Tow or no Tow April 04, 2024, 08:40:50 pm That is the question! I have been looking for a LD to purchase and ran across this picture of the rear receiver. I have read about how inappropriate they are for towing. This one looks not adequate to me. Not sure what the receiver is bolted too. I hope they are not all like this!!Ron S
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #1 – April 04, 2024, 10:15:28 pm "I have read about how inappropriate they are for towing."Don't know about the 'appropriateness' but a stock receiver like that allowed me to tow a Honda Civic and later a Honda CRV for many hundreds of miles! But, like many other LD folks I finally broke down and had it reinforced. There are many postings on this board on how to go about that.
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #2 – April 04, 2024, 10:50:47 pm what year and model is pictured? What is that black 'low hanging fruit' with the red reflectors?I've been towing a 2011 Honda CRV for about 60k miles behind my 2013 31 IB. 1 Likes
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #3 – April 04, 2024, 11:27:59 pm Quote from: joel wiley - April 04, 2024, 10:50:47 pm What is that black 'low hanging fruit' with the red reflectors?It looks like a Smart Solutions Rock Guard or something similar. Basically a huge mud flap to keep rocks from getting kicked up toward the toad. Rich
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #4 – April 05, 2024, 10:51:35 am Quote from: rich - April 04, 2024, 11:27:59 pmIt looks like a Smart Solutions Rock Guard or something similar. .. RichThanks.That occurred to me shortly after I hit send
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #5 – April 05, 2024, 11:18:16 am It's a Smart Solutions Ultraguard--you can just make out the lettering on the far left of the photo. I mounted one of these on my midbath, but stopped using it because it threw rocks at my towed car. The problem was the mounting location. It wasn't practical in my case to mount it immediately behind the rear wheels... and further back, where I had to put it, it scraped the ground and threw rocks on even s alight slope, due to the Lazy Daze's long overhang. I ended up removing it and cutting it up to make two smaller flaps, which I mounted immediately behind the individual wheels.This drawing is as close to scale as I could make it, and shows the problem. 3 Likes
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #6 – April 05, 2024, 12:16:54 pm That is a very rusty stock LD receiver, possibly worth having inspected by a hitch shop. I would also inspect the sheet metal covering the bottom of the floor for heavy rust. Road salt is hard on LDs and should be avoided or cleaned well after exposure.A rust-free stock receiver is rated for lighter vehicles and will work for heavier toads with reinforcement. I always suggest having the hardware tightness checked annually and recommend upgrading the hardware.We have pulled a Jeep for most of our LDs 145,000 miles with minimal issues, after finding its weaknesses.The bumper, receiver, and bumper-to-body hardware have been upgraded, with the receiver tack welded in place.Hitch receiver upgrade | FlickrRear bumper mounting repair | FlickrLarry 1 Likes
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #7 – April 05, 2024, 12:16:58 pm Look at Larry W's hitch upgrade for his jeep!What is the structure between the rock guard and the rear wheels?LD standard was up to 3000 pounds of towed weight with the flat bar truss structure.Means 300 pound of tongue weight which has to be calculated into the GVW of the motor home.My 1988 E350 Chassis cannot take the additional Tongue weight. because of 11000 # GVW limits.newer rigs have a 14,000#GVW. 1 Likes
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #8 – April 05, 2024, 12:19:04 pm Quote from: Andy Baird - April 05, 2024, 11:18:16 amIt's a Smart Solutions Ultraguard--you can just make out the lettering on the far left of the photo. I mounted one of these on my midbath, but stopped using it because it threw rocks at my towed car. This drawing is as close to scale as I could make it, and shows the problem.[attach type=image]36606[/attach]I think your old Ultraguard is still in my bone pile, along with another one removed from a Mid-Bath. An example of a good idea that doesn't work with all rigs. Mud and gravel guards need to be mounted as close to each rear wheel as possible.Larry 1 Likes
Re: Tow or no Tow Reply #9 – April 05, 2024, 12:57:49 pm A reply to Rodney; Trailers would be tough to pull with a Lazy Daze, on my E350 chassis (mine is 11,500#) but that tongue weight really doesn't apply when towing a vehicle 4 wheels down. The receiver at about 15# and a Sterling All Terrain (light weight version) at about 44# don't stress the weight limit too badly. Part of the towbar weight is supported by the towed vehicle. The Dune Buggy, (now sold to a younger buyer) was only about 2K#. The Tracker is only about 2600# (less than 3K# with contents) so doesn't stress my bumper much. I did weld a roller on the end of the receiver for quick bounces on sharp driveways, dips. RonB 3 Likes
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