How to increase towing capacity

[woodworker414]

I have a 29.5 Cavaleir, with the factory 3500# hitch, I was wondering if anyone has up the towing capacity of their unit. I would like to raise mine to 5000#. Any idea on what I would have to do? I know that I might have to beef up the frame some, but then maybe not. I know that I would have to change the hitch to the 5000# rating. Any thoughts.
Thanks
Bill

[mfa]

It's not just the hitch that is the problem. The combined weight of the motorhome and the towed vehicle must be below the GCWR. I'm not aware of any 2003-era (non-Super-C) Gulf Stream Class C motorhome that has 5000 lb towing capacity when you subtract the GVWR from the GCWR.

[amman1725]

mfa is right; watch out about your GCWR; even if your coach can be modified to handle the extra weight ie weight distributing hitch combined with a beefier reciever; the minute you have an accident even if its not your fault they'll hang you out to dry if your over weight! my Endura is GCWR at 26,000 total; the coach loaded weighs in at almost 19,000 which means even though my hitch is rated at 10k I can only legally tow 7k! Take it from me attorneys and the state will blame your overweight status even if it has nothing to do with the accident; Happy Rving!

[Nutravlr]

You wrote of towing below GCWR, and that seems universal advice. Amman1725 wrote of an Endura with GCWr at 26,000. My question: IF one keeps below the 26,000....say at 25,000.....is that load "acceptable", can it be handled by, the duramax LLY diesel (05 Endura) or should I look for a lighter toad? We are thinking of a 4300 Wrangler but could go with CR-V at 3300 lb if necessary to protect the engine and the Allison 1000.

Thanks

[Georunner]

I would add that you should consider where you will do your towing. For example, I cross the passes in Colorado many times a year, and I try to stay as light as possible. On a trip to Wisconsin a couple of years ago, I wasn't as concerned. Just my opinion, but I always try to work away from the edges of performance for any equipment. What that means to me is to stay away from having too big a tool for the job, and don't try to use a tool at its maximum load. We have all seen rigs run down the road way overloaded, but should something happen, your on the hook.

[Nutravlr]

Our thought: disconnect when in the foothills of NM as we do not go far to get to our destination of around 8000 ft. SO, one of us drives the RV, one the toad.

The Wrangler at 4,300 lb is said by Gulf Stream to be fine, that if the coach is loaded to max, I still have 6,000 available. Assuming that the load does not exceed the 19,000 lbs.....and I would need to check....then 6000 is theoretical or actually available but that does not address, "is it ok for the engine and tranny?" I like a margin of room, as you.

Right now we took a 3,800 lb Jeep 650 miles our first trip. Seemed to do ok but on some hills in Central Texas really slowed down as I kept the rpm around 1600-1700. Every once in a while it kicked up to 2200 rpm but I avoided it, worrying that I might harm the system at that rpm, and thus the speed could coast down to 40 mph.

I have now read on this forum that the OD switch is off when the light is on; perhaps I would have done better on that first trip with the OD turned off, but no instructions. There is so much to learn! And interesting. Thanks