Greetings all...First of all... fair warning: I'm probably going to sound like an insane person before end of this post.Now for a bit of background: I am a contractor who travels a lot for IT related jobs in my state (Ohio). I grow weary of hotels and no-tell motels, and thus I'm looking to make a change to a motorhome and/or travel trailer. I've been looking for something in my price range... but I've noticed that TTs in my price range are far too small for my needs. I have seen some nice older motorhomes with dead/frozen/damaged motors, and/or have been in a wreak that damaged the engine leaving the rest intact/in good shape, that fit both my price range and needs.Seeing that these are not drivable (honestly, I wouldn't want to drive a motorhome anyway)... I'm considering obtaining one of these to modify.I plan to rip out the motor/transmission/etc (leaving the empty compartment for additional storage), and weld a trailer hitch to the frame of the motorhome. Now for my questions:1.) is it possible to do this without removing the axle that's connected to the transmission?2.) is it legal to pull such behind a truck/suv?3.) if it's possible to keep all axles, does this make said trailer easier or harder to pull?4.) has this been done before? are there pictures of said conversion?5.) any further thoughts/advice?Thanks!--Lyos Gemini Norezel

robsouth:Thanks for posting that. Good to know something similar has been done before. There are two primary differences between that pic and what I intend to do:1.) mine will be bumper pulland2.) I intend to keep the front axle (provided it's possible).Thanks again!--Lyos Gemini Norezel

Perhaps if you'd state your price range, more appropriate suggestions could be made.

Altern wrote:Perhaps if you'd state your price range, more appropriate suggestions could be made.Altern:For the purposes of this discussion... price range is actually irrelevant. Suffice it to say... I have my eye on a couple of Class A motorhomes... though some of the larger Class C's have potential.I'm expressly *NOT INTERESTED* in advice on which to buy.Thanks.--Lyos Gemini Norezel

I'm no expert, but I think weight will the the issue.Motohome weighs 10,000-12,000 lbs in stock form, so it would take a monster truck to pull it.Probably too much for a bumper pull.

Motorhome conversion | Good Sam Community

25 Replies

BarneyS
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2013
Enough of this nonsense. Thread closed.
gbopp
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I'm guessing the rig the OP is describing shouldn't be too difficult to locate.
It will probably be stopped on the berm, halfway up a hill, with the transmission smoking. :S
portscanner
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
LyosGeminiNorezel wrote:

I have a 1996 Ford Explorer XLT with a 4.0L V6.

portscanner wrote:
4. What is your budget?

Under $2000. Most of the mods will be done by my own hands.

portscanner wrote:
Although it is technically possible to tow an old motor home 4 down (i.e. on its own wheels), remove the engine and transmission, set up the drive axle to free wheel or replace it, rig up a tow bar and (VERY important) set up a braking system, you are going to need a heck of a truck to do it safely.

The weight itself shouldn't be an issues (except when braking)... why would I need such a large truck? Shouldn't a 4.0L V6 SUV be able to handle it?

Yes, the brakes on the trailer will be what stops the trailer. The truck is what it gets it going. In quick Google search it looks like the towing capacity of your Explorer is approximately 5K lbs. I dont know what the GCVWR is, but you need to seriously take that under consideration - if not for safety, then for not overloading your vehicle and burning out the engine, transmission, suspension, etc. 5K towing capacity really limits the size of your trailer.

Take a look at this: School Bus for $1200. This is just one, there are many more out there.

I am disappointed on your comment on LEO's, coming from a professional such as yourself. I have had run in's with LEO's who should not be on the street, but I know far many more who are honorable and in a time of need, would give you the shirt off their back.
JaxDad
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2013
Interesting, you can't see a reason NOT to flat-tow a 10k or 12k Motorhome with an SUV which when it was BRAND NEW was rated to tow a MAXIMUM 5k trailer.

I assume that your now EIGHTEEN year old SUV isn't exactly new anymore.

Ummmmm.…… uh yeah, ok.
John___Angela
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
JaxDad wrote:
LyosGeminiNorezel wrote:

I plan to rip out the motor/transmission/etc (leaving the empty compartment for additional storage), and weld a trailer hitch to the frame of the motorhome.

Thanks!

--Lyos Gemini Norezel

John & Angela wrote:
Well, can it be done, yepir. Here's our little C being towed behind our A.

While interesting, it doesn't seem even remotely what the OP asked.

He's talking about converting a Class C into a trailer, not pulling it 6 down.

All that aside from the fact the OP said a used TT was out of his price range, where's he going to get a DP A for less than a TT?

'Cause he sure ain't gonna flat-tow a 10k C with an F-150.

Well, I made some assumptions such as

poster is a contracter who probably has a substantial truck Otherwise why would he even consider this.

my impression is that he is thinking of doing exactly that, pulling an old A or C all wheels down. I probably misunderstood. either way, I wish him safe trails.
RVUSA
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
LyosGeminiNorezel wrote:
1.) mine will be bumper pull
and
2.) I intend to keep the front axle (provided it's possible).

so the plan is to tow a derelict camper around??

LOL good luck with that.
RetSgt7114
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
With that budget and such a small tow vehicle, you're looking at a fixer upper pop-up or tent camper.
westend
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
I had a pretty snappy response for the OP but I'll take a higher road.

Your Explorer will be able to tow only a smaller sized TT, at best.

Trying to restore a $900 MH is not a weekend project, more like a year.

Your budget is way too low to have something comfortable and roadworthy.

FWIW, I've looked at MH's sold on the salvage market. Some of them looked repairable. Upon further investigation, they would all take considerable work and expense to make roadworthy. With your preliminary budget, I would abandon the idea. BTW, a replacement tire is in the neighborhood of $300.
LyosGeminiNorez
Explorer
Oct 06, 2013
Bobbo wrote:
His budget to buy is under $2000 so a used TT is too expensive. How in heck does he think he will get a class A or good size C for under $2000? A TT is almost always cheaper than a MH.

I found an older, large, class A for $900 on CL. It doesn't run, and there is some minor water damage, all easily fixable even by the novice handyman.

Bobbo wrote:
I concur that his best bet is to buy a school bus and build from the ground up.

Where would I find a school bus that would fit my price range?

--Lyos Gemini Norezel
Bobbo
Explorer III
Oct 06, 2013
His budget to buy is under $2000 so a used TT is too expensive. How in heck does he think he will get a class A or good size C for under $2000? A TT is almost always cheaper than a MH.

I concur that his best bet is to buy a school bus and build from the ground up.

That is, if he is not a troll. However, most trolls don't come back with answers to questions.

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Motorhome conversion

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