Towing a trailer with a motorhome

mayhew27
mayhew27 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited February 2017 in Towcars & Towing #1

I'm trying to find out what weight twin axled box trailer we can tow with our 1991 Kontiki motorhome.  Can anyone help?

Comments

  • peegeenine
    peegeenine Forum Participant Posts: 548
    edited February 2017 #2

    The Gross Train Weight will be displayed on the vehicle VIN plate. Make sure you find the final stage plate as there could be up to 3 VIN plates on the vehicle. The final stage one will be from Swift, the converter.
    You will need to be careful that you do not overload the rear axle weight and that the noseweight of the trailer should be deducted from the vehicle payload.

  • H B Watson
    H B Watson Forum Participant Posts: 183
    edited February 2017 #3

    As #1, but also check the limits of the actual tow bar, they are often lower than the motorhome is capable of. My motorhome can tow 2t but only has a 1.5t tow bar fitted. (Not by me).

  • BigAonTour
    BigAonTour Forum Participant Posts: 14
    edited April 2017 #4

    Having owned a few motorhomes (now dragging) over the years you need to very careful about your tow limits. Whilst the base van might be able to tow 2 to 2.5 tonnes by the time the converter has added extra weight and extended the body past the original chassis you could find that 1 to 1.3 tonnes is the absolute limit. That equates to a Smart car and trailer.

  • TonyIshUK
    TonyIshUK Forum Participant Posts: 296
    100 Comments
    edited April 2017 #5

    A lot of tow bars for mhomes were made by local engineering works and no standards were set or adhered to.

    this still the case with a lot of modern mhome as well,

    if I was in your position, I would arrange with a local mhome tow are fitter to take look and see what and how the bar was fitted, and how suitable it would be.  A sort quick job for a tenner with a promise that some could come his her way by recommendation.

    our Rapido towbar was made to take the full train weight 2 tons with a nose weight under 75kg.  The parting shot by the fitter was to remind me to be gentle !  The chunk of iron work he put on was fixed to pressed steel Alko chassis, not the most rugged piece of engineering .

    Watling Tow Bars just north of London.

     

    rgds