His and hers Jeeps present a dilema

[JeepGal]

Also entitled: Towing two Jeeps

Its an awesome thing here...that we both enjoy the same passion. But it presents a bit of a problem. We always want to drive, which means, we always bring both Jeeps. Not so bad when its local, but the drive to Moab was brutal

Im considering purchasing a nice motorhome, and have found one that has a 10,000lb tow capacity...any comments or ideas regarding this?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Tam

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by JeepGal
Also entitled: Towing two Jeeps

Its an awesome thing here...that we both enjoy the same passion. But it presents a bit of a problem. We always want to drive, which means, we always bring both Jeeps. Not so bad when its local, but the drive to Moab was brutal

Im considering purchasing a nice motorhome, and have found one that has a 10,000lb tow capacity...any comments or ideas regarding this?

Any input is greatly appreciated.

Tam

Is that tow spec one that you have checked yourself or are you taking the word of the seller?

We did a lot of research on motorhomes and the 10,000 lbs. tow capacity is a very rare beast indeed.

[JeepGal]

Originally posted by mrblaine
Is that tow spec one that you have checked yourself or are you taking the word of the seller?

We did a lot of research on motorhomes and the 10,000 lbs. tow capacity is a very rare beast indeed.

At this point, its just the owner...what should I look for?

Thanks!

Tam

[Joe Dillard]

BTDT Tam.

Hers was='02 WJ Limited V8 4x4 with lots of bells & whistles.
Mine is='91 YJ.

Are you considering pulling 2 TJ's at a time on a trailer behind the RV? Could you expound? How is the RV set-up (length, type motor, tranny, is there already an electric brake controller installed etc).

This was my set-up till a couple months ago. The RV easily pulled my YJ across country for over a month strait on my trailer with electric brakes.

[JeepGal]

The ad says:

"Odometer has only 7400 miles. Rig has two slide-outs, Ford Triton V-10, heavy duty hitch (10,000lbs+), solar panel so batteries are always charged. Real wood cabinetry, two TV/VCR/DVD combos, largest bathroom you'll ever see in an RV with large corner shower and lots of cabinets. Gentle earth tones throughout, warm fabric ceilings, forced air heat/air conditioning, couch is actual fullsize hide-a-bed. Rear gurad wheels, tire air extensions, large generator, outdoor shower, outdoor entertainment center. Twenty four foot awning. Breaking our hearts to sell. "

Its a 30' 2001 GulfStream



Wed like to tow both on a trailer

Thanks!

Tam

[mrblaine]

Originally posted by JeepGal
The ad says:

"Odometer has only 7400 miles. Rig has two slide-outs, Ford Triton V-10, heavy duty hitch (10,000lbs+), solar panel so batteries are always charged. Real wood cabinetry, two TV/VCR/DVD combos, largest bathroom you'll ever see in an RV with large corner shower and lots of cabinets. Gentle earth tones throughout, warm fabric ceilings, forced air heat/air conditioning, couch is actual fullsize hide-a-bed. Rear gurad wheels, tire air extensions, large generator, outdoor shower, outdoor entertainment center. Twenty four foot awning. Breaking our hearts to sell. "

Its a 30' 2001 GulfStream



Wed like to tow both on a trailer

Thanks!

Tam

In one of the cabinets you will find a placard that will give you the Gross weight of the M/H, The actual weight of the M/H and the combined Gross weight.

You substract the gross vehicle weight from the combined to find the tow rating.

You don't really need to though, I will tell you right now that you will not get two jeeps on a trailer and have it under 10,000 lbs, even if the rig were rated to tow that much.

Why do I know this you ask? I have the identical dilemma and have run the gamut of options from small Class A's up to and including motorhomes on Medium Duty Business Class Diesel rig chassis's.

Good luck finding something reasonable that will tow an actual 12,000 lbs with ease.

Two jeeps = 8000 lbs give or take, mostly take.
Gear and spare parts can quickly add up to 1000 lbs in the blink of an eye. (most of our spares are made of steel and iron as are most tools)

A trailer that can handle two jeeps is no less than 2500 lbs, most likely 3000, and that puts you at 12,000 lbs with no firewood, food, charcoal, clothing, spare trailer tires, floorjack, or any of the other items you will be tempted to carry now that you have a M/H.

