Motor Homes that Can Pull

[jstone]

The wife and i are getting started looking at Motor Homes. I am thinking the Class C. Not brand new!! Is there any one on here that has one and tows a boat or car with it. I have a 21.5 foot Monteray that i will be towing. Do they tow well and what is a good brand that has the power?? Any ideas will be helpful in our research. Thanks

[C-Money]

My fire chief has a class C with the Ford V-10. Its a big unit in its self, and he pulls a large trailer with his race car in it. He races all over the place and routinely pulls mountain passes. Chief says it does a great job, and he was surprised at how much power the V-10 has.

[Rick]

When I was looking at class Cs,the most any of them were rated to pull was 5000lbs.

I'd try to find one with the GM 8.1 liter big block over Ford's small block V-10

[Wacenturion]

I just recently purchased a 2009 Bigfoot Touring Edition Class C which is 29'.  After extensive research and the fact I have had a couple trailers over the years, I decided that I wanted a Bigfoot due to the quality and a the fact it's a true four season unit.  Plan on using it during the fall on hunting trips as well as trips year round.  Made in Canada and the company has a quality reputation for their trailers and slide in campers.  They stopped making motorhomes in 09', but good well cared for units are out there...Craigslist, etc.

Yes, towing capacity on C's are generally 5000 lbs, if that is what the hitch is rated at.  My unit has a GVWR of 14,500 lbs. and a GVCR of 20,000 lbs.  I bought an 03' Jeep Sahara as a tow vehicle, and it weighs approximately 3500 lbs.  I also have a 22' North River Commander with a hardtop and trailer that I need to get weighed.  Hopefully it will be 5000 or less depending on fuel on board.  If so I can tow it. 

As far as the V10...I was really impressed driving the motorhome home from Portland.  No lack of power whatsoever.  I have a 460 in a Ford Centurion and a 7.3 in a Ford Excursion so have both to compare to.  I also ordered a RV tune for it which according to all the research I did on RV forums,  makes it even more impressive in the tow mode.

http://www.5startuning.com/got-a-v10-rv/

[Wacenturion]

When I was looking at class Cs,the most any of them were rated to pull was 5000lbs.

I'd try to find one with the GM 8.1 liter big block over Ford's small block V-10

Most Class C's are on Ford chassis, and there is a reason.  The only difference you might get from an 8.1L is reduced mpg.  I rather doubt you'll get much more power.

[jstone]

That is an awesome looking ride, thats what i am looking for.

[Rick]

When I was looking at class Cs,the most any of them were rated to pull was 5000lbs.

I'd try to find one with the GM 8.1 liter big block over Ford's small block V-10

Most Class C's are on Ford chassis, and there is a reason.  The only difference you might get from an 8.1L is reduced mpg.  I rather doubt you'll get much more power.

More power at lower rpm and an Allison transmission. The 8.1 is the winner in my book.

[Wacenturion]

When I was looking at class Cs,the most any of them were rated to pull was 5000lbs.

I'd try to find one with the GM 8.1 liter big block over Ford's small block V-10

Most Class C's are on Ford chassis, and there is a reason.  The only difference you might get from an 8.1L is reduced mpg.  I rather doubt you'll get much more power.

More power at lower rpm and an Allison transmission. The 8.1 is the winner in my book.

Obviously some pluses and minuses.  Allison is a plus, however most 8.1 are in Class A's or older Class C's and they love gas.  A friend of mine has one in a Class A.  He loves the tanny, but says the gas gauge goes faster than the speedometer. 

Not that the V10 doesn't like gas, but for the most part get 10mpg, slightly plus or minus, which isn't bad considering what it's doing.  The drop down tow mode going uphill or decelerating going downhill on the Ford tranny does just fine.

Class C's for the most part have Ford chassis with either a V10 or diesel...older 6.0's or newer.  Class C's are easy to work on, pretty much like a big Ford truck, just find a Ford dealer.  Class A's somewhat more of a problem.  Not every dealership wants to mess with them.

Fords chassis also have slightly more carrying and towing capacity.  In fact Ford I believe is the only mfg. making a Class A gas chassis now.  Both the V10 and 8.1 are great engines, and like any of them, take care of maintainance and they'll take care of you.

[Wacenturion]

That is an awesome looking ride, thats what i am looking for.

What length are you looking for?  Pretty common C lengths are 24', 25'-26', 27 and 29.  There are some that are 30' or slightly longer.  From 27' up you generally get a more private bathroom as well as a rear bedroom with a short queen.  Below 27' and you have a short queen or full with a pull across separate curtain between the bed an the kitchen/rest of coach.

What is really important is the GVWR, curb weight and the CCC, which is the combined carrying capacity.  If the GVWR is 14050 as in most Ford chassis before 08' and the curb weight as delivered from the mfg. with a full fuel tank, lubricants, water, propane, person weight of say 2 or 3, and factory installed options totals 13050 lbs, then that only leaves you 1000 lbs. of whatever you can add to the coach weight, including tongue weight of say a boat trailer.

There is usually a tag on the inside of a bedroom cabinet door that list these specifics.  Some C's curb weight is more, some less depending on what's in them.  You can help yourself somewhat by carrying only a small amount of water in the holding tanks, thereby generating a few additional pounds.  At 8.4 lbs. a gallon it adds of quick.  What you don't want is a motorhome that have little or no additional capacity.  Pounds add up quickly.

If and when you get one, you want to get it weighed the right way on a certified scale.  That tells you the appropriate psi for your tires as well as your total weight.  That way you know if you have additional capacity or you have to prioritize and unload some stuff.  It will also tell you where to make adjustments in your weight distribution.  Better safe that sorry.  Probably more than a fair amount of motorhomes going down the road whose owners don't have a clue.