Hi,I'm not sure what's going on here but from all of the information I've seen the 2007 Sportscoach Elite 40QSL comes standard with a 10K hitch.For some reason the Sportscoach I'm looking at only has a 5k hitch.I'm being told by my dealer, CW, that they called Forest River (who bought out Coachmen) that it didn't come with a 10k hitch and they would not recommend putting one on. I find this hard to believe.I emailed Danielle Davis at Forest River and gave her the coach's VIN. She said:Hello Eric, I'm sorry but I don't have anything with records to records on units built prior to 2008. Forest River bought out Coachmen in 2008 and did not buy the rights to the history so I have no way of looking this unit up. Danielle Davis Forest River Sales / Dispatch Coachmen Plant 310 P: 574-825-8225 Yet my CW says when they gave Forest River the VIN the coach did not come with the 5k hitch.Does anyone know for sure if a 10k hitch will work with this coach? If so, where can I get one and a ballpark price? I need to deduct this from what I'm paying for the Sportscoach.Thanks!Eric

The easy way to figure out is to check the GCWR and GVWR against the dry weight. Generally if you don't exceed the GCWR or GVWR when fully loaded for a trip you can tow whatever is left for your GCWR. The hitch is only one part of the total system.

Eric, there's more to towing capacity than the rating of a hitch. One cannot simply remove a 5k rated hitch and replace it with a 10k hitch and be safe. Other factors come into play such as frame stability, engine and transmission combos, weight issues etc. Much more research is needed on your part as to THIS particular coach before you can make an intelligent decision as to increasing the hitch capacity. I wouldn't want to plunk down my hard earned cash to later find out it was a mistake...just sayin...Dennis

"eric99".....You say the 2007 Elite comes with a 10K hitch and the "coach" you're looking at is a 5K. Can you clarify...is the coach you're looking at an Elite. Sportscoach made some really entry level coaches and then one nice coach, the Elite. I suspect all their other coaches are 5K hitches.

We have a 2005 Sportscoach-Elite. It is on a Freightliner XC-R chassis. It has a Hidden Hitch brand 10,000# hitch. If you have the same chassis I see no reason you could not upgrade to the same hitch I have. The R on the chassis ID designates raised frame. The frame is above the storage compartments allowing pass through compartments.Jim

Here's what I've been able to find. Help me check the arithmetic please.I called Freightliner, gave them the VIN and they told me the chasis left their factory with a hitch receiver rated at 10k lbs. I have the BOM which supports their statement.The GCWR is 42,000 lbs (gotten from rvweb.com). Other weights are taken from an FMCA magazine review which I quote:The Elite's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is listed at 33,460 pounds. I weighed it at the local moving and storage scale with a full tank of fuel (100 gallons), a full tank of fresh water (103 gallons), and 50.6 gallons of LP gas. The unit tipped the scales at 29,300 pounds, which left an amazing 4,160 pounds for passengers and cargo. The front axle has a gross axle weight rating (GAWR) of 13,460 pounds, and the actual weight for this axle on my test coach was 10,560 pounds. The rear axle has a GAWR of 20,000 pounds, and the actual weight on the test coach was 18,360 pounds. The Elite is rated to tow 10,000 pounds and comes standard with a 10,000-pound receiver hitch.42,000 - 29,300 = 12,700lbs available for towing, people and cargo.Since it has a 5k hitch installed I can only assume the owner changed the hitch for some reason, unless he special ordered it with a 5k hitch. That seems illogical to me but....So, to all of you towing experts out there, what would it take to have this 5k hitch removed and made into a 10k hitch? The receiver should still be attached? What's the cost? Could you please point me in the right direction for sources?After all of this I'm beginning to wonder about the integrity of CW business manager. Why he would tell me it's ok to tow 8k lbs with a 5k hitch really made me wonder. Of course he retracted and said CW wouldn't sign up to that. Why, according to CW, Forest River's engineer strongly recommended that the coach really wouldn't support 10k also makes me wonder. I do hope I've missed something, or there's a misunderstanding somewhere and my wondering is unfounded.

10K hitch on a 2007 Sportscoach Elite...No Longer?

PastorCharlie
Explorer
Mar 14, 2015
Here is what you need, scan toward the bottom of page for different hitches up to 16,000 lbs. Google Knows
topflite51
Explorer
Mar 14, 2015
Curt Manufacturing makes several CL 5 hitches, might call them.
eric99
Explorer
Mar 13, 2015
dougrainer wrote:
1. IF Freightliner states this VIN chassis can support a 10k hitch, then you can install a 10k hitch.
2. The OEM (RV maker) does NOT modify to install any hitches. They install or it comes from the chassis maker with the appropriate rated Hitch.
3. The Hitch rating has nothing to do with the gross weight of the vehicle and possible complete towed weight. The hitch rating has to do with how STRONG the rear end frame rails have been built by the chassis maker. There are chassis that are rated for 10k but have a 5k hitch installed.
4. The main thing you need to worry about from Freightliner is IF they built your specific chassis to utilize a 10k hitch
5. People that have a 5k rated chassis and hitch have for years, gone to certified welders and have a 10k installed and the extra required steel gussets added to beef up the frame to safely use a 10k hitch. Doug

Doug,

That's some good info. Freightliner told me the plates will handle a 10K hitch.

