How the pro RV transporters tow

[mkirsch]

If you travel Interstate 90 through Ohio, PA, and NY you see a *LOT* of professional RV transporters moving units East this time of year. I paid close attention any time one passed by and tried to gather as much detail as I could.

1. They ALL run big diesel dually crew cab trucks. Big heavy diesel engine to counterbalance the tongue weight of the trailer, and that long wheelbase makes a great lever arm to maximize the effect. Plenty of "junk in the trunk" to keep the tail from wagging the dog too.

2. The ones headed West for another load all had heavy-duty aftermarket receivers installed on their trucks for maximum weight-carrying tongue capacity. No need for WD bars to prevent overloading the receiver.

3. The trailers they towed were generally far below the maximum capacity of the truck. Tail's not big enough to wag the dog.

4. The trailers they towed were almost always hitched severely nose-down. Good for stability, and not a big deal with an empty trailer on trip from factory to dealer, but hell on tires and springs over the long haul.

Oh, and they *DO* use WD bars in some instances, such as the big park models. Almost all the RV transporters I noticed were using WD shanks to tow with, even if they weren't using the bars on the smaller units.

These guys aren't fooling around with a midsize SUV on 4 P-rated tires with the stock receiver towing at 99% of its advertised factory tow rating. What they do is akin to towing a Radio Flyer wagon with a freight locomotive.

[Cummins12V98]

Different regions are different, just saying what I have seen over the years.

[larry_barnhart]

we have stayed for years at a very large rv park and it looks very equal for the 3 brands. It was not long ago it was easy to see it was GM towing the most and the dodge friends also noticed it. It was not a hit with the dodge owners but why does it matter, it didn't to me because things are not the same everywhere you go.
chevman

[Cummins12V98]

Ram has always been #1 probably because of the Cummins engine. Used to be Ford #2 and very few GM's.

Now that Ford has had so many engine problems they are distant third. Now that GM has proven it's engine they are a strong #2.

If you go to campgrounds where the FULL TIMERS are this holds true also. If you look at the weekend warriors it is Ford #1. I explain that as being "blinded by the BLUE OVAL" ! HA

[larry_barnhart]

most guys tell the dodge trucks are cheaper than the other brands and money is everything so maybe it is money but not that it matters the Rams are good trucks. Maintenance is the key. I do something every summer for our chev and Friday something will be done like power steering fluid change.
chevman

[Cummins12V98]

Something you did not mention is the majority of the RV/Hotshott hauling trucks are RAM followed by GM and Ford last.

[Dadoffourgirls]

Many of the RVs headed for Ontario travel I-69 through Michigan and cross into Canada at Port Huron. I see many each time I am on this road. I have never seen them doing 70 mph or more.

Yes, most are DRW, and there are those that tow smaller TT in tandem.

[blt2ski]

"MANY" of these folks since they drive for hire, and are above 10K lbs total, some possibly above 26K, they have to follow many of the can not drive over 10 hrs a day, have a log book, check into weigh scales in some states etc. Hence why many will stick to 65 mph, if the LEO that looks at the book on the border, figures out they were ave 65 including stops, a speed ticket will occur out of no where! or other fines, tickets etc.

The rv limit in wa st is 60 mph on ANY interstate or state hwy. Cars under 10K can go upwards of 70, BUT, if you pull ANY sort of trailer or equal, your max speed is 60. If you drive a one ton dually, or have a sw truck with a paid gvw over 10K, your max limit is 60 mph. Hence why I see no reason to have 373 gears in a dually and a dod tranny! you may never get to use dod at 60 mph depending upon many factors!

Marty

[wrvond]

When discussing pullers that are delivering newly manufactured RV's to dealers, there ARE some independents, but most work through a company that pays them. In other words, they are subcontractors. The manufacturer pays the delivery company who turns around and pays a "sub" to make the pickup and delivery. If you get on with one of these companies they will match your truck's capabilities to the load. However, if you are called and pass on the job often enough, you'll soon find yourself not being called. Another great gig is delivering class 'A's and 'C's.

[arkidog]

During our annual trip out west last month we passed five transporters towing. 3 pulling TT's west of N. Platte, Ne, a large TH 5W north of Casper, Wy and a long goose neck with two TT's strapped down on it in western Montana. All were going 65 mph because I was towing about 65 to 66 mph. I played leap frog with the large TH 5W for about 100 miles. I'd slowly pass him on the upgrades and he would slowly pass me on the downgrades, I was towing a lot less weight than him. Can always tell that they are transporters with white sign on each front door. Led me to believe that these guys are running with governed (sp?) engines set at 65 mph.

[mastercraft1995]

That's what they do for a living so of course they'll have the biggest truck so they can move the biggest trailers.

I don't need or want a big truck to pull my 6000 pound trailer around Oregon 5 times a year.

[rockhillmanor]

Old-Biscuit wrote:
Time is money and it isn't their rv.

Doubt any MFG. would hire someone that showed up with a 1/2, 3/4 or SRW 1 ton tow vehicle........or maybe they would.

When I was looking for quotes to take mine out to California from Wisconsin....you'd be surprised how many of the haulers advertised had 1/2 tons. :R "Back yard haulers", I call them. And surprising there are enough people out there who don't know any better would hire them, cause a lot of them were booked months in advance.

That said I found 'many' with over kill rigs. THESE were the professional haulers.

These were also the boys that KNEW what they were doing, insured and bonded and you could rest assure your rig would get there in one piece and not flipped over in a ditch somewhere en-route.

Interestingly I found the estimates to be fair for transporting.

[Old-Biscuit]

Time is money and it isn't their rv.

Doubt any MFG. would hire someone that showed up with a 1/2, 3/4 or SRW 1 ton tow vehicle........or maybe they would.

[BB_TX]

Most of the ones I have seen that I was fairly sure were transporters were doing 75-80 out on the open highway! :E

[fla-gypsy]

I saw two new TT's on a low boy flatbed the other day attached to some kind of winching system. The maker doesn't care how they get it there as long as it gets there in one piece.

[wrvond]

They also routinely exceed the safe towing speed of whatever trailer they happen to be pulling, and buy new tires every other month.
I've known a couple guys that pulled using single axle gassers, though they eventually move to the diesel duallies to maximize their tow opportunities.
As a side note, no special license is required to haul RVs in this manner (except for a business license!).