Towing a large vehicle

[Jesshopes]

We currently tow a 37 ft TT behind our 15 passenger van. We've started toying with the idea of getting a motorhome. We have 11 kids so a smaller vehicle isn't an option. All of the GVWR numbers make my head spin a bit. Does anyone tow a large/heavy vehicle like mine behind their MH? We've found a couple of gas MH's that have 5000lb hitches on them. Is there a gas MH out there that would have the power to tow more than that? Are we crazy? (We are on a pretty tight budget and are looking for used MHs)

TIA

[Jesshopes]

ArchHoagland wrote:
Have you ever weighed your van and trailer fully loaded with everyone in the van, water, fuel and waste water in the trailer?

I would really be curious whet the total weight is.

We have. Well, everything but the water and waste water. We never travel with those so that wouldn't be relevant. I can't remember what the weight was. We were within the limits though.

[ArchHoagland]

Have you ever weighed your van and trailer fully loaded with everyone in the van, water, fuel and waste water in the trailer?

I would really be curious whet the total weight is.

[Executive45]

gutfelt wrote:

Jesshopes wrote:

gutfelt wrote:

Mfan wrote:
I see full size pickups behind prevosts, they don't seem to have a problem

yes but where do u put 11 kids? and he says there on a tight budget
My opinion a decent older used prevost is still 150K or more

And FWIW...I'm a she...

well you said "we" so I had a 50% chance of getting it right LOL

Unless "they" are from California, then you only have a 33 1/3% chance...:B....Dennis

[Mile_High]

Part of the problem is that historically the larger, heavier RVs are tailored for 2 people, whereas the lighter entry level are designed to sleep more. I realize you want slides for the room, but they actually make things worse down the road, as the slides themselves take up a lot of room when retracted.

I just don't know of anything that would work for 13 people other than starting with a 2 level or bus and work out from there.

[msturtz]

This really isn't as complex as being portrayed here. The GCWR, GVWR, & GAWR ratings are listed on a placard usually near the drivers seat. The hitch rating is important and is listed on the hitch. The OP can determine what the realistic tow capacity is. I would also recommend that the OP consider weighing the vehicle they intend on towing. It is a reasonable ask for a buyer to ask to have a coach weighed. This gives you a better idea of the actual weight of the coach. There are a lot of used DP coaches that may meet the OP's need.

[Groover]

Jayco-noslide wrote:
Just as if you were towing anything behind anything, check the manual to see how much it is rated to tow not forgetting what will be in the towed vehicle. And of course, each pound of weight uses more fuel and energy to move. Man, you are brave. I can't imagine going much of anywhere with that big of a family. The weight of your family must be over a ton.

I wish it were as easy as checking the manual but with a motorhome you need to know the gross combined weight, the weight as loaded for a trip which you will not know until you actually have it loaded and all aboard and go to a scale plus the weight of the toad and any towing equipment. You tend to accumulate stuff as time goes by so a couple of hundred pound buffer would be good when starting out. Doing all of that before you commit a lot of money and time is virtually impossible. I suggest that you need to have at least a 5,000lb difference between the GRVR and dryweight and 15,000lb difference between GCWR and dryweight. Both of those figures are pointing towards a tour bus. As I recall my 15 passenger van weighed 6,300lbs empty and if you end up putting it on a trailer the combined weight could easily go to 8,000lbs. Also, most carhauler trailers only have two 3,500 axles under them and would be overloaded with a 15 passenger van since you have to count the trailer weight too and you will probably end up using the van for extra storage while traveling.

[Jayco-noslide]

As a matter of fact, your family might weigt almost as much as the Chevy Sonic we tow behind out Class C. Safety first.

[Jayco-noslide]

Just as if you were towing anything behind anything, check the manual to see how much it is rated to tow not forgetting what will be in the towed vehicle. And of course, each pound of weight uses more fuel and energy to move. Man, you are brave. I can't imagine going much of anywhere with that big of a family. The weight of your family must be over a ton.

[Groover]

Keep in mind that having a 10K rated hitch does not mean that motorhome is actually rated to pull 10,000lbs. Motorhomes are made up of a bunch of purchased components and like a chain the weakest one deteremines the strength of the whole. My DP has a 10K hitch but due to transmission limits is actually only rated to pull around 5K, depending on how much stuff is in the coach and with 11 kids you will have a lot. If the motorhome has a hitch that is only rated for 5K that is probably all the the chassis is rated for. The other issue you will run into is that most motorhomes that I have seen are designed for families on a budget and sacrified towing ability for price or they are designed for retired couples and only have sleeping for a handful of people. A tour bus may be your only real option for 13 people. My motorhome is rated to sleep 9 but I really don't know where I would put that many people while traveling. Some would have to be in beds. Actually, I really don't have a huge problem with that and often sleep in a bed if I have a competent alternate driver. It some states thay have to be over 16 to do it legally.

