Class C motorhomes are typically larger than other classes of recreational vehicles (RV), so it has the means to haul plenty of items including your personal belongings, a smaller RV, or even your car! But how much can it really tow?
The towing capacity for a Class C motorhome ranges between 5,000 pounds and 30,000 pounds for Super Class C RVs. More specifically:
- E350 Class C motorhome capacity can haul around 5,000 pounds
- E450 Class C motorhome capacity can handle about 5,000 pounds
- F550 Class C motorhome has a towing capacity of 10,000 pounds
There’s more to know when it comes to how much weight you can attach to a Class C motorhome; so in this article, I’ll provide you with towing details for Class C motorhomes.
How Do You Determine the Towing Capacity of a Class C Motorhome?
Terminology
- Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity (OCCC) – Maximum allowable weight for all occupants (including the driver) Plus the weight of all food, tools, water tanks, gas tanks, and personal belongings.
- Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR)/Gross Vehicle Mass (GVM) – Maximum operating weight/mass of the vehicle as specified by the manufacturer.
- Max Hitch Weight – the amount of weight the hitch can tow.
- Trailer Tongue Weight – the weight that is placed on the hitch ball of the RV.
- Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) – Total weight of the vehicle, people, and items inside of the vehicle.
Tow Bar or Dolly Towing
A tow bar – or tow hitch – can be attached to the RV and then the vehicle being towed, while dolly towing is a two wheels, an axel and a tongue that allows you to tow amlst any vehicle without adding the miles to them.
The choice comes down to what you’re hauling.
How To Calculate the Towing Capacity of Your Class C RV?
Subtract the OCCC from the GVWR to get the weight of your empty RV. Then determine the weight of your loaded RV and add it to the towed vehicle weight. Your total pounds should not exceed the GCWR.
Examples
2020 Entegra Odyssey 24B: GVWR 14,500 lbs – OCCC 10,000 lbs= 4,500 lbs
2020 Thor Magnitude XG32: GVWR 19,500 lbs- OCCC 10,000 lbs= 9,500 lbs
| Towing Capacity | GVWR | |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 Thor Freedom Elite 23H | 8,000 lbs | 12,500 lbs |
| 2020 Forest River Forester 2351LE | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Conquest 6237LE | 5,000 lbs | 12,500 lb |
| 2020 Forest River Sunseeker 2250 | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Thor Delano 24TT | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2019 Entegra Coach QWEST 24L | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2019 Nexus Phantom 25P | 7,500 lbs | 12,500 lbs |
| 2020 Redhawk 22A | 5,000 lbs | 14,200 lbs |
| 2020 Forest River Forester 2401WSD | 4,200 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2020 Tiffin Wayfarer 24TW | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2019 Quantum RC 25 Class C | 8,000 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2019 Coachmen Leprechaun 280 SS Class C | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Entegra Coach Esteem 29 V | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 THOR Delano 24FB | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2020 THOR Omni BB35 | 10,000 lbs | 19,500 lbs |
| 2021 Dynamax Isata 5 | 10,000 lbs | 19,500 lbs |
| 2020 Nexus RV Viper 27V | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2019 Jayco Greyhawk 30Z | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Greyhawk 27U | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Jayco Redhawk 27N | 5,000 lbs | 14,200 lbs |
| 2019 Jayco 24LP Melbourne | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2020 Redhawk 22C | 5,000 lbs | 14,200 lbs |
| 2020 Winnebago View 24D | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2020 Tiffin Wayfarer 25RW | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2020 Renegade Vienna 25RMC | 3,500 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2019 Entegra Coach QWEST 24L | 5,000 lbs | 11,030 lbs |
| 2018 Freedom Elite 26HE | 8,000 lbs | 12,500 lbs |
| 2020 Jayco Redhawk 24B | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Jayco Redhawk 31F | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Coachmen Leprechaun 300BH | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2019 Jayco Redhawk 31XL | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2020 Thor Motor Coach 30D | 8,000 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
| 2019 Jayco Greyhawk Prestige 31FSP | 7,500 lbs | 14,500 lbs |
How Do You Increase Towing Capacity?
To increase your towing capacity of a Class C RV you can contract a programmer to reconfigure the mechanics for a lighter vehicle. You can also upgrade for a larger radiator to reduce extra heat.
