Flatbed Dinghy Towing

[JC2]

We currently have the following vehicles, available for possible flatbed towing behind our MH:
1: 05 Hyundai Tucson, SUV, AT, 4WD(cannot be towed 2/4 wheels down), Weight 3750#
2: 01 Ford Ranger, AT, 4WD(cannot be towed 2/4 wheels down), Weight 3960#

16ft Flatbed trlr-dual axles, electric brakes,
1600#, TW 150#
18ft Flatbed trlr-dual axles, electric brakes, 1800#, TW 200#
Our MH: UVW 17136
GVWR 20700
GCWR 26000
5000# hitch w/500# TW
If we tow the Hyundai on the 16 footer, the weight would be 5350#.
If we tow the Ranger on the 18 footer, the weight would be 5760#.
Is the tongue weight on the MH(5000#) absolute or is there some variance?

[JC2]

We currently have the following vehicles, available for possible flatbed towing behind our MH:
1: 05 Hyundai Tucson, SUV, AT, 4WD(cannot be towed 2/4 wheels down), Weight 3750#
2: 01 Ford Ranger, AT, 4WD(cannot be towed 2/4 wheels down), Weight 3960#

16ft Flatbed trlr-dual axles, electric brakes,
1600#, TW 150#
18ft Flatbed trlr-dual axles, electric brakes, 1800#, TW 200#
Our MH: UVW 17136
GVWR 20700
GCWR 26000
5000# hitch w/500# TW
If we tow the Hyundai on the 16 footer, the weight would be 5350#.
If we tow the Ranger on the 18 footer, the weight would be 5760#.
Is the tongue weight on the MH(5000#) absolute or is there some variance?

[Pusherman]

Looks like both combinations would be over your GCVW.

Check again on your Ranger. Ford makes a transfer case disconnect option for 4WD Explorers; don't know why it wouldn't work on the Ranger too.

It's relatively cheap, is an electrical disconnect. Call your Ford dealer to find out.

Why pull the extra weight of the flatbed trailer when you can pull 4-down? Also, where do you put the trailer when the truck is off of it when camping?

[Richard 34A]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JC2:
We currently have the following vehicles, available for possible flatbed towing behind our MH:
1: 05 Hyundai Tucson, SUV, AT, 4WD(cannot be towed 2/4 wheels down), Weight 3750#
2: 01 Ford Ranger, AT, 4WD(cannot be towed 2/4 wheels down), Weight 3960#

16ft Flatbed trlr-dual axles, electric brakes,
1600#, TW 150#
18ft Flatbed trlr-dual axles, electric brakes, 1800#, TW 200#
Our MH: UVW 17136
GVWR 20700
GCWR 26000
5000# hitch w/500# TW
If we tow the Hyundai on the 16 footer, the weight would be 5350#.
If we tow the Ranger on the 18 footer, the weight would be 5760#.
Is the tongue weight on the MH(5000#) absolute or is there some variance? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Here's something that might work for the Ranger, but not the Tucson...

http://www.remcotowing.com/

[JD Allen]

Sorry, double post.

[JD Allen]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JD Allen:
You are correct. As you say:

GVWR is 20,700 pounds.

GCWR is 26,000 pounds.

So you can tow the difference between the two or a total of 5,300 pounds. Perhaps you can weigh your Hyundai nearly out of fuel to save some weight. There may be other ways to remove 50 pounds. Weigh your rigs to get there exact weight. It may be more, or less, than the weight provided by the manufacturer. My trailer and Subaru, when weighed together, are about 300 pounds lighter than the weights provided by the manufacturers.

You also ask "Is the tongue weight on the MH (5000#) absolute of is there some variance?"

I believe you are asking if you can tow a load that weighs more than 5300 pounds. You said above that your rig has a tongue weight limit of 500 pounds. Both figures are, in theory, absolutes. As an engineer I know that there are safety factors built in so you hitch will not fall off if your tongue weight is 550 pounds or if you tow 5500 pounds. The problem is you have reduced you safety factor. If you are ever in an emergency situation, such as an emergency stop, you may exceed design limits and have a catastrophic failure that could result in significant damage to your rig, towed equipment, other people's property, and a possibility of injury, or death. It is not a good idea for you to load your rig to more than 5300 pounds of towed load or 500 pounds of tongue weight.

Another issue with a trailer is it is easy to unknowingly overload the rear axle with the cantilevered trailer tongue weight. When loading a vehicle, its position is very critical on a trailer. By positioning a car more forward on a trailer and you can add a lot of weight to the trailer tongue. Moving the car to the rear of the trailer can subtract weight from the trailer tongue. It is important to control trailer tongue weight. A few inches too far forward on a trailer and you can overload your tow bar and overload your rear axle.

When I load my trailer I use a tongue weight scale to weigh my tongue weight. The rule of thumb to calculate tongue weight is 10% of the towed load weight. For a 5000 pound load a 500 pound tongue weight is normally suggested. The reason for this rule of thumb is too much tongue weight and you overload your hitch Tongue Weight Capacity and too little tongue weight and the trailer becomes unstable and can become dangerous. My Sightseer receiver hitch was limited to 350 pounds of tongue weight and 5000 pounds of towed weight. My trailer towed very well with only 350 pounds of tongue weight so that is what I use.

