2000 Newmar Dutchstar Towing Capacity Question
Here’s the relevant specs:
Model 3851
Length : 38
Chassis : Freightliner XC Raised Rail
Engine : 300 HP. CAT Turbo Diesel
Towing Capacity : 5,000 pounds
Mileage: 100k (which I actually prefer to lower miles)
My 2015 Duramax Crew with ARE commercial topper and fully loaded around 9,000 lbs
Question: Please, in seeking advice I only ask for 3 simple things. No comments or questions about WHY I have to tow this truck, it’s an absolute must and it’s not open for discussion. 2nd, no liability lizards, who will never get around to answering the question but go on and on about how I’m crazy to do it, will be a hazard to everyone around me, blah blah, it’s people like me that give RV’ers a bad name (never believed we had a bad name) And 3rd please, hands on individuals that actually have either tried it and had no issues at all, or tried it and blew the transmission going up a hill! LOL
Obviously I’m asking the question, so that doesn’t mean I’m planning on doing it if it can’t, so don’t assume I am anyway and lecture :) If I was going to do it, I wouldn’t be posting this question LOL.
My point is, I am very mechanical myself and I can guesstimate as good as anybody else. So I’m not looking for guesses but looking for the experts out there. The problem is this, I am very mechanical and can fix absolutely anything. But I have absolutely NO experience with a diesel motorhome. So everything I do, I will be learning from scratch for the first time. Doesn’t scare me, but I’m not necessarily looking forward to learning new stuff at my age, 58.
In the market for a diesel pusher and I need something that CAN tow this truck. I particularly like this one model that I am looking at. Of course capacity is 5000. I have been reading more articles about this, literally all night for the last several hours, that I can stand and so now it’s time to post once I have all this information under my belt.
My own personal guesstimate, is that if I reinforce with a receiver hitch, I won’t have any problems concerning the frame. I also don’t plan on pulling this with a trailer, but keeping all four wheels on the ground and have a new receiver hitch installed in front. That can only be a major plus as far as tongue weight goes / the cantilever affect of possibly having the nose go up.
And again, my guesstimate after all my research is it won’t be a problem, but is the engine transmission combination good enough, powerful enough, to be able to handle the extra weight when towing? Again my gut tells me yes knowing nothing about these things!
Now when I say i research, I’m not just talking about reading articles and other people‘s comments which of course I did a lot of. I’m talking much deeper research, such as liability issues with the manufacturer, warranty issues with the manufacturer, to say that in lowering the towing rating, less chance of one of the units coming back they have to fix under warranty. That’s just a fact of life that a lot of people don’t like to admit to, but is true all the same. Manufacturers will lower the capacity for lots of reasons that has NOTHING to do with the actual fact that they can tow a lot more weight!
Knowing they are basically built on a truck frame, I just can’t IMAGINE my Duramax being able to tow 13,000 pounds, but this gigantic diesel pusher on a freightliner frame only FIVE???? Those ratios just seem WAY off to me right from the get-go. Heck my minivan can tow 5000 pounds! That’s not much weight.
All things being said, I would probably not ask and just do it. However, as I said, I am far from an expert on MH’s and I would be foolish to make an assumption on something that I have absolutely NO experience with. TT’s yes. Motorhomes not by a long shot.
So again, without jumping into “liability land”, can somebody explain to me from a mechanical standpoint that I will be able to understand, logically, why in the world this gigantic BEAST can NOT tow more than my minivan?
Thanks!!!!!
Model 3851
Length : 38
Chassis : Freightliner XC Raised Rail
Engine : 300 HP. CAT Turbo Diesel
Towing Capacity : 5,000 pounds
Mileage: 100k (which I actually prefer to lower miles)
My 2015 Duramax Crew with ARE commercial topper and fully loaded around 9,000 lbs
Question: Please, in seeking advice I only ask for 3 simple things. No comments or questions about WHY I have to tow this truck, it’s an absolute must and it’s not open for discussion. 2nd, no liability lizards, who will never get around to answering the question but go on and on about how I’m crazy to do it, will be a hazard to everyone around me, blah blah, it’s people like me that give RV’ers a bad name (never believed we had a bad name) And 3rd please, hands on individuals that actually have either tried it and had no issues at all, or tried it and blew the transmission going up a hill! LOL
Obviously I’m asking the question, so that doesn’t mean I’m planning on doing it if it can’t, so don’t assume I am anyway and lecture :) If I was going to do it, I wouldn’t be posting this question LOL.
My point is, I am very mechanical myself and I can guesstimate as good as anybody else. So I’m not looking for guesses but looking for the experts out there. The problem is this, I am very mechanical and can fix absolutely anything. But I have absolutely NO experience with a diesel motorhome. So everything I do, I will be learning from scratch for the first time. Doesn’t scare me, but I’m not necessarily looking forward to learning new stuff at my age, 58.
In the market for a diesel pusher and I need something that CAN tow this truck. I particularly like this one model that I am looking at. Of course capacity is 5000. I have been reading more articles about this, literally all night for the last several hours, that I can stand and so now it’s time to post once I have all this information under my belt.
My own personal guesstimate, is that if I reinforce with a receiver hitch, I won’t have any problems concerning the frame. I also don’t plan on pulling this with a trailer, but keeping all four wheels on the ground and have a new receiver hitch installed in front. That can only be a major plus as far as tongue weight goes / the cantilever affect of possibly having the nose go up.
And again, my guesstimate after all my research is it won’t be a problem, but is the engine transmission combination good enough, powerful enough, to be able to handle the extra weight when towing? Again my gut tells me yes knowing nothing about these things!
Now when I say i research, I’m not just talking about reading articles and other people‘s comments which of course I did a lot of. I’m talking much deeper research, such as liability issues with the manufacturer, warranty issues with the manufacturer, to say that in lowering the towing rating, less chance of one of the units coming back they have to fix under warranty. That’s just a fact of life that a lot of people don’t like to admit to, but is true all the same. Manufacturers will lower the capacity for lots of reasons that has NOTHING to do with the actual fact that they can tow a lot more weight!
Knowing they are basically built on a truck frame, I just can’t IMAGINE my Duramax being able to tow 13,000 pounds, but this gigantic diesel pusher on a freightliner frame only FIVE???? Those ratios just seem WAY off to me right from the get-go. Heck my minivan can tow 5000 pounds! That’s not much weight.
All things being said, I would probably not ask and just do it. However, as I said, I am far from an expert on MH’s and I would be foolish to make an assumption on something that I have absolutely NO experience with. TT’s yes. Motorhomes not by a long shot.
So again, without jumping into “liability land”, can somebody explain to me from a mechanical standpoint that I will be able to understand, logically, why in the world this gigantic BEAST can NOT tow more than my minivan?
Thanks!!!!!
