Dinghy Towing 101?

[jgillott]

Does anyone here have any first hand experience dinghy towing a vehicle behind a motorhome? I have been doing some reading this afternoon and I think I have a basic understandng. But having never done it, so I could use some additional real world information.

Background: My father, who is in his mid 70's, came to me this weekend to tell me that he is buying a larger Class C (32' Coachman Chevy 4500 van chassis) and hitting the road. With my mother's rapidly declining health, he wants to spend some time in Florida and around the south. They had always talked about it, but never got around to it. Now, knowing that there isn't as much time left to travel as they would like, he wants to go sooner than later and enjoy the time they have left together. Personally, I am completely against the Idea since I know how difficult it is to take care of her here, but not my decision to make or argue with

Anyway, he wants to pull a vehicle down with him to have in Florida and wants to flat tow it behind the proposed new class C. Can someone explain base plates, tow bars, brake buddies, lighting, etc. I want him to be as safe as possible in his travels. The TOAD vehicle will most likely be his 2004 Dodge Dakota, but he also mentioned that he would rather bring a Ram 1500 with him. I've never seen a full size truck being Dinghy towed, but he claims to have looked it up online and apparently it is done. I think he said that Demco makes base plates for them.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bill Stockard]

A class C may not have a very high tow rating after the vehicle is weighed loaded and ready to travel and that weight is subtracted from the posted GCWR. I've seen full size pickup trucks and SUVs towed behind Class A diesel pushers, but I don't recall seeing a large toad behind a class C.

Bill

 

[RustyJC]

I agree - most Class Cs are limited on towing capacity - check their GCWR minus their GVWR. He would also need a receiver hitch with >5000 lbs rating to tow a Ram 1500, and I don't know of many Class Cs that have that capability - many of their frames have flimsy extensions added to the rear by the Class C manufacturer to support the rear of the body.

Now if we're talking about Super Cs - Class 8 tractors with bodies on them, then ignore everything I just said.

Rusty

 

[Wertles]

I have a class C now, Ford E-450 with the V-10. It only has a 5000# towing rating. We have towed a VW Jetta and it is pretty lousy. Empty, the thing can't get out of its way. Towing, even worse. Hills were 25-40 mph going through PA and WV. The gas mileage suffers as well. I only get 7.2 mpg not towing and on the flat. It only gets worse with a toad. We will be getting an Elio for towing behind (1200 pounds) as a toad if they ever get into production. It might be better for someone to drive his truck down to Florida for him and fly back.

I'm all for towing large loads, but the class C just sucks at it. Unless we have to, we now only tow a 200 pound kayak trailer on the rear and put my wife's Vespa scooter on the front receiver.

 

[Road Dog]

If dad has never driven a big motorhome then it's too late.

By some quirk of regulations up here a motorhome (and only a motorhome) can tow a trailer (including a dinghy) up to 50% of it's weight without extra brakes. Sounds crazy to me. The Dakota owner's manual should have instructions for flat towing. With a 2WD and automatic the drive wheels are spinning the transmission which can be bad for it (because the fluid isn't circulating through the radiator). With 4WD you can put the transfer case in neutral. Some cars (like a Suzuki Sidekick) were popular dinghys and the transmission was designed for flat towing.

 

[jgillott]

I called the dealership today and got some information on this class C he wants. GVWR 14200 GCWR 20000. Hitch weight is 5000 as you mentioned. His Dakota is a Quad Cab 4x4 4.7L. I'll have to get it on the scale to know for sure, but I think it has a listed curb weight at a touch over 4300 dry. His Idea of getting a new Ram 1500 before they travel is out of the question.

I am going to talk to him about driving a vehicle down south for him. I doubt if he will go for it, but I will suggest it.

On a side note, the C that he is considering is really laid out well. 2 slides, one large living room and the bedroom slide. More than enough space for the 2 of them and as he said, lots of space for when the grandkids come visit.