768Q
Nor Cal
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I am trying to determine what Draw-Tite Hitch is installed on our class A as I am trying to determine if it (the hitch) will withstand towing our 24' Pace trailer to the track 45 miles away SAFELY! The former owner towed a open trailer-ed car with it weighing in at 5k total weight. The MH is a 28' Coachman Santara with a GVW of 17k and a GCVW of 25k,the back frame rail measures about 8'-6" to the rear from the center of the axle and appears to be on piece which I would think is good. My trailer will be at right around 7,500# I have a tongue scale and will play around to see were I am at in the next day or two and am in hopes of keeping the tongue weight right around 750#. So here are some pictures I took of the Draw-Tite that is on it now, as you can see in the pictures they added 3/8" steel plate to both inner sides of the Draw-Tite and encapsulated the tube, also those same plate are welded continuously around the outer edges of the hitch and to the bottom of the MH frame along with the original bolts of the Draw-Tite hitch to the frame. Anyone with hitch experience or towing similar please let me know what you think and /or how it might compare to your hitch if you tow these kind of loads.
BTW I have looked over this hitch everywhere for weight rating and /or model # with no luck just a Draw - Tite decal on top I am wondering if those numbers got covered up by the inside side plates?
Thanks, Keith
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96Bounder30E
America is my home!
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The 1996 Ford Chassis under our 30' Bounder is rated for 3500 lbs........you have the same year and make of chassis that I do........I am assuming 3500lbs is your answer.......
It's not just the hitch that is rated at that amount.........it's the axles, wheels, tires, brakes and other chassis components........
Trust me.......towing 7500 lbs PLUS with your chassis.......is not going to happen SAFELY!
Eric
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Ivylog
Blairsville, Ga. USA
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Atleast someone did a good job of extending the frame rails and welding the hitch on. I would not worry about the hitch and keeping your tongue weight down will help. Your #'s: a GVW of 17k and a GCVW of 25k says you should be able to do it. I'd rather pull a 7500lb trailer with a 17K vehcile instead of a 7K PU that we would not think twice about pulling a 7.5K trailer. Please read my disclaimer below.
This post is my opinion (free advice). It is not intended to influence anyone's judgment nor do I advocate anyone do what I propose.
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jassrnj
Bath, PA
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As someone who dropped a trailer on the road when the hitch failed, I would NOT tow the trailer unless I was 110% sure that it was rated for the weight of your trailer. I was well below the rated weight when my hitch failed ... I ended up pulling the trailer down the road on the safety chains until I could safely slow down and get off the road. This happened to me 30 years ago and I will never forget the failure.
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past-MIdirector
Michigan
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On a gas class A none were made with a large than 5000 lb towing capacity. If you want to go over 5000 lbs than you better be going with the diesels that are up to 10000 lbs. I've seen people tow over the limits and then either end up along the side of the road or have a frame/hitch failure.
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Raymon
Phoenixville, PA
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I might be wrong, but I think the hitch is original equipment. I don't think an add-on would have the skid bars attached. Also, the way the hitch is attached to the frame and the bracket from the frame to the back bumper (?). I suggest you contact Coachman. If you have the VIN or serial number, they can tell you if in fact the hitch was installed at the factory. I seriously doubt if the hitch is rated for more than 4K or at most, 5K.
Ray
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jy
south east mich.
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You won,t get the answer you want on this Forum.Everyone is going to tell you you're overloaded.That being said I used to tow a 7k lb. trailer with my 33 foot Coachman.I reenforced the frame extensions and the hitch with steel plating. I believe the MH is the best tow vehicle I've ever owned.There is no bouncing or swaying when I tow with it.
99 Coachmen 322QB, Ford V10,18 foot Load King open trailer, 2007 Mustang GT Toad, Gibson exhaust,Royal Purple lubricants.Recently retired and planning on doing more RV'ing.
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RCtime
So. Calif.
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So whats your insurance co. gonna say if an accident happens, and another parties lawyers find out you beyond the limits of what your vehicle was designed to tow?
Something to seriously consider.
Ron
2002 34HD Winnebago Journey DL, Cat. 330/freightliner
2004 Honda CRV - Garmin 1490t
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TT/N
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bluwtr49
Green Valley, AZ
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First, just to clarify, your question is about the reciever not the hitch. Real differant animals.
When towing a trailer tonque wt generally becomes the issue. In general a reciever/hitch has two ratings, one is for dead load (usually 10% of the tow rating) without wieght distrubting and the other is for weight distrubeted (usually 12-15% of the tow rating).
Best guess it that your reciever is not a W/D receiver would be hard pressed to handle a 750 lb TW. However, that said for relatively short trips on smooth roads it may well provide very good service. Rough roads are the killer on recievers as the shock loading can easily exceed 3X the TW. Think going over a RR crossing when the trailer tonque bounces like crazy. Each bounce severely loads and unload the hitch creating huge stress on the whole assy.
Your good judgement and reserch will guide you in the decision but reciever failures on not uncommon.
* This post was
edited 08/01/12 07:22am by bluwtr49 *
Dick
2000 40" DP Beaver Patriot Thunder Cat C-12 425 HP, 1550 Tq
1997 Jeep GC Limited ---toad
2008 Toyota Tundra Crew Max Limited TRD (Retired)
2009 Cougar 268 RLS ~8700 lbs road wt (Retrired)
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wallynm
Los Alamos NM
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Our 99 Santara had a 5000 pound factory installed rated hitch. Never have seen a gas rig with a higher rated hitch.
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