Towing Package

[Brandy66]

Does anyone know for sure if the Mercedes 3500 Sprinter chassis that Thor uses, like on a Compass 24 ft. come with the towing package as standard equipment? I tried plugging my VIN number into their website but no luck getting through..

[Bob Denman]

As I recall: they're rated for 5000 pounds worth of towing... if it has the hitch, and a place to hook up some plugs for the wiring: you're good to go!

When we were buying: we looked at them for quite a long time!

[Brandy66]

Yes.. all of that is true for sure, it has the receiver and the wiring. I'm more concerned if they come with the upgraded transmission and cooler or not?

[Bob Denman]

It's already set up for heavy-duty usage: you're good to go!
There's not much more that you could add to the setup; to make it any more heavy duty anyway.

[Brandy66]

Is this just a guess on your part? I'm painfully aware that a trailer hitch does not equal "towing package" and I certainly don't trust Thor to do anything other than the cheapest possible build. I know Sprinter has a heavy duty towing package available but I can't find anything in my literature that came with the RV to prove it has a towing package in fact there's no spec's at all on the chassis.

[JamieGeek]

Originally Posted by Brandy66

Is this just a guess on your part? I'm painfully aware that a trailer hitch does not equal "towing package" and I certainly don't trust Thor to do anything other than the cheapest possible build. I know Sprinter has a heavy duty towing package available but I can't find anything in my literature that came with the RV to prove it has a towing package in fact there's no spec's at all on the chassis.

Keep in mind that the frame may have been lengthened by a 3rd party (Mor-ryde) and thus "heavy duty towing package" may not apply.

What exactly is included in said package? (bigger radiator? reinforced frame?)

[jpmihalk]

If you are looking for information like with cars and pickup trucks concerning "towing packages" you won't find much. RVs are built on freight truck chassis and the best way to determine what you can and can't tow is to check the tow hitch weight, subtract the GVWR from the GCWR and also check the tongue weight. The lesser of any of these is the actual towing capacity.

[Bob Denman]

Originally Posted by Brandy66

Is this just a guess on your part? I'm painfully aware that a trailer hitch does not equal "towing package" and I certainly don't trust Thor to do anything other than the cheapest possible build. I know Sprinter has a heavy duty towing package available but I can't find anything in my literature that came with the RV to prove it has a towing package in fact there's no spec's at all on the chassis.

Don't believe me: ask Thor directly.
They're not going to lie to you: that would open them up to a nightmare of legal issues...

[The Gritz Carlton]

"Towing Package" by definition is hitch, trailer wiring, trailer brake controller module on dash, upgrade to transmission cooler system and in some cases a larger radiator capacity. That's in the light truck classifications anyway.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by The Gritz Carlton

"Towing Package" by definition is hitch, trailer wiring, trailer brake controller module on dash, upgrade to transmission cooler system and in some cases a larger radiator capacity. That's in the light truck classifications anyway.

May also include HD shocks and suspension as well as specific rear ends.

[Irontent]

Originally Posted by Brandy66

Does anyone know for sure if the Mercedes 3500 Sprinter chassis that Thor uses, like on a Compass 24 ft. come with the towing package as standard equipment? I tried plugging my VIN number into their website but no luck getting through..

When a Sprinter is ordered, different degrees of trailering equipment can be specified. Each option code is documented in the dealer's ordering handbook. Older models of Sprinters could be ordered with trailer wiring, and provisions for a trailer brake controller, but without the actual trailer brake controller. If ordered that way, the purchaser or dealer was left to obtain and install an appropriate controller for it in the driver's seat base.

My experience of ordering a Sprinter compared to ordering my most recent Ford Truck purchase was that there was a lot more configuration flexibility for MB purchasers than Ford purchasers.

Back then, the MB dealer mentioned that high-volume fleet purchasers had even more flexibility in what they ordered -- especially chassis-only purchasers.

The only way to know for sure is to get the specific build sheet for the chassis you have under your motorhome. One source of build sheets is a user on the Sprinter-Source.com forum -- Sailquick. In the past, he has supplied build sheets from Mercedes Benz for others who supplied a chassis VIN.

Good luck.

[Brandy66]

Exactly what I was looking for, thanks I will give him a shout.
I may never tow a thing with this RV but the upgraded transmission is far superior to the standard one and I just want to know what to expect and what sort of PM to do.