Towing with a Class C

[brinson]

Considering a purchase of a Class C motorhome. While I have owned many motorhomes, never a Class C. I would be towing a 5000 lb boat with it. My question is will it tow the boat reasonably well? Also, how large a coach would be advisable? Or should I consider something with a diesel?

[Bea_PA]

I occasionally tow my 4500 lb Saturn behind our E350 Ford 10, MH has a 5000 lb hitch, it pulls fine but I know its back there.

[Cobra21]

It is always easier on any rig if you are not maxing the tow capacity.

[carringb]

All Forest River E450 motorhomes have a 7500# hitch, and Thor includes a 8,000# hitch.

[bagman]

Only Jayco's E-450 based class C's have a tow rating of 7,500 lbs. Check it out at jaycorv.com

[ksg5000]

Longer Class C's can be close to weight limit without towing anything - be cautious about what you buy as it's not just about the engine.

[brinson]

Thanks for the input guys.

[photobug]

Just looked at my owners book for weights and limits. Mine's a 1998 26' on an E450 superduty ford chassis. Max tow weight is 3500lbs with a max tongue weight of 300 lbs. Combined gross vehicle weight is 20,000 lbs with max vehicle weight of 14500lbs. In comparison, my E350 passenger van is rated for a 10,000 lb trailer with 1000 lb tongue weight. Both vehicles have the same engine ford gas v-10 (although the mh has the banks power pack system)
The van didn't have a problem pulling a 9000lb travel trailer over the mountains.
Not sure I'd want to try and launch a boat with the mh. depending on the steepness of the boat ramp, you might have half the back end stuck in the water before you can get the boat to float. Or unless you're really good, trying to back an empty trailer straight down the ramp when you can't see it. Front hitch might work if you have enough room on the ramp to turn around.

[DrewE]

I agree that the Ford (or likely the Chevy equivalent) should do fine in general. The Ford V10 is a relatively high-strung truck engine, and it will be running at what may sound like absurdly high rpm's when under heavy load, but it's designed to operate that way.

Do take care to watch the hitch ratings, including the tongue weight (which is sometimes relatively low on class C motorhomes). Also pay attention to make sure the rear axle doesn't get overloaded due to the long overhang between it and the trailer hitch.

For launching the boat, it may be well worth considering having a front hitch installed so you can nose the trailer to the water instead of trying to back it down, especially with the long overhang in the back. Maneuvering in general around boat ramps will be somewhat of a chore, if only because the turning radius of a class C motorhome, at least one based on the Ford van chassis, is pretty abysmal.

[Lwiddis]

Check C towing maximums. Many are 5K.

[carringb]

A Ford V10 would do fine.

Unless you go with a Super C, a diesel would be underpowered and might not enough have enough GCWR.