Increasing Towing Capacity
Good evening, Who sets the towing capacities for motorhomes? Why is my 25' class A on a P30 chassis limited to a 3500# tow limit, when a 30' class A on a P30 chassis will have a 5000# limit? Both rig...
Forum Discussion
Chassis manufacturer sets a GVWR and GCWR for each chassis variation, based mostly on weakest links.
Working with this, the RV manufacturer may put a tow rating on the RV as a whole, based on components installed and the RV structure. It can be less than GCWR - GVWR. Some manufacturers extend frames beyond what was supplied by the chassis manufacturer, others might just build more house back there without extending the frame. That 3500 pound limit came from GM, for many of the smaller P30 ratings.
Comparing a P30 to a Ford chassis, often the Ford will come from the factory with a higher GCWR, in some cases a high enough rating to support a 10,000 pound tow rating, if the RV manufacturer wants to use that.
Working with this, the RV manufacturer may put a tow rating on the RV as a whole, based on components installed and the RV structure. It can be less than GCWR - GVWR. Some manufacturers extend frames beyond what was supplied by the chassis manufacturer, others might just build more house back there without extending the frame. That 3500 pound limit came from GM, for many of the smaller P30 ratings.
Comparing a P30 to a Ford chassis, often the Ford will come from the factory with a higher GCWR, in some cases a high enough rating to support a 10,000 pound tow rating, if the RV manufacturer wants to use that.