Good Luck. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

[Richard 34A]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by JD Allen:
You are correct. As you say:

GVWR is 20,700 pounds.

GCWR is 26,000 pounds.

So you can tow the difference between the two or a total of 5,300 pounds. Perhaps you can weigh your Hyundai nearly out of fuel to save some weight. There may be other ways to remove 50 pounds. Weigh your rigs to get there exact weight. It may be more, or less, than the weight provided by the manufacturer. My trailer and Subaru, when weighed together, are about 300 pounds lighter than the weights provided by the manufacturers.

You also ask "Is the tongue weight on the MH (5000#) absolute of is there some variance?"

I believe you are asking if you can tow a load that weighs more than 5300 pounds. You said above that your rig has a tongue weight limit of 500 pounds. Both figures are, in theory, absolutes. As an engineer I know that there are safety factors built in so you hitch will not fall off if your tongue weight is 550 pounds or if you tow 5500 pounds. The problem is you have reduced you safety factor. If you are ever in an emergency situation, such as an emergency stop, you may exceed design limits and have a catastrophic failure that could result in significant damage to your rig, towed equipment, other people's property, and a possibility of injury, or death. It is not a good idea for you to load your rig to more than 5300 pounds of towed load or 500 pounds of tongue weight.

Another issue with a trailer is it is easy to unknowingly overload the rear axle with the cantilevered trailer tongue weight. When loading a vehicle, its position is very critical on a trailer. By positioning a car more forward on a trailer and you can add a lot of weight to the trailer tongue. Moving the car to the rear of the trailer can subtract weight from the trailer tongue. It is important to control trailer tongue weight. A few inches too far forward on a trailer and you can overload your tow bar and overload your rear axle.

When I load my trailer I use a tongue weight scale to weigh my tongue weight. The rule of thumb to calculate tongue weight is 10% of the towed load weight. For a 5000 pound load a 500 pound tongue weight is normally suggested. The reason for this rule of thumb is too much tongue weight and you overload your hitch Tongue Weight Capacity and too little tongue weight and the trailer becomes unstable and can become dangerous. My Sightseer receiver hitch was limited to 350 pounds of tongue weight and 5000 pounds of towed weight. My trailer towed very well with only 350 pounds of tongue weight so that is what I use.

Good Luck. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Great information; is it possible that JC2 could simply upgrade the receiver hitch? Of course, I realize that some of the towing limitations are based on frame, driveline load, braking and cooling specifications of the MH chassis.

[JD Allen]

I should have said that your current limitation is you hitch that will only allow you to tow a load of 5000 pounds. You should not exceed that but you could get a hitch rated for more load but you would still be limited by your coach load limit of 5300 pounds. It probably isn't worth the money to upgrade a hitch for 300 pounds increase.

[JC2]

Have received a lot of good info so far. I am trying to see if there is a solution with the vehicles now owned. Talked with a Remco rep today and he advised that they do have a kit that would enable the 01 Ranger PU AT 4x4 to be towed 4 down for around $960.00. Add the towbar kit, cables, brake assist, etc.for another $1600= approx $2500. I know the weight limits are over if I flatbed it and sure don't want to be caught in the trick bag if anything were to happen. The other option, if I want to end up vehicle poor, is to buy a used 04 Chev Cavalier, 4cyl, 5sp. They can be towed 4 down by adding a towbar kit. Decisions, decisions. Oh well, it's only $, right?
The bottom line is how safe would it be by being over 3-500lbs on the trlr/towed vehicle combo. Can the hitch handle it? Probably so. Should I, only I can decide. Even though it will be a extra expense I wanted to avoid, the Chev Cavalier with the towbar kit seems to be the logical/safest way to go.

[Pusherman]

Did you check w/ Ford on their disconnect kit? If available for the Ranger, it's about $100 plus $100 to install. Lots cheaper than the Remco solution.

[JC2]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pusherman:
Did you check w/ Ford on their disconnect kit? If available for the Ranger, it's about $100 plus $100 to install. Lots cheaper than the Remco solution. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Checked with my dealer today and he isn't sure if the neutral tow kits would work on the Ranger. Will know something Wed when I take it in for service. Would be nice as that is a heck of a lot cheaper...........

[Big Ben]

I would tow either one. I don't think you are talking about enough weight to be concerned about. It is not like you are dealing with the straw that broke the camels back.

[JC2]

If I do decide to go the flatbed trailer route, the trlr dealer advised that the electric brakes on the trlr would require the installation of a brake controller inside the MH. Never crossed my mind if this is required. If so, would it install similiar to a controller in a pu pulling a TT or 5ver?

[JC2]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by Pusherman:
Did you check w/ Ford on their disconnect kit? If available for the Ranger, it's about $100 plus $100 to install. Lots cheaper than the Remco solution. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
The Ford dealer advises that he doesn't believe Ford has a tow kit for a 2001 Ranger. Remco does have one for approx $900-$1000 installed. Then u have to add the cost of a towbar package with auxillary braking($1500-2200).

[Pusherman]

dang!