Jun-12-2019 09:38 PM
Jun-14-2019 09:56 AM
Jun-14-2019 08:44 AM
bobndot wrote:I am cringing as I am writing this for fear of opening a can of worms, but state laws on braking related to towing is pretty specific to trailers, not cars.
State laws will vary slightly . Not 100% sure but I think most of the towing/braking laws use the word 'vehicle' not so much 'trailer'. Trailers are vehicles and vehicles with motors/engines are considered motor vehicles.
Therefore, it might be worded as such. If it states "a vehicle over 3000# must have an individual braking system while being towed behind an RV" ………...then that would include a car or trailer.
Jun-14-2019 08:04 AM
I am cringing as I am writing this for fear of opening a can of worms, but state laws on braking related to towing is pretty specific to trailers, not cars.
Jun-14-2019 04:50 AM
Jun-13-2019 08:58 PM
Jun-13-2019 02:36 PM
Jun-13-2019 12:20 PM
JRscooby wrote:way2roll wrote:
GVWR from the factory are not always correct.
TILT! WRONG! BULLSNOT! This statement as written is FALSE! GVWRating is set by the manufacturer, so it must be right. Now the stated "curb weight" and therefore carrying capacity can be off, but that does not change the rating. But you are right, the only way to know what you can tow, within ratings, is weigh it and subtract from the GCVWR.
Jun-13-2019 12:15 PM
way2roll wrote:
GVWR from the factory are not always correct.
Jun-13-2019 10:50 AM
carringb wrote:klutchdust wrote:
So if you tow with a dolly that has no brakes how do you explain that gray area. You have 5K behind you with no brakes but if it was 4 down you would get scolded on here for not having a braking system.
Discuss and get back to me....:h
In most states, brakes would be required on a tow dolly, if the the dolly+car are above that state's braking requirement. Many states are 3,500 so any minivan would be over that. Some states are lower, some are higher. Oregon has a performance standard, so it just depends on how good the tow vehicle's brakes are.
My last dolly had no brakes, but I only towed a Fiesta. If I bought another, it would have brakes. But I'll probably go with an enclosed trailer (also with brakes of course)
Jun-13-2019 10:42 AM
rjstractor wrote:way2roll wrote:rjstractor wrote:
IIRC the op's motorhome chassis has a GCWR of 20,000 lbs. So if it has a 5K hitch it can tow the 5K. Base curb weights on minivans I looked up are about 4500 lbs, so with tow dolly weight it would be a little over 5K. A hitch upgrade could mitigate that, but like has been said, that's a lot of weight to tow.
Without weighing the RV loaded, it's a guess at what the tow capacity is.
If the GCWR is 20k, but loaded you weigh 18k, then it doesn't matter that you have a 5k hitch, you only have 2k capacity left. Even if you only weigh 16k, you still only have 4k. Add the weight of the dolly and you really don't have a lot of tow capacity.
A hitch upgrade makes no difference unless you make the appropriate chassis upgrades as well. I can add a 15k hitch to my rig, it doesn't mean the chassis and the brakes, drivetrain, everything else can handle it. GCWR is based on the chassis, not the hitch. That's why the tow capacity is the LESSER of the two.
Right. But the OP stated he has a 2004 E450, the GVWR of which is 14050. 20000-14050= 5950. So unless his motorhome is grossly overloaded he will have the GCWR capacity. And you are correct that a hitch upgrade does not change the GCWR.
Jun-13-2019 09:14 AM
klutchdust wrote:
So if you tow with a dolly that has no brakes how do you explain that gray area. You have 5K behind you with no brakes but if it was 4 down you would get scolded on here for not having a braking system.
Discuss and get back to me....:h
Jun-13-2019 09:13 AM
way2roll wrote:rjstractor wrote:
IIRC the op's motorhome chassis has a GCWR of 20,000 lbs. So if it has a 5K hitch it can tow the 5K. Base curb weights on minivans I looked up are about 4500 lbs, so with tow dolly weight it would be a little over 5K. A hitch upgrade could mitigate that, but like has been said, that's a lot of weight to tow.
Without weighing the RV loaded, it's a guess at what the tow capacity is.
If the GCWR is 20k, but loaded you weigh 18k, then it doesn't matter that you have a 5k hitch, you only have 2k capacity left. Even if you only weigh 16k, you still only have 4k. Add the weight of the dolly and you really don't have a lot of tow capacity.
A hitch upgrade makes no difference unless you make the appropriate chassis upgrades as well. I can add a 15k hitch to my rig, it doesn't mean the chassis and the brakes, drivetrain, everything else can handle it. GCWR is based on the chassis, not the hitch. That's why the tow capacity is the LESSER of the two.
Jun-13-2019 09:13 AM
klutchdust wrote:
As an afterthought, having a toad with all that extra space is very tempting to fill it up with extra items. And if towing four down be sure and have a breaking system on the toad.
Interestingly enough, the tow bars of yesteryear were very basic .Saw many Jeeps being towed to the desert recreation areas and beyond and no brakes on them, not sure when it became a law.
So if you tow with a dolly that has no brakes how do you explain that gray area. You have 5K behind you with no brakes but if it was 4 down you would get scolded on here for not having a braking system.
Discuss and get back to me....:h
Jun-13-2019 08:50 AM