Towing 10k lbs?

[Ryan Wright]

Anyone foresee a problem with my '86 PT-40 (8V92) flat towing a
10,300lb humvee around? Figured I'd better ask before I buy one with
the full intention of towing it everywhere I go.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA

[Rob Robinson]

I don't know the weight rating of your bird for towing but my 94 is rated
for only 10000lbs. You might check your tow rating to be sure it can handle
the weight

On 22/08/07, Ryan Wright wrote:
>
> Anyone foresee a problem with my '86 PT-40 (8V92) flat towing a
> 10,300lb humvee around? Figured I'd better ask before I buy one with
> the full intention of towing it everywhere I go.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA
>
>



--
Rob, Sue & Merlin Robinson
94 WLWB


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ryan Wright]

On 8/22/07, Rob Robinson wrote:
>
> I don't know the weight rating of your bird for towing but my 94 is rated
> for only 10000lbs. You might check your tow rating to be sure it can handle
> the weight

I was more worried about load on the engine but actually checking the
tow rating is so obvious I didn't think of it. Thanks Rob. I need
to dig into my blue box more. Just found a whole owner's manual in
there that I didn't know existed. Took me awhile to extract the towing
information but I eventually found it: 10,000lbs.

Turns out this won't be an issue for the tow rating as I originally
thought it might be. The (multiple, unfortunately) sources that said
the vehicle was 10,300lbs? Wrong. They were quoting GVWR and calling
it "weight". Silly people. Turns out the curb weight is closer to
8,000lbs, slightly higher or lower depending on year and model. So
compatibility with my hitch won't be an issue.

Now, about driving: Does anyone with a big PT-40 tow around 8,000+
pounds regularly? Will it have a significant negative effect on my
ability to move the coach down the freeway or up the average grade?
Certainly it will have some affect, the question is, how much and will
I live to regret it?

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA

[krminyl@...]

I regularly tow a trailer that weighs about 7,000, and I really don't
realize that it's there. A good brake system would be mandatory, as it should
be
with any load over 1500 lbs. My bro-in-law towed his H2 behind his Discovery
34', with a 5.9 Cummins....no problem.

Kevin
86 38 PT (For Sale)
Yorba Linda, CA



************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-new AOL at
http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Curt Sprenger]

Ryan,
Shouldn't be a problem towing the Humvee. Check your vehicle codes for
weight/brake requirements in anything towed. I suggest installing a
brake system in the Humvee to help with stopping.

On 8/22/07, Ryan Wright wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Anyone foresee a problem with my '86 PT-40 (8V92) flat towing a
> 10,300lb humvee around? Figured I'd better ask before I buy one with
> the full intention of towing it everywhere I go.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA
>



--
Curt Sprenger
1987 PT38 8V92 "MacAttack Racing"
Anaheim Hills, CA

[Pete Masterson]

Well... if I understand correctly, the hitch is rated for a maximum
10,000 lbs., so you'd need to do some engineering and strengthening
to make the hitch safe... Also, none of the tow bars commonly
available are rated above 10,000 lbs. -- so you'll need to find a
suitably rated tow bar with a reasonable safety margin. Likewise with
safety chains/cables (you can probably just double those up, but then
you risk 'cascade failure' where one then the next fails in succession).

Aside from the towing connection, then there's the issue of having a
load of 20-25% of the vehicle added to your weight. Check the blue
box and look for the Combined Vehicle Weight limit to ensure that the
load (with hitch/tow bar) doesn't exceed the limit.

Finally, you'll probably find traveling up even modest grades a
rather slow motion affair with related heat dissipation issues.

I do believe that there are a few birders who do pull trailers with
near-10,000 lb. loads and perhaps they'll have some more positive
suggestions.

Pete Masterson
'95 Blue Bird Wanderlodge WBDA 42
El Sobrante CA
aeonix1@...



On Aug 22, 2007, at 10:55 PM, Ryan Wright wrote:

> Anyone foresee a problem with my '86 PT-40 (8V92) flat towing a
> 10,300lb humvee around? Figured I'd better ask before I buy one with
> the full intention of towing it everywhere I go.
>
> -Ryan
> '86 PT-40 8V92
> Tri-Cities, WA
>

[Al]

I have a 5.9 Cummins in my full-size dodge truck. It has plenty of
power but it would be scary to see the same powerplant in a
motorhome. I am glad my bird has the 8.3 litre.

