427435 wrote: You'll want to carefully check the GVWR and GCVWR on these vehicles. If they indicate a 5000 lb tow capacity, then you will need to be sure the hitch is actually rated for 5000 lbs. A lot of these vintage MH's won't pass those checks.
My model year 2000 MH (Ford V10) has a 5000 lb towing capacity and hitch, BUT the hitch is only rated for 350 lbs vertical load. That's fine for pulling a 4-down toad, but could be an issue with a 5000 lb trailer.
Also, both Ford and Workhorse REQUIRE supplemental braking on anything being towed that weighs over 1,500#'s
Deen - Vancouver, WA
'02 Dutch Star 4090 (41+', triple slide)
435/1200 ISC Cummins/Banks PowerPak
'08 Honda Civic/dolly
'05 Honda Odyssey/dolly
NRA Benefactor Life Member
FMCA f47302s, Life Member: Good Sam, Newmar DP Owners Group
51st yr of RV'ing
I have a 1999 Itasca with a 454. It's rated to tow 5,000 pounds. I haven't towed anything yet but I will be towing a Chrysler 300m on a tow dolly starting in May.
In the late 90's Chevey went to the "Vortec" 454 which has more power, more torque, and better cooling than the earlier 454's. I'd say the Vortec 454's or the Workhorse 8.1's would be fine. Many of the earlier 454's I looked at were rated at 3500 lbs.
I have a 99 Coachman 33foot class A on a V10 Ford chassis.GVW is 18k,and GCWR is 26k.I reenforced the frame extensions and the hitch and towed a 24foot enclosed trailer with a small car and three dirt bikes inside. Probally about 6500lbs total.I towed this combo from Michigan to Florida several times with no problems.My V10 is the 275hp version so I added Gibson exhaust and a Banks Trans Command.I felt I had plenty of power.I know I broke a few "rules"but I did fine.My boys don't race bikes as much so I sold the big trailer and got a smaller one.
99 Coachmen 322QB, Ford V10,10 foot Haulmark trailer for dirt bikes, Ford Ranger toad, Gibson exhaust,Royal Purple lubricants.
My 94 Ford 460 MH has a 17,000 pound GVWR and a 25,000 pound GCWR, so it is rated to tow up to 8,000 pounds. The hitch on it, however, is only rated at 5000 pounds. It tows my 2400 pound Miata with no noticeable effect on performance.
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