And I think that it was stated before but we need to be clear that with a van you have four options for towing: 1) Add 4wd with a transfer case that includes a neutral, 2) Get the drive tires off of the ground with a dolly or trailer. This one has a catch, there are not many dollies that will hold a van and the trailer would add another 1,500lbs to the rig plus you have to find a place for it when you stop. 3) Remove the driveshaft. This can be a real pain in the best of conditions. 4)Get a driveshaft disconnect. I really don't know much about these. Towing with the drive tires on the ground without doing one of these will destroy the transmission in the van.

[stvdman]

Maybe an RV towing an RV?

Something that seats as many humans as possible towing a smaller travel trailer with bunk beds.

My gulfstream Ultra-Super C 3341 would have towed a nice little travel trailer behind it. It slept 10, travel trailer could sleep another 4 or so.

Anything short of a "tour' style bus conversion just simply cant fit 13 humans.

[Jarlaxle]

Jesshopes wrote:

MrWizard wrote:
with 11 children plus adults, you may be looking at band buses ?
to sleep everybody, it depends on age, and how many to a bed
many a band bus has been used to pull a trailer full of sound equipment
and good box tt are not light weight
a band bus, should have the total GWC needed

We've definitely looked at the bus option. There are two things I don't like about them. 1)They often don't have a complete kitchen and 2)They have no slides. 13 people in a RV means I really really want the extra room a slide produces. There are definitely some MAJOR pros to them, though

Honestly...you might be served best by sticking with a big trailer, rather than a MH.

[Jesshopes]

Ivylog wrote:
Do both of the "WE" drive the van? Assuming you are not doing a several months trips have one driver drive the van with some of the children and the other the MH with some of the children. What you are trying to do cannot be done on a small budget.

If we travel in different vehicles it basically defeats the purpose. We actually like the functionality of our TT. We just would like to make our travel part more comfortable so that we can take bigger trips.

[Jarlaxle]

gutfelt wrote:

Jesshopes wrote:
We currently tow a 37 ft TT behind our 15 passenger van. We've started toying with the idea of getting a motorhome. We have 11 kids so a smaller vehicle isn't an option. All of the GVWR numbers make my head spin a bit. Does anyone tow a large/heavy vehicle like mine behind their MH? We've found a couple of gas MH's that have 5000lb hitches on them. Is there a gas MH out there that would have the power to tow more than that? Are we crazy? (We are on a pretty tight budget and are looking for used MHs)

TIA

heres the perfect set up and very well priced http://horizoncoach.com/index.cfm?go=main.inventoryView&inventory=2063

Eighty grand for a used-up 20-year-old entertainer's coach? Yeah...no.

[Jesshopes]

MrWizard wrote:
with 11 children plus adults, you may be looking at band buses ?
to sleep everybody, it depends on age, and how many to a bed
many a band bus has been used to pull a trailer full of sound equipment
and good box tt are not light weight
a band bus, should have the total GWC needed

We've definitely looked at the bus option. There are two things I don't like about them. 1)They often don't have a complete kitchen and 2)They have no slides. 13 people in a RV means I really really want the extra room a slide produces. There are definitely some MAJOR pros to them, though

[Jarlaxle]

gutfelt wrote:

Jesshopes wrote:
We currently tow a 37 ft TT behind our 15 passenger van. We've started toying with the idea of getting a motorhome. We have 11 kids so a smaller vehicle isn't an option. All of the GVWR numbers make my head spin a bit. Does anyone tow a large/heavy vehicle like mine behind their MH? We've found a couple of gas MH's that have 5000lb hitches on them. Is there a gas MH out there that would have the power to tow more than that? Are we crazy? (We are on a pretty tight budget and are looking for used MHs)

TIA

you will need a MH with a 10K tow capacity hitch and theres not a gasser alive that will have a HD hitch and the power or the GVCC
that will do the job:: Also theres no MH,s out there that will work for 11 kids

Pablum. There are gas motorhomes that will tow 4 tons. Offhand, new E450 cutaways will tow 10,000lbs!