Towing - Cargo - Fuel Type - Egads
Hi, New member first post. Never had a MH and we are thinking about what it looks like to be an owner. I've read through some of the intro's and FAQ's, thank you so much for taking the time to pu...
Forum Discussion
You need to pay attention to GVWR of the chassis vs actual weight of the motorhome. These weights, from measurements at the factory, are posted somewhere within each motorhome.
Manufacturer to manufacturer, different model lines of each manufacturer, there will be a lot of variation, particularly Class A gassers. A manufacturer might put a 16,000 pound motorhome on a 18,000 GVWR chassis in an entry level model line, and put a similar floorplan at 16,500 pounds on a 20,000 GVWR chassis. With all those Ford F-53 chassis out there, both will be 26,000 GCWR, the cheaper one can tow 8000 fully loaded, the more expensive one only 6000, though you are much less likely to load it to max. Both will likely come out of the RV manufacturer with a 5000 tow rating, because of the hitch installed.
Going into the buying process, you need to have a good idea of how much weight you want to carry, how much weight you want to tow. Then you check the numbers for each example you consider for purchase.
The really critical issue in buying is not whether it needs ULSD, what it can carry, what it can tow. Those things (at least the latter two) can be worked out quickly if you have realistic needs.
The critical issue is "can we live in this thing" which depends on how it is layed out, how you want to use it, and is less dependent on size than a lot of people think. I've met couples full timing in 13 and 16 foot egg trailers, 12-foot A-frame popups, and others who can't live together with each other in anything less than a 45-foot MH with full wall slideouts on both sides. I wanted a 21-foot van conversion, my wife needed at least 200 sq ft of house.
You need to get into some RVs before you have an idea of what fits your needs, then you can start working on technical details.
Tag axle is additional axle to carry more weight, since DOT puts per-axle weight limits on vehicles, usually 20,000 pounds maximum for a single axle. Thus you'll see four load carrying axles (plus steer on the tractor) of a 80,000 pound truck, and extra axles, sometimes liftable tags, for trucks that carry even heavier loads. You start seeing tag axles on motorhomes when GVWR starts getting over 34,000-36,000 pounds, on up to about 54,000 pounds for the heaviest Prevost coaches.
Manufacturer to manufacturer, different model lines of each manufacturer, there will be a lot of variation, particularly Class A gassers. A manufacturer might put a 16,000 pound motorhome on a 18,000 GVWR chassis in an entry level model line, and put a similar floorplan at 16,500 pounds on a 20,000 GVWR chassis. With all those Ford F-53 chassis out there, both will be 26,000 GCWR, the cheaper one can tow 8000 fully loaded, the more expensive one only 6000, though you are much less likely to load it to max. Both will likely come out of the RV manufacturer with a 5000 tow rating, because of the hitch installed.
Going into the buying process, you need to have a good idea of how much weight you want to carry, how much weight you want to tow. Then you check the numbers for each example you consider for purchase.
The really critical issue in buying is not whether it needs ULSD, what it can carry, what it can tow. Those things (at least the latter two) can be worked out quickly if you have realistic needs.
The critical issue is "can we live in this thing" which depends on how it is layed out, how you want to use it, and is less dependent on size than a lot of people think. I've met couples full timing in 13 and 16 foot egg trailers, 12-foot A-frame popups, and others who can't live together with each other in anything less than a 45-foot MH with full wall slideouts on both sides. I wanted a 21-foot van conversion, my wife needed at least 200 sq ft of house.
You need to get into some RVs before you have an idea of what fits your needs, then you can start working on technical details.
Tag axle is additional axle to carry more weight, since DOT puts per-axle weight limits on vehicles, usually 20,000 pounds maximum for a single axle. Thus you'll see four load carrying axles (plus steer on the tractor) of a 80,000 pound truck, and extra axles, sometimes liftable tags, for trucks that carry even heavier loads. You start seeing tag axles on motorhomes when GVWR starts getting over 34,000-36,000 pounds, on up to about 54,000 pounds for the heaviest Prevost coaches.
