Hello All,Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. We currently tow a travel trailer but are looking to move to either a class C or gas class A. My concern is that I still want a truck. Whatever vehicle I tow is also my daily driver when at home and I have use for a P/U. I considered getting something small like a canyon but we have 3 kids. 5 people in a compact truck is not comfortable. A crew cab 1500 works great. Seems like they weigh in around the 4500-5500lb mark. Is this possible to tow?So is anyone towing a 1500 crew cab with a gas motorhome? Any thoughts? does the MH pull it ok?To answer questions ahead of time, the reason for us wanting to reverse the way we tow (motorhome towing truck instead of truck towing RV) is a few reasons. First is we have been taking a few longer vacations and trips and the travel would be much easier on the family. Second is there are plenty of times when a second vehicle is not needed such as music festivals, tailgating, skiing, and other actives we like. But any time we are camping or on vacation we really need the truck to help us carry our kayaks, get us around once we get to where we are going (many state and national parks), and just simply be our vehicle.Thanks again!

I see them and towing Tahoes too. What is the towing weight limit on the MHs you are considering? And doesn't a crew weigh 7,000 pounds or so?

Almost all Class C motor homes have a 5000 lbs towing limit. However it may be even less as the limit is determined by subtracting the actual weight (after loaded with equipment, food, clothing, people, animals) from the max gross weight of the motor home. In many, many cases the towing limit will be less than 5000 lbs.Some Super C motor homes will have more than a 5000 lb limit.Some gas Class A's will fall into the same category. I think all diesel Class A's have a 10,000 lbs (or more) towing limit....again can be less depending upon the "actual" loaded weight.Ron

Are you going to flat tow or dolly tow? You may not be able to flat tow your truck unless it is standard transmission or 4wd. Dolly towing will add weight to the total.

not gas but I have a baby diesel (275 HP 660 ft. .lbs. torque) and I tow a 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive four door 2004 chevy and most of the time I have a Polaris RZR in the bed. It makes a nice dinghy. It is heavier and will slow you down but a fair trade for having the extra room for passengers and cargo.

We tow a Nissan Frontier that weights nearly 4000 or a Corolla that weighs under 3000, and we can feel that 1000 difference. For that reason, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to research a Ford F-150 vs. others and see how much weight their aluminum body saves over steel-bodied Chev/GMC and Ram. EcoBoost engine might save weight over a V8, too. I think MoHoMag's toad listing provides weights as well as tow-ability.The topography you plan to drive across will make a difference too. The mountains east of the Rockies are only hills in comparison.

Towing full size P/U with Class C or gas A | Good Sam Community

kfp673
Explorer II
Sep 28, 2017
Thanks all. Living in PA i much prefer 4x4. Have had 4x4 for over 20 years and while I typically only use it 4-5 times per winter, boy is it great those handful of times. Thanks again for the feedback!
Mich_F
Explorer
Sep 28, 2017
If 4WD is not needed for other than towing 4 wheels down, another cheaper option, might be to have a drive shaft disconnect or lube pump added to a RWD pick up.
carringb
Explorer
Sep 28, 2017
GCWR of the E450s is 22,000. Since GVWR is 14,500 you can use the full hitch rating even when fully loaded. Thor motorhomes use an 8K hitch, but if you fully load the MH, you won't quite be able to use all 8k. If you're a stickler about GCWR anyways. I'm not, and I tow over GCWR often, but I did up the transmission cooler size.

When you get into the As, they weight so much, you often run into GCWR limits before hitch limits.
kfp673
Explorer II
Sep 28, 2017
Thanks all. To answer a few questions, I would prefer to tow 4 down, but whichever truck we would tow would definitely be 4x4 with N option for transfer case. I am really not brand loyal with trucks (have had them all). I agree with the idea of the F150 as I believe it saves 8-900lbs, but WOW does Ford seem expensive. I think I am going to drag the family up to the GMC dealer to sit in the canyon first. I know they can be towed 4 down and I will see if everyone can squeeze in there. Wife has a minivan at home so it would really only be when we need the truck, or when we are away with the MH getting around town or going fishing etc. Thanks again for the feedback. Sounds like I have to look more at the GCWR than just the hitch rating.
mowermech
Explorer
Sep 28, 2017
I towed a 2001 Dodge Ram 1500 Quad cab short box 4X4 behind the motorhome in my sig.
No problems, even going across the Continental Divide on U.S. Hwy 2.
I towed a Jeep Wrangler Rubicon Unlimited behind a 29 foot Ford E350 based (460 engine) Class C, over the same roads, again with no problems.
The hitch on the Class A is rated at 5000 lbs., so I am not worried about it.
The hitch on the Class C was rated at 3500 lbs., so I had a local highly qualified welder reinforce it.
Nothing bent, nothing broke, nobody was injured or died, so I guess it worked.
I used a 5000 lb. capacity A-frame towbar on the Jeep, and a Roadmaster Stowmaster 6000 lb. capacity telescoping folding towbar on the Dodge.
Again, nothing bent, nothing broke.
rk911
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017
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

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.
carringb
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017
Most of the newer Ford E450 motorhomes can tow 7500 pounds. Beware that the largest A's often to less because they run out of combined weight rating.

A f150 would be my pick for a toad. It's the lightest (if you don't do crazy on trim or options) and easy to flat tow if you get 4x4.
j-d
Explorer II
Sep 27, 2017
We tow a Nissan Frontier that weights nearly 4000 or a Corolla that weighs under 3000, and we can feel that 1000 difference. For that reason, I wonder if it would be worthwhile to research a Ford F-150 vs. others and see how much weight their aluminum body saves over steel-bodied Chev/GMC and Ram. EcoBoost engine might save weight over a V8, too. I think MoHoMag's toad listing provides weights as well as tow-ability.

The topography you plan to drive across will make a difference too. The mountains east of the Rockies are only hills in comparison.
discovery4us
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017
not gas but I have a baby diesel (275 HP 660 ft. .lbs. torque) and I tow a 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive four door 2004 chevy and most of the time I have a Polaris RZR in the bed. It makes a nice dinghy. It is heavier and will slow you down but a fair trade for having the extra room for passengers and cargo.
Drcarter
Explorer
Sep 27, 2017
Are you going to flat tow or dolly tow? You may not be able to flat tow your truck unless it is standard transmission or 4wd. Dolly towing will add weight to the total.

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