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Devocamper's avatar
Devocamper
Explorer
Jun 29, 2015

How do the 24K and 26K chassis handle towing ?

We are currently in the process of looking for a motor home to replace our fifth wheel and truck and it seems that we are going to be in the 35 to 38 foot range to find the floor plans we feel work for us since we are finding it hard to find a residential type floor plan such as our current fifth wheel( recliners you can see the tv from , dinning table and chairs not a booth , accessible bath and kitchen with slides closed) that sort of stuff. Our price point will keep us in the gas chassis unless we were to find a real great diesel deal. I have many questions about this change from fifth wheel to motorhome but my first is how the larger heavier gas motorhomes on these 24K and 26K ford chassis handle towing a dinghy in the weight range of 3300 lbs. We have a new Subaru Forester that is able to be towed with its standard transmission all four down. I just want to know from people that are using these heavier motorhome and towing this way how these chassis handle this weight on average highway grades and some steeper secondary roads. I know they are rated to tow 5K but do they really struggle when you put a 38 foot motorhome on top of a 24K or 26K chassis and then tow 3k-5K? Also I am finding the cost of setting up the dinghy to be in the $2K to $3K dollar range by the selling dealers is that a normal range for setting up a car to be towed, baseplates, wiring, tow bar and aux braking?
Thanks for any information or help in advance, this is a procces that I hope to get right the first time, took three trailers to find the one that worked for us for the last 8 years.
Mike
Class A

29 Replies

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  • rr2254545's avatar
    rr2254545
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Devocamper wrote:
    Thanks again for the replies.So far in our search our first choice would be a Winnebago Adventurer 38Q but I am wondering if a 38 footer and toad may be a bit much for the 26K chassis with the V10. I always thought that Winnebago was good quality but reading here today in other posts I guess that may no longer be true ? Seems like a lot of unhappy Winnebago owners. This is starting to seem like gambling you may get a good one or you possibly will have some major problems which is understandable moving a house down the road but former and current Winnebago owners here seem to be upset with support as well as quality. The 38Q is a 2014 leftover so the price is worth looking at but there are so many things that can come up from poor quality manufacturing. maybe back to the Tiffin website LOL
    Mike


    There is no problem with Winnebago -Remember this is the internet and it is a public forum for people with an ax to grind

    Winnebago has made over 400,000 motor homes in there history and still make a good one - why did I buy another Winnebago if they had problems

    - one recent kook on here claimed to have a list of ninty items - far more than anybody could ever have - a year earlier he said 39 item if you read his old posts
  • eadeal55's avatar
    eadeal55
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Another option might be to look at a 2-3 year old 38-40ft DP with table/chairs for dinette, and opposing couches, and think about replacing one couch with recliners, and the other one with a TV/entertainment center.

    We too have looked at several 36-38ft gas coaches on 24-26Klb chassis, trying to find a floorplan that is livable, and best we have found are the ones with bath and a half and center L couch...like the Tiffin 36LA They all seem to be at about the $150-165K price point, and I've gotten one dealer down to $110k on a cash/no trade deal.

    Not ready to buy now for a few more years, will wait to we get closer to full retirement, so we are now leaning towards getting a DP with residential features and just replace the couches. I know we'll be taking out possible sleeping space, but I really don't need a coach to sleep more than two anyway.
  • Devocamper's avatar
    Devocamper
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Thanks again for the replies.So far in our search our first choice would be a Winnebago Adventurer 38Q but I am wondering if a 38 footer and toad may be a bit much for the 26K chassis with the V10. I always thought that Winnebago was good quality but reading here today in other posts I guess that may no longer be true ? Seems like a lot of unhappy Winnebago owners. This is starting to seem like gambling you may get a good one or you possibly will have some major problems which is understandable moving a house down the road but former and current Winnebago owners here seem to be upset with support as well as quality. The 38Q is a 2014 leftover so the price is worth looking at but there are so many things that can come up from poor quality manufacturing. maybe back to the Tiffin website LOL
    Mike
  • rr2254545's avatar
    rr2254545
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Devocamper wrote:
    Ductape wrote:
    Our coach scales around 19k and the toad 6k. With the larger coach and small toad you'll be close to that. 30-35 mph is what we have been down to on some of the worst western grades in 2nd gear. It still has some reserve power at that speed.

    Haven't yet been passed under such conditions by a 40k lb diesel rig, but maybe someday it will happen.


    Thanks for the replies. Ductape When you encounter these conditions 30-35 mph what range of rpm is the V10 turning? I know I am not going to like the high RPM on the gas engines after so long with the diesel truck it will take some getting used to. Are there any past issues with over heating on the Ford chassis with the V10? I know the overheating can be related to the manufactures front end design but looking for any history
    Thanks
    mike


    Note a 6K toad is over capacity for his motor home - on our V10 ford we stayed under 5K on the toad and all was fine - I think I passed a truck going up hill once. If you stick to the interstate highways the grade is a maximum of 6-7 % grade in the rules
  • nevadanick's avatar
    nevadanick
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Careful with the entry level DP's as they dont have alot of towing capacity. My Tiffin Red doesnt leave much after you load the coach. Its quite easy to end up over gcwr with the transmission being the weak link. Find one with 3000 series Allison and your good to tow.
  • We_Cant_Wait's avatar
    We_Cant_Wait
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    In the length of MH you're looking at, you might want to consider several diesel pusher models in that range. One of them is by Winnebago in it's Forza model. They're priced as entry level DP's, and then towing will be less problematic.
  • Devocamper's avatar
    Devocamper
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Ductape wrote:
    Our coach scales around 19k and the toad 6k. With the larger coach and small toad you'll be close to that. 30-35 mph is what we have been down to on some of the worst western grades in 2nd gear. It still has some reserve power at that speed.

    Haven't yet been passed under such conditions by a 40k lb diesel rig, but maybe someday it will happen.


    Thanks for the replies. Ductape When you encounter these conditions 30-35 mph what range of rpm is the V10 turning? I know I am not going to like the high RPM on the gas engines after so long with the diesel truck it will take some getting used to. Are there any past issues with over heating on the Ford chassis with the V10? I know the overheating can be related to the manufactures front end design but looking for any history
    Thanks
    mike
  • Ductape's avatar
    Ductape
    Explorer
    Jun 29, 2015
    Our coach scales around 19k and the toad 6k. With the larger coach and small toad you'll be close to that. 30-35 mph is what we have been down to on some of the worst western grades in 2nd gear. It still has some reserve power at that speed.

    Haven't yet been passed under such conditions by a 40k lb diesel rig, but maybe someday it will happen.
  • Effy's avatar
    Effy
    Explorer II
    Jun 29, 2015
    I think you'll find 2 things; 1 - it really depends on the MH you are looking at as to its tow capacity. One fully loaded may have all 5k and another may only have 2k. This will be specific to the model. 2- Another thing you may find is that 38 feet is a lot to ask out of the Ford V-10. It's a great motor/trans/chassis but if I were going bigger than 35 I'd be looking at a DP. With a DP you'll usually end up with about 10k towing capacity. Not to knock anyone with a 36+ gasser but I've heard they can struggle a bit with their own weight, let alone a toad.

    That's probably close to the cost it takes to set up a toad by a dealer. If you bought base plates, bars, brakes, lights you are looking at $1200 - 2000 in parts alone. Add 8 hours of labor and you end up in the $3k range. Most folks install it themselves to save the money. Took me about 8 hours to install the baseplates on our CRV. It's not a fun job but can be done DIY. To do it again I'd probably spend the money and let the dealer do it.

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