differing CCC & tow rating same manufacter same floor plan

Badlands wrote:
Our 2016 Leprechaun 319DS (Ford chassis) came standard with a #7,500 hitch. Looking at the 2016 Leprechaun brochure, which is in front of me, it shows the 2016 320BH as coming with a #5,000 hitch if built on the Chevy chassis, and #7,500 on the Ford.

I know your question pertained to 2015 models, but perhaps this is part of the answer.

Sorry, I was comparing ford e450 to e450. Again not that any of this matters my toad is only 3000lbs, just curiosity.

Similar floorplans in two different model lines do not mean they should weigh the same. There will be trim and equipment differences between Freelander and Leprechaun, which might include things like foam seats vs steel-sprung seating, trim on cabinets, plumbing fixtures used, besides the usual differences in fabric patterns and colors available. I'm surprised the dry weights are so close.

There is an error in the Freelander numbers, current DOT standard is that Payload Capacity = GVWR - Dry Weight. The RV industry used to try to do a Cargo Carrying Capacity that separated out weights of fluids and persons that might be carried, now it is all part of Payload.

If these numbers come from and advertising brochure or web site, they are unlikely to match the numbers for any example actually manufactured, because the Dry Weight for this purpose is sum of components and estimate for materials from engineering documents, for an example with only "standard" equipment. The "Dry Weight" that now goes on the RV has to be measured on a scale, and is often different by a few pounds for identically equipped examples of the same model.

Tow ratings are usually determined by the rating of the towing equipment installed, or a tow rating from the chassis manufacturer, whichever is less. For current generation E-450 cutaway or E-350 with V-10 Ford's maximum tow rating is 10,000 pounds.

The payload capacity and dry weight of the Freelander don't add up to 14,500 pounds, as I would generally have expected (and as the Leprechaun does)--there's a "missing" 136 pounds that's unaccounted for. Possibly there's a clerical error somewhere, or possibly just sloppy reporting and the numbers came from units with differing sets of options. 136 pounds isn't all that much in the grand scheme of things.

Obviously the hitch rating is also different.

Our 2016 Leprechaun 319DS (Ford chassis) came standard with a #7,500 hitch. Looking at the 2016 Leprechaun brochure, which is in front of me, it shows the 2016 320BH as coming with a #5,000 hitch if built on the Chevy chassis, and #7,500 on the Ford.

I know your question pertained to 2015 models, but perhaps this is part of the answer.

Dakzuki wrote:

dahkota wrote:
Not sure what the problem is?
One has a higher capacity hitch than the other (5K hitch vs. 7.5K hitch). The hitch capacity doesn't change any of the other numbers, it just tells you the capacity of the hitch.

That's exactly what I noticed.

Since frames are the same, wheel base, brakes, drive train, floor plans, dry weight differs by less then 100lbs, it would appear that coachmen put a 5000# hitch on one and a 7500# hitch on the other.

dahkota wrote:
Not sure what the problem is?
One has a higher capacity hitch than the other (5K hitch vs. 7.5K hitch). The hitch capacity doesn't change any of the other numbers, it just tells you the capacity of the hitch.

That's exactly what I noticed.

Makes total sense to me, it stands to reason that the coach with the higher towing capacity needs a stronger hitch and possibly some frame reinforcement, which of course adds weight.

It's nice the mfr shows empty weight and I know some mfr's say they actually weigh each completed unit. Still, more and more, I'm convinced the only safe way to know what the weight capacities are is to weigh the thing. Include a truck stop on the test drive. Adjust tire pressures and weigh it. That'll help your test drive and your capacity decisions.

You listed both coaches a 2015 and a post above said the hitch came in 2016. But maybe it was a rolling change, made on some of the 2015's.

Not sure what the problem is?
One has a higher capacity hitch than the other (5K hitch vs. 7.5K hitch). The hitch capacity doesn't change any of the other numbers, it just tells you the capacity of the hitch.

For 2016, the receiver hitch on my Coachmen Leprechaun 319DS was upgraded from 5000 pounds to a Class IV (7500 pounds). I don't know whether or not that included upgrading the frame itself, but I'm glad to have the extra capacity, if needed.