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Old 02-21-2016, 04:34 AM   #1
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Towing a Jeep on a Trailer with a 2016 Fourwinds 22E

Hi all, new here! Looking for information from those experienced Thor owners. We are looking at a new 2016 Thor 22E Chateau Model on a Ford E450 chassis. We need to be able to tow our Jeep on a trailer behind the coach. According to our local dealer and to corporate the new Ford chassis have 8000lb hitches and can handle the weight.

Figure curb weight on the Jeep is 4500 lbs, another 2000 for the trailer. So we are less than 7000 lbs.

We don't have the need or budget for a larger coach, I looked at some used Super C's with 10K towing abilities, and they were too large for our needs and driving comfort. I drove the 22 E today, I liked it, and it's layout and all it's options, I just want to make sure it can comfortably tow my Jeep before spending 60K! I've read some stories on sway and uncomfortable towing experiences, I don't want to regret my purchase.

Thanks.

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Old 02-21-2016, 10:58 AM   #2
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Originally Posted by njjeepthing View Post
Hi all, new here! Looking for information from those experienced Thor owners. We are looking at a new 2016 Thor 22E Chateau Model on a Ford E450 chassis. We need to be able to tow our Jeep on a trailer behind the coach. According to our local dealer and to corporate the new Ford chassis have 8000lb hitches and can handle the weight.

Figure curb weight on the Jeep is 4500 lbs, another 2000 for the trailer. So we are less than 7000 lbs.

We don't have the need or budget for a larger coach, I looked at some used Super C's with 10K towing abilities, and they were too large for our needs and driving comfort. I drove the 22 E today, I liked it, and it's layout and all it's options, I just want to make sure it can comfortably tow my Jeep before spending 60K! I've read some stories on sway and uncomfortable towing experiences, I don't want to regret my purchase.

Thanks.

Welcome to the forum


Yes, you may have the 8K trailer hitch but based on specs you can only tow 6000 pounds. According to the specs the GVWR is 12,500 and the GCWR is 18,500. If you look at the cargo capacity of the coach (generally on a yellow sticker on the screen door) you may find that you can rob peter to pay Paul allowing for the 6500 towing.

Not sure the model Jeep, but why on a trailer? Most Jeeps can be flat towed.
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Old 02-21-2016, 11:48 AM   #3
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Originally Posted by dstankov
Not sure the model Jeep, but why on a trailer? Most Jeeps can be flat towed.
Perhaps they are using the Jeep for what it is intended (off-roading) and want the ability to pull a damaged one (It happens a lot LOL).

Other than that, Dave is correct: You'll be pushing the limits on the RV with a Jeep on a trailer--even an aluminum one.

You should get your coach weighed: Using the GVWR just gives you a guess. If your camper's actual loaded weight comes in a few hundred or even a thousand lbs less than GVWR you can put some of that towards the trailer+Jeep combo.

(Then of course if you're over GVWR you have other things to consider.)
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Old 02-21-2016, 04:52 PM   #4
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You are correct, we use the Jeep offroad, and having a trailer is easier if something on the drive-line of the Jeep breaks. Load it up, take it home!

Thor is telling me the GCWR on this unit is 22,000 lbs. I talked to a factory rep direct.
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Old 02-21-2016, 06:22 PM   #5
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The GCWR on our Vegas/Axis is less than your Chateau. That explains the lower allowable towing capacity.
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Old 02-21-2016, 08:40 PM   #6
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Originally Posted by njjeepthing View Post
You are correct, we use the Jeep offroad, and having a trailer is easier if something on the drive-line of the Jeep breaks. Load it up, take it home!

Thor is telling me the GCWR on this unit is 22,000 lbs. I talked to a factory rep direct.
The specs for the Chateau, on Thor's website, have the Chateau 22E on the Ford E Series Chassis at 18,500. The Chateau does not get to the 22K chassis until you get to 26 feet.

Also, looking at some dealer web sites they are all selling the 2016 Chateau 22E on a E350 chassis and not on the E450 chassis. The 2016 Ford specs for the cutaway has the GCWR for the E350 at 18,500 while the GCWR for the E450 is 22,000.

The only way to know for sure is to verify the chassis of the coach you are considering. If you want the GCWR at 22K the coach must be sitting on a E450 chassis and not on a E350.
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Old 02-22-2016, 06:17 AM   #7
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Have you considered setting the Jeep up to flat tow?

