An American Dream goes up in smoke

Pangaea Ron wrote:
OK, It’s a slow day at the office, so here’s a bit of engineering. The left hand numbers are for towing at the front axle, and the right hand numbers are for towing at the frame 2’-6” forward of the front axle. I assumed Center of Gravity (CG) at 4’-6” above grade. And located the CG 1/3 of the distance from the rear axle to the front axle or forward tow point. As I said… lot’s of assumptions, and only static loads.

Sorry about the formatting

My MH has these approximate dimensions and weights:

Level Ground / Level Ground
Towing @ Front axle / Towing @ Front frame
24,000 lbs Total weight 24,000 lbs
16,000 lbs Rear axle 14,618 lbs
8,000 lbs Front axle / tow point 9,382 lbs
19’-0” Rear axle to tow point 21’-6”
6’-4” Rear axle to CG 7’-2”
12’-8” Tow point to CG 11’-10”
4’-6” Height of CG 4’-6”

Towing @ Front axle / Towing at Front Frame
(Elevated 3 degrees) / (Elevated 3 degrees)
24,000 lbs Total weight` 24,000 lbs
16,815 lbs Rear axle 16,093 lbs
7,185 lbs Front axle / tow point 7,907 lbs
18’-11 5/8” Rear axle to tow point 21’-5 5/8”
6’-2 1/8” Rear axle to CG 7’-0 7/8”
12’-4 15/16” Tow point to CG 14’-4 3/4”
4’-10-1/8” Height of CG 4’-10 3/4”

Towing @ Front Axle / Towing @ Front Frame
Climbing 8/11 stairs / Climbing 8/11 stairs
(Elevated 36 degrees) / (Elevated 36 degrees)
24,000 lbs Total weight 24,000 lbs
17,850 lbs Rear axle 17,393 lbs
6,150 lbs Front axle / tow point 6,607 lbs
15’-4 3/8” Rear axle to tow point 17’-4 5/8”
3’-6 15/16” Rear axle to CG 4’-3”
17’-9 7/8” Tow point to CG 13’-1 5/8”
7’-8 11/16” Height of CG 8’-2 9/16”

The weight on the axles does move forward with the tow point, and almost remains there as the MH is lifted for towing. As the MH is lifted more the CG rotates aft about the rear axle, and as “dieharder” said, you don’t want to be at the bottom of the stairs.

If you lift the front of a motorhome, you are transfering more weight on the rear axle, I don't care where you lift the front end from. And most heavy duty wrecker will lift the steer axle by using a underlift forks to attach to the front tires and lift from there. And if you elevate the front up 36 degrees, I afraid you will owe me the rear bumper, tow receiver, engine undercarrage protection cage, and other assorted items that you will lose somewhere along that tow route. What ever you do, don't give up your day job, cause you will never make it in the trucking industry!