Tow with my Class C Freedom Elite 26HE

Billybiker · 11-15-2018, 08:34 PM

I have a Ford 350 Class C and want to tow with a tow dolly. How do I find out if I can tow my front wheel drive Ford Edge that weighs 4050 lbs dry?

Billybiker · 11-15-2018, 08:49 PM

I know I can tow the Edge what I am looking for is any info on how much a load I can tow with my F350 Class C motor home.

Billybiker · 11-15-2018, 08:51 PM

What I am really trying to find out what is the max weight I can tow with my 2018 Thor Freedom Elite with a F350 engine?

JamieGeek · 11-15-2018, 09:30 PM

Your FE has an E-350 chassis which has a GVWR of 12,500 lbs and a GCWR of 18,500 lbs (found here: https://www.freedom-motorhomes.com/freedom-elite/specs/ ).

Take your RV to a scale (like a Cat Scale) and weigh it. Preferably full (e.g. full gas, full water, full propane, full of your stuff, etc.).

How much you can tow is the GCWR minus the scaled weight or your hitch rating--whichever is lower.

Since you're planning on using a dolly you don't really have to worry about the tongue weight as dolly's don't come close to the 500 lb max.

Bob Denman · 11-15-2018, 11:10 PM

Jamie is right: as usual!

My quick answer: ask your Dealer what the specifications say about it; then stay a "comfortable amount" below what they say...

Billybiker · 03-06-2019, 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Your FE has an E-350 chassis which has a GVWR of 12,500 lbs and a GCWR of 18,500 lbs (found here: https://www.freedom-motorhomes.com/freedom-elite/specs/ ).

Take your RV to a scale (like a Cat Scale) and weigh it. Preferably full (e.g. full gas, full water, full propane, full of your stuff, etc.).

How much you can tow is the GCWR minus the scaled weight or your hitch rating--whichever is lower.

Since you're planning on using a dolly you don't really have to worry about the tongue weight as dolly's don't come close to the 500 lb max.

Thank you for the info and the link....question when I hit the link it goes to the 2019 models info is there any difference or can you send a link fir the 3018 model 26HE?

thanks again!

JamieGeek · 03-06-2019, 11:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billybiker

Thank you for the info and the link....question when I hit the link it goes to the 2019 models info is there any difference or can you send a link fir the 3018 model 26HE?

thanks again!

There hasn't been a difference in weight ratings for the E-Series for quite some time, your 2018? (not 3018 right? LOL) model has the same ratings as the 2019 models do.

Brad2018 · 03-08-2019, 09:51 PM

We haven’t decided on a TOAD just yet but I’ve done a lot of reading and math on the subject. We have a 2018 Thor 26HE. I assume you also have the 8000 lb hitch. I used this website for this info several months ago and threw it all in a word doc. https://www.thefitrv.com/rv-tips/how...all-motorhome/

I used your TOAD dry weight but if you weigh it you will probably find that it weighs a few hundred pounds more. I can tell you that the TOAD that I’m considering is around 4700 lbs.

I could not find the OCCC sticker in my RV. I’ve looked everywhere. I pulled all of these numbers from all the various THOR info. If you have the sticker I would appreciate the info on it. It will be yellow.

GCWR (GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING) 18500 LBS
The combined weight rating of a vehicle and its cargo including a trailer or camper.

GVWR (GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING) 12500 LBS
The maximum legally allowed weight of the vehicle and all its contents, passengers, and cargo (but not of any attached vehicle)

OCCC (Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity)
This figure states the maximum allowable weight of all occupants (including the driver), plus the weight of all food, tools, full fresh water tanks, full LP-Gas tanks and personal belongings. The maximum allowable weight of passengers is based on the number of seat belted positions in the motorized RV. The regulation also states that the “tongue weight of towed trailer counts as cargo.”

(OCCC) 1318 - 1518
55 gallons fuel = 350
Full water = 333
STUFF = 300 - 500+ (this number will vary, we tend to pack light)
Full LPG = 50 (I forget where I got this number)
PEOPLE = 300 (this number will vary but for the two of us it’s correct)

GVWR – OCCC = Empty RV
12500 - 1318 = 11182

Now load up the RV:

Empty RV: 11182
Full fuel 55 gallon tank 350
Weight of driver 170
Weight of passenger 120
Weight of propane 50
Weight of full water 333
Weight of food, tools, etc… 300 - 500+ or more
Your curb weight 4050 4050
TOTAL: 16555

18500 - 16555 = 1945 remaining.

bry899 · 03-08-2019, 10:29 PM

It would be easier and more accurate if you fully pack your motorhome and have it weighed.
Subtract that weight from the GCWR -18500 LBS

For example mine is a Four winds 22E (No slides)
fully loaded including passengers and tanks gas water propane =11000 pounds

GCWR 18500
Scaled weight is -11,000
Tow capacity 7,500

I can't exceed the hitch tongue rating of 500 pounds, and though I can reduce my weight I still cannot exceed the hitch rating of 8000 pounds

Mustang46555 · 03-09-2019, 02:29 AM

We flat tow a Jeep Liberty with our 2018 RS26 Quantum (same floorplan as your 26HE) and have no problems. The Jeep comes in at 3950lbs so it's very close to your Edge. With the limited storage space on the 26' you should be fine. All up weight we had a little over 6000lbs left for towing.