Bruce in Nola
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Old 02-22-2016, 03:50 PM   #8
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Flat tow is the way to go!
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Old 02-22-2016, 05:07 PM   #9
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NJJeepthing

The only way to answer your question is to eyeball the chassis or have the dealer send you a p0icture of the label that lists:

VIN
GVWR
GCWR

As I mentioned earlier, the dealer websites I checked all have the 2016 Chateau 22 on the E350 and not the E450. The E350 GCWR is only 18500 and you will be pushing it with your configuration.

I understand your concern as I have seen a few off roaders hauling equipment with busted up suspensions home on trailers. There is no way to flat tow anything with half the front end trashed from having too much fun.
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Old 02-22-2016, 05:12 PM   #10
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You should be able to determine E350/E450 and thus GVWR and GCWR simply from the VIN.
Try one of the online Ford VIN decoders, like this one: VIN Decoder - Ford Truck Enthusiasts Forums
(When I type in my Axis VIN it comes up with: "2014 Ford Econoline Commercial Chassis E-350 Stripped Chassis 138" ".)
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Old 02-23-2016, 08:56 PM   #11
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Dealer confirmed again the weight is listed as 22,000, and it is a E-450. I am waiting to get the VIN to try that Decoder link.

I have no interest in flat towing an offroad Jeep on 35" tires, with custom offroad bumpers and a winch. Tires alone are $300+ each!
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Old 02-23-2016, 10:02 PM   #12
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If that is the one it definitely shows E450 on the side so it should be 22,000 GCWR and you shouldn't have a problem. One thing you might try doing is to see if the dealer will throw in a set of Firestone Ride Rite air helper springs. I had them on my Class C and they worked very well. If you plan on towing that size load air helpers may be beneficial.
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Old 03-07-2016, 06:47 AM   #13
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Don't forget if you are set up for off road (I have a rock climber) you may be lighter than stock. Have you weighed your jeep yet?
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Old 03-07-2016, 04:00 PM   #14
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I would not personally limit my decision making to GVWR and GCWR concerns. There are other factors I would also want to confirm ahead of purchasing.

Tongue weight and the effect on axle loading is one. It's a good bet that a 7,000-pound trailer would need at least 700 pounds of tongue weight to track stable. That will add over 1,000 pounds to rear axle and unload front by over 400 pounds unless significant weight-distribution hitch load is applied. Much of the tongue weight (but not all) may still remain on motorhome after Weight Distribution, so that load has to be subtracted from load carrying capacity. Having said that, a small 24-foot Class C without slides built on a 14,500-pound chassis should be in great shape unless it's very rear-heavy by inherent design.

Another thing I'd personally check is the rear chassis frame extension prior to hitch. Based on Thor dimensions, it appears the rear overhang at around 8-ft long is about 2-ft longer than what Ford supplies. So while the hitch itself may be rated at 8,000 pounds, I'd want to make sure it's attached to motorhome solidly.

My Class C was roughly the same size but built on much lighter E-350 chassis. My concern when towing a few times was the long rear overhang relative to short 158-inch wheelbase, but I only towed up to a 4,000-pound U-Haul. And that was very stable even without weight distribution. At 6,000 or 7,000 pounds I'm not sure how stable it would have pulled.
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Old 02-09-2019, 12:48 AM   #15
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Doing the same research

Njjeepthing we are doing the same research. Looking for a MH to tow our off-road jeep 5000 lbs, aluminum car trailer 1300 lbs. At the moment looking at the Axis 27.7. It’s max tongue weight is the concerning factor at 500 lbs it’s dicey. Need to load the jeep on the trailer and measure the tongue weight. So many of the MH max out on GCWR. Good luck and I’d love to hear what you choose, we started looking at the Chateau but we’re concerned about going over weight.

2013 JK on 35s and a ton of armor is yet another investment so I get the need to protect it and town 4 up. We have had it not driveable coming home from a weekend of crawling.
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Old 02-27-2019, 01:28 AM   #16
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Originally Posted by njjeepthing View Post
Dealer confirmed again the weight is listed as 22,000, and it is a E-450. I am waiting to get the VIN to try that Decoder link.

I have no interest in flat towing an offroad Jeep on 35" tires, with custom offroad bumpers and a winch. Tires alone are $300+ each!
I had one and towed 10k with ease...I did up the trailer hitch to 10 k though
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