28A hitch distance to centre rear wheels

A Majestic is an ex-CruiseAmerica motorhome. The 28A floor plan was usually built by FourWinds (now Thor Motorcoach) and branded Chateau Sport, Dutchmen Express and FourWinds 5000, so information on 28A in any of those models might help. Model year is important because the specs have changed over the years

I've seen the 28A on Express 3500 chassis and E-450 chassis. It might also have been built on Workhorse/Chevy Express 4500, but I've not seen that one. I don't have specs for either Chevy or Workhorse 4500s, but the numbers have to be pretty close to those of the 14,050 pound Ford.

Express 3500 was GVWR 12,300, GAWR 4300 front, 8600 rear. Wheelbase for 28A was 191" on the 12,300 pound Chevy models.

Up until 2008-2009 the E-450 was GVWR 14,050, GAWR 4600 front, 9450 rear. Wheelbase for 28A was 190" on the E-450.

Starting with 2008 model year E-450, there was a GVWR upgrade option, raising to 14,500 pounds. The extra capacity was assigned to the front axle, as the rear is pretty much maxed out by tire capacity. The 14,500 GVWR rating was included in the Motorhome Prep package, which most manufacturers order for their retail builds; I don't know about what was being built for CruiseAmerica.

CruiseAmerica 28A builds might be different from the retail models, so it would be worthwhile to look at the chassis manufacturer's rating stickers (inside left from door). Axle to hitch distance is something you'll have to measure, as the length of that rear overhang probably changed during the 10+ years of production. C/A might not even have installed a hitch, because they have their own delivery program, don't need the hitch for a delivery driver's towed vehicle, and they don't usually let their rental customers tow.

tatest wrote:

Express 3500 was GVWR 12,300, GAWR 4300 front, 8600 rear. Wheelbase for 28A was 191" on the 12,300 pound Chevy models.

Up until 2008-2009 the E-450 was GVWR 14,050, GAWR 4600 front, 9450 rear. Wheelbase for 28A was 190" on the E-450.

I have seen this before on the specs for the Express 3500 before and the numbers are always wrong.

The Express 3500 IS GVWR 14,050 Front GAWR IS 4,600 and the Rear GAWR IS 9,450.
It seems that some one is always confusing the two.
I am sure someone will come along and put up correct Ford numbers.

IAMICHABOD wrote:

tatest wrote:

Express 3500 was GVWR 12,300, GAWR 4300 front, 8600 rear. Wheelbase for 28A was 191" on the 12,300 pound Chevy models.

Up until 2008-2009 the E-450 was GVWR 14,050, GAWR 4600 front, 9450 rear. Wheelbase for 28A was 190" on the E-450.

I have seen this before on the specs for the Express 3500 before and the numbers are always wrong.

The Express 3500 IS GVWR 14,050 Front GAWR IS 4,600 and the Rear GAWR IS 9,450.
It seems that some one is always confusing the two.
I am sure someone will come along and put up correct Ford numbers.

Nope. Those number are for the Express 4500. The numbers tatest posted for the 3500 are correct

Sorry but you are both wrong

This is MY Cargo Carrying Capacity sheet for my 2006 Express 3500


I think you have old specs for the Cargo van or the Savana and not the Express Cutaway.

It depends on model year and who was selling the chassis. Chevrolet sold a 12,300 pound chassis, Workhorse up-rated it to 14,050 to compete more directly with the Ford. When Workhorse got out of the business, Chevrolet sold the Workhorse version as a 4500.

Seems to me the OP could save us a lot of guessing by telling us the details of his 28A.

tatest wrote:
It depends on model year and who was selling the chassis. Chevrolet sold a 12,300 pound chassis, Workhorse up-rated it to 14,050 to compete more directly with the Ford. When Workhorse got out of the business, Chevrolet sold the Workhorse version as a 4500.

This is the correct answer. GM never sold a 3500 with a 14,050 GVWR. Workhorse did (even though it was manufactured by GM... Workhorse did the engineering and held the liability for that product). All GM-badged cutaways with a 14,050 GVWR, including new 2015s, are badged as a 4500.

OP - Do your own this coach or are you shopping for one? Either way, try to get:

1. The Cargo Capacity Label as iamichabod posted above

2. The Door Jamb Label from Ford, Chevy, Workhorse - It will have Axle Ratings AND Wheelbase. The Wheelbase should appear twice, one label from the chassis builder and one from the coach builder, after the chassis was stretched to accommodate the motor home's length. Our label from Ford is 158" and from Jayco 218"

3. Look at, or photo of, the Frame Extension and Hitch Area

4. Actual Axle and Total Weights from a Truck Scale, coach loaded as for travel

Any formula is going to be scientific and theoretical. Will assume that the Frame and the Axles are infinitely strong, unsprung, and inflexible.

A number of us have 28A, 28R Four Winds, Four Winds 5000, Majestic, etc. Class C's on both Ford and Chevrolet. GOTSMART comes to mind as knowlegeable in the ins and outs of this coach, send a PM if he doesn't weigh in here.

You seem to be searching for how much load you can put on the hitch/bumper area. For any number of reasons, most of them already cited in this thread, I think you'll find the answer is Not Much.

j-d, I really don't care. I'm a FTer, and by definition my MH is overweight.

This comes from the Four Winds specifications page that is glued inside the rear coach-side wardrobe. This is not from the sticker on the B-pillar.
Each value after the '=' sign is in lbs (US):

GROSS VEHICLE AXLE RATING (GAWR) FRONT = 4600, REAR = 9450
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR) = 14,050
GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING (GCWR) = 20,000
UNLOADED VEHICLE WEIGHT (UVW) = 11,070

SLEEPING CAPACITY WEIGHT RATING (SCWR) = 616
(4 PEOPLE @ 154 LBS EACH)

CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY (CCC) = 1,972

FRESH WATER W/ WATER HEATER (8.33 LBS/GAL) @ 41 GALLONS = 342
LPG CAPACITY (4.2 LBS/GAL) @ 12.1 GALLONS = 51

It does not list hitch ratings. It's rated to sleep 4, but the dinette and couch increase it to 6. hmmm

^^^Good to hear from you, GS.

If CA/FR listed sleeping capacity at 6, then SCWR would go UP by 2 x 154 and CCC down by 2 X 154. Our Jayco has sleeping space for 8. Doesn't explain what to do when all 8 aren't in bed though...

If you're running heavy and have a lot of miles, you'd be a good candidate for swapping to a late model axle and brakes. Bryan did it, I have, and there's another in progress now.

What does your rear frame extension look like? Did it come with a hitch?

Would you be willing to measure your 28R's (1) wheelbase and (2) rear overhang - axle center to back of bumper? Then RV.net has answered OP's question and he can get on with his calculations. You're making a good move towing that Smart.