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Topic: Towing a horse trailer (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
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Towing a horse trailer
Yahoo Message Number: 127283
Good morning - I love the snow globe containing the LD - it is the right color and everything!  Maybe Santa will bring me a 23 or 27 ft one with double sofas for Christmas, ha-ha!!  I have reviewed the FAQ's, looked at the BIG FAQ Blog, looked through Motorhome magazine, as well as numerous other resources, for MONTHS.
 The LD hitch rating is 4K lbs. - correct?  SO, theoretically, one should not pull more than 4K lbs., yes?  However, in my voluminous reading (I could not cite the many places), most recently Motorhome magazine, it is cavalierly stated one may "go over" that limit by "a few" thousand lbs., depending on the altitude and type of roads one is traveling.
 We have a 3500 lb. horse trailer that is ~6K lbs. when fully loaded with horses, tack, and hay.  We are trying to figure out if it would be safe to pull our animals with a LD, or if we will have to go to a beefier Class A motor home.
 We would appreciate it if someone would gaze into their crystal ball, or alternatively, give us some clear statistics (examples) of actual tow vehicle weights towed without mishap.  There is little to no info out there regarding this type of tow situation.  Thanks for your help.

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas, Happy New Year.  Adrienne
Re: Towing a horse trailer
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127285
"The LD hitch rating is 4K lbs. - correct?"
 That depends on the year.  Some of the earlier models, and particularly those on the E-350 chassis, had only a 3,000# rating.
 "We have a 3500 lb. horse trailer that is ~6K lbs. when fully loaded with horses, tack, and hay.  We are trying to figure out if it would be safe to pull our animals with a LD, or if we will have to go to a beefier Class A motor home."
 I don't recall the recent increased GVWR on "some" LD's, but for calculation purposes, let's use the 14,050# GVWR and 20,000# GCWR.  Subtract those two, and you have a *theoretical* towing capacity of 5,950#.  That would, of course, require that a higher-rated hitch be fabricated, since the one that comes with the LD (current models since 19??) is only 4,000#.  You "could" squeeze out a few hundred more pounds of towing capacity by not loading your LD up to its GVWR of 14,050#.  That Motorhome Magazine is advocating that you can go over this limit by "several thousand pounds" is beyond irresponsible, IMO!
 If it were ME, I would not tow a ~6,000# trailer loaded with what are, I assume, beloved pets with a Lazy Daze.  Of course, as always, YMMV.  It just depends on how much risk you are willing to take with you, your family, and your horses.

Linda Hylton http://earl-linda.blogspot.com
Linda Hylton
Re: Towing a horse trailer
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127286
I would not tow 6,000 lbs with a LD no mater what was back there.
 Towing a Honda Element with both our MB or RB was not nearly as comfortable as towing it with our 36ft Foretravel.  With the MB and RB I had too much of the feeling that the tail was trying to wag the dog.
 With the Foretravel I don't even notice from driving that the Honda is back there.
 Going to 6,000 lbs back there in an LD will be even more noticeable - and for me, unacceptable.
 In addition, recall the early report of a LD that rolled was attributed to the behavior of what it was towing.  Just think what an emergency swerve towing 6,000 lbs could do.
 When righted, the LD was apparently driveable, but I'm sure it still ruined the owner's day.  Fortunately he was not seriously injured.

best, paul
 *"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life." Steve Jobs*

If it were ME, I would not tow a ~6,000# trailer loaded with what are, I
 
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assume, beloved pets with a Lazy Daze. Of course, as always, YMMV. It just depends on how much risk you are willing to take with you, your family, and your horses.
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Re: Towing a horse trailer
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127292
"Linda & Earl Hylton"  wrote: motor home." I don't recall the recent increased GVWR on "some" LD's, but for calculation purposes, let's use the 14,050# GVWR and 20,000# GCWR.  Subtract those two, and you have a *theoretical* towing capacity of 5,950#.
--- AFAIK, the GVWR of the *current* E450s is 14500 pounds, and the GCWR is 22,000 pounds; the exception is the E450 chassis (158" wheelbase)with the V-8.
 That would, of course, require that a higher-rated hitch be fabricated, since the one that comes with the LD (current models since 19??) is only 4,000#.
--- Again, AFAIK, the LD hitch is a "bumper-mount"; a frame-mounted hitch is what many towing owners, even those who tow at a *prudent weight limit* prefer for safety.
--- That Motorhome Magazine is advocating that you can go over this limit by "several thousand pounds" is beyond irresponsible, IMO! --- Amen to that, but, in my experience, SOP with the advertising-driven publications from GS Enterprises! --- If it were ME, I would not tow a ~6,000# trailer loaded with what are, I assume, beloved pets with a Lazy Daze.  Of course, as always, YMMV. It just depends on how much risk you are willing to take with you, your family, and your horses.
--- I agree; IMO, there is *no safe way* to tow that much weight (and, remember, it's not "static weight"; horses, even confined, move around!) with a Lazy Daze motorhome. Controlling and stopping that load could be difficult and dangerous, even with the proper braking system. And, the LD's suspension, brakes, engine, transmission, and other systems would take a real beating.

As ever, YMMV.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home
 
Re: Towing a horse trailer
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 127305
I agree with most of what has been said here on this subject, but I have a few thoughts to add.  The GVWR limit is set relative to braking capability and suspension capability (springs, shocks, axles, bearings).  Other than hitch load, it really does not play much of a role in this discussion.  The GCWR, on the other hand, is set based on the drive train capability (engine, trans, drive shaft, U-joints and differential).  Braking also becomes a factor if the trailer does not have independent brakes.  If you go above the target numbers, you risk failure of any of those components.  Thus, if you are driving your horse trailer across Kansas, and you accelerate gently, and the horse trailer has a good braking system, you MAY not be overloading critical systems, though you WOULD need a frame hitch rather than the stock hitch.  Now, when you reach Colorado and start to climb your first big hill, are half way up and your drive shaft twists apart, what are your plans for dealing with that?
 Is that realistic?  Probably not, because engineers use large factors of safety in determining load ratings of mechanical systems, but if you go beyond their number, you ARE placing yourself at risk.  Let me put it another way.  Imagine that you are in a skyscraper, on the 50th floor.  You go to the elevator to leave and while waiting you read the card - "Max Weight 1000 Pounds or 6 Persons".  When the elevator arrives, two moving men are on it, with 2 pianos and a family of 5.  Now, I will tell you that the factor of safety used in elevator design means it would probably be fine for you to get on and ride that elevator down 500 feet to the ground.  Would you do it?  I would not.
 Back to towing - here is another factor.  Our LD's are designed beautifully - for RV use.  They have a LONG overhang beyond the rear axle.  That overhang acts like a lever, increasing sway forces from a trailer.  A car is fairly aerodynamic, yet a toad adds noticeably to handling concerns in cross winds, on rough roads, and when sharp or abrupt maneuvering is needed.  A horse trailer adds much more lateral wind target, and adds much more force at the end of that long moment arm that is the back part of our rigs.  This has a multiplier effect.  Will you tow a horse trailer behind a LD?  I would not, even if I got a frame hitch and managed to stay below the GCWR by emptying everything out of the LD.  The vehicle is designed for RV life, not towing.  To tow a horse trailer, I would want a vehicle with a rear axle much closer to the hitch point.

Just MHO.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB