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Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) #1873503 07/19/15 02:02 PM 07/19/15 02:02 PM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada J johndart OP member
johndart OP member J Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Hi everyone back again looking for opinions, I found another RV van that I feel is better suited that then the 1985 B250 that was deemed not adequate in my previous post I will sell the 1985 later. This is a B van motorhome conversion that I am looking at to use to pull my open trailer, single axle brakes (could upgrade to 2 axle brakes) with 3000lb race car to the track for the week end and have some creature comforts. It has 360 motor, 4 speed OD trans, 4:10 rear gears, Firestone rear air ride with on board comperssor, has electric trailer brake, 70,000 miles. Will this be a safe towing rig? Does anyone have real life experiences in this type of combination area? Thanks John

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1873519 07/19/15 02:22 PM 07/19/15 02:22 PM
Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio Challenger 1 Too Many Posts
Challenger 1 Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2005 Posts: 28,312 Cincinnati, Ohio	Originally Posted By johndart Hi everyone back again looking for opinions, I found another RV van that I feel is better suited that then the 1985 B250 that was deemed not adequate in my previous post I will sell the 1985 later. This is a B van motorhome conversion that I am looking at to use to pull my open trailer, single axle brakes (could upgrade to 2 axle brakes) with 3000lb race car to the track for the week end and have some creature comforts. It has 360 motor, 4 speed OD trans, 4:10 rear gears, Firestone rear air ride with on board comperssor, has electric trailer brake, 70,000 miles. Will this be a safe towing rig? Does anyone have real life experiences in this type of combination area? Thanks John The only thing I can suggest is to make sure there is sufficient frame to the rear for a good strong trailer hitch. And check the rear structure for damage if it has been used to trailer in the past. I think typically they don't have much back there frame wise?

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: Challenger 1] #1873545 07/19/15 03:05 PM 07/19/15 03:05 PM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada J johndart OP member
johndart OP member J Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada	The 2" receiver hitch mounts at the very back and also mounts further forward (4 point attachement). he frame rails show no rust or corrosion or prior damage. I forgot to mention I will be using a Reese weight distributing hitch with the dual cam sway control.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1873991 07/20/15 12:04 AM 07/20/15 12:04 AM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada J johndart OP member
johndart OP member J Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Taking it in tomorrow to get checked to find out what it needs for safety and get mechanics opinion on the condition as he has RV experience.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1874030 07/20/15 01:00 AM 07/20/15 01:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN A ahy master
ahy master A Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN	I think the 360/4.10 combo is much better than the 318/2.xx combo you were considering. Should do OK with open trailer and good hitch. Just go a little easy on the hills to preserve the engine and make sure you have a good trans cooler.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1874235 07/20/15 12:39 PM 07/20/15 12:39 PM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada J johndart OP member
johndart OP member J Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Hi ahy, thanks this unit seem to have more thing going for it than the last one, waiting to get it in the shop to be checked out. Gears are steeper than I would have liked, but will see how it it tows. I will check if it has a cooler and make sure it has a good one before towing.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1874359 07/20/15 03:22 PM 07/20/15 03:22 PM
Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 28,067 Irving, TX feets Senior Management
feets Senior Management Joined: Jan 2003 Posts: 28,067 Irving, TX	Those gears aren't steep enough when you're towing. The OD transmission will drop them back down to an effective ratio similar to the last one you looked at. We are brothers and sisters doing time on the planet for better or worse. I'll take the better, if you don't mind. - Stu Harmon

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: feets] #1874583 07/20/15 09:15 PM 07/20/15 09:15 PM
Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN A ahy master
ahy master A Joined: Jan 2007 Posts: 7,664 IN	On most autos OD should be locked out anyhow while towing... 4.10's will help a lot.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: ahy] #1874601 07/20/15 09:36 PM 07/20/15 09:36 PM
Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 644 Minnesota Barnstorm mopar
Barnstorm mopar Joined: Jun 2009 Posts: 644 Minnesota	You should be fine with that 1 ton. Don't forget E rated tires! The little old lady from Pasadena is back!

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1874859 07/21/15 01:48 AM 07/21/15 01:48 AM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada J johndart OP member
johndart OP member J Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada	feets I will be won't be using OD when towing as ahy has mentioned. I likely will add a transmission temp guage too. Barnstorm it has 4 new E rated 10 ply with 3042 pound load rating, so I will have just get one for the spare as it has cracks in the side wall. Wasn't able to get it into the shop today but re-scheduled for Wednesday morning. If it checks out ok, I will buy it. Keeping my fingers crossed. Thanks guys.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1875205 07/21/15 06:25 PM 07/21/15 06:25 PM
Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada DaytonaTurbo Too Many Posts
DaytonaTurbo Too Many Posts Joined: Feb 2003 Posts: 21,318 Manitoba, Canada	If it's not hunting in/out of OD, I'd use it while towing. But a 1 ton van, open trailer plus car is going to still be pretty doggy with that 5.9 so I would expect any little hill and it'll want to drop out of OD. I wouldn't be afraid to tow with that combo though.

Re: Towing with 2000 Dodge 3500 Great West Classic RV (MaxiVan) [Re: johndart] #1875317 07/21/15 09:20 PM 07/21/15 09:20 PM
Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada J johndart OP member
johndart OP member J Joined: May 2007 Posts: 46 Toronto, Ontario, Canada	Well it's all over now, I am not getting this van. It has something to do with when we were looking at it on Saturday, my wife was entering the side door when the owner slammed the front door on her right hand across the knuckles, my wife is medical dicta transcriptionist and now is still unable to do her work, her boss is pissed too. Luckily nothing was broken. Thanks for your input and opinions.

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