Answering "How Much" Questions
Sorry for this long and wordy post... I am looking for some feedback on a little project I have been working on today. Kind of a sick day for me... so I have taken the down time to try and be product...
Forum Discussion
Overhang will be an issue with Type A and C motor homes. ALONG WITH many pickups with campers that the owners put extensions on the hitch, so they can hook up ORC trailers, many of which are surge brakes. This can be both enclosed or open trailers. Boats are another commonly towed trailer within the RV industry.
THere are probably a higher % of Surge brakes than one wants to think or believe. This potential issue needs to be thought about, if one is going to put together a "BEST practice Towing guide". Pintle hitches are probably not going to be found in any great numbers in the RV industry. Construction or related towing industries, probably a lot. But if someone in that industry is looking for "Best Practice towing", they might look at an rv site to get the info via search engines etc. So some of the issues within this type of towing, should at least be mentioned, or thought about!
One should also look at it from a legal prospective. A Type A motor home with a manufactures GAWR of 25K lbs, does not get to run down the road legally at 25K lbs. They only get 20K lbs on it! There are a few instances where upwards of 22K can be put an individual axel, not sure that would be in the RV industry.
If Jerome or anyone wants to put out guidelines, charts, excel programs etc, with this info, it should attempt at including many of the minor things that can make or break a person in how well they may or may not tow things within the RV industry! Assuming this is aimed at ONLY the RV industry.
Ron has a formula that works fairly well, probably 50-75% of the time for how much wt is pulled off the FA depending upon overhang etc. The issue I see with it, is it does not take into account the different spring rates of vehicles. OR if it has a self leveling system. These items in my experience do effect how much wt is taken off the FA. Some times a bit more, some a bit less. IT is a reasonably good start.
Marty
THere are probably a higher % of Surge brakes than one wants to think or believe. This potential issue needs to be thought about, if one is going to put together a "BEST practice Towing guide". Pintle hitches are probably not going to be found in any great numbers in the RV industry. Construction or related towing industries, probably a lot. But if someone in that industry is looking for "Best Practice towing", they might look at an rv site to get the info via search engines etc. So some of the issues within this type of towing, should at least be mentioned, or thought about!
One should also look at it from a legal prospective. A Type A motor home with a manufactures GAWR of 25K lbs, does not get to run down the road legally at 25K lbs. They only get 20K lbs on it! There are a few instances where upwards of 22K can be put an individual axel, not sure that would be in the RV industry.
If Jerome or anyone wants to put out guidelines, charts, excel programs etc, with this info, it should attempt at including many of the minor things that can make or break a person in how well they may or may not tow things within the RV industry! Assuming this is aimed at ONLY the RV industry.
Ron has a formula that works fairly well, probably 50-75% of the time for how much wt is pulled off the FA depending upon overhang etc. The issue I see with it, is it does not take into account the different spring rates of vehicles. OR if it has a self leveling system. These items in my experience do effect how much wt is taken off the FA. Some times a bit more, some a bit less. IT is a reasonably good start.
Marty
