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Old 07-10-2022, 08:14 PM   #1
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Illegally towing a toad?

So I’ve been considering a toad or a dingy and started looking at weight. My rig is a 2020 Thor ACE 33.1. Specs say it weighs 20,500lbs. I figured 1500lbs with clothes food people grill etc. so im at 22k in weight alone. That leaves me 4001 lbs left for me to legally tow. So if I use a dingy thats about 750lbs give or take which leaves me 3251lbs for a car to tow. My hitch says 8k but I can’t legally tow 8k.

Have any of you guys towing actually checked what your weighing in at? Or do you guys run a Class A License?

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Old 07-10-2022, 08:35 PM   #2
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Originally Posted by Ntrinh15 View Post
So I’ve been considering a toad or a dingy and started looking at weight. My rig is a 2020 Thor ACE 33.1. Specs say it weighs 20,500lbs. I figured 1500lbs with clothes food people grill etc. so im at 22k in weight alone. That leaves me 4001 lbs left for me to legally tow. So if I use a dingy thats about 750lbs give or take which leaves me 3251lbs for a car to tow. My hitch says 8k but I can’t legally tow 8k.

Have any of you guys towing actually checked what your weighing in at? Or do you guys run a Class A License?
Specs say the MOST your coach can weigh fully loaded is 20,500 lbs (GVWR).
Your GCWR is 26,000 lbs

You can tow 5,500 lbs at least unless you overload your coach.

A "dinghy" is what you tow, AKA TOAD. I think you were referring to a tow dolly which tows with the front wheels of the car off the ground. You don't need a dolly if you tow 4 down (flat towing).

And in Florida you don't need a "Class A" license if driving any size MH.
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Old 07-10-2022, 10:03 PM   #3
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Load the coach and get it weighted.
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Old 07-10-2022, 10:10 PM   #4
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I have not weighed in at an actual scale yet. Just went off specs online. It would be great if my rig is weighed in at that. I dont boon dock so no need for extra water or anything. I can flat tow or use a dolly. Options are better with the dolly.
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Old 07-11-2022, 12:23 AM   #5
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I have not weighed in at an actual scale yet. Just went off specs online. It would be great if my rig is weighed in at that. I dont boon dock so no need for extra water or anything. I can flat tow or use a dolly. Options are better with the dolly.
Manufacturers specs are always 'subject to change', I wouldn't trust them at all.
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Old 07-11-2022, 12:39 AM   #6
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5k is towing max. Hitch is rated 8k that doesn't mean you can tow 8k
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Old 07-11-2022, 01:06 AM   #7
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Flat towing eliminates the dolly weight and hassle. But sounds like you want the option of different tow vehicles. That being the case, I suggest getting an accurate weight at a CAT scale. Then you'll know for certain. You certainly don't want a personal injury attorney giving you that news after an accident that's your fault...

With the accurate weight you'll be better prepared... much better than guessing.
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Old 07-11-2022, 02:55 AM   #8
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No definitely don’t need the headache or problems on the road. I will have to get it weighed and really see what it is. Heading next weekend to Scarborough Maine for a couple days. Ill see if theres a scale on the way.

More curious if other people realize this regarding weight.
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Old 07-11-2022, 03:37 AM   #9
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No definitely don’t need the headache or problems on the road. I will have to get it weighed and really see what it is. Heading next weekend to Scarborough Maine for a couple days. Ill see if theres a scale on the way.

