Towing a cargo van

You need to check with the DMV folks in each state, seems that CA requires braking on anything towed that's over 1,000 lbs but that may not apply to a towed vehicle only for trailers, etc. You should be able to contact the three DMV's by getting on their websites and see what the regs are.

Just to be clear: you want to tow a loaded cargo van behind your motorhome?

Check how much the cargo van weighs, including whatever you intend to pack in it. I suspect it will be quite a bit more than your motorhome's hitch is rated for. A short wheelbase GMC Savanna 2500 apparently weighs about 5300 pounds empty, according to the GMC website. Ford E-series vans are, I believe, comparable in that regard, but it's harder to verify since the Ford website is hawking the new Transit's instead. Most class C hitches are rated at 5000 pounds or less.

Assuming your hitch is adequate, it would seem to me that you would want brakes on something that heavy regardless of specific legal requirements. The brakes on the RV have plenty to deal with just with the weight of the house; adding a few more tons that they have to stop could well make them dangerously marginal.

IMHO a much better plan is finding a friend with some free time and a sense of adventure to drive the cargo van while you drive the RV.

(/Can I tow a extended Ford Eccoline Cargo Van, (used as a trailer) loaded with clothing and furnature, with a Dodge Jamboree 360 ci motor, over the California Grapevine?

"(/Can I tow a extended Ford Eccoline Cargo Van, (used as a trailer) loaded with clothing and furnature, with a Dodge Jamboree 360 ci motor, over the California Grapevine?"
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Short answer: NO. This combo is dangerous for you and everybody else on the road with you; it's grossly overweight and underpowered from the get-go, even without taking into consideration the hitch weight capacity, an adequate tow bar, and auxiliary brake system.

Take the second poster's advice and get another driver for one of the vehicles. :R

Puppydogk91 wrote:
Can I tow a extended Ford Eccoline Cargo Van, (used as a trailer) loaded with clothing and furnature, with a Dodge Jamboree 360 ci motor, over the California Grapevine?

I suppose anything is possible, but a loaded extended cargo van will weigh nearly as much as your motorhome! Your motorhome will struggle over the Grapevine not towing anything. I doubt you could get out of first gear towing 7-8000 pounds. I would think you can find a used 6x12 enclosed trailer for less than what it would cost to set up a van for towing, even if your motorhome was capable which it almost certainly is not.

A new motor home with a good rust-free 5000 pound hitch & framework is questionable towing a full size cargo van loaded up. A 1977 dodge chassis motor home doing the pulling is alarming. You will need to determine if the hitch and frame of that old motor home can handle so much weight. It likely could not handle more than 3500 pounds if it were rust free. But given the age and likely condition, it might not be safe to tow anything at all.

Regarding tow brakes, that will be a sure requirement, and an expensive one.

I would rather tow the 1977 motor home behind the right rental truck before doing as is the question. If what you do is considered unsafe and you get into a serious accident with injuries or worse, you would likely be sued until you have nothing left but a lifetime of debt.

I agree it's wise to drive the van and motor home independently using two drivers.

Let's just forget this idea and do what is safe, even if it does cost more.

Ken

TXiceman wrote:
Let's just forget this idea and do what is safe, even if it does cost more.

Ken

There's no way this idea could be cheaper Ken.

Even if the OP didn't get a bunch of tickets, or just plain towed off the highway as an unsafe load, I'm betting there'd be a new transmission in his future.

I honestly think your safest bet is finding a good (properly rated) tow bar for the motorhome, and pulling it behind a U-haul. Even a small cargo trailer will be questionable behind that motorhome.

The 77 is in pristine condition, with only 52,000 miles on it. Never seen one this clean, and I did a lot of shopping. That's why I bought it. It's been well maintained. On top of that, it's a Dodge.

As for the cargo van, If I remove the motor and transmission from the cargo van it will be much lighter. The cargo itself going in the van probably only weighs 500lbs

And I was going to disconnect the drive line, so the transmission wouldn't burn up (proof that friction heaters work, for a fraction of what conventional electric heaters cost to run. But that's another story)

Or, ...
I can buy a different cargo van with a 454 in it, and tow the motor home with that? The tow bar will be par, come on guys, I'm not gonna use a rope.

I have something I built that is 8 foot long and won't fit in a short 6cyl van.
maybe I can disassemble it, without ruining it, then I can maybe fit it through the motor home door.

OK if the motor home is built to sleep 6 adults, surely it can carry 1200 pounds inside of it, at least give me that fellas.
Nay, you gave me the user name "puppydog"? (Sigh)