What short motor homes (Class A, B, or C), around 25' long, would have the best towing capacity and stability to pull a 20-25' travel trailer weighing around 5,000-6,000 lbs.?Yesterday I saw a Sprinter 2500 (long wheelbase, tall cab) pulling a Coachman Apex 215RBK (25'long, 7.5' wide, 6,500 GVWR, 4,365 dry, 450 hitch). It looked liked an interesting solution, but I would like a heavier tow vehicle for more stability and something with more towing capacity.What are your thoughts?Considerations of 25' Motorhome + 25' Travel Trailer vs. 20' Diesel Truck + 34' Fifth Wheel- Short motor home would be a more comfortable tow vehicle and solo vehicle for people and pets (space to move around, access to food and bathroom).- Short motor home could still be a run around vehicle after you drop the trailer and pitch camp, although not as versatile as 20' truck.- Short motor home isn't going to work as daily driver :), but the 20' truck will.- Short motor home could be used as a solo vehicle for short trips/weekenders, kind of the way Thor is selling the Axis/Vegas 25' "RUV".- Short motor home + trailer would not feel as stable towing as truck + fifth wheel- Overall length for short motor home + tow vehicle is about 50' vs. about 54' for 20' truck + 34' fifth wheel.- Fifth Wheel will have nicer living space and storage.- Short motor home + travel trailer could work as two living areas vs. one living area for fifth wheel. Depends on what you are looking for there.

No gas MH I know of in say the Winnebago line can tow over 5KEven the smaller Diesel pusher the Forza is rated at 5KSo over 5K you are looking at a Class A diesel pusher

I don't get the concept. What is the point of pulling a TT with a MH? It is just awkward and unwieldy.

Some of the E450 based MH's have up to 7500 lbs towing capacity. If you need more, you are looking at Super C's or larger Class A's. We went with a truck camper, so we had 4wd and 12k lbs of towing capacity. We tow a 20' enclosed trailer weighing 6-8k lbs based on what is loaded and found the E450 would have been stretched to its limits.

ppine wrote:I don't get the concept. What is the point of pulling a TT with a MH? It is just awkward and unwieldy.Sometimes you want bring along friends or family but don't want to share living space.

I'd take the truck and fifth wheel. I wouldn't feel too good about letting my kids or wife roam around a MH while underway and even strapped to a couch I don't think it's as safe as being in a crash-tested truck with airbags all around. Plus when you park the trailer you have the truck as a handy vehicle to get around in, and when you have the FW parked at home the truck can be used to commute, haul around stuff, pull a utility trailer, etc. I also think a truck and fifth wheel is pretty hard to beat as a stable and comfortable combination to pull down the road. I admit that I've never driven a diesel Class A so maybe they drive easier - I'd have to defer to others on that comparison.

Best Short Motor Home (A, B, or C) for Towing 25' trailer?

scrubjaysnest
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
Our Axis, 25 foot 3 inches, has a 22K GCVWR, on the scales it weighs 12400#, but the receiver is 8000# with a 500# tongue weight.
carringb
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
rr2254545 wrote:
No gas MH I know of in say the Winnebago line can tow over 5K
Even the smaller Diesel pusher the Forza is rated at 5K
So over 5K you are looking at a Class A diesel pusher

All of the Forest River Ford E450 motorhomes have a 7500# hitch receiver.

All THOR Ford E450 motorhomes have a 8,000# hitch receiver.

GCWR of the E450 is 22,000 pounds. GVWR is 14,500 so 7,500 is actually realistic, as long as the rear axle isn't over loaded with tongue weight and cargo.
mkirsch
Nomad II
Nov 23, 2016
In my experience most A and B class motor homes are only rated to tow 3500lbs. NO weight distributing hitches allowed.

This is because the coach manufacturer scabs has to extend factory frame, and the hitch receiver is installed on that extended section. They are not comfortable with accepting the liability for any more than 3500lbs, and that does not give me much confidence in going beyond those limits.

Heck the frame may be good for 10,000lbs for all we know, but are you willing to plunk $50,000+ down to test the theory? I'm not.

I have seen a few larger (30'-ish) older class A motorhomes pulling 8.5x24' enclosed utility trailers home from the track on race weekends over the years. Trailer has tandem 5200lb axles. Weight distribution hitch is in use. No apparent problems. Who knows what was done to those motorhomes, maybe nothing? Not sure if I would take that as blanket evidence proving that it's an okay thing to do, though. Come to think of it I haven't seen any of those rigs last summer, so maybe the answer is "no?"
sch911
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
MH and Toad is the correct way to do this. Keep the toad under 5K and any C or A can tow it.
IdaD
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
I'd take the truck and fifth wheel. I wouldn't feel too good about letting my kids or wife roam around a MH while underway and even strapped to a couch I don't think it's as safe as being in a crash-tested truck with airbags all around. Plus when you park the trailer you have the truck as a handy vehicle to get around in, and when you have the FW parked at home the truck can be used to commute, haul around stuff, pull a utility trailer, etc. I also think a truck and fifth wheel is pretty hard to beat as a stable and comfortable combination to pull down the road. I admit that I've never driven a diesel Class A so maybe they drive easier - I'd have to defer to others on that comparison.
Bedlam
Moderator
Nov 23, 2016
ppine wrote:
I don't get the concept. What is the point of pulling a TT with a MH? It is just awkward and unwieldy.

Sometimes you want bring along friends or family but don't want to share living space.
Bedlam
Moderator
Nov 23, 2016
Some of the E450 based MH's have up to 7500 lbs towing capacity. If you need more, you are looking at Super C's or larger Class A's.

We went with a truck camper, so we had 4wd and 12k lbs of towing capacity. We tow a 20' enclosed trailer weighing 6-8k lbs based on what is loaded and found the E450 would have been stretched to its limits.
ppine
Explorer II
Nov 23, 2016
I don't get the concept. What is the point of pulling a TT with a MH? It is just awkward and unwieldy.
rr2254545
Explorer
Nov 23, 2016
No gas MH I know of in say the Winnebago line can tow over 5K
Even the smaller Diesel pusher the Forza is rated at 5K
So over 5K you are looking at a Class A diesel pusher

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Best Short Motor Home (A, B, or C) for Towing 25' trailer?

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