Plumber101010
Charleston, SC
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Here’s the relevant specs:
Model 3851
Length : 38
Chassis : Freightliner XC Raised Rail
Engine : 300 HP. CAT Turbo Diesel
Towing Capacity : 5,000 pounds
Mileage: 100k (which I actually prefer to lower miles)
My 2015 Duramax Crew with ARE commercial topper and fully loaded around 9,000 lbs
Question: Please, in seeking advice I only ask for 3 simple things. No comments or questions about WHY I have to tow this truck, it’s an absolute must and it’s not open for discussion. 2nd, no liability lizards, who will never get around to answering the question but go on and on about how I’m crazy to do it, will be a hazard to everyone around me, blah blah, it’s people like me that give RV’ers a bad name (never believed we had a bad name) And 3rd please, hands on individuals that actually have either tried it and had no issues at all, or tried it and blew the transmission going up a hill! LOL
Obviously I’m asking the question, so that doesn’t mean I’m planning on doing it if it can’t, so don’t assume I am anyway and lecture ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") If I was going to do it, I wouldn’t be posting this question LOL.
My point is, I am very mechanical myself and I can guesstimate as good as anybody else. So I’m not looking for guesses but looking for the experts out there. The problem is this, I am very mechanical and can fix absolutely anything. But I have absolutely NO experience with a diesel motorhome. So everything I do, I will be learning from scratch for the first time. Doesn’t scare me, but I’m not necessarily looking forward to learning new stuff at my age, 58.
In the market for a diesel pusher and I need something that CAN tow this truck. I particularly like this one model that I am looking at. Of course capacity is 5000. I have been reading more articles about this, literally all night for the last several hours, that I can stand and so now it’s time to post once I have all this information under my belt.
My own personal guesstimate, is that if I reinforce with a receiver hitch, I won’t have any problems concerning the frame. I also don’t plan on pulling this with a trailer, but keeping all four wheels on the ground and have a new receiver hitch installed in front. That can only be a major plus as far as tongue weight goes / the cantilever affect of possibly having the nose go up.
And again, my guesstimate after all my research is it won’t be a problem, but is the engine transmission combination good enough, powerful enough, to be able to handle the extra weight when towing? Again my gut tells me yes knowing nothing about these things!
Now when I say i research, I’m not just talking about reading articles and other people‘s comments which of course I did a lot of. I’m talking much deeper research, such as liability issues with the manufacturer, warranty issues with the manufacturer, to say that in lowering the towing rating, less chance of one of the units coming back they have to fix under warranty. That’s just a fact of life that a lot of people don’t like to admit to, but is true all the same. Manufacturers will lower the capacity for lots of reasons that has NOTHING to do with the actual fact that they can tow a lot more weight!
Knowing they are basically built on a truck frame, I just can’t IMAGINE my Duramax being able to tow 13,000 pounds, but this gigantic diesel pusher on a freightliner frame only FIVE???? Those ratios just seem WAY off to me right from the get-go. Heck my minivan can tow 5000 pounds! That’s not much weight.
All things being said, I would probably not ask and just do it. However, as I said, I am far from an expert on MH’s and I would be foolish to make an assumption on something that I have absolutely NO experience with. TT’s yes. Motorhomes not by a long shot.
So again, without jumping into “liability land”, can somebody explain to me from a mechanical standpoint that I will be able to understand, logically, why in the world this gigantic BEAST can NOT tow more than my minivan?
Thanks!!!!!
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mike brez
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That 300hp engine ain't going to like it
1998 36 foot Country Coach Magna #5499 Single slide
Gillig chassis with a series 40
02 Ford F250 7.3 with a few mods
2015 Wrangler JKU
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jplante4
Cape Cod
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With all those restrictions, I'd be surprised if you got any responses.
Jerry & Jeanne
1996 Safari Sahara 3530 - 'White Tiger'
CAT 3126/Allison 6 speed/Magnum Chassis
2014 Equinox AWD / Blue Ox
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K Charles
Connecticut
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GCWR minus GVWR. There brochure says it's 32,400 and 27,400
* This post was
edited 05/02/18 01:49pm by K Charles *
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mike brez
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K Charles wrote:GCWR minus GVWR. There brochure says it's 324000 and 27400
I think your #s are a little off ![[emoticon]](http://www.coastresorts.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
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K Charles
Connecticut
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mike brez wrote:K Charles wrote:GCWR minus GVWR. There brochure says it's 324000 and 27400
I think your #s are a little off
They are dutch stars numbers not mine.
Brochure
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hipower
Western PA
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mike brez wrote:That 300hp engine ain't going to like it
For many years we trucked freight up and down the highways with less than 200 HP. Long before the interstate highway system eliminated or bypassed some of the real grades on this country. 300 HP is not even slightly taxed by moving a motorhome and a toad down the road today unless you expect the combination to drive like a car and not a large vehicle.
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hipower
Western PA
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I can't and won't get into the legalities etc., just stating my personal experience.
I have a 2003 DS (4050) 40 diesel coach. I have approximately 105,000 on it and have pulled my 2009 Chevy Silverado about 30,000 miles behind it. I don't know the weight of the truck either empty or loaded as we tow it. Sometimes it has a bunch of extra stuff in it, others it has our golf cart in it. I use a 10K rated Blue Ox tow bar and baseplate along with an auxiliary braking system. I have never beefed up the original hitch and inspect it once a year just to make sure nothing has broken or come loose.
I have never experienced any engine, transmission or other drive train issues that could be remotely attributed to towing my truck.
Advice to the OP, do what you want with this info on my personal experience.
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Rick Jay
Greater Springfield area, MA
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Sorry, I'm probably violating at least one of your rules, but what minivan has a 5,000 lb. tow rating? We may be looking for a replacement for our Odyssey in the coming years and I've yet to see any minivan with more than a 3,500 lb. tow limit, and even that is usually with only a single occupant in the van.
Why don't you just look for DP with a 10,000+ lb. tow rating? There seems to be quite a few of them around. In fact, I just checked on the 2000 Newmar Brochure and that floorplan on the Spartan Chassis has a GCWR of 37,400 and a GVWR of 27,400, so it should be able to handle 10,000 lbs.
So, I suspect if you do research (maybe you already did) on the differences between the Spartan and Freightliner chassis of that era, you might have an answer.
Well, whatever you decide, good luck in your search and decision.
~Rick
2005 Georgie Boy Cruise Master 3625 DS on a Workhorse W-22
Rick, Gail, 1 girl (27-Angel since 2008), 1 girl (22), 2 boys (23 & 20).
2001 Honda Odyssey, Demco Aluminator tow bar & tow plate, SMI Silent Partner brake controller.
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mike brez
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K Charles wrote:mike brez wrote:K Charles wrote:GCWR minus GVWR. There brochure says it's 324000 and 27400
I think your #s are a little off
They are dutch stars numbers not mine.
Brochure
I didn't look but I highly doubt anywhere their is a 324,000lb number.
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