Upgrading to a 10,000 reciever?

[palehorse89]

I have been searching the threads on here looking for info. on upgrading my 5,000# receiver on my Spartan MM chassis to a 10,000# rating for the purpose of towing a enclosed trailer. My Spartan chassis has a 10,000 GCWR, The Newmar sales Boucher states that it came with a class 2 receiver w/5,000# weight rating. I have read were some have had a weld shop "beef" their OEM receiver up, and others that have bought a new receiver rated at the 10,000#. Through out my search's I have not found anyone that lists a 10,000# receiver for a Spartan MM Chassis specifically, Where does a person find a higher capacity receiver that will bolt on to my Spartan chassis?
Any Idea's? Where does Spartan buy the receivers for their chassis? I think some of the late model chassis have come with 10,000# receivers(or higher) from the factory now?
My specs from Newmar = GVWR - 31,000# GCWR = 41,000#(I am under the GVWR)

[slemnah]

When I purchase my 97 Imperial and got it home I noticed that the 5000 lb hitch mountings had all cracked and that almost nothing was holding the hitch onto the frame. I had a hitch installer remove the hitch and strengthen the frame and weld a new 10k receiver onto the chassis. My toad weights less than 5k but I wanted the extra towing capacity. I am so glad that I didn't flat tow home from the dealer on that initial trip because I am sure I would have lost my toad.
Steve

[palehorse89]

Brian in Michigan wrote:

Brian in Michigan wrote:

Thisis what you need.

I know you can put heavier hitch setups on but with my smaller MH you get too heavy of a hitch weight on the back end you get the tail wagging the dog. I could not imagine with the these super heavy trailers what would would transpire. That's why I posted the Trailer Toad It makes more sense to me to take the tongue weight off of the MH instead of putting it on.I know the larger MH's with the axles towards the very rear have less of a problem with this but I think it would also help with wear/blowouts on the rear tires.

Hi Brian, like I posted over on IRV2 , the use of the trailer toad is basically for the reason that the tow vehicle is grossly overloaded and the trailer toad relieves this condition, but it still remains overloaded on the GCWR of the tow vehicle. GVRW minus the GCWR is all something can structurally handle by design, frame, engine, transmission, everything involved. When driving over the road truck, when loaded to a GCWR of 80,000# the truck and trailer was maxed out, power, ride, handling, etc. Now , when I only loaded 25,000# on the trailer for a GCWR of 55,000# , WOW, super truck, all kinds of power, rode great, handled like a Cadillac! I would rather be under my GCWR of my Coach than to be way over for the reasons posted above.

[BrianinMichigan]

Brian in Michigan wrote:

Thisis what you need.

I know you can put heavier hitch setups on but with my smaller MH you get too heavy of a hitch weight on the back end you get the tail wagging the dog. I could not imagine with the these super heavy trailers what would would transpire. That's why I posted the Trailer Toad It makes more sense to me to take the tongue weight off of the MH instead of putting it on.I know the larger MH's with the axles towards the very rear have less of a problem with this but I think it would also help with wear/blowouts on the rear tires.

[palehorse89]

TurboHokie wrote:
I spent lots of time searching the forums and found this thread and wanted to do the same thing...I am new to RV'ing and just bought a 01 Four Winds Hurricane on a GM/Workhorse W20 frame, spaced 34" on center, w/ a gas 454. It came with a Reese Class III hitch limited at 3950 lbs, but I think I can tow more than that with a GCWR of 19000 lbs and a UVW of 12441 lbs. Any advice or links to the right place or product would be much appreciated!!!

Questions for ya, what is the GVWR of your Coach? Get her weighed loaded ready to roll on truck stop scales to make sure you are not over the GVWR, then subtract the GVWR from the GCWR = what you can tow.

[TurboHokie]

I spent lots of time searching the forums and found this thread and wanted to do the same thing...I am new to RV'ing and just bought a 01 Four Winds Hurricane on a GM/Workhorse W20 frame, spaced 34" on center, w/ a gas 454. It came with a Reese Class III hitch limited at 3950 lbs, but I think I can tow more than that with a GCWR of 19000 lbs and a UVW of 12441 lbs. Any advice or links to the right place or product would be much appreciated!!!

[palehorse89]

I just went back through all the posts and I thought I posted the width, but I did not that I can find in all the commotion trying to figure this out, my frame mounting holes (width) are 31-1/2" C to C. and 6" apart evenly(can re-drill these) on the mounting plates bolted to the frame rails. Thanks for taking the time to work with me on this retro-fit of mine.......

[palehorse89]

ok, I'll give it a try, I can just here the parts man now, " if this is not a recall, I cannot help you with this" The hitch number you posted was a special build and is not for sale, this is what I was told(posted above) Curt that makes the replacement would not sell me one and Spartan would not sell me anything after running my vin. number and stating they did not mount a receiver on this chassis. So they are not interested in helping me bolt one on now it appears to me.

[palehorse89]

All's I can post is what I have been told, I can not locate, or find a receiver that has the "close design" like mine that is on the Coach now. This is why I am thinking that there is folks out there with a couple year newer Spartan MM chassis that has the newer 12,000 class 4 receiver that might just be the replacement I need. My next move is to call etrailer and talk to a rep. and give them my bolting dimensions and the height I need and see what they come up with, reading on the net and buying from etrailer, they are very accommodating to their customers needs.

[palehorse89]

BUMP.....
I called Curt Mfg. yesterday and they said that they made them for Spartan, but would not sell me one, they make them for Spartan only per their specs. and are not for sale direct. So then, I called Spartan ,gave them my vin # (again, after last call) and He said, Spartan did not install this receiver hitch, Newmar must have, Called Newmar and they said the only replacement they would have is the 5,000# receiver that I have right now. Newmar's parts man said I was going to have to have one fabed up........ I still believe that a receiver on a couple year newer Spartan MM chassis that came with a 10-12,000# hitch(upgraded after my year) would bolt right on where mine is now.........I just cannot find out what hitch I need. I really don't want to buy a new one and hack it apart and have to modify it if I do not have to.....

[rtz549]

I also find nothing on the internet regarding 81400 and a hitch of any type.

[palehorse89]

Can you post a link for me? when I do a search for the Curt 81400 this is what comes up on their web page

You Searched For: "81400"

Results






No Results Were Found.

[hardtobe]

palehorse89 wrote:

hardtobe wrote:

palehorse89 wrote:
The one thing I am having trouble with is finding one that will work , I have talked to a rep. at Curt Mfg. , not to much help. My receiver now is bolted on, by design, tight to the frame rails where it bolts on with no drop, my bolt holes on each frame rail are 6" apart, 3 on each rail. Can someone with a newer Coach(Newmar) with a class 4 or 5 hitch tell me the brand of hitch and the model number. I would like to find a close replacement in height as the receiver that is on there now comes through the rear flap and I don't want to have to change the flap if I don't have to.

A 10K curt hitch # 81400 is 28 inch between rails and 2 inch wide mount plates so total OD 32 inch and no drop.dead level
the mount holes are 6.5 inch center to center (3) per side
easy to drill more if needed
My frame is about 28.5 wide ID so hitch fits very nicely at 28inch body width

I did a search on the web and the Curt website and the hitch number #81400 does not turn up any results?........
If I don't have to I don't really want to drill, cut, weld,paint, if I do not have to and like posted above, mine now is a "no drop hitch" and have to stay with that for receiver height.

Just went and rechecked and it says CURT manufacturing #81400 15000lb 1500 tongue
phone curt and ask
TOLL FREE
877.CURTMFG
877.287.8634
TOLL FREE
800.738.7213 and to NOTE:call sparton as this hitch was installed under sparton/curt federal recall

[palehorse89]

hardtobe wrote:

palehorse89 wrote:
The one thing I am having trouble with is finding one that will work , I have talked to a rep. at Curt Mfg. , not to much help. My receiver now is bolted on, by design, tight to the frame rails where it bolts on with no drop, my bolt holes on each frame rail are 6" apart, 3 on each rail. Can someone with a newer Coach(Newmar) with a class 4 or 5 hitch tell me the brand of hitch and the model number. I would like to find a close replacement in height as the receiver that is on there now comes through the rear flap and I don't want to have to change the flap if I don't have to.

A 10K curt hitch # 81400 is 28 inch between rails and 2 inch wide mount plates so total OD 32 inch and no drop.dead level
the mount holes are 6.5 inch center to center (3) per side
easy to drill more if needed
My frame is about 28.5 wide ID so hitch fits very nicely at 28inch body width

I did a search on the web and the Curt website and the hitch number #81400 does not turn up any results?........
If I don't have to I don't really want to drill, cut, weld,paint, if I do not have to and like posted above, mine now is a "no drop hitch" and have to stay with that for receiver height.

[hardtobe]

gus33 wrote:
Look at a Curt #15901 or #15903. The side plates are not welded to the tube from the factory, that is done at installation. They can be adjusted to the width of your frame and the excess cut off.

I bolted mine on w/ 4 - 3/4" bolts per side. It has quite a bit of drop, & that is why we connected it to the engine cradle. If yours doesn't have much drop that may not be needed.

gus

that's why I suggested mine NO drop and he wants No drop.Its a solid one piece though so depends on his frame width.Need to hear from OP
I like mine because its all factory welding and painted properly
and wont rust
but if he has a different frame your hitch suggestions would most likely work