I have a 2011 Lincoln MKZ hybrid that can be flat towed behind my 2017 Jayco 31FS. The issue for me is should I ? The rig is not far off gross at 14,500, the MKZ is about 3800 pounds. The GCWR is 22,000 pounds, but I'm hung up thinking that I should get something lighter, even though the numbers fit. I'm worried about the extra stress on the transmission. Perhaps you guys could give me a talking too that's it's OK. I've been eyeing up 2300 pound cars thinking that would be better, but maybe I'm just trying to baby it too much. Thanks in advance.

Check all the ratings (not just GCWR) but if the 14,500 is the fully loaded weight that puts you at around 18,400 GCW pulling the mkz you well under the 22,000 GCWR.On the surface, I'm not seeing where there should be any issue.

valhalla360 wrote:Check all the ratings (not just GCWR) but if the 14,500 is the fully loaded weight that puts you at around 18,400 GCW pulling the mkz you well under the 22,000 GCWR.On the surface, I'm not seeing where there should be any issue.I don't see an issue either. But needless to say, the lighter the better, whether in what we pack inside or tow behind. We've had four toads in two pairs over the years. First was Toyota Tercel about 2200, Mitsubishi pickup about 2500. Traded for second pair which is Corolla about 2800, Nissan Frontier pickup around 3800. We could feel the weight differences in climbing grades and in stopping. When we got the Frontier, the plan was to use it as toad, didn't set the Corolla up with base plate etc. When we decided to try the Corolla we could tell at once that the 1000 pound savings made enough difference to make the equipping effort worthwhile. Now we don't take the Frontier unless we specifically need to have the truck.

Don't see an issue with what you are planning. Make sure the hitch and tow systems are rated appropriately.We dingy-tow a '14 Cadillac SRX (~4000lbs) behind our rig with no problems, and we are closer to GCWR than you. It's a class A with the V10, but shouldn't matter.What chassis is your rig on?

You can't over work your engine or transmission. Worst case, if you're severely overloaded, a larger transmission cooler may be useful, but you won't hurt anything.Keep in mind the V10 with the 6-speed TorqueShift is used in Medium Duty Trucks up to 37,000 gross combined.I regularly run at 22,000 combined, sometimes as high as 25,000 combined, and I have over 450,000 miles and engine and transmission are original, except for some PM items (coils, injectors, timing chain, radiator) and my transmission is the old 4R100, which is not near as capable as the 6R140 that you have.

We flat tow a 2017 Ford Explorer behind our 2015 (ie V10 with 5 speed) Class C with no problems. The explorer, loaded to travel is much closer to 5000 pounds than 4000 and it does very well back there. I was surprised at how little I feel it back there and how little it impacts our travel. We do lose about 1/2 to 3/4 mpg but with the exception of very steep hills, we rarely even feel it. Good brakes on the towed vehicle are important. We use a Ready Brute elite tow bar with built in surge brakes that does a good job and is very simple to use. But there are many options.

How many tow a 4000 pound dingy behind a class c with V 10

tatest
Explorer II
May 17, 2018
carringb wrote:
blownstang01 wrote:

Interesting. I have a 31' Winnebago and with our 4,300lb Exlporer I have never felt this. Only on long hills do I have any indication it's back there. Curiously, I do have Hellwig bars and Koni shocks, I wonder if that's the difference.

Likely its a function of wheelbase ratio. Most the "29-foot" models have a 202-208" wheelbase it seems. The 31-footers have a 220"+ wheelbase, so the longer coaches gain it mostly in wheelbase, making them more stable, especially if something is pushing on the hitch. But things like steering caster (both the RV and the toad) and even tire pressure affect it.

My 29 footer is 29'8" with 190 inch wheelbase, so anything attached to the hitch has lots of leverage.
rjstractor
Nomad
May 18, 2018
Wow, that's a lot of overhang! (and tailswing) The C I used to have was about the same length but had a 206" wheelbase. I didn't feel a toad or trailer but the flip side was a longer turning radius.
blownstang01
Explorer
May 18, 2018
carringb wrote:
blownstang01 wrote:

Interesting. I have a 31' Winnebago and with our 4,300lb Exlporer I have never felt this. Only on long hills do I have any indication it's back there. Curiously, I do have Hellwig bars and Koni shocks, I wonder if that's the difference.

Likely its a function of wheelbase ratio. Most the "29-foot" models have a 202-208" wheelbase it seems. The 31-footers have a 220"+ wheelbase, so the longer coaches gain it mostly in wheelbase, making them more stable, especially if something is pushing on the hitch. But things like steering caster (both the RV and the toad) and even tire pressure affect it.

Ahh, that makes sense.

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How many tow a 4000 pound dingy behind a class c with V 10

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