10scDust · 03-11-2019, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JamieGeek

Since you're planning on using a dolly you don't really have to worry about the tongue weight as dolly's don't come close to the 500 lb max.

Thanks for that info, I was kind of wondering that too, we just haven't graduated that far yet, but want to (with a tow-dolly).

10scDust · 03-11-2019, 10:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Billybiker

What I am really trying to find out what is the max weight I can tow with my 2018 Thor Freedom Elite with a F350 engine?

You can look into a 5 Star tune, or one of the other good ones, they flash the computer drives to enhance lots of things, including horse power if you want it.

Mustang46555 · 03-11-2019, 11:52 AM

E350/E450 same engine. The Ford V10 will tow anything within the chassis weight rating. How well it will perform depends on where and how you drive it. And what you expect from it. Ours did well in TN last year, the mountains made it work but we had no issues with them. Expect the stock transmission to down shift a lot and the revs to get pretty high but the Triton loves to wind and the computer won't let it hurt itself. The 5 star is supposed to help this but I haven't tried one.

japdip · 04-28-2019, 12:41 AM

I have a 2018 26HE and tow a 2016 4 dr wrangler with no problem. The factory specs show an 8000 lb tow rating.
Larry

SteveCie · 09-12-2019, 05:44 PM

I am towing a 4400 lb Buick on a DOLLY. The GCVW only counts the tongue weight from the loaded DOLLY. That weight is less than 350 lbs.The DOLLY axle is supporting 1560 Lbs in my case with the remaining 2440 lbs TOAD weight carried on the rear axle of the toad. The hitch is rated to PULL 5000 lbs. NOTE: When driving, max road weight incorporates the total weight of the loaded RV AND the weight of the towed (toad) vehicle. So, a road limit of lets say 10 ton, WILL NOT PERMIT a RV that weighs 18,000 plus the 4000 lb toad. In this case you would be 1 ton over the road limit. (drop the toad and drive it separately in this case)

pstandiford · 09-12-2019, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveCie

I am towing a 4400 lb Buick on a DOLLY. The GCVW only counts the tongue weight from the loaded DOLLY. That weight is less than 350 lbs.The DOLLY axle is supporting 1560 Lbs in my case with the remaining 2440 lbs TOAD weight carried on the rear axle of the toad. The hitch is rated to PULL 5000 lbs. NOTE: When driving, max road weight incorporates the total weight of the loaded RV AND the weight of the towed (toad) vehicle. So, a road limit of lets say 10 ton, WILL NOT PERMIT a RV that weighs 18,000 plus the 4000 lb toad. In this case you would be 1 ton over the road limit. (drop the toad and drive it separately in this case)

The GCWR includes the weight of the vehicle on the dolly.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gros..._weight_rating

Bob Denman · 09-12-2019, 06:16 PM

It's been six Months since we heard from Billy: I wonder what he decided to do?

**16ACE27** · 09-12-2019, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveCie

I am towing a 4400 lb Buick on a DOLLY. The GCVW only counts the tongue weight from the loaded DOLLY. That weight is less than 350 lbs.The DOLLY axle is supporting 1560 Lbs in my case with the remaining 2440 lbs TOAD weight carried on the rear axle of the toad. The hitch is rated to PULL 5000 lbs. NOTE: When driving, max road weight incorporates the total weight of the loaded RV AND the weight of the towed (toad) vehicle. So, a road limit of lets say 10 ton, WILL NOT PERMIT a RV that weighs 18,000 plus the 4000 lb toad. In this case you would be 1 ton over the road limit. (drop the toad and drive it separately in this case)

Quote:

Originally Posted by pstandiford

The GCWR includes the weight of the vehicle on the dolly.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gros..._weight_rating

Yep! Bad info from StevieCie

SteveCie · 09-13-2019, 12:45 PM

The GCVW sticker specifically addresses the trailer question, stating only tongue weight of the trailer gets factored in

bry899 · 09-13-2019, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveCie

The GCVW sticker specifically addresses the trailer question, stating only tongue weight of the trailer gets factored in

I think you are confusing GCVWR vs GVWR

GCVWR-Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR): The GCVWR is defined as the maximum weight of a loaded vehicle and its attached loaded trailer.

GVWR-Gross vehicle weight rating
The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR), or gross vehicle mass (GVM) is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo but excluding that of any trailers.

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