Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
#2439430
01/23/18 08:34 AM
01/23/18 08:34 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,983 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
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We just bought a 2015 Itasca 37f, Ford v10 f53 chassis rated at 28,000 gcwr. Trouble is, the coach came with a frame extension that is smaller than the original nine inch channel frame of the chassis. My trailer is a 28 ft Edge, about 10,000 loaded. Towing this trailer is limited to 115 miles to either t rack i race at, and we don't get out more than three or four times a year. Looking for input on what to do to make sure i don't damage this coach.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439450
01/23/18 10:45 AM
01/23/18 10:45 AM
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 1,834 NW Indiana
fbs63
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NW Indiana
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Class a or c coach? Most gas coaches are only rated to tow 4000 lbs. Read the manual. Probably going to need a Trailer Toad for that kind of hitch weight. I know you will get people that say they have towed more no problem. The issue is stopping and as you said not damaging the coach.
Last edited by fbs63; 01/23/18 10:48 AM.
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439459
01/23/18 11:26 AM
01/23/18 11:26 AM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,983 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
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I am not worried about braking, i travel slow enough (under 60 mph) and won't be over the gcwr by much when loaded. So that brings it down to potential coach damage. The coach is a 38 ft class A.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439463
01/23/18 11:44 AM
01/23/18 11:44 AM
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Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 562 Ohio
lockjaw-express
mopar
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mopar
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 562
Ohio
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I have the same problem, towing is not the problem, but the tongue weight...I am in the process of buying a Trailer Toad. Jok owns the company.
I am getting the 5000SD unit, as I have a 600lb Diesel generator, 20 gal tank, bench, cabinets, tool box, and the tongue weight is about 3000lbs!
I have talked to lots of people at races, and the people that have motor homes, most have the Trailer Toad.
Mark
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439519
01/23/18 01:40 PM
01/23/18 01:40 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 19,355 Las Vegas
Al_Alguire
I Live Here
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I Live Here
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Las Vegas
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The problem with most any puller coach is built on a medium duty chassis and there is very little support at the rear for towing ANYTHING. They basically have enough material to support the body of the coach on. If it were me I would want to substantially reinforce the rear frame of the coach to tow a racecar trailer myself. There is a lot of overhang that is very lightly supported on the back of a class A puller. A trailer toad will help for sure, but even then I would want the rear frame area reinforced.
"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."
"It's never wrong to do the right thing"
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: 66coronet]
#2439686
01/23/18 07:12 PM
01/23/18 07:12 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646 Ringtown, Pa.
Dartsport540
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Ringtown, Pa.
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Mine is a class A. 2008 Four Winds Hurricane 33H. Ford F53 chassis, with the V10 engine, 33' in length. The F53 chassis's original frame ands about 3 feet short. You can see where the motorhome or chassis company added an extra 3' of frame. The additional frame is the same size as the rest of the frame. I will add a few pics of the bracing for the hitch. http://drcraceproducts.com/motorhome.html They reinforced and installed my heavier duty hitch. Mine has a GCVR of 26,000 pounds. Motorhome weighs in a little under 16,000 pounds loaded and ready to tow without trailer. I have a 2004 Haulmark Edge 26' , that weighs a little under 10,000 pounds loaded and ready to tow. All together everything weighs a little under 26,000 pound on a certified tractor trailer scale. Front axle, rear axle and trailer axle weights are all within my limits. According to motorhome weigh sticker. It tows and stops great. Fuel mileage sucks, 5.5 to 6.6 mpg loaded.
548 cu. in., Bill Mitchell Aluminum Block, CRT 727 auto trans, Alston Chassis. 8.981et at 149.46 mph. 1.204et - 60 foot, So Far....
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: Dartsport540]
#2439688
01/23/18 07:15 PM
01/23/18 07:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646 Ringtown, Pa.
Dartsport540
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Another pic of hitch. I don't have any pics of motorhome and trailer on my computer, and don't know how to get a pic from my phone onto here.
Took motorhome and trailer to Piedmont this last Thanksgiving for their Fall Footbrake Frenzy Race. Almost 1,000 miles round trip. Towed great...
Last edited by Dartsport540; 01/23/18 07:24 PM.
548 cu. in., Bill Mitchell Aluminum Block, CRT 727 auto trans, Alston Chassis. 8.981et at 149.46 mph. 1.204et - 60 foot, So Far....
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: lorenr]
#2439734
01/23/18 09:23 PM
01/23/18 09:23 PM
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Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646 Ringtown, Pa.
Dartsport540
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Found a pic from Jim Harrington Footbrake race at Cecil county last year..
I checked my trailer tongue weight with my car chassis scales, before I towed with it. When first checked , I had 1300 pounds tongue weight. I moved car back 3 or 4 inches and moved my spare trailer tire and motorhome spare tire, to the back of car trailer, under rear of racecar. Then I had 1110 pounds of trailer tongue weight.
Last edited by Dartsport540; 01/23/18 09:32 PM.
548 cu. in., Bill Mitchell Aluminum Block, CRT 727 auto trans, Alston Chassis. 8.981et at 149.46 mph. 1.204et - 60 foot, So Far....
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439741
01/23/18 09:32 PM
01/23/18 09:32 PM
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Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 9,983 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
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Thanks for the input, guys. I like what i see in the "ladder frame" adition that goes all the way to the axle and maybe beyond. I will feel good with that setup. As far as tongue wieght, i can vary that a lot to almost nothing by moving the car and things around, so that won't be an issue. I will be traveling from Florida to Minnesota April 1st, so if there is a welding and hitch shop along the way, we could get it done enroute. Recomendations?
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439785
01/23/18 11:11 PM
01/23/18 11:11 PM
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Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257 gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4
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As stated above in the diagram, the rear portion of the frame is bolted to the plywood , maybe OSB floor. Are you going to trust a couple of bolts going through maybe 3/4" wood to keep your car and trailer attached?
it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
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Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: Hemi_Joel]
#2439840
01/24/18 01:30 AM
01/24/18 01:30 AM
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Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,151 PA.
pittsburghracer
"Little"John
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"Little"John
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 20,151
PA.
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I bought the old style Trailer Toad about five years ago used and love it. It has the small tires on it and I had my first blowout last year. I found high ply tires for 80.00 a pair mounted on Rims So every three years I will buy a new set. Cheap insurance.
1970 Duster Edelbrock headed 408 5.984@112.52 422 Indy headed small block 5.982@112.56 mph 9.42@138.27
Livin and lovin life one day at a time
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