Flat tow question

[Paulie G]

Looking at a 2017 view 24v and wondering if it would flat tow a 2005 gmc safari? I know I will need a transmission pump. So was wondering if anyone has done this.

[powercat_ras]

Most Winnebagos, Class A and C, have maximum towing limits of 5,000 pounds. Some are even less. You can check the sticker by your driving position for the limit on yours. Doubt the Safari is under that. If you violate the limits if in an accident insurance carriers could use that as an excuse not to pay for your loss.

Depends on your risk tolerance, and ability to afford a loss that insurance did not cover.

[Kayak73]

Beyond the listed tow weight possible remember that it is not all about staying legal. The heavier the towed vehicle the more problems you can have in a small rig like the View. Look for something like a Honda Fit, as light as you can fit in and be comfortable. Today you will often be looking at a manual transmission model but there are still a few towable auto transmissions. Going downhill the heavier thing behind you pushing gets harder to stop as grade increases, dramatically. In emergency stops you just don't want that much weight behind a little class C rig. Now if you are driving a great big diesel pusher - well, you can tow a really big vehicle behind but that's because you have air brakes and a really heavy RV pulling the vehicle behind. BTW, check the REMCO site for baseplate fit and tow recommendations as well as the owners manual. The normal listings we used in the old days are very limited now because manufacturers want to limit warranty claims for new vehicles and because CVT transmissions are in almost everything today.

[Mike Owens]

We tow a 2012 CRV AWD with our 2017 View. Very easy to do if set up correctly. My wife couldn't do a smaller Honda Fit she wanted to feel safe in the Toad.

[Kayak73]

We towed an '09 Honda Fit until last year when I finally retired it after so many miles of driving and towing, thing went everywhere. Four sets of tires etc. I think we decided it had enough miles on it to earn retirement.



Just finished setting up the '18 Subaru Forester manual for flat tow, got it all done and hooked up for a short test run and good grief batman, the flippin lights that I tested two days before as perfect did not work. Would you believe the stupid white ground wire was pushed out of the RV 7 pin, yeah. And...WGO is in production shutdown this week and next week. The short jumper is made up by WGO so regardless of the $133 estimate to make one plus shipping it would be about 3 to 4 weeks to get one. We leave here for a long trip after the holiday.


Etrailer to the rescue - they have a replacement Pollak with a jumper to the plug instead of the OEM with connector plug in the rear as part of the 7 pin. I will just butt splice the ground wire into that new short harness and get on the road. I love RV stuff

[Paulie G]

Ok, finally weighed the Safari van and it was 4500 pounds. This would be 500 below the max weight. Does any tow this heavy?

[Mike Owens]

As soon as you add the hitch weight and anything you put in it because of needing the room your over. Just because you could doesn't mean you should. Sorry just a saying...

But I would not push it and find something lighter.

[Kayak73]

Agree, your tow bar and tow plates etc. plus a case of brew in that and you shot the weight limit. Think around 3000 to 3800 lbs max and be safe. It's getting harder to find a tow vehicle for small rigs like the View. With a DP you can tow a big Jeep or PU or whatever but keep it light for the View. The ground clearance on the small cars like the Honda Fit bothered me now and the Forester works but it is no longer available with manual tranny so no tow after 2018.

[l1v3fr33ord1]

Originally Posted by powercat_ras

Most Winnebagos, Class A and C, have maximum towing limits of 5,000 pounds. Some are even less.

Paulie G-

"Some are even less," such as this coach, and most Sprinter-based coaches.

According to the brochure (link here):

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR): 11,030 pounds
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR): 15,250 pounds
Hitch Rating: 5,000 pounds horizontal, 500 pounds vertical

The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) s the weight of the fully-loaded coach. The tow limit is

GCWR - GVW

If the View is loaded to its GVWR (that is, GVW = GVWR), the flat-tow limit is 4,220 pounds (15,250 - 11,030 = 4,220). A 4,500-pound vehicle will exceed the View's GCWR.

You can load the coach below its GVWR. In this instance, you'd have to be at least 280 pounds (15,250 - 4,500 = 10,750, 11,030 - 10,750 = 280) below the GVWR to tow 4,500 pounds and stay within the GVWR. BUT, most small Class Cs such as the View have low cargo capacity, meaning it's unlikely it would be 280 pounds below GVWR when loaded.

Ford E-450-based Class Cs can have tow ratings in excess of 5,000 pounds, both GCWR - GVWR and hitch. You would be better off looking at them. They are gas, not diesel.

Or, get a toad that weighs below 4,000 pounds.