Upgrading the suspension or replacing the axles for stronger ones are solid options for pulling more weight as well. Additionally, adding a stronger hitch can add up to 5,000 more pounds of hauling, while upgrading the brake pads and rotors for a higher quality reduces the pressure of stopping, and increases the towing capacity.
Adding dual exhaust will help the engine breathe better, thus increases its towing capacity as well.
What is the Best Car to Tow Behind a Class C Motorhome?
The best cars to tow behind a Class C motorhome are the vehicles that come factory-ready to be driven across the country. Although, one model can be different from the previous year model, so it’s best to read the manufacturer’s label.
Additionally, you’ll want to take a look at the full weight of the vehicle itself to ensure that it doesn’t exceed the total towing capacity.
Some of the best cars to tow include:
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Ram 1500
- Jeep Wrangler
- Ford F-150
- Chevrolet Spark
These cars come with a hitch, which makes them ready for towing. Other vehicles around the same weight with a hitch may also be towed by a Class C motorhome.
Can a Class C Motorhome Pull a Trailer?
A Class C motorhome can typically pull up to as much as a Class A, which can pull heavy-duty trucks and items. A Class C motorhome can pull up upwards to 10,000 pounds in full. The weight capacity of the tongue and hitch is the main focus on hauling a trailer, so it needs to be strong enough to handle the full weight of a trailer.
With the right size hitch and tongue on the Class C motorhome, it should have enough strength and power to haul and tow a small-to-midsize trailer behind it.
Can You Tow an Automatic Car Behind a Class C Motorhome?
Vehicles with automatic transmission can be towed behind a Class C motorhome, either by itself or on a flat-tow. If the vehicle is well equipped with rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, or has the ability to be towed in neutral, then it has the ability to be towed by a motorhome.
Also, the weight of an automatic car is typically smaller than the towing capacity -usually between 2,000 and 5,000 pounds-, therefore making it a safe and fairly easy method of hauling an automatic car behind a Class C motorhome.
How Long of a Trailer Can I Tow Behind a Class C Motorhome?
Like other recreational vehicles above a class B, a heavy-duty trailer can be towed by a Class C motorhome, and the weight and length of the motorhome is a major factor of whether it can be towed properly.
Depending on the hitch strength, along with the power of the brake pads and the exhaust system, a Class C motorhome has the ability to tow a trailer with a length of up to 40 feet long.
The width of the trailer can range between 8 and 10 feet, excluding the safety equipment, and the height can be up to 13 feet.
What Does Max Towing Capacity Mean?
Max towing capacity refers to the most weight that the motorhome is capable of pulling while towing another vehicle behind it.
It includes the dimensions of the vehicle including the height, weight, length, and gross vehicle weight. Unbraked towing capacity is part of the max towing, and refers to the capacity of a vehicle that is towing a trailer without its own individual braking system.
With this system, the max towing capacity is usually a little lower since it’s sharing a braking system. If the vehicle has its own braking system, then max towing capacity is increased due to the fact that it’s more secure behind the recreational vehicle.
Can You Tow a Tesla Behind a Motorhome?
The only way to tow a Tesla behind a motorhome is on a trailer; and the Tesla mbut be placed into towing mode while on the trailer. Towing a Tesla behind a motorhome can be a challenge because of the way that the car is built.
A Tesla actually cannot be flat-towed behind a motorhome, nor can it be hauled with a dolley and two wheels on the ground because it could ruin the internal mechanics of the car.
According to the manufacturers of Tesla, towing their vehicle in any way that isn’t on a trailer will automatically void the warranties that are placed on it, even if the car is not damaged.
Considering that Tesla is a brand electric car, the electric propulsion power is a significant factor associated with it being hauled by a larger recreational vehicle.
Is Gas or Diesel Better For Towing?
When it comes to recreational Class C vehicles and their towing capacity, the type of fuel that is used is a major deal because it will determine how far and long you can travel while hauling another vehicle.
Gas has an advantage because it tends to be more affordable and cleaner for the engine in the long run. Additionally, since it’s more affordable, it can be much more accessible than diesel.
However, diesel engines tend to have better gas mileage, typically last longer than the usual RV, and gives the machine more power to tow more weight. Diesel engines also have a lot of low-end torque and have the ability to haul heavy loads of quality grades with more ease and efficiency.
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