1978 Chevy 30 motorhome

[Tannerwilliams]

Hey everyone,

I'm looking at an 18 foot Chevy motorhome with a 350 big block, I can't find any specs on the motor or chassis but does anyone know if it would be possible to dinghy tow my Jeep Wrangler?

[rockhillmanor]

If you live where you have to do smog tests I'd stay far far away from older MH's with carberated motor's especially the Dodge ones!

[rockhillmanor]

Tannerwilliams wrote:
Hey everyone,

I'm looking at an 18 foot Chevy motorhome with a 350 big block, I can't find any specs on the motor or chassis but does anyone know if it would be possible to dinghy tow my Jeep Wrangler?

Short answer is no, as mentioned in all the above posts.

What 'year' MH are you looking at? What's your price range?

There are a ton of older MH's in the 90 years for sale with the Ford V10, which is what you ARE going to need to pull the jeep.

Most C's 'with the bigger engine' are rated for 6,000 lbs but NO ONE pulls that much weight it just too much weight. Most of us like to stick to towing cars that weigh around 3,000 lbs.

[Mile_High]

Tannerwilliams wrote:
@milehigh- that's what I thought too so I'm assuming the owner, an 80 year man, must have poor information. @braindead well I was trying to find out as I am supposed to go see it tomorrow but it's two and a half hours away, does anyone know if something a little lager such as an older 24 foot, have a little more chance of the capability?

There were a lot of the Dodge 360, 440 as well in the 24 foot. The 440 just used more gas, not really a big change in power. I wouldn't recommend those either. They may have pulled a Jeep or two, but the old CJ that weighed in at 2,200 lbs. That Wrangler starts at 3,500 or the new ones a little over 4,000 lbs.

If you can find a V10 Ford or the Chev Workhorse, I would think you would be fine but that is going to be a newer rig.

(I stand corrected on the 400 being a small block)

[mleekamp]

FYI -- 350 and 400 are small blocks. That is, dimensionaly the block is "smaller". belairbrian is correct with his big block list.

By the way, belair brian, I have a '62 impala with the 283. Off topic....

[belairbrian]

At that time the once powerful chevy small block was suffering under government emisson regulations and would make under 200hp.

Of course if you can buy cheap enough to build a proper small block anything is possible. The last 350 I built made just shy of 350 hp.

Chevy big blocks include the 396, 402, 427, 454, 496 and 502.

[gbopp]

Mile High wrote:
I would say no. That 350 is doing what it can to move the motorhome without the Jeep. 350 is a small block, unless there is something unique about the MH engines. A big block might be a 454 or 400.

I believe the 350 and 400 are Small Block engines.
And, I agree, the 350 is probably maxed out just moving the motorhome.
Hopefully someone has better info.

[Tannerwilliams]

@milehigh- that's what I thought too so I'm assuming the owner, an 80 year man, must have poor information. @braindead well I was trying to find out as I am supposed to go see it tomorrow but it's two and a half hours away, does anyone know if something a little lager such as an older 24 foot, have a little more chance of the capability?

[braindead0]

I spent a lot of time trying to find a smaller motorhome that'd tow my wrangler without any luck. Generally manufacturers seem to put in the lightest chassis/engine combination they can get away with. Not always of course, but I can't imagine that being capable. There should be a plate somewhere listing weight ratings I'd think?

[Mile_High]

I would say no. That 350 is doing what it can to move the motorhome without the Jeep. 350 is a small block, unless there is something unique about the MH engines. A big block might be a 454 or 400.