Hitch upgrade question.

[Bobalooie]

I have a 2000 Dutch Star with a GCWR rating of 39,000 and GAWR of 29,000lbs. According to the manual, it supposedly has a 5000lb hitch, but I know it can have 10,000. Can one just have a higher rated hitch installed without having to beef up the frame?

[dougrainer]

Bobalooie wrote:

dougrainer wrote:
Newmar installed 5k hitches back then. The Hitch rating involves 2 things
1. The rating of the actual Hitch
2. HOW the Hitch is installed/mounted to the Chassis Frame.
If the unit came with a 5k hitch, you will have to install a 10k rated hitch and have the Chassis frame beefed up to safely use that 10k hitch. Doug

Thanks Doug. Question on your last point, though. The Spartan chassis is rated for 10,000lb, so I'm not sure why it would need to be beefed up (incidentally, the Freightliner chassis on the same coach is only 5000lb capacity).

It depends on the chassis maker. IF the chassis maker states that the particular chassis frame and rear mount holes can handle 10k hitch, then buy and install a 10k hitch.

[Bobalooie]

dougrainer wrote:
Newmar installed 5k hitches back then. The Hitch rating involves 2 things
1. The rating of the actual Hitch
2. HOW the Hitch is installed/mounted to the Chassis Frame.
If the unit came with a 5k hitch, you will have to install a 10k rated hitch and have the Chassis frame beefed up to safely use that 10k hitch. Doug

Thanks Doug. Question on your last point, though. The Spartan chassis is rated for 10,000lb, so I'm not sure why it would need to be beefed up (incidentally, the Freightliner chassis on the same coach is only 5000lb capacity).

[dougrainer]

Newmar installed 5k hitches back then. The Hitch rating involves 2 things
1. The rating of the actual Hitch
2. HOW the Hitch is installed/mounted to the Chassis Frame.
If the unit came with a 5k hitch, you will have to install a 10k rated hitch and have the Chassis frame beefed up to safely use that 10k hitch. Doug

[tropical36]

Bobalooie wrote:

tropical36 wrote:

Bobalooie wrote:
I have a 2000 Dutch Star with a GCWR rating of 39,000 and GAWR of 29,000lbs. According to the manual, it supposedly has a 5000lb hitch, but I know it can have 10,000. Can one just have a higher rated hitch installed without having to beef up the frame?

Check with Newmar, but just the fact that it has a 10K towing capacity rating suggests that it also have a 10K hitch receiver.
This also applies to the tranny's capabilities, etc....
Our old coach had a very low tow rating and even though most everything was beefy enough for a 5K tow, the transmission wasn't up to it, being the weak link in the train. Still ran it all over the country, but had to be tricky and careful for climbing long 6% grades in hot weather.

Are there different versions of Allison in these diesel pushers in that year? The option was for either a Freightliner or Spartan chassis (with Spartan having a 10klb buffer).

That being the case, it's most likely the Spartan that has an Allison 3000, at least. This should be reflected in the manual for either chassis and doubtful that they would print two separate publications.

[zb39]

What chassis? FL or Spartan?

[gatorcq]

Installed 2 support angle braces and weld in place.

[Bobalooie]

tropical36 wrote:

Bobalooie wrote:
I have a 2000 Dutch Star with a GCWR rating of 39,000 and GAWR of 29,000lbs. According to the manual, it supposedly has a 5000lb hitch, but I know it can have 10,000. Can one just have a higher rated hitch installed without having to beef up the frame?

Check with Newmar, but just the fact that it has a 10K towing capacity rating suggests that it also have a 10K hitch receiver.
This also applies to the tranny's capabilities, etc....
Our old coach had a very low tow rating and even though most everything was beefy enough for a 5K tow, the transmission wasn't up to it, being the weak link in the train. Still ran it all over the country, but had to be tricky and careful for climbing long 6% grades in hot weather.

Are there different versions of Allison in these diesel pushers in that year? The option was for either a Freightliner or Spartan chassis (with Spartan having a 10klb buffer).

[tropical36]

Bobalooie wrote:
I have a 2000 Dutch Star with a GCWR rating of 39,000 and GAWR of 29,000lbs. According to the manual, it supposedly has a 5000lb hitch, but I know it can have 10,000. Can one just have a higher rated hitch installed without having to beef up the frame?

Check with Newmar, but just the fact that it has a 10K towing capacity rating suggests that it also have a 10K hitch receiver.
This also applies to the tranny's capabilities, etc....
Our old coach had a very low tow rating and even though most everything was beefy enough for a 5K tow, the transmission wasn't up to it, being the weak link in the train. Still ran it all over the country, but had to be tricky and careful for climbing long 6% grades in hot weather.

[fyrflie]

Bobalooie wrote:
I have a 2000 Dutch Star with a GCWR rating of 39,000 and GAWR of 29,000lbs. According to the manual, it supposedly has a 5000lb hitch, but I know it can have 10,000. Can one just have a higher rated hitch installed without having to beef up the frame?

Your answer is in your posted numbers.
It may be possible that the manual is a generic version printed for several different models.
Possibly have the hitch inspected to confirm the size.
Either way, use due diligence to confirm everything prior to towing over 5000 lbs.

[way2roll]

Seems like if they could have given the MH the 10k capacity they would have. I agree, have to check with the manufacturer. Often simply adding a bigger hitch does not always equate to everything else being able to support it. (chassis, brakes, tranny, etc)

[wolfe10]

Your chassis maker AND Newmar would be the source for that information. Either company could have diminished towing capacity from the 10k.

Far better sources than our speculation.