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erikandmaggie's avatar
erikandmaggie
Explorer
Jun 17, 2015

Towing question/help with new rig

Ok so I'm shopping around to get my first motorhome moving up from a travel trailer. I've been leaning toward a gas class A until recently when I saw that the newer Class C's with the E450 have a 7500# hitch and towing capacity. I would like to tow 4 down but with that many kids my choices are limited. I currently have a 1500 Suburban that I could tow 4 down but of course they are heavy and I wouldn't be able to do that unless I went Diesel in the Class A. I was going to get a Ford Explorer which would work with the class A but that would mean I would have to buy that in addition as I still want to keep the suburban. Current specs on the one I've been looking at (2016 Coachman Leprechaun 319DS) shows a GVWR of 14500 and a GCWR of 22000. With the Suburban coming in around 6000# It would seem by the numbers that I would be ok. Granted I realize that I wouldn't be breaking any records going up hills and gas mileage would suffer and of course would need a good supplemental breaking etc, but is there something I'm missing or a reason that I would regret it?

If I go this route the rig will cost me $30k less than the class A I was looking at and I save another $25k in not having to buy an additional rig.

Appreciate your input in advance
Class C
  • j-d's avatar
    j-d
    Explorer II
    Jun 17, 2015
    The name "La Bajada" comes to mind. OP, if you're a flatlander, more like DocP, yes you're within the coach's ratings. In the intermountain region, I think you'll be disappointed. Depending on the trips you take, you can disconnect the Burb and drive separately for the steepest parts of a trip. But if mountain travel is your steady diet, you'll get tired of doing that.
  • DocP's avatar
    DocP
    Explorer
    Jun 17, 2015
    I have the 2016 Coachmen Leprechaun 319DS with the Class IV (7500 pound) receiver and a 2015 front wheel drive Ford Explorer that I tow four down. As I recall, my Explorer's curb weight is about 4400 pounds, and I'm towing with the Blue Ox base plate and Aventa LX tow bar. I've kept the cargo weight down in the motorhome (it's just me and my wife), and after a couple of three hour trips, I am pretty pleased with how the setup handles on the highway. I haven't had to tackle any real steep grades yet, but will be making several trips through West Virginia this summer and will see how it handles there. I wouldn't go so far as to say that I don't know that it's back there, but it tracks very well behind the motorhome, and I'm still getting used to taking wide turns and using both the side view cameras and mirrors to make sure that I don't clip anything in the turns.

    As an aside, I'm going to take the motorhome in for an alignment because even without towing the Explorer there is a slight amount of play in the steering that is magnified a bit when towing. The motorhome only has about 900 miles on it, but I've been reading on this forum that a lot of new motorhomes leave the factory with a less-than-desirable alignmnet.

    Since I'm relatively new to owing the Class C (I've had a travel trailer for over 30 years), I'll be curious as to what others have to say about this setup. At least for the time being, it's working for me. It was pretty pricey to get the entire setup (base plate, tow bar, wiring for the lights, Blue Ox Patriot brake system, etc.), but I wasn't going to get a new vehicle after just having bought the Explorer.

    I realize that you are specifically asking about towing your 1500 Suburban, but just wanted to weigh in on the alternative you suggested. Good luck with your decision!

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