[Chris L]

I would push for a newer diesel if you can swing it. A 24' dual car trailer may also be in order, but as blaine pointed out, you got to look at the overall towing rating including both jeeps and trailer and gear.

[papromike]

If you're gonna tow that much,


better get one of these... Oh and BTW, its for sale for only $10K

[DanB98TJ]

Like Blaine said, you're going to be hard-pressed to find a motorhome that will safely handle the added weight of two Jeeps and a trailer. Motorhomes were just not intended to haul that kind of weight - I've seen a few diesel pushers flat-towing full size SUVs - which is probably pushing the limits - and we're talking the big "bus" style motorhomes, not your normal Class A or C.

The only way I've seen two Jeeps towed by a single vehicle was with a diesel 1-ton pickup using a gooseneck trailer. Unfortunately, that also rules out a cabover camper (which would likely push it over the GCVW anyway). If you don't mind sleeping in a tent that might be an option. Otherwise, you may need his and hers tow rigs for the his and hers Jeeps.

[Dukes69]

Originally posted by Chris L
I would push for a newer diesel if you can swing it. A 24' dual car trailer may also be in order, but as blaine pointed out, you got to look at the overall towing rating including both jeeps and trailer and gear.

I agree! I'm thinking Dodge CTD600 . Oh and a 5th wheel, of course.

Actually Tammy is thinking of renting it out for the time that we arnt using it. But the problem still stands at how do you tow 2 jeeps and NOT tent camp!?!? I think it would be cool if a toy hauler company could come out with a 5th wheel trailer that has living quarters up front and a OPEN flat bed in back . . . big enough for too Jeeps. Eh, but then you cant rent it . . . OH well!

[Jeff Weston]

Like others have mentioned, there is no way that you're going to get that motorhome to tow two Jeeps. I'll go one step further and venture a pretty good guess that it is not even rated to tow a single Jeep and trailer. From the research I've done, the Class C's aren't up to towing or carrying very heavy loads and are easily overloaded just with the gear you bring in the motorhome (I have heard that many class C's need the rear portion of the frame beefed up to carry heavier loads).

My dad is about to get a motorhome as soon as he closes on another project he has going on. He bought these really cool cd-roms that gives the specs and rates just about every motorhome out there. Unfortunately, I don't have it with me at the moment and can't look it up. Anyway, this CD rates everything from wheelbase to length ratio (will effect handling and amount of wander on the road) to load capacity (you'd be surprised at the number of RV's that can barely load 1000# of gear and passengers) and the amount of weight that the chassis can safely tow. I know that most RV's on the market will probably pull your Jeep but I'm assuming you want to stay within the RV's load ratings.

The bottom line is that an RV is a pretty big purchase and you'll definitely want to get some good info on it before spending the bucks that a 2001 RV will cost.

Good luck with your purchase!

[Macgyver]

Originally posted by mrblaine
Is that tow spec one that you have checked yourself or are you taking the word of the seller?

We did a lot of research on motorhomes and the 10,000 lbs. tow capacity is a very rare beast indeed.

Our friend's Fleetwood Journey DL has a 10,000 lbs tow rating, of course it's on a freightliner chassis, has a 330 cat diesel and air ride all around. They are considering the same 2 jeep trailer to go to Moab every year. Ignore the hitch itself and look at the ratings on the coach like Blaine said. Most or all class C motorhomes are about 3,500 lbs tow at most. Most class A's with good towing are all diesel. A small diesel pusher may have more than 10,000 lbs tow, if the coach is small enough to leave some GCWR left over for towing. Either way a 330 cat and frieghtliner chassis, is probably the only way you would ever get it to work. But plan on spending $80,000 to $150,000 to get one!

We are buying a class A right now, and it has about 6000 lbs left over in the GCWR and it will just barely pull my trailer and Jeep. I guess it's time for the the Jeep and trailer to go on a diet!

[Macgyver]

Originally posted by Macgyver
Our friend's Fleetwood Journey DL has a 10,000 lbs tow rating, of course it's on a freightliner chassis, has a 330 cat diesel and air ride all around. They are considering the same 2 jeep trailer to go to Moab every year. Ignore the hitch itself and look at the ratings on the coach like Blaine said. Most or all class C motorhomes are about 3,500 lbs tow at most. Most class A's with good towing are all diesel. A small diesel pusher may have more than 10,000 lbs tow, if the coach is small enough to leave some GCWR left over for towing. Either way a 330 cat and frieghtliner chassis, is probably the only way you would ever get it to work. But plan on spending $80,000 to $150,000 to get one!

