Please advise - determining max tow capacity

[oldman5145]

Originally Posted by johnxhc@gmail.com

Hi,All,
I have a 2017 Thor WindSport J34, The GVWR is 22,000 lbs, I could not find the GCWR for 2017, but for 2020, it is 26,000.00 (link as following)

https://www.thormotorcoach.com/hurricane/specs/

I assume it is the same as 2017 (please let me know if anyone believe it is different for 2017 model).

The dry weight of the motorhome is 16,800. so my calculation is as following:
Max towing capacity = 26,000 - 16,800 (Motorhome Weight) - 2,000 (cargo, passengers) - 420 (water) - 88 (propane tank) - 480 (gas) = 6,212 (lbs)

I would like to flat tow my 2019 Escalade , curb weight 5,856

The motorhome hitch is rated 8,000lbs.

the difference between Max towing capacity 6,212 - Escalade weight 5,825 = 400 lbs.

I understand this is not ideal, I definitely would prefer more than 400 lbs difference between my Max towing capacity and towed vehicle. However it is what it is, I figure I probably will not able to drive 70 miles/hour or even 55 mile uphills.

Other than that, does any experts here see any major problems here? (I would like to drive around north American with this)

Please advise.

Thanks in advance.
John

I have a 2017 Thor Hurricane 34j, same coach different badges. I flat tow a 2010 Chevy Traverse. 4500 pounds of it. Your Escalade is 1300 extra pounds. On long steep grades 45 to 50 is my pedal to the metal speed. I have 26000 miles on mine and I don't want any more weight.

[petefoss]

With or without tow haul mode active? On my 31W I get stuck at 45 on uphill if I don't activate tow haul early enough

[LA_RVer]

I would look at the hitch very carefully. My hitch is rated at 8000 pounds, but, the safety sticker on the hitch says for flat towing, you are limited to 5000 pounds.

[johnxhc@gmail.com]

Wow! Just curious, did you weight your motorhome? How much is your cargo and passengers?

Originally Posted by oldman5145

I have a 2017 Thor Hurricane 34j, same coach different badges. I flat tow a 2010 Chevy Traverse. 4500 pounds of it. Your Escalade is 1300 extra pounds. On long steep grades 45 to 50 is my pedal to the metal speed. I have 26000 miles on mine and I don't want any more weight.

[johnxhc@gmail.com]

What do you mean by tow haul mode? I only have P,R,N,D ,4 ,2 ,1.
Do you mean low gear like 4,2,1?

Originally Posted by petefoss

With or without tow haul mode active? On my 31W I get stuck at 45 on uphill if I don't activate tow haul early enough

[johnxhc@gmail.com]

No sure there is any safety sticker on the hitch but will definitely check it again tomorrow .
Why is flat tow different than other(dolly?) tow? I thought flat tow is suppose be less stress on the towing vehicle.

Originally Posted by LA_RVer

I would look at the hitch very carefully. My hitch is rated at 8000 pounds, but, the safety sticker on the hitch says for flat towing, you are limited to 5000 pounds.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by johnxhc@gmail.com

What do you mean by tow haul mode? I only have P,R,N,D ,4 ,2 ,1.
Do you mean low gear like 4,2,1?

The button on the end of the shifter engages tow-haul mode.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by LA_RVer

I would look at the hitch very carefully. My hitch is rated at 8000 pounds, but, the safety sticker on the hitch says for flat towing, you are limited to 5000 pounds.

Got a picture of that sticker? I've seen different capabilities for dead weight and weight distribution towing but never seen a reference to flat towing on a hitch.

[LA_RVer]

Sorry, tapatalk won't allow me to upload the picture. The label states for Dinghy towing, "Max gross trlr weight (lbs)" 5000.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by LA_RVer

Sorry, tapatalk won't allow me to upload the picture. The label states for Dinghy towing, "Max gross trlr weight (lbs)" 5000.

Must be a Fleetwood added sticker because Google has nothing.
And although you have an 8000 lb hitch on your Flair, the difference between the GVWR and GCWR is 5000 Lbs.

[LA_RVer]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Must be a Fleetwood added sticker because Google has nothing.

And although you have an 8000 lb hitch on your Flair, the difference between the GVWR and GCWR is 5000 Lbs.

The difference between my GVWR and my GCVWR is 7000 lbs.

