Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439860
01/24/18 02:26 AM
01/24/18 02:26 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591 Canton, Ohio
Sport440
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 6,591
Canton, Ohio
|
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? Not sure I understand this right or not, but get this done before traveling and not on route. Speed reading through this though. Get it done along the way = Time wasted on trip????
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439870
01/24/18 02:42 AM
01/24/18 02:42 AM
|
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257 gulfport, ms, west mi
rowin4
master
|
master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 6,257
gulfport, ms, west mi
|
Along the way? Why would you think of something like that? If anything does start to come undone with the frame separating / bending out of shape it will cost you a lot more on the road. There must be a welder / fabricator in your area that knows how to reinforce frames. Check with the RV places to see if they can recommend someone. I know in my small town there's a custom trailer builder that does that type of reinforcements on hitches and frames.
it's ok to butt heads, just don't do it with a butthead
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2439901
01/24/18 08:01 AM
01/24/18 08:01 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
OP
I Live Here
|
OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,016
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
|
I am not towing the trailer on that trip in April, nor will i tow more than a small car. Just looking for the best shop that will do the job, and the trip allows me a very large area to pick from. There is one shop that has been around forever within 30 miles of home if I don't find a good option along the way.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: rowin4]
#2439909
01/24/18 09:31 AM
01/24/18 09:31 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646 Ringtown, Pa.
Dartsport540
top fuel
|
top fuel
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 1,646
Ringtown, Pa.
|
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? The frame extension is not held together by the plywood. It is attached to the frame by a large plate that overlaps both frames. Bolted and welded together. Have you ever looked at the frame extensions on a class A motorhome?? Some are the same size and well built, some are not!! I looked at a few diesel pusher class A motorhomes before I bought my gas powered Class A motorhome. 2 of the diesel motorhomes were a joke, where the extension frame was mounted. The chassis frame was about 10" or 12" in height. Then the extension frame was only 5" or 6", and about 10' long. There was no way that that was strong enough for towing heavy load. My motorhome has the same size extension frame as the chassis frame, and is only about 3' or 4' long.
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....
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: Dartsport540]
#2439949
01/24/18 12:13 PM
01/24/18 12:13 PM
|
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 826 Georgia
66coronet
super stock
|
super stock
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 826
Georgia
|
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? The frame extension is not held together by the plywood. It is attached to the frame by a large plate that overlaps both frames. Bolted and welded together. Have you ever looked at the frame extensions on a class A motorhome?? Some are the same size and well built, some are not!! I looked at a few diesel pusher class A motorhomes before I bought my gas powered Class A motorhome. 2 of the diesel motorhomes were a joke, where the extension frame was mounted. The chassis frame was about 10" or 12" in height. Then the extension frame was only 5" or 6", and about 10' long. There was no way that that was strong enough for towing heavy load. My motorhome has the same size extension frame as the chassis frame, and is only about 3' or 4' long. That is the same thing we saw with the pushers we looked at. We ended up looking for a 30ft and found a 32 to keep from having the extensions at all.
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: 66coronet]
#2440008
01/24/18 02:00 PM
01/24/18 02:00 PM
|
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,580 Motor City
6PKRTSE
master
|
master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 4,580
Motor City
|
All good info. I pull my 28' enclosed all around with Ole Rusty, I mean ole trusty. Hoping to get another 2 years our of my 2500 V10 Ram. I have been looking at newer dually 3500 Rams but for the price of them I am thinking a diesel pusher would be a better investment. The entire Family can also use it for camping if I am not using it for racing.
1963 Belvedere 440 Max Wedge Tribute 1970 Charger R/T S.E. 440 Six Pack 1970 Challenger R/T, 528 Hemi 1970 Charger 500 S.E. 440 4 BBL 1970 Plymouth Road Runner 383 1974 Chrysler New Yorker 440 1996 2500 RAM 488 V-10 4X4 2004 3500 Dually Cummins 4x4 2012 Challenger R/T Classic.
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: gregsdart]
#2441894
01/28/18 01:16 AM
01/28/18 01:16 AM
|
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,017 Salem
Grizzly
Moparts Proctologist
|
Moparts Proctologist
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 6,017
Salem
|
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. Well, not that you will listen anyway, but: I'm 31' with my Gulfstream F53 V10 and it's 18,300 empty. You are probably around 22,000, so you can only go another 6,000 at the most. I know in my Gulfstream literature mine has the same 5500 pound hitch as the 34 and 37 foot models You will be over-loaded. No ifs, ands, buts, or bigger hitch about it. There's a reason why your Coach put that big sticker in your back closet. These RV's get crashed all the time so Enforcement do know to pull you over if they see that humongous trailer on there and check your weights. You know what it costs to have a Class A and enclosed car hauler towed back to your house? Do you know what the fine is in your State? I don't like it anymore than you do (I'd like to pull an enclosed too). If you find a legal way around it, I'd like you to let me know. I DO have a way around it on mine, but it won't work on yours. Otherwise, this is it for an F53: 5400 pounds:
Mo' Farts
Moderated by "tbagger".
|
|
|
Re: Motorhome hitch upgrade needed?
[Re: dthemi]
#2443291
01/30/18 10:04 AM
01/30/18 10:04 AM
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,016 Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
gregsdart
OP
I Live Here
|
OP
I Live Here
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 10,016
Frostbitefalls MN (Rocky&Bullw...
|
[quote=dthemi]Lots of problems are also due to being captain lead foot towing.
Exactly. I feel a lot better towing 55 to 62 mph . braking distance is greatly reduced, stress on the coach and trailer is way down, and almost always there is a lot of room between me and the next vehicle.
8..603 156 mph best, 2905 lbs 549, indy 572-13, alky
|
|
|
|
|