We need to buy a toad! Need to know towing capacity first

Bumpyroad wrote:
is your Ford chassis the newer 99 with 19 inch tires? could have been built on a less beefy one with 16 inch rims. that could affect the capacity.
bumpy

19.5" wheels

If your hitch is rated for 5,000 lbs. that is the first indication that might be the limit. Also consider the weight rating of the towbar. Then it is matter of where you are at concerning your GVWR and GCWR. I like rk911's response above.

JimMartin wrote:
We need to buy a toad! Looking for a small SUV. Not really sure what the tow capacity is on my coach? Anybody know the towing capacity of a 1999 Coachmen Mirada 340MB with 12' slide? It's go the Ford F53 chassis and has the V10, Hitch is rated at 5k.

Thinking about a Toyota Rav4, Honda CR-V, or something along those lines.

as you have wisely determined before you buy anything you need to know just how much weight your MH can safely tow without exceeding the various weight ratings...gross combination weight rating (GCWR), gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) and each axle's gross axle weight rating (GAWR). you also need to know the actual curb weight of the vehicle you're planning to buy and whether that curb weight includes a full tank of gas (sometimes it does, sometimes it doesn't).

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

- the GCWR minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (food, fuel, water, LP, clothing, supplies, pets, people and misc. stuff); OR

- the weight rating of the MH hitch (Class II 3500-lbs, Class III 5000-lbs, Class IV 10,000-lbs); OR

- the weight rating of your towbar

load up the MH as you would for travel and then get individual axle weights at a certified scale. compare those axle weights to the published gross axle weight rating (GAWR) for that motorhome. the actual axle weight must be less than/equal to the rating for that axle. add the two axle weights to arrive at the total rolling weight and then apply the three conditions above. assume nothing.

good luck.

is your Ford chassis the newer 99 with 19 inch tires? could have been built on a less beefy one with 16 inch rims. that could affect the capacity.
bumpy

I don't know what the capacity of your coach is.

The most common toad is the Honda CRV. If cost is a major consideration, then you might want to consider some of the Saturn models. Most were towable.

Do you know the GVWR and the GCVWR? Should be posted in the mh someplace. If yes, subtract the two.....that will be your towing capacity.

Good luck

Ron