We are buying a class A right now, and it has about 6000 lbs left over in the GCWR and it will just barely pull my trailer and Jeep. I guess it's time for the the Jeep and trailer to go on a diet!

http://www.fleetwoodrv.com/specs/specs.asp?model=DI35M

this link is for a fleetwood discovery on a frieghtliner chassis, it has a GCWR of 37,910, and a base weight of 21,255. That leaves 16,655 lbs left over for gear in coach and trailer. It might work, but only comes with a 10,000 lbs hitch. I'm sure you could have a hitch built that would pull the trailer. But then you would be like 60 -62 feet long going down the road! I'm sure some where there are other coaches built that could haul 2 Jeeps, but I'm sure you would spend a small fortune.

I looked at the Newmar website, they have Mountain Aire's on Freightliners chassis with a GCWR of 44,600 lbs, but the coaches start at $250,000

[TObject]

Here is another idea.

You could theoretically build a totter home, with a parking space for the jeep in the back. And then tow another one on the trailer. But:

a) You would have to unhook the trailer before unloading the jeep from the back of the totter home.
b) The jeep on the back of the totter home would take most of the useful space inside, and bring dirt and smells. The later is unless your name is Robert Yates; in that case, the jeep can double as a large dish for food.

One of the guys nearby has a huge racecar hauling covered trailer. I haven't been inside, but I think there are sleeping quarters too. He tows it with one of those newer Chevrolet Kodiak thingies. When unhooked from the trailer although wide, I bet it can be used as a get around vehicle.

[Bruce David]

How about one of these and pull a camp trail.
Might seem a little odd, but next to going to a full semi or 150k+ bus Rv, this might be a good alterative.
Said its a 4 car hauler. I assume carries 3 and tows one.

[TObject]

Bruce, what kind of vertical clearance do you think that would require with a lifted jeep on the upper shelf?

I'd say 18' ? 20' from the looks of it.

[Bruce David]

Don't know.

the ad said it would haul 4, so I would assume 2 would fit
on the bed.

[TObject]

10-4

[Rockjeep]

Hey we are the ones quinn was talking about with the journey dl diesel and two jeeps. This coach has no probelm with the one jeep and we are now in search of a 30' car trailer for the two jeep towing. Quinn and I have a friends with the same motorhome your looking at Jeepgal and they are loaded down just with the one jeep. I you can swing it I would go look at a diesel like the others said. Even used is ok. Diesel's take a while to break in so 100,000 miles is considered low mileage for them. You will be happier in the long run.
just my $.02 worth.
Kory

[RipCurl]

A quick google turned up a bunch like this:



$93,000

[Paradiddle]

I'd wager a frosty one that there isn't a class C "mini" motorhome built that will tow a Jeep on a trailer and be under the GVW.

There is a reason 90% of class Cs have a 40 gallon fresh water supply and 90% of Class As hold 100 gallons - chassis weight ratings.

Take that coach - add 8lbs per gallon of fresh water capacity, 8lbs per gallon of fuel, 10-20 lbs for propane, you and your sig. other, your clothes, your tv, your vcr, some softcore porn tapes, your food and water, and some basic camping necessities (like chairs, wood, leveling blocks, tools, tarp, etc.) and you are pushing GVW right there - FORGET about hooking up a trailer.

That said - I tow my TJ on a trailer behind my old Class C and it does work - but that is ONE Jeep.

Jeff

[NAILER341]

here it is! only 175,000

[JeepGal]

Oh well

looks like Ill just have to find a new guy who doesnt mind letting me drive all the time...NOT!

Tam

[Rockjeep]

Might be cheeper.

[Joe Dillard]

Tam, I found the perfect combo for ya'! Just extend the rear a bit to fit both TJ's parked on it sideways with ramps going to the sides instead of the rear & you're all set!

If it doesn't already have a rear window boot, add one because getting back & forth into the rear would be difficult with a Jeep blocking the rear door of the "motorhome".

[Chris L]