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Lincolnboy2 · 01-31-2012, 03:40 PM

My 2003 V10 32' Fleetwood Storm has a 5,000 tow capacity. I thought my Outlook (same as the Acadia/Traverse/Enclave platform) was too heavy to tow with it, but now I have a dear friend that looked up and said I should be able to tow it.

Any comments out there folks? I cannot afford to buy all the gear until the car is paid off next year, but then I'll be looking at towing. Kinda scared thinking about it though......

I attached pics of the MH and the Car (car pic is when it was getting new shoes put on)

Input/Comments/Suggestions/Warnings/Opinions all welcome.

Gary RVRoamer · 02-01-2012, 07:38 PM

That's about right for the curb weight - my Acadia SLE is listed at very close to that aswell. But the curb weight is kind of a fictitious number - i would want to get it weighed as it is when you normally drive it - I'll bet it's more than 4700. Probaly not more than 5000, though.

You probably have some head room on the GCWR - most 32 footers don't weigh as much as their GVWR allows, so there is some extra capacity in the GCWR. Problem is, the hitch receiver is still limited to 5000 lbs. And personally I would be hesitant to tow right at the limit too. That would be pushing my luck, I think.

Lincolnboy2 · 02-02-2012, 07:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

That's about right for the curb weight - my Acadia SLE is listed at very close to that aswell. But the curb weight is kind of a fictitious number - i would want to get it weighed as it is when you normally drive it - I'll bet it's more than 4700. Probaly not more than 5000, though.

You probably have some head room on the GCWR - most 32 footers don't weigh as much as their GVWR allows, so there is some extra capacity in the GCWR. Problem is, the hitch receiver is still limited to 5000 lbs. And personally I would be hesitant to tow right at the limit too. That would be pushing my luck, I think.

Yes, I agree. Well, when the time comes, I'll maybe have to get something smaller. It would sure be nice to have my Outlook though, I love that car.

Gary RVRoamer · 02-03-2012, 06:47 PM

Love my Acadia too. This is the first car (or truck) we've ever kept over 5 years. It's 5th birthday is in a few days and we have no plans to trade it, this year or next.

Lincolnboy2 · 02-05-2012, 05:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Love my Acadia too. This is the first car (or truck) we've ever kept over 5 years. It's 5th birthday is in a few days and we have no plans to trade it, this year or next.

same here! My Outlook is the first car I've had in 15 years I wanted to keep long enough to put new tires on it! And I'll have it paid for in 16 months!! AMEN!!

JDT · 02-05-2012, 02:22 PM

I had our 2011 Acadia Denali FWD weighed last year and with a full tank of gas it was 4900 pounds.

Lincolnboy2 · 02-06-2012, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT

I had our 2011 Acadia Denali FWD weighed last year and with a full tank of gas it was 4900 pounds.

The Denali has to weigh more than my Outlook....I would think....

JDT · 02-06-2012, 11:14 AM

Probably right. The weight of those extra things on the Denali that the wife had to have and I had to pay for surely acounts for a hundred pounds or so.

Seriously, we tow ours on a dolly because the wife would not let me poke holes in the front end and we had a difficult time finding a dolly that would handle that much weight. I plan to eventually get something like the Chevy Colorado to tow 4 down but will keep the dolly so we can have a choice of what to take. Been a bit of an adjustment to the dolly after towing 4 down for past 10 years but not as much as I thought.

Lincolnboy2 · 02-06-2012, 02:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDT

Probably right. The weight of those extra things on the Denali that the wife had to have and I had to pay for surely acounts for a hundred pounds or so.

Seriously, we tow ours on a dolly because the wife would not let me poke holes in the front end and we had a difficult time finding a dolly that would handle that much weight. I plan to eventually get something like the Chevy Colorado to tow 4 down but will keep the dolly so we can have a choice of what to take. Been a bit of an adjustment to the dolly after towing 4 down for past 10 years but not as much as I thought.

I kinda don't blame her, that Denali is a pretty nice looking vehicle! I'm all new to this still, towing will come next year when the car is paid for. Can't wait for that day!

SarahW · 02-06-2012, 05:17 PM

Kent, do you know the GCWR of your Storm? When you say you have a 5,000 lb tow capacity, are you talking about the hitch rating? (Nice looking moho and car, BTW.) We're trying to figure out a TOAD for our Bounder and I'm wondering how much weight the tow bar and stuff will add.

Lincolnboy2 · 02-07-2012, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SarahW

Kent, do you know the GCWR of your Storm? When you say you have a 5,000 lb tow capacity, are you talking about the hitch rating? (Nice looking moho and car, BTW.) We're trying to figure out a TOAD for our Bounder and I'm wondering how much weight the tow bar and stuff will add.

I will check the GCWR and I think I read that in the owner's manual about the 5,000 capacity. (thanks for the compliments!) I'm not sure where I got the 5,000 number, will check it out.

Kent

Gary RVRoamer · 02-07-2012, 02:28 PM

Nominally the tow capacity is the difference between the coach GCWR and GVWR values, but if the actual coach weight is less than GVWR, you can use the difference as extra tow capacity. So, Max tow = GCWR - Actual_Weight, subject to the limit of the hitch itself. Gas chassis coaches like this typically get a 5000 lb hitch receiver, but that may be more than the coach is actually rated to tow. Check the numbers carefully.

SarahW · 02-07-2012, 08:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Nominally the tow capacity is the difference between the coach GCWR and GVWR values, but if the actual coach weight is less than GVWR, you can use the difference as extra tow capacity. So, Max tow = GCWR - Actual_Weight, subject to the limit of the hitch itself. Gas chassis coaches like this typically get a 5000 lb hitch receiver, but that may be more than the coach is actually rated to tow. Check the numbers carefully.

That's what I thought, Gary. It's easy for us newbies to "assume" that if the hitch is rated 5,000, then that's how much can be towed.

I am anxious to get our coach weighed so we won't make a mistake when buying a toad.

Lincolnboy2 · 02-08-2012, 08:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gary RVRoamer

Nominally the tow capacity is the difference between the coach GCWR and GVWR values, but if the actual coach weight is less than GVWR, you can use the difference as extra tow capacity. So, Max tow = GCWR - Actual_Weight, subject to the limit of the hitch itself. Gas chassis coaches like this typically get a 5000 lb hitch receiver, but that may be more than the coach is actually rated to tow. Check the numbers carefully.

Last year, I weighed the coach, four corners, axles, etc. But I remember the total weight (I was loaded, full of fuel, 3 extra people, full water, half full holding tanks in around 17,500#. I have to check those GCWR and GVWR values still though.