Al Johnson
'96 BMC B75
Mandeville, La.

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, krminyl@... wrote:
>
> I regularly tow a trailer that weighs about 7,000, and I really
don't
> realize that it's there. A good brake system would be mandatory,
as it should be
> with any load over 1500 lbs. My bro-in-law towed his H2 behind
his Discovery
> 34', with a 5.9 Cummins....no problem.
>
> Kevin
> 86 38 PT (For Sale)
> Yorba Linda, CA
>
>
>
> ************************************** Get a sneak peek of the all-
new AOL at
> http://discover.aol.com/memed/aolcom30tour
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>

[Mike Hohnstein]

Depends on what you need the toad for. A enclosed trailer with a small toad and
much support equipment will weigh in the vicinity of the vehicle you are
considering. A trailer is more maneuverable as you can back up, however it can
be a problem to deal with in many campgrounds. A trailer will not be as
reliable towing at the upper end of legal hwy speeds as the typical trailer tire
is rated at 65 mph. However, I personally like the security of knowing all my
"stuff" is with me.
A full size pick up with a bed cover or cap is another efficient type of
toad/stuff carrier. It seems like them little Honda CRVs are the most popular
type of toad, light, easy on fuel and generally trouble free. Them Hummers, I
gotta admit, I don't get it. Been over by the local dealer with the "designer"
building a couple of times. Kinda like a "anti-Prius" deal I guess. I can
respect that, the Wanderlodge does that in spades with no help from the toad.
MH
----- Original Message -----
From: Ryan Wright
To: WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com ; wanderlodge@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, August 23, 2007 2:30 AM
Subject: Re: [WanderlodgeForum] Towing 10k lbs?


On 8/22/07, Rob Robinson wrote:
>
> I don't know the weight rating of your bird for towing but my 94 is rated
> for only 10000lbs. You might check your tow rating to be sure it can handle
> the weight

I was more worried about load on the engine but actually checking the
tow rating is so obvious I didn't think of it. Thanks Rob. I need
to dig into my blue box more. Just found a whole owner's manual in
there that I didn't know existed. Took me awhile to extract the towing
information but I eventually found it: 10,000lbs.

Turns out this won't be an issue for the tow rating as I originally
thought it might be. The (multiple, unfortunately) sources that said
the vehicle was 10,300lbs? Wrong. They were quoting GVWR and calling
it "weight". Silly people. Turns out the curb weight is closer to
8,000lbs, slightly higher or lower depending on year and model. So
compatibility with my hitch won't be an issue.

Now, about driving: Does anyone with a big PT-40 tow around 8,000+
pounds regularly? Will it have a significant negative effect on my
ability to move the coach down the freeway or up the average grade?
Certainly it will have some affect, the question is, how much and will
I live to regret it?

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA




[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Ryan Wright]

Mike,

On 8/23/07, Mike Hohnstein <MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> Them Hummers, I gotta admit, I don't get it. Been over by the local dealer
with the
> "designer" building a couple of times. Kinda like a "anti-Prius" deal I
guess. I can
> respect that, the Wanderlodge does that in spades with no help from the toad.

It's funny, I actually drive a hybrid to work daily. Honda Insight,
gets 70-75mpg vs. the Prius' 40-50. I'm really a question to the world
- who buys a hybrid AND a hummer? ;-) But, my cars are bought for fun
and/or practicality, not to make political statements. The Insight
needs $30 in fuel once a month, vs. my DeLorean that ate $40 every 5
days when I was driving it daily, and the Insight is small and thus
highly maneuverable in the heavy traffic I hit going back and forth to
work. So it makes sense to commute in and saves me money.

But, it's a two seater, and I can't flat tow it; I've always wanted a
real nice 4x4 and since I bought the bus, set my sights on one I could
flat tow. First inclination was a Jeep but the H1 is the ultimate
production off road vehicle, holds it's value (if you buy used), and
can be had used for little more than a new, loaded Jeep. So, what the
heck.

Thanks to everyone for the responses. Sounds like a braking system on
the truck and I'll be ready to go.

-Ryan
'86 PT-40 8V92
Tri-Cities, WA