Towing question

fortytwo wrote:
Good thing your hitch is close to level. Winnebago recommends against using drop hitches on the View. The frame extensions on the older View's were very light gauge material and subject to bending. I had to install braces on mine - available from the Sprinter Store in Portland, OR should you need them.

On the new Winnebago View they recommend no more than a 4" drop hitch. I wonder why they have their receivers so high. It is pretty hard to have a toad that hitches up that high. If I didn't have the XV Crosstrek that sits high off the ground I would have some problems. The frames on the new Winnebago looks to be very sturdy channel pieces that they used to extend the frame. They probably did this as I believe they made the coaches longer now also so need to have some good support.

I know that they do one thing that I don't like on them, they set the hitch so far into the back of the unit and then have body panels all around the hitch that it makes it very hard to put in the hitch pin especially when you are using a locking pin. Then try to get the safety chains in there also you almost feel like you need to grease it up so it can slip in there it is so tight. With a guy like me with big hands when I picked up the car today and had to install the tow bar on the MH. The tech that installed the base plate had to end up putting the lock pin in the tow bar as his hands were smaller than mine.

Good thing your hitch is close to level. Winnebago recommends against using drop hitches on the View. The frame extensions on the older View's were very light gauge material and subject to bending. I had to install braces on mine - available from the Sprinter Store in Portland, OR should you need them.

I finally got my car and it now is set up to tow.

I did measure the distance from the ground to the center of my receiver with it on level ground and it is 24" to the center of the receiver.

Now that I'm set up and had a chance to measure it out with the car there is no worry. The car sits higher than most so it all worked out ok. I only have 1 1/2" difference between the receiver height and the height of the tow bar at the car. So all good to go.

Here is a picture of the rigs hitched up in front of my house when I returned from getting the car all set up.



A you can see I'm on a pretty level street and the hitch up looks pretty good to me and it tows pretty darn good also. I won't say I don't know it is not there because that would be telling a story. I find even when I had my 2013 Ram dually diesel and pulled my enclosed trailer that ways around 2400# I still knew it was there.

I ran home with it at 60MPH + and it never seemed to bother the rig on the freeway. When I entered the freeway I never had any problem getting up to speed to merge in fact it did better than most people around here do. I had a hill to pull on the way home nothing really steep but still a little pull and had no problem maintaining 60 MPH+ on it without shifting down at all. I am still pretty impressed with this Sprinter chassis and the way it runs.

Thanks for the idea of lower the hitch.

To update this thread right after I posted my last post before this one I got a call from the Subaru dealer and my Crosstrek is in. WAHOO a week early. My wife and I went down and paid them for it and it is now in our garage. Drives really nice, even my wife liked it after she took it for a spin by herself. Stopped at Camping World and they have ordered my base plate and the Brake Buddy Stealth for me. As soon as everything comes in they will set an appointment for me to get it installed.

Then I'll really be ready to see if I need to get a drop receiver or if I am OK.

I lowered the receiver on my MH with some heavy duty 2" square tubing cut to length and longer grade 8 bolts.

j-d,

Thanks I really thing the color is something else and so unlike me to pick that color. It even shocked my wife and my son could not believe that I would order it. He had looked at the color as he was thinking about buying one his self. I could have gotten another one is a different color and would not have had to wait for it but I choose to wait.

I have heard of the cheap ones failing before also. I one of those that believes that if this is strong this much more is better.

I believe that, Butch. Sometimes I'll post something like that for the benefit of those who think it's OK to go for the version that seems to be same thing half price. We had a thread where the drop failed right at the weld and the toad disconnected.

Saw an orange CrossTrek the other day and thought of you. Those things are beautiful!

Thanks for everybody's replies, maybe I'm worried about nothing and I need to wait and see how it measures out when the base plate is installed on the car. Try to get all my ducks in a row so we can take a little trip as soon as we have it set up to travel.

j-d,

That is the type of drop receiver that I was looking at, not the cheapy. I believe in getting the proper equipment to do the job that you expect/want it to.

The base plate on the toad will normally be above the bumper when in use. The base plate mounting bracket will be below the bumper. At least it has always been that way on all my toads with RoadMaster equipment. So I think you not have that much difference in your hook up.

I have measured it on the level and it is 24" off the ground. Now I didn't have my fresh water tank full which would add 300# to the rear but I also have Sumo's on the rear so I don't think it s going to make that much difference. I'll measure again for the 3 time when I pick it up tomorrow. I'm having some things done to it right now.

Yes I am going to have a braking system. I'm going to use the Brake Buddy Stealth system. I really don't know if they mean 4" only for a trailer or anything as they don't distinguish between a trailer or towed vehicle. They just state towing not to use more than a 4" drop. Even if I was towing a trailer it would have brakes on it also.