Tow new Jeep Sahara 4XE with a View?

[AZ Okies]

We are looking at buying a new Jeep Wrangler Sahara 4XE (new electric hybrid) to tow with our 2019 View 24V. The curb weight is 5100 lbs. on this Jeep. We will also carry two electric bikes with a rack on the Jeep which will add about 225 lbs. Looking at the Mercedes sprinter manual, it looks like it is possible as long as we don’t haul too much more extra “stuff”. Just wondering if anyone else has looked at towing the new hybrid Jeeps. We currently tow a CRV, and in the past had towed a Honda Pilot, but both are lighter than this new Jeep. The hybrid batteries add an extra 800 lbs. Any input?

[Elkman]

I would rather have as large a fuel tank as possible and forget about a hybrid vehicle. A 4WD vehicle with a diesel engine will provide the same range as the hybrid with its gas engine and it is still possible to get oversized diesel fuel tanks to replace the factory tank, something that is no longer legal with gas powered vehicles.

I expect that the curb weight of the Wrangler with the ecodiesel is going to be 500 lbs less than that of the hybrid at 5,200 lbs. and provide the same range with a tankful of fuel. And with the ecodiesel Wrangler you can fuel up it along with the RV at the same place.

We plan to use our fat tire e-bikes in place of a toad. We can go on trails where a 4WD vehicle of any type is not allowed.

[Dave-Oh]

I tow a 2018 Sahara V6 gas unlimited at about 4200lb, which is at the View's towing capacity if the View is fully loaded. The Diesel or the Electric versions will definitely put you over the combined vehicle weigh rating for the View.

Check the View's yellow sticker for the Vehicle Weight Rating (how much the chassis alone is rated for) and the Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (how much the fully loaded chassis can tow). Your hitch is rated for 5000 lbs, but doesn't mean you can tow that much.

best,

Dave

[Elkman]

The manufacturers' specs for GCWR is based on the strength of the frame, suspension, drivetrain, and the engine. With the Sprinter 3500 chassis the GCWR of 15,250 lbs and a bare RV weight of more than 1,000 lbs the only vehicles that will not put one over the rating are ones like the Toyota Corolla at 2840 lbs or the Fiat 500 at 2440 lbs curb weight.

If one plans to tow a car or truck with a Class C motorhome it would be wise to buy on built on the Ford E-450 chassis that has a GCWR of 22,000 lbs for current models. The Sprinter chassis is being pushed to its limit with the majority of Class C motorhomes however one looks at it.

Even filling the fresh water tank of our Navion puts us at the OCCC and that is without a load on the hitch receiver.This is why we will be traveling with two e-bikes and not a toad with our 24D. Only waiting on the 1up bike carrier which we hope to receive sometime in June.

[SeeTheUSA]

Motorhome weight and towing capacities are actually pretty simple once the basic pieces are understood. It’s best just go with the actual mathematics, it’s scientific (for real) and strips out the opinions, guesses, preferences, etc. Actual scale weights are helpful, takes out some of the mystery.

Here’s a good primer:

https://www.lichtsinn.com/blog/how-m...motorhome-tow/