[16ACE27]

Don't you have a Flair 28A?

From the Fleetwood site specifications for the 28A:

Although I finished school long before the New Math epidemic; last time I checked 21000 - 16000 = 5000.

[LA_RVer]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Don't you have a Flair 28A?



From the Fleetwood site specifications for the 28A:



Although I finished school long before the New Math epidemic; last time I checked 21000 - 16000 = 5000.

From the yellow FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TAG

GVWR 16000
FRONT GAWR 6500
REAR GAWR 11000
FACTORY WEIGHT 14542
OCC 1458
GCWR 23000
MAX GROSS TOWED WEIGHT 8000
MAX TOUNG WEIGHT 800

My math says 23000-16000=7000

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by LA_RVer

From the yellow FEDERAL CERTIFICATION TAG

GVWR 16000
FRONT GAWR 6500
REAR GAWR 11000
FACTORY WEIGHT 14542
OCC 1458
GCWR 23000
MAX GROSS TOWED WEIGHT 8000
MAX TOUNG WEIGHT 800

My math says 23000-16000=7000

So Fleetwood's advertised specs are incorrect? Good to know. That may also explain the "dingy" sticker on the hitch.

[oldman5145]

Originally Posted by johnxhc@gmail.com

Thanks for all of your help! Your guys are wonderful!

Here is what I found out from Thor Customer service about my couch by giving them my vin number.

GCWR: 26,000
GRWR 22,000
Vehicle Dry Weight: 16,646.

My flat towed vehicle is 4x4

I will probably only load 1/4 of my fresh tank( I am camping at fully hookup camp site 100%) , that will reduce the load by 300 lbs.

The Weight of the whole family(assuming everyone in the family goes): 860 lbs

Since I am not a full time I do not believe I would carry more than 500 lbs of luggage with me (if I do, I will make reduce it to 500)

Also the curb weight of my towed vehicle DOES include the weight of the driver (165 lbs) since no one will be at towed vehicle when it is flat towed , the weight of my towed vehicle is only going to be 5,856 - 165 = 5,691

So What I can tow is as following:
26,000 - 16,646 (Motorhome Weight) - 860 lbs (passenger) - 500 (cargo) - 100 lbs (1/4 of fresh tank water) - 88 (propane ) - 480 (gas) = 7,334

7,334- 5,691(towed vehicle weight ) =1,643

So looks like I still have 1,643 lbs buffer to play with. Even I fill the whole fresh water tank, I still have 1,343 lbs buffer.

That makes me very comfortable.

Thanks again to all of you

Don't buy any groceries, don't carry any chairs, don't have a rug for your patio, don't have any pots and pans. The list goes on.you Will be over weight. Yes I always drive in the tow haul mode. The 16 and new Tires with the 6 speed trans save your brakes.

[frankgtx]

I believe I heard that one before from:

The Captain of the Exxon Valdez
The Site Manager of BP’s Texas City chemical plant
The commissioning team for Boeing’s Max 8
Deepwater Horizon drilling platform

There are plenty other examples where some dimwits thought getting the job done was more important than getting it done safely. Please stay far away from me and my family and stop giving advice.

[OldWEB]

Originally Posted by frankgtx

I believe I heard that one before from:

The Captain of the Exxon Valdez
The Site Manager of BP’s Texas City chemical plant
The commissioning team for Boeing’s Max 8
Deepwater Horizon drilling platform

There are plenty other examples where some dimwits thought getting the job done was more important than getting it done safely. Please stay far away from me and my family and stop giving advice.

You forgot Apollo 13...

[Lt Keefer]

Whatever you do, don't expect the "experts" on this forum to testify at your trial.

[MJC62]

Originally Posted by Lt Keefer

Whatever you do, don't expect the "experts" on this forum to testify at your trial.

Now that's funny!!!!

[Phil Saran]

Your motorhome is pretty much like the Thor Hurricane 34E we
had from 2015 to 2018 gas motor and a tow rate of 5,000 pounds.

It got 6 to 7 mpg towing a 4000 pound Dodge Dakota truck.

If you want to tow a vehicle approaching 6000 pounds or more you really really need a diesel pusher MH. Or get a smaller vehicle to tow.

I sold the MH and went to a 34 foot 5th wheel and a Dodge Ram 3500
diesel and now get 10 to 11 MPG.

Just my $0.02