How much towing capacity for 454 Chevy Class A motorhome?

The 7.4 TBI will not have any problems pulling your combination. Just remember that ypou will not fly over some of the passes at 60 miles per hour. The trnasmission on some grades will drop down one or two gears.
You should invest in a good auxiliary braking device. I use a SMI Stay-N-Play. The Roadmaster Invisi brake works very similar. I like these styles because you do not have to remove it during normal toad operation.

What year is the chassis will tell the tale. I was thinking a 90 had a carb and not TBI until 1991.

windymountain wrote:

enblethen wrote:
Welcome to RV. net!
To answer this question "Need a little more information.

Ehat year is rig? It is a 1991 Rexhall 31 foot

Is it a 454 carburated, 7.4 TBI or Vortec 7.4?

I don't know but will find out tomorrow.

Which transmission? three speed or four speed with over drive?

I don't know but will find out tomorrow.

It will be a 454 TBI which is the same thing as a 7.4 TBI as they are one and the same.

wny_pat wrote:

windymountain wrote:


Torque at low speed? Does that mean no power or what?

Lots of power to pick up and get going quicker

windymountain wrote:
Disconnect and have DW (?) drive it. What's DW?

DW = Dear Wife or Darling Wife

really I think its DW= dish washer

windymountain wrote:


Torque at low speed? Does that mean no power or what?

Lots of power to pick up and get going quicker

windymountain wrote:
Disconnect and have DW (?) drive it. What's DW?

DW = Dear Wife or Darling Wife

windymountain wrote:
Hello, I'm thinking of buying a Class A Rexair with a 454 Chevy engine. Do you think I can safely tow my 1990 Toyota truck (3430 scale weight on title) with this or similar rig? My truck was towed before and has a huge iron bracket that sticks out from under the front bumper that I can see used to have a tow bar on it. Anybody had any luck with this type engine on a Class a 31' motorhome before? Any advice would be so much appreciated. Thanks, W

Sent you a PM, click on the red "Private Messages" option at the top right of the screen.

I would suggest you will probably be OK, but right on the edge of what you really want to do. My original engine was a 454. When I towed my Old Cherokee (XJ), it was just fine. I think the Cherokee was around 3100+ lbs. 2 things in your favor, Rexhall coaches tend to not be as tall as other coaches of the same time period, which will improve handling. Also, 31 feet is not too bad on length. Those older coaches on the P30 chassis don't do well as the coach gets longer. If you don't like the handling, you may need to ad a track bar to the rear, to help it turn when towing. Long term, I would also anticipate installing headers and free flowing exhaust. It is not uncommon to have exhaust manifold leaks on the 454, so anticipate that in your long term budget.

From RV Safety and Education Foundation, three things to consider:

MAXIMUM amount of weight you can SAFELY tow is the LESSER of the following:

- the GCWR minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (food, fuel, water, LP, clothing, supplies, pets, people and misc. stuff); OR

- the weight rating of the MH hitch (Class II 3500-lbs, Class III 5000-lbs, Class IV 10,000-lbs); OR

- the weight rating of your tow bar

Emphasis added, as it depends on YOUR definition of safety....Dennis

windymountain that may be a great MH for you or it may not be so check it out.

Remember it is old and will require the better part of $5K to get it ready for a cross country trip or less if you plan to stay within 100 miles of home.

The major mistake many of us make is over paying for an old MH.

If the chassis (not the MH) is older than 1991 it will have a carb and NOT fuel injection and are worth around $3K or so if it has not just come off of a 5000 mile cross country trip successfully. After you learn more details of year, etc that will help.

The 454 can be a dog or a powerhouse of an engine and I think getting the timing set right is key. Our 1992 makes more power on premium gas and I think that is due to the anti knock timing retarding of that era.

Keep your eyes open. :)

Welcome to the forum Windymountain. There is lot of information available, just ask.

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