVRoamer · 11-25-2019, 08:42 AM

Diesel pushers with an Allison 300 or 4000 transmission will generally have tow capacities (GCWR) of 10,000 lbs or more, whether the chassis is Freightliner, Spartan, Roadmaster, Peak, Magnum or Prevost. Or whether the engine is Cummins, Cat, Detroit or Volvo. In most cases the installed hitch receiver will be at least as capable, but you need to verify that as best you can. Different coaches may have different receivers and hitch ratings despite using the same model of chassis (they can be configured in many ways).

Adequate performance is subjective - some are happy with modest acceleration, while others get frustrated at anything short of jack rabbit takeoffs. There is no minimum engine size for towing - the gearing takes care of that nicely.