More curious if other people realize this regarding weight.
Realize what? Your numbers are wrong?
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Old 07-11-2022, 04:03 AM   #10
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Why are my numbers wrong? Its simple math. If i take factory specs and minus what im legal to drive than those are the numbers. Im saying how many people think a 8k hitch can tow 8k behind them. Or over load the rv and think its ok to tow or be overloaded
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Old 07-11-2022, 04:47 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Ntrinh15 View Post
Why are my numbers wrong? Its simple math. If i take factory specs and minus what im legal to drive than those are the numbers. Im saying how many people think a 8k hitch can tow 8k behind them. Or over load the rv and think its ok to tow or be overloaded
Your math could be right could be wrong. Best thing is to weight the coach. Any brochure weight is going to be wrong. Is the 20,500 the max weight of your coach fully loaded and 26k is combined. If that’s the case you should have 5,500lbs left over: provides you haven’t over loaded the 20,500
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Old 07-11-2022, 12:53 PM   #12
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You're overthinking this...
https://www.thorforums.com/forums/at...1&d=1657544015
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Old 07-11-2022, 02:42 PM   #13
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Just say'n
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Old 07-11-2022, 02:57 PM   #14
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If you're uncomfortable - just weigh it. Don't be like those idiots (and I'm NOT insinuating you are ) pulling a 5th wheel with a half-ton truck - with a trailer - going 85 on the freeway. An accident waiting to happen... which has the potential to injure innocent people around them!

I confess that I have never weighed my setup, but I feel confident in my load weight, toad weight and hitch rating that I'm not overloaded. BUT - if I DID suspect I was, and that was bothering me... I'd be hitting the nearest scale to find out.
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Old 07-11-2022, 03:54 PM   #15
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Just about every truck stop has a CAT scale. For under $20 in most cases, you can weigh the coach and the toad, and quit the guesswork.
In our case I found fully loaded we were over the coach's weight limit by 150 lbs or so and under on the Gross Combined Weight Rating limit by a large margin with the Cherokee in tow. We moved several items, (campfire wood, lawn chairs) out of the coach and into the toad to get the weights right.
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Old 07-11-2022, 04:21 PM   #16
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Im not denying the weighing part. Just not about to load up the rv when I dont have a trip planned. This week I will know when im loaded and on the road so I will be weighing in so I can get a real number. Im pretty sure there are others out there that just hook and go.
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Old 07-11-2022, 04:35 PM   #17
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Just a side note on towing vehicles, rules vary a lot from state to state so make sure you check ahead of time. Some don't even require a toad brake systems but most do.
Unless it's changed here in Texas you're required to have an add on air brake rider on your drivers license although I've never heard of anyone in a MH being harassed about it. It's probably one of those, you don't know you need it until you find out from some jerk's attorney why you do.
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Old 07-11-2022, 04:51 PM   #18
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When you do weigh it, fully fill all of your tanks to get a FULLY loaded base. Gas, water, propane...

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Old 07-11-2022, 05:34 PM   #19
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GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) has nothing to do with towing capacity. GVWR is the max your vehicle can weigh with everything in it, less towing. GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) has everything to do with it. GCWR is the total weight your vehicle AND trailer setup can weigh. Towing Capacity is generally determined by hitch capacity and drive-line capability. EX: If your MH has a GVWR of 20K (and you weigh the max), a towing capacity of 8K and a GCWR of 26K, you can only tow 6K pounds...whether its flat tow, trailer tow or dolly tow. If your MH weights less than 20K but has a GVWR of 20K the difference can be added to the towing capacity...as long as it doesn't exceed 8K (rated capacity). This link is a pretty good explanation of both as it relates to towing.


https://www.motortrend.com/features/gvwr-vs-gcwr/
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Old 07-11-2022, 05:44 PM   #20
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Here are my weight calculations:

2017 Thor Quantum GR22 on the E450 Chassis

The GVWR is 14,500 lbs
The GCWR is 22,000 lbs
The Actual RV weighs 12,300 lbs fully loaded with 4 people onboard + 4 bikes on the hitch

The hitch is rated for 8,000 lbs, but the tongue weight is only 500 lbs

Rear Axle is rated for 9,600 lbs, fully loaded with 4 bikes on the hitch it was only holding 8,240 lbs.

That leaves 1,360 lbs (plus the weight of the bikes) for the Jeep Trailer tongue weight

MAX Towable weight is a hefty 9,700 lbs (If I change/reinforce/modify the hitch). I could pull an 8000lb TOAD in the current configuration.

I plan to upgrade the hitch and get a 10K box trailer and load my 4500 lb Jeep.

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