36 Bounder Ford V-10 Towing Limits

jmcgilvary wrote:
The wife and I were going to buy a replacement coach, Diesel Pusher, because of the better towing abilities.
The issue is, at present, we have a 2002 36ft Fleetwood Bounder with a Ford V-10.
Going up a bridge, the coach has to drop down into "passing gear" to get up most expressway bridges.
This makes me think that I will never be able to pull a TOAD of any size.
I wanted to pull a truck with a golf cart. Now I know that is NEVER gonna happen with this gas coach.
Am I mistaken in believing I will never tow? Maybe a small compact car?
Would a Bank's System help at all?
Or, should I just plan to rent a car when I get there, and use the golf cart for the park?
We just do not want to buy another coach, thinking this will last us as long as we expect to be able (only have 38K miles on it to date)
Thanks

have you weighed your MH as you normally load it for travel? we have a 2000 Itasca suncruiser with the ford V10/F53. we tow either a 2003 Jeep Wrangler (approx. 3400-lbs) or a 2010 Jeep Liberty (approx. 3900-lbs). our MH also drops into 2nd going up hills whether we're towing or not. I don't see a problem with that.

in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

* the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, eyc)

* the weight rating of your tow bar

* the weight rating of your hitch

if you want to cruise up hills and the like at 55-60 MPH then you are going to need something other than your gasser.