Hauling a toad

[Charlie1957]

My question is: I have a 2024 tiffin wayfarer. Mercedes Benz with 6 cylinder no turbo. Will I have many problems
Flat towing a jeep which weighs 4300 lbs. my hitch is rated at 5000 lbs. is this doable.

 

[T’sOVR&Explore]

Published vehicle ratings are typically "optimistic", so the GVWR of 12,125 lbs and GCWR of 15,250 lbs that Tiffin shows in the Wayfarer specs are not very encouraging.

Subtracting the weight of your Jeep from the GCWR gives you a number that becomes you max allowable weight of the Wayfarer by itself, fully loaded for travel.

Load up for a campout and take the Wayfarer to a truck scale and see what it weighs. Maybe it will pencil out ok. Of course, the Jeep needs a braking system for while it is being towed, and you have to watch Wayfarer coolant and transmisson temps if you tow in hot areas or pull the toad up significant grades.

Pay attention to tow bar "flatness" angle if your Jeep is not stock. If you have a lifted rock crawler, the mismatch in hitch point heights will require an L-shaped hitch pocket plug-in that unfortunatly will apply bending moments on your 5k rated receiver hitch. The hitch rating is intended for reasonably "flat" connnections, so the de-rating for that circumstance would diminish the already small margin, given the Jeep's weight.

If it all wotks out on paper, that is a start, but it still has to be tested and experienced by you for basic driveability. Get it together and go for some drives. Neighborhood and city streets first, turning corners at traffic lights, then highway it, and feel the push as a semi overtakes you. Good chance that your gut feel as you try it out will help you decide whether to go on with it or not if the "on paper" portion comes out.

I pray that you will enjoy happy and safe travels, always!

 

[Kevin D Pem]

In the 60's many trucks on the road had 6 cylinder engines. There is nothing wrong with that by the way. However when My better half and I started talking about a trailer. She told me we should get a "real" truck. She wasn't wrong! She did teach me many things, and I am still grateful.

The lesson was match your plans with your equipment. Have you considered trailering a motorcycle?

 

[Charlie1957]

In the 60's many trucks on the road had 6 cylinder engines. There is nothing wrong with that by the way. However when My better half and I started talking about a trailer. She told me we should get a "real" truck. She wasn't wrong! She did teach me many things, and I am still grateful.

The lesson was match your plans with your equipment. Have you considered trailering a motorcycle?

I do have a dirt bike I could carry on the back. Are you suggesting the 6 cylinder just doesn’t have enough guts to pull the jeep?

 

[Kevin D Pem]

I'm saying that turbo engines are turbo engines, and most RVs are built very close to weight limits.

Just because it can doesn't mean doing it is not hard on the equipment.

Your RV has a good base, but pushing it to it's limits also limits it's useful life.

 

[Charlie1957]

I'm saying that turbo engines are turbo engines, and most RVs are built very close to weight limits.

Just because it can doesn't mean doing it is not hard on the equipment.

Your RV has a good base, but pushing it to it's limits also limits it's useful life.

 

[Charlie1957]

Thanks for all the advice. I love my little tiffin motorhome so I guess I’m stuck with a motorcycle or my bicycle.

 

[Kevin D Pem]

Look at it as a choice, not a compromise. Life is to valuable to see it any other way.

 

[Rollin Ollen]

Thanks for all the advice. I love my little tiffin motorhome so I guess I’m stuck with a motorcycle or my bicycle.

I know folks that rent a car on the occasions that their bicycles don't serve them. Subtract that cost from the purchase, upkeep, insurance etc of owning a towed. I just did a google for a rough cost. The average cost to rent a basic economy or compact vehicle in the US typically ranges from $35 to $60 per day, or roughly $270 to $400 per week.