Problem is I can't find a manufacturer of 10 hitches. Do you or anyone know where I could buy a 10K hitch?
dougrainer
Nomad
Mar 13, 2015
1. IF Freightliner states this VIN chassis can support a 10k hitch, then you can install a 10k hitch.
2. The OEM (RV maker) does NOT modify to install any hitches. They install or it comes from the chassis maker with the appropriate rated Hitch.
3. The Hitch rating has nothing to do with the gross weight of the vehicle and possible complete towed weight. The hitch rating has to do with how STRONG the rear end frame rails have been built by the chassis maker. There are chassis that are rated for 10k but have a 5k hitch installed.
4. The main thing you need to worry about from Freightliner is IF they built your specific chassis to utilize a 10k hitch
5. People that have a 5k rated chassis and hitch have for years, gone to certified welders and have a 10k installed and the extra required steel gussets added to beef up the frame to safely use a 10k hitch. Doug
Executive45
Explorer III
Mar 13, 2015
Sorry if I seemed a bit harsh...I didn't mean it that way...I just want you to be sure the coach you're looking at is correct. Strange things happen to coaches AFTER they leave the factory and/or the chassis mfg. Who knows...error on the side of caution and you should be ok...but I'd check the coach out very carefully, as something's not right....BOL....Dennis
eric99
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
moisheh wrote:
Are you sure that unit is a Sportscoach Elite? Is it a raised rail chassis? Just bolting up a 10,000 hitch to a MH does not make it a 10,000 lb. hitch. Maybe they reinforced the rear frame section for the heavier hitch. Our Dynast has a 10,000 lb. hitch and it is one beefy "mother". Our Bounder also had a 10,000 hitch and it was beefy. I think it was held to the frame with Huck bolts. You will need a good fabrication shop to install any hitch.

Moisheh

Moisheh,

Elite is written on the side of the motorhome.

If Freightliner says it left their factory with a 10k receiver for a hitch then I have to assume it's an Elite and that the chasis will handle 10k lbs.

I'm told it is on a raised rail chasis but I'd need to double check.

Eric
moisheh
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
Are you sure that unit is a Sportscoach Elite? Is it a raised rail chassis? Just bolting up a 10,000 hitch to a MH does not make it a 10,000 lb. hitch. Maybe they reinforced the rear frame section for the heavier hitch. Our Dynast has a 10,000 lb. hitch and it is one beefy "mother". Our Bounder also had a 10,000 hitch and it was beefy. I think it was held to the frame with Huck bolts. You will need a good fabrication shop to install any hitch.

Moisheh
eric99
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
Executive wrote:
I'm not sure why you're going to RVWeb et al for the info on similar coaches. What matters is the COACH YOU'RE LOOKING AT....:S.

Look INSIDE the coach and find the MFG sticker and use THOSE numbers. Everything else is simply speculation. Now if you're simply looking for feel good justification to increase your towing capacity to 10k then buy the 10k hitch, load her up and hit the road.....IMHO, and you've already expressed concern as to why someone would DOWNGRADE the hitch, there's some reason why THAT coach has a 5k hitch on it....your money, your coach, your safety..you choose...Dennis

Executive,

I fully intend to look at the data plates once I get back to the MH. The best information I have now says 10K is standard; not an option. And, I'm well within the GCWR for a 10k hitch.

You raise a good point and I'll see if the prior owner can be contacted to find out why the switch.

I'm also going to look real hard at the current hitch to make sure there isn't a 1 in front of the 5. Would make more sense if he upgraded to a 15k hitch to tow 12k lbs. I don't know, I'm just guessing. I just find it hard to believe he downgraded.

More info to follow :-)
Big_Katuna
Explorer II
Mar 12, 2015
When I bought my 05 Fleetwood on a Freightliner XCS the sticker on the hitch said it was rated for 10000 pounds 1000 pound tongue weight.

About a year later I received a letter from FL along with a new sticker that said they derated the tongue weight to 500 pounds and if you towed over 5000 you had to have an equalizing weight distribution system.

It didn't affect me as all I towed was a Honda and sometimes a 2500 trailer.

But there were a few here that we're towing big car trailers that were affected and pi$$ed off.

I wonder if your chassis was mixed in that issue and just handled differently?

Have looked carefully at your sticker to see if there is an old underneath it?
jauguston
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015
Dennis,

Freightliner says there chassis left the factory with a 10,000# hitch. It doesn't sound like he is trying to go into dangerous territory to me. I have the same coach with a 10,000# hitch.

Jim