Can we tow a Honda CR-V with a Fleetwood 3500 max capacity?

susanka wrote:
Hi, everyone. We've narrowed down our choices to a Honda CR-V or a Ford Focus. We like the CR-V best but the weight is right at what can be towed with our 1999 Fleetwood Storm MH. I know DH has calc'd the GVWR, and the CR-V is right at the limit, but I'm worried this will give us a poor experience. I put a lot of pots and pans in the MH. What is a very, very conservative number to put in the calculations as far as the load of stuff in the MH? We're out in the country; no scales around as far as I know, and I don't want to have to load it up with a "pretend" load and ask DH to go weigh it unless I have to.

Thanks, everyone. You've been very helpful.

towing any vehicle does not add to the GVWR. the GVWR is the maximum amount of weight that the MH chassis can support, including itself. The GCWR (gross combination weight rating) is the total amount of weight the MH can propel, including itself. generally speaking, the GCWR minus the GVWR will give you an idea of how much weight the MH is designed to propel. but in reality the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

* the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)

* the weight rating of your tow bar

* the weight rating of your hitch

this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.

IF your MH as loaded for travel is right at the GVWR (more importantly, is each axle less than or equal to it's GAWR?) there's not much you can do except offload some weight, usually from the rear axle.

IF the hitch has a max weight rating of 3500-lbs you're only option will be to use a lighter toad. some folks may tell you to just replace the hitch with one rated at 5000-lbs (Class III) but there is more to it than that. check with a professional about that.

good luck.

suzanka,
Well, in all reality, the true and most positive way to be sure is to get your coach weighed. I know, you're maybe a bit of a distance from some scales but, look at it this way, do it once and, get it over with and you'll be SURE of your figures.

And, no matter what any PRINTED matter states, like the Dinghy Towing Guides put out by Motor Home and Trailer Life magazine state, DO NOT BELIEVE WHAT THEY STATE in terms of what a potential toad weighs. I've proved them wrong both times on our past and present toad.

On our last toad, also a Honda CRV EX-L ALL WHEEL DRIVE 2011 MODEL, it stated that it weighs 3200 lbs. But, when I weighed it on a certified scale, it was right at 3700 lbs. and that was with a full tank of fuel.

On our present toad, the 2011 GMC Sierra 1500 Extended Cab 4x4, it stated it weighs 4877 lbs. WRONG! Again, on a certified scale, it tips it at, 5300 lbs. and, again, with a full tank of fuel.

So, now, in your case, if you go the CRV route, you may be over the total GCWR (Combined Weight Rating) by a couple hundred lbs. And, the worry warts will go nuts but, it's up to you. Good luck.
Scott

I can only relate actual experience.
I towed a 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited with a 1995 Tioga 460 V8 Class C. I never weighed the Jeep, so I have no idea what the actual weight was, but it had added skid plates, custom bumpers, a winch, rock sliders, a 30 gallon fuel tank, and added CB and Amateur radios, so it was heavier than a stock Jeep. I had a well qualified welder reinforce the hitch, and towed the Jeep over the Continental Divide (Marias Pass and Homestake Pass) several times.
Nothing bent, nothing broke, no accidents, incidents, or occurrences, and nobody died or was injured.
Now, I tow the truck in my sig. with the coach in my sig. Again, I have no idea what it weighs, and don't really care. I have gone over the same passes with it, with the same results.
It works, IMO that is what really matters.
Good luck.

The only thing I would be worried about is if Fleetwood extended the frame to match the coach body. If so, that will be your weak link, NOT the hitch. Have a professional check the rear and see if there is a frame extension and if so, how well it is connected to the original frame. Remember, Ford says that the F-53 chassis brakes will only accommodate 1500# of towing weight, so an aux toad brake is a must with that coach.

Thank you so much. I guess I'd better put all those pots and pans in the darn thing and ask DH to take it to the scales. And make sure we have the correct weight with a toad. Too bad, I really liked the CR-V, but I bet it won't work.

Susan

susanka wrote:
Thank you so much. I guess I'd better put all those pots and pans in the darn thing and ask DH to take it to the scales. And make sure we have the correct weight with a toad. Too bad, I really liked the CR-V, but I bet it won't work.

Susan

again, the CR-V won't add to the weight OF the MH, just the amount of weight the MH can pull. be sure to get separate axle weights on the MH and then compare to the gross axle weight ratings. also detrermine if you have a Class II hitch (3500-lb rating) or a Class III (5000-lb rating).

Thanks again. And I know I had the acronym wrong.

But wait! Maybe the light just went on for me. Are you saying even if we put an elephant in the MH it doesn't change the amount we can tow?

Susan

susanka wrote:
But wait! Maybe the light just went on for me. Are you saying even if we put an elephant in the MH it doesn't change the amount we can tow?

Susan

no. think of it this way. for this example lets say the MH has a GVWR of 25,000-lbs, has a GCWR of 30,000-lbs and actually weighs 24,000-lbs. and we'll say that the hitch has a weight rating of 5,000-lbs and the tow-bar has a weight rating of 10,000-lbs. and finally your pet elephant weighs 2,000-lbs.

remember the test...in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

* the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)

* the weight rating of your tow bar

* the weight rating of your hitch

without the elephant your maximum weight to safely tow would be 5,000-lbs (the weight rating of your hitch). apply the tests and find the lowest number:

- the GCWR (30,000-lbs) minus the actual weight of the MH (24,000-lbs) is 6,000-lbs

- the weight rating of the hitch is 5,000-lbs

- the weight rating of the tow-bar is 10,000-lbs

with the elephant on board the MH now weighs 26,000-lbs. apply the same tests. which test gives the lowest number? 4,000-lbs is the max you can tow (GCWR minus the actual weight of the MH).

get the idea? it gets a little more complicated because you shouldn't just weigh the MH with all axles on the scale simultaneously. you really need separate axle weights and then compare them to the GAWR for that axle. the sum of the GAWR's should equal the GVWR; the sum of the actual axle weights will be the total weight of the MH.

Okay. Now I get it. You are very kind. I just remembered for the first time in many decades that my grandma used to call me a "dunderhead". Maybe she was right!

Thanks to you and to all. Now I understand.