Pace Arrow Towing

[mattdenryter]

Hello everyone,
I am currently looking at buying a 2003 Pace arrow 37A. It is equipped with the 8.1 L workhorse engine. It has a 5000 lbs trailer hitch with 500 lb tongue weight limit. My question is I would like to tow my boat behind the motorhome. The boat is 4700lb dry, so with some equipment in it, it is right at 5000lbs with tongue weight of 500 lbs. Is it safe to tow right at the hitches maximum or should I look for a different coach. I am not looking to set any land speed records just want to travel safely.
Thanks everyone in advance for your advice

[bsinmich]

A 2003 of that size will be a W22 chassis. That means 22,000# for the MH at max load. The total weight capacity is 26,000. That leaves 4000# if you are at max load in the MH. The 5K hitch may be just the hitch and not the total allowable towing. The W24 didn't come out until a couple years later. There are different brakes on the heavier chassis also.
What kind of brakes do you have on the boat trailer? I had surge brakes on a boat trailer that I towed a couple of times with a MH. That worked OK but launching with the rear overhang on a steep ramp was something else.

[1BryNelson]

When I towed a "comealong" I used an equalizing or as Ive now learned it as weight distribution hitch. Im about to buy one myself. I tow a Ranger on a dolly. A boat on top fiberglass topper and all fishing gear inside. Getting ready to go fulltime and I noticed some sag in rear when all geared up. Done all the scales, rear doesnt sag without Toad on Pad so Im thinking eqalizing hitch. They work great. Does cut turning radias down bout 10%.

[jwoodie]

Staying under the manufacturer's published tow rating may be beneficial if you have an insurance claim, but the 5,000# rating on most MH's is simply based on them having a Class III receiver. Engine cooling capacity is the most important factor for most rigs, which is helped by having more transmission gears.

[rk911]

mattdenryter wrote:
How will I be over my limit if my boat is just under 5000lbs and my tongue weight is 500 lbs, and I am under my GCVW.

even if all that is true you may still be over the GVWR and/or one or both GAWRs. I know from first hand experience.

since you don't yet own the MH I would determine the GAWR for each axle, the GVWR and the GCWR. insist that you be able to take the MH to a certified scale pre-purchase. get individual axle weights. you can then calculate the weight of water (8-lbs per gal), gasoline (6-lbs per gal) and LP (4-5 lbs per gal) and the effect of full tanks on your axle weights. that will give you a wet weight of sorts and enable you to determine how much 'stuff' and people you can add to the chassis before exceeding GAWRs and/or GVWR.

[mattdenryter]

How will I be over my limit if my boat is just under 5000lbs and my tongue weight is 500 lbs, and I am under my GCVW.

[JaBob]

For sure you will be over the limit. I would worry more about stopping.
Bob

[bsinmich]

I have read many times where a WD hitch is not recommended on a Class A because of the way the hitch is attached to frame extensions. I have never tried it myself.

[1BryNelson]

If a weight distribution hitch is the same as an equalizing, hitch it helps keep the rear end of the tow vehicle from sagging.

[mattdenryter]

Also was wondering if anyone knows or has thoughts of using a weight distribution hitch on a 37 ft gas MH and the 5000lb boat. Don't know if there are any benefits or potential risk to the MH frame with this type of hitch.

[mattdenryter]

The 5000 lbs includes trailer and some equipment in the boat. I can't load the MH up for travel as I haven't bought it yet. However I will stay under the GCVW when towing the boat even if I have to pack light, which in this coach I don't believe I will have to when I look at the Allowed GCVW. Thanks everyone for your thoughts..

[JimM68]

nope, not a hitch issue. If the motorhomes manufacturer certified it to tow 5k (check the GCVR) then it will tow 5k.

If they didn't, installing God's trailer hitch would not change that rating.

[Rwake901]

Call the people that make the hitch. I'm sure they can tell you.. 🙂

[wny_pat1]

This is just me - when it comes to safety, I like some wiggle room. And what you propose does not offer any wiggle room.

[rk911]

mattdenryter wrote:
Hello everyone,
I am currently looking at buying a 2003 Pace arrow 37A. It is equipped with the 8.1 L workhorse engine. It has a 5000 lbs trailer hitch with 500 lb tongue weight limit. My question is I would like to tow my boat behind the motorhome. The boat is 4700lb dry, so with some equipment in it, it is right at 5000lbs with tongue weight of 500 lbs. Is it safe to tow right at the hitches maximum or should I look for a different coach. I am not looking to set any land speed records just want to travel safely.
Thanks everyone in advance for your advice

the hitch weight rating is not the only factor. the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

- the GCWR (gross-combination weight rating) minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (food, fuel, water, LP, clothing, supplies, pets, people and misc. stuff); OR

- the weight rating of the MH hitch (Class II 3500-lbs, Class III 5000-lbs, Class IV 10,000-lbs); OR

- the weight rating of your towbar

your hitch has a 5K rating. what about your towbar? have you weighed the MH after it has been loaded for travel?

load up the MH as you would for travel and then get individual axle weights at a certified scale. compare those axle weights to the published gross axle weight rating (GAWR) for that motorhome. the actual axle weight must be less than/equal to the rating for that axle. add the two axle weights to arrive at the total rolling weight and then apply the three conditions above. assume nothing.