Been using a dolly and taking the car or pulling a trailer if I wanted to take my Gold Wing. Thinking of getting a 4 wheel drive 1/2 ton truck and loading the Wing in the back of it with an auto loader that pulls it into the back of the truck. My question is the truck weights around 4800 lbs, bike 850 lbs, loader 200 lbs and the hitch is rated for 5000 what do you do? My motorhome is 34' with the workhorse W22 and 8.1L engine. I don't think there would be any problem pulling it but I don't know if this is to much overall weight for the hitch. I have seen this setup on a few gas motorhomes so I know it is being done.
Lonnie & Mary
2003 Kountry Star 3301 7 RV.NET Rally's
Lots of people do lots of things that their not supposed to do, doesn't make it right, or safe.
I would go to a Hitch specialist and see about a heavier duty hitch and or frame reinforcements necessary to handle the load.
JMHO.
The W22 is rated to tow 4,000 lbs. It's CGVWR is 26K, GVWR is 22K --
Nothing can be done legally to upgrade the CGVW rating. The chassis is Federally certified, changing the hitch or "beefing up" the attachment point does not change the Fed rating.
Mike T
2005 Winnebago Voyage 33V, Workhorse W20, with '06 CR-V in tow, SMI 4 wire Braking system, Blue Ox Underskirt, Pressure Pro.
Sounds to me like you need a bigger rig. A DP with 10,000 lb towing cap should work for you. Anything with the weight of the toys you listed puts you at just about a ton over. This puts us and you in jeopardy.
Cheers
"If you don't know where you're going, you'll wind up somewhere else"
miket wrote: The W22 is rated to tow 4,000 lbs. It's CGVWR is 26K, GVWR is 22K --
Nothing can be done legally to upgrade the CGVW rating. The chassis is Federally certified, changing the hitch or "beefing up" the attachment point does not change the Fed rating.
but he can "borrow" some of the CCC to add to the 4,000 lbs. the hitch is a "killer" however.
bumpy
Where did you find that "the chassis is Federally Certified"? Everything that I can find on the subject says that the GVWR is assigned by the MANUFACTURER. You MAY void the warranty by overloading the chassis, but I can't find where the government would do anything.
miket wrote: The W22 is rated to tow 4,000 lbs. It's CGVWR is 26K, GVWR is 22K
I have to disagree with your first statement. It is not RATED to tow 4,000 lbs.. IF the rig is loaded to it's GVWR, then you have 4,000 lbs. available to tow before reaching the GCWR.
If the rig weighs 21,000 lbs., then it can tow the full 5,000 lbs. of the hitch.
If the rig only weighs in 20,000 lbs., then it can tow 6,000 lbs. so long as the hitch and frame rails are adequate.
Heck...if the rig only weighed in at 16,000 lbs, it could technically tow 10,000 lbs IF the hitch and frame were properly sized.
Lonnie...I'd recommend that you weigh your rig, fully loaded as you normally travel to see just where you stand on the weight issue. If you want to obey the numbers, you'll have to start with the actual motorhome weights. Report back here with them and we'll see if we can take if from there.
As a guide, our dual slide 36' rig on a W-22 weighs in, fully loaded, between 21,000 -21,500 lbs. But we're a family of 6, usually travel with full water (85 gallons) and are NOT light packers (I brings lots of tools and wifey brings lots of clothes for the kids.) Your rig is shorter and if you travel lighter, you might be able to pull this off. You'll definitely need a beefier hitch, though.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22 (Class A)
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (12-Angel), 1 girl (7), 2 boys (8 & 5), 1 plump Golden Retriever.
2001 Honda Odyssey with Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
I have put our rig on the scale and with my enclosed trailer with the Wing in it and hook to the mh it weighed 19,500. MH is only 34' long. When weighed I had full tank gas, full propane, 1/4 water and two people on board plus we were packed to travel. After traveling for over 25 years on the motorcycle I know how to pack light. My bays even when we go for months at a time are not full. Rick, if what you say is correct then I should have not problem pulling this load. Hope that is right.
With the base plate and tow bar, you'll be at about 6,000 lbs. So you'll need to replace the hitch. I'd recommend you try to find a good frame shop in your area and see what they suggest. Upgrade the hitch, and if they feel the rear frame rails of your chassis need a bit extra support let them do that too.
As you can deduce from our numbers, our setup usually puts our GCW at between 25,500 and 26,000. My understanding is that the 26,000 lb. limit on GCWR is actually due to the rating of a parking pawl in the Allison 1000 transmission. So, if you go a few pounds over the GCWR, I don't think you'll be in too much danger....but keep those wheels chocked...just in case! LOL
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