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AJarand's avatar
AJarand
Explorer
Sep 15, 2015

E350 - Does this make any sense?

We have have had class B/small class C motorhomes for about 15 years. Our current unit is a 2006 Phoenix Cruiser 2100 (21ft) on an E350 with dual rear wheels. With the V10 (6.8L)it is rated at 18,500lb GW with 10,000lb tow capacity. Weight currently is just over 9,000lb, leaving about 9,500 for towing.
We have never towed before, and use the unit for occasional weekend camping plus a couple trips per year from Illinois to visit grandkids in New Orleans. We like the small unit for ease of parking and can drive it around about anywhere a dually pickup can go. Also, while making long drives the wife can nap in the back, make coffee and sandwiches and we have our own restroom. (I know the wife SHOULD stay belted in and wear a helmet while moving, but she is a daredevil:)
Now that we are retiring, we want something larger for extended trips. Trading to a larger class C or and A would mean taking a beating on the Phoenix, which is in great shape and only has about 30K miles.
Travel trailers are much cheaper, but by the time you buy a good TV your still talking some money.
So the thought hit me..Why not buy a travel trailer in the 30ft or so range and tow it with the Phoenix. When camped the Phoenix would become our 'toad'. Or in this called 'pulled'.
Many of you who are far more knowledgeable about towing than I, may be slapping your foreheads wondering "What is this guy thinking?".
I welcome any comments or suggestions. Does this sound reasonable?

9 Replies

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  • AJarand's avatar
    AJarand
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    mkirsch wrote:
    The 18,500 GCWR and 10,000 towing capacity is for the E350 van or cab/chassis, correct? This information did not come from Phoenix Cruiser?

    Take a quick crawl under there and see if the frame was extended. Should be obvious; look for the fish plate on the frame rail. If it has been extended, then your dreams of towing a 10000lb camper just went POOF. Modifications to the frame throw all the ratings out the window.


    Thanks! The weight numbers come from the Ford owners manual. I will check the frame to see if it has been extended.
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Sep 15, 2015
    The 18,500 GCWR and 10,000 towing capacity is for the E350 van or cab/chassis, correct? This information did not come from Phoenix Cruiser?

    Take a quick crawl under there and see if the frame was extended. Should be obvious; look for the fish plate on the frame rail. If it has been extended, then your dreams of towing a 10000lb camper just went POOF. Modifications to the frame throw all the ratings out the window.
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    AJarand wrote:

    I'm also concerned a bit because the MH is built on the shorter wheelbase E350 which leaves a fairly long rear overhang.. Not sure if that would be a stability concern when towing?


    I see what you mean. Yours is built on the same 138" wheelbase on my van. I still think it's doable, with some extra precautions:

    1) Stick with an Ultra-light model. Possibly with spread axles, as they will be a little more stable. But skip anything with torsion axles, as torsion axles can't equalize the load between them, so anything but perfectly level can overload one of the trailer axles. Also, be sure the trailer does not have a short tongue. You need 4' from the ball to the trailer wall. (propane should be okay inside that zone)

    2) Use a virtual pivot point hitch, like the Hesnley or ProPride. This has the extra advantage of placing the pivot back a little further, giving a little extra turn clearance.


    That all said.... by the time you buy a new TT that fits your needs, and to the hitch upgrades, you'll be 1/3rd the way to a new Class C anyways, which drive better and the 2016s get better fuel economy too.
  • ragoodsp's avatar
    ragoodsp
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    Having towed over the years I personally would not want to pull a large trailer behind even a short Phoenix Cruiser. While I am sure the unit could do it I would just worry about the twisting, and other stresses that would be transferred to the chassis and coach itself. A larger trailer would have a fairly heavy tongue weight that would exceed the 500 lb limit I would think? The 2006 PC has bottomed out on value at this time and I would think you would trade to a larger unit and continue to enjoy the motor home experience and forget wanting to fight a TT wagging the PC. Just my two cents.
  • mrekim's avatar
    mrekim
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    It's nice to see a class c that's got a lot of cargo carrying capacity.

    I like your idea of towing a small trailer.


    I would suggest that you carefully check into tongue weights. If the frame has been extended then the the max tongue weight may be reduced from the original chassis spec. You might find that the max tongue weight will be your limiting factor vs axle ratings/gvwr/gcwr.


    Also, to be complete, get the weights on the front and rear axles to ensure that the axles are not near their capacity. With a weight distribution hitch you can assume that most of the carrying will be put on the rear axles. Given that you have so much extra capacity, I doubt this will be an issue, but its nice to know where you stand going in.


    Also, don't forget that the tongue weight in the TT brochure may be higher when set up for actual travel.
  • campigloo's avatar
    campigloo
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    Vans make really good TVs. Like others said just watch your weights. One advantage is most of the drag from the frontal area is already there. You probably won't even notice a huge difference in mpg. Not sure I would want to maintain two rvs to get to the same place but towing wise seems like it would work.
  • AJarand's avatar
    AJarand
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    Thanks for the tips. I have weighed the unit and comes in just under 9K lb lightly loaded and the hitch is a class3 5,000lb so will need upgraded for anything but a smaller trailer. I would upgrade to 10K and try to keep the trailer weight around 7K or so. Probably want to take a look at upgrading shocks etc as well.
    I'm also concerned a bit because the MH is built on the shorter wheelbase E350 which leaves a fairly long rear overhang.. Not sure if that would be a stability concern when towing?
  • carringb's avatar
    carringb
    Explorer
    Sep 15, 2015
    I think you'll also be fine, provided you are diligent with LOADED trailer weights, and you use a good weight distribution hitch. You will likely need to upgrade the RV's hitch receiver to one compatible with weight distribution (most RV ones are not). The regular E350 van receivers fit simply by re-arranging the frame shims.
  • jerem0621's avatar
    jerem0621
    Explorer II
    Sep 15, 2015
    Sounds doable to me. I think I would stick with a lighter weight TT. As long as the ratings are there on the tires and receiver hitch I think it may work fine.

    I do recommend weighing your rig to verify your loaded weight and comparing that to your gross vehicle weight (that's different from your gross combined vehicle weight).

    Thanks!

    Jeremiah

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