Class C RV towing capacity

According to Remco the only 2010 Explorer that can be towed four down is the 4WD model and that requires a Ford neutral tow kit which is no longer available as far as Remco knows. RWD and AWD models have to be towed on a trailer. Towing on a trailer will most likely put you way over what your motor home is rated to tow by Four Winds, which is probably 3,500# at most. I'm sure Ford had a significantly higher GCWR than what Four Winds rates it for. Even without a trailer a base Explorer is over 4,500#.

Djohn10 wrote:
We are new to the RV Purchased a 92 31ft four winds Class C and want to tow a 2010 Ford Explorer What is the best hitch Not sure what the tow capacity is

What size motor? What Chassis is the MH?

Most of the V10's are rated for around 6,000 lbs. Your Explorer GVW is 6,280.

It's not WHAT you are 'rated' to tow, it is what you can tow safely, enjoyably and with less strain on the MH tow.

You will be at the top end with the explorer. And you WILL know its back there and will be struggling up even the smallest hills towing it.

I had a Tahoe when I bought my MH and I did NOT choose to tow it. I bought a used Tracker around 2,800 lbs. And yes even at only 2,800 lbs you don't know its back there on the flat but you do on the hills and steep grades. Most Class C owners try to find the lightest weight vehicle to tow. Of course there are those that say they can tow anything but you won't here them telling you what a pain it is to do so.

So just saying my advice would be to rethink towing a toad that heavy, you won't be very happy after a few trips with it. :C

I had a '94 chassis 29' Gulfstream that had a GVW sticker of 12,200 lbs. Ford rated the GCWR at 18,500lbs for the 460/E4OD/4.10 rear powertrain. From the model year, I assume this is a no-slide house, and I'd hope so just for the weight. On a scale I'd expect the RV empty to be at least 11,500. Towing 4 down won't add tongue weight, so I think you's be under GCWR, but the unit itself will be easily be overweight probably with full fuel and propane along with 2 adults.

I'm sure I was over GVWR with my old RV in the same way, but I just made sure I had good Load Range E tires, same as on the E450's, and it handled the weight OK. A toad should have an independent braking set-up in any case.

x2 on all the above. I "posted" before I was actually done because the PC was acting up.
Yes you'll need brakes on the Explorer. I can tell you right now that that vintage Class C will NOT stop safely with another 2-ton behind it, and that Explorer could be closer to 2-1/2-ton. YOU ALSO need to make sure the Explorer is "flat" (on all fours) towable. If it's 4-WD it probably is, IF it gets a "tow kit" modification. If it's 2-WD or AWD it isn't.
Personally, I think 460 is an all-time GREAT engine. All factors equal I'd rather have a late model Multiport Fuel Injected 460 than a V10. Unfortunately all factors are NOT equal. 460 does not have a cooling system, including transmission cooling, anywhere near equal to the V10. The whole power plant advanced around the time the "modular" engines (4.6 and 5.4 V8 and 6.8 V10) with overhead cams replaced the older 302, 351 and 460 pushrod V8's.
Finally, WHERE will you be RVing? East/Gulf Coast and Midwest are less taxing than up to and beyond the Continental Divide.

Hi,

What is the GVWR on the drivers side door for the van? It will either be 14,050 or something less. This gives a indication of it being a E-450 or the E-350 that was earlier.

What engine do you have? 460" V8 is probably in there, along with the 4 speed auto. Slightly newer, and I think that 1996 was the first time they offered the V10 6.8L (smaller than the 460").

You probably have a hitch on the RV, and it should have a rating on it. While the 'hitch' might say it is good for 5,000 pounds (without tearing it up) the chassis that it might be mounted to might not be rated that high. Ford rated the 96 E-450 chassis with a 22,000 GCVWR. But that did not include any frame extensions. Chances are that the chassis was extended by the RV manufacture by welding on about 3' - 6' long frame extension. If the hitch is bolted to that extension, then the RV manufacture is responsible for deciding how much it can tow. Many times the manufactures limited towing to only 3,500 pounds.

The Explorer is probably around 4,000 pounds curb weight? You would need to take it to a scale to find out for sure. My Edge that is slightly smaller is around 4,200 curb weight, though I did not take it to a scale.

You will also need a braking system. For my Edge I installed a junkyard cruise control motor, and when I turn on the motorhome brake lights, a solenoid energizes in the car, allowing vacuum (from motorhome engine) to pass to the cruise control, and pulls the cable that pulls the brake pedal to the floor. This pull is limited to about 20 pounds of force, and can not slam on the brakes, but will provide some noticeable 'pull' on the RV to slow it on a hill.

I also have the 460" engine in my class A motorhome, a 96 chassis, one of the last years before the class A went to the V10 engine.

Do you have a Ford or Chevy chassis?

Good luck!

Fred.

Welcome to RV.net! This is good, constructive, site!!!

Ford Chassis, I take it? If so, it'll be an E350. Ten years newer it'd probably be an E450. Late 1990's they called it E-Super Duty, but at 1992 you don't have it. Is this on a 1991 (square edged cab) or 1992 (rounded, like current ones)?
In any event, I think you'll be right at practical max weight carry capacity for the coach itself. And also at max towing capacity as well. Get to a truck scale and weigh both vehicles. You should be able to get both on a CAT scale at a travel center like Pilot, FlyingJ, T/A, etc. Drive RV onto the scale to the Front Axle mark, then the Explorer to about 6-ft behind, as if it was on a towbar. For $10 you'll get a weight slip designated Steer, Drive, Trailer. S+D will be the RV and T will be Explorer. That'll give us an idea what we're working with.
If the RV was smaller, therefore lighter, you'd have a little wiggle room for weight of towed vehicle.
When you say "Hitch" does this RV have NO trailer hitch? Nearly all do. If it has none, by all means get one rated 5000-pounds. You probably can't find one rated any higher, but choose 5000 over the also-common 3500. IF the chassis extensions were done according to Ford standards (by 1992 they probably were), the original chassis tow rating is still valid. At least 3500.

Yes, check the tow capacity of the C hitch. Typically, a Ford E450 Class C has a hitch capacity of 3500#. That is how our 2004 E450 28 Foot is equipped.