Curb weight

[concord_05]

We are trading our class A for a 2016 Forest River 2401w with the Mercedes Diesel engine. We tow a 2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4wd which has a curb weight of around 4600. Our new rig is rated to tow at 4200/350. Do I really have to get rid of my Jeep? I know that I am going to have to trim down what we put in there as these rigs can’t carry a lot. We have never had a diesel RV. Our advancing age is pushing us to go smaller in hopes we can continue this for many more years and share the driving more. I like the freedom a toad vehicle provides us for exploring but may just do without if I can’t tow my Jeep.

[dbertheau]

zb39 wrote:
What do you have on your wrangler that makes it weigh so much. I have a 2 door JL myself.

Steel bumpers front and back, winch, steel armor under, beefier drag link, tie rod, track bars, control arms, 8-lug wheels and slightly larger tires (full float axles with locking hubs up front), roof rack, etc... This weight also includes the tow bar.

[way2roll]

dbertheau wrote:
We have a Thor Siesta 24SS. Also has the Mercedes Sprinter 3500 chassis with the 3L turbo diesel. We tow our 2 door wrangler...it weighs in at just under 5,000. We are a bit over combined GVWR, but take it easy.

The vehicle has enough power and with the braking shared between the Mercedes and the Jeep (via the ReadyBrake system of the toad setup) I don't feel any issues with braking. The tranny temps do rise quicker on mountain inclines with the toad compared to no toad, but I take it slow and easy monitoring the temps (using ScanGauge to monitor). Towing on flat highways the rig is great with the Jeep in tow.

With a GCWR of 15,250 and a GVWR of 11,030 that is a net of 4,200 lbs capacity. That's before you add a drop of water, fuel, a single person - anything. After adding everything you need to travel my guess would be it's overloaded by a 1-2k lbs with the toad. To each his own but I wouldn't feel good about being over capacity by 10-20%. Not trying to be the weight police, but there are reasons the capacities exist. If you are over capacity 1-2k on a DP the percentage is much smaller, but due to the low weight to start with on the sprinter - (and thus smaller brakes, motor (188 hp) smaller frame rails) small variances make up a much larger percentage of the total combined weight. That said, people ignore these capacities all the time without issue. But, know the facts. If you choose to ignore them and have an issue or an accident because of it, well that's on you. I would expect a warranty claim related to a frame/chassis, engine, tranny, brake or receiver issue would be denied.

[zb39]

What do you have on your wrangler that makes it weigh so much. I have a 2 door JL myself.

[dbertheau]

We have a Thor Siesta 24SS. Also has the Mercedes Sprinter 3500 chassis with the 3L turbo diesel. We tow our 2 door wrangler...it weighs in at just under 5,000. We are a bit over combined GVWR, but take it easy.

The vehicle has enough power and with the braking shared between the Mercedes and the Jeep (via the ReadyBrake system of the toad setup) I don't feel any issues with braking. The tranny temps do rise quicker on mountain inclines with the toad compared to no toad, but I take it slow and easy monitoring the temps (using ScanGauge to monitor). Towing on flat highways the rig is great with the Jeep in tow.

[FunTwoDrv]

Unless I'm mistaken on this, towing capacity is stated as "Up to" 4200lbs. So, based on how your C is loaded, you may have all of that capacity, or you may have some reduced amount of capacity. For reference, our stock Wrangler 4dr weighs 4520 with the base plate installed.

Gary

[way2roll]

The capacity to tow is the lesser of the hitch rating or what's left in the GCWR of the MH after doing the math of GCWR less the weight of the MH how it's loaded for travel. Simply adding a hitch of 5000 if the MH can only handle 4200 won't get you anywhere. You have to load the MH for travel, weigh it, do the math and then see what - if any - capacity you have left. THAT is what you can safely tow. You may find it's well short of the 4200.

But you are starting off knowing you are already overweight without a drop of water, food, fuel or people with the toad you have. So it's a moot point. You need a smaller TOAD or a MH with more capacity.

You can't just add a hitch and expect the MH's capacity to increase like magic, there are constraints on the chassis, drivetrain, brakes etc that engineers use to calculate the capacity to start with. Adding a hitch doesn't change any of that. If I am not mistaken, FR adds the frame members to the MB chassis and rates it at 4200 lbs. So unless you are going to beef up the frame members on the chassis at a minimum, adding a 20k hitch does nothing and still leaves you with 4200 to tow and a pack of crackers in the mh.

[lane_hog]

I’d think upgrading the hitch receiver would certainly be less than buying a new toad.

[PartyOf_Five]

5k tow rating should be no problem with a sprinter chassis

[ron_dittmer]

See if the dealer/seller of the 2016 rig will include in the deal, changing the 4200/350 pound hitch to a 5000/500 pound rated one. Many 2016 MB chassis rigs have a 5000 pound hitch. They should be available. Tell the dealer what you learned about the towing problem with your Cherokee. If he includes the 5k hitch in the deal, then you are good to go ahead with the deal again. The cost of a new 5000 pound hitch to a dealer will be around $100, and his own labor cost even less so I think he would agree to that.

If your GCWR is overweight thereafter, then adjust your load accordingly by carrying less on-board water and such.

[Gjac]

At 24 ft I would try it without the toad first to see if you are OK with it. I am used to a toad and it is convenient, especially with a Class A or larger C, but several on here just park their short C anywhere that you would park a big truck or SUV.

[Lwiddis]

“do the towing math before you decide what path to follow.”

x2

[MDKMDK]

It's a Cherokee. It's a Chrysler SUV with a Jeep badge.
Get rid of it, and get a Wrangler, if you want to tow a Jeep.
However, it sounds like you're GVWR/GCWR challenged, so do the towing math before you decide what path to follow.

[Lwiddis]

If you love having a toad weighing more than your new MH will handle, why would you buy that MH? This “getting older” stuff is mental, not physical. So it takes longer to hook up? So it takes more concentration? So what?

The Jeep is toooo heavy...trimming won’t help.