At Freightliner Custom Chassis, we understand there is a lot of information floating around the internet about flat towing a car with your motorhome. We put together the following to help simplify terminology, help owners of coaches powered by FCCC chassis find clarity in their towing calculations, and ultimately build their confidence when towing with their coach. We hope you’ll find it helpful.
Safety Check: Confirm tow capacity is less than or equal to Tow Hitch Rating.
The most common tow solution is flat towing. Flat towing is towing a vehicle with all four tires positioned on the ground, rather than elevating the front two wheels on a tow dolly. When flat towing, a vehicle tow bar connects to the front of the tow vehicle and is pulled from behind the RV. The following calculations are intended for those flat towing with their motorhome.
Before we calculate your towing capacity, let’s quickly define a few terms we’ll be using.
Towing a vehicle with all four wheels on the ground. The most common tow solution is flat towing. Flat towing is towing a vehicle with all four tires positioned on the ground, rather than elevating the front two wheels on a tow dolly or pulling a car on a trailer. When flat towing a vehicle, a tow bar connects to the front of the tow vehicle and is pulled behind the RV.
This is the maximum loaded weight under which a vehicle can safely operate when weighing your coach with passengers, fuel and fluids, optional accessories and equipment, cargo, and the “tongue weight” of a tow trailer. This maximum weight is set by the manufacturer.
The total weight of your loaded coach, including passengers, fuel and fluids, optional accessories and equipment, and cargo.
This is the maximum allowable weight for one axle of your coach. Each axle on your coach has its own GAWR, and this weight must not be exceeded when you load your coach, or it will be considered unsafe.
This is the total potential weight rating for a fully loaded coach combined with the weight of the tow vehicle.
The tow hitch manufacturer’s weight rating for the tow bar hitch itself. This is the maximum amount the coach could tow if the calculated towing capacity is available. This rating is for the tow bar only and does not take into account actual GCWR, so it may not be an accurate representation of how much your specific coach can tow.
Original Equipment Manufacturer.
Your towing capacity is the weight your coach can tow when loaded and ready for travel. This means you will need to weigh your coach loaded, as you plan to travel: have at least 75% fuel in the tank; if you travel with water tanks full, fill them; and add all your camping cargo. To calculate your coach’s maximum towing capacity, you need to know:
To calculate maximum towing capacity, subtract the actual weight from the GCWR.
Example:
GCWR – Actual Weight of Coach = Towing Capacity
33,000 lbs – 25,842 lbs = 7,158 lbs towing capacity*
*The calculated towing capacity can be no higher than the rating of your hitch.
Safety Check:
Make sure the total actual weight of your coach does not exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR).
To tow your vehicle with your coach, your vehicle must weigh less than the towing capacity. If you don’t know the weight of your specific vehicle, it’s helpful to know that the average weight of a midsize SUV or truck is 4,259 lbs.*
*Reference: cars.lovetoknow.com/List_of_Car_Weights
The towing guidelines described above are for informational purposes only. It is not intended as a substitute for professional advice. Accordingly, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corp. and its affiliates disclaim any and all liability and responsibility for any damages, loss, or injury resulting from towing operations, miscalculations, wiring of tow vehicles, or any other use or misuse of these guidelines.
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