Towing with a motorhome?

So like most of us here I think I am constantly daydreaming. Whether that is our innate automotive ADD or something else. Future vehicle plans currently include replacing the wife's car, doing some stuff to the miata, and then I was thinking of replacing my TDI with something else like a used 335D

But then I got to thinking about my wife and I previously talked about getting a trailer/motorhome for traveling as a family to camp out at the beach or go to the desert (Southern California)

The money I would spend on a CPO 335D would buy a trailer/motorhome that is nice enough for me.

From reading some of the other threads on here it sounds like Toy Haulers are pretty much a non option for hauling cars just not designed for the weight so a Motorhome is the only real option? Using either a dolly/open trailer/enclosed trailer behind it?

If I want to be able to tow potentially an enclosed trailer at some point with the miata or something similar on it can I do that with your standard class C or do I really need to consider class A?

I prefer the sleeping layouts and space of Class C but don't want to go much over 30ft if I do go Class C. Class A I feel like ponying up for a proper diesel might be worth it but hard to find anything decent under 36ft. Layouts for Class A don't sleep as many people usually. Having small kids I like the idea of being able to put them down in the back and still have someplace in the front that is comfortable for the wife and I.

Have any of you towed to the track etc using a motorhome? Do most tracks let you camp out?

Most tracks will let you camp, but commonly charge a camping fee. A class A will have a heavier frame than a C in general unless you go with a Super Duty F450 etc.. I have used both a Motorhome and a Toterhome to tow with. The Toter( Super C) will tow better( 10K trailer), but the motorhome will ride better. I am just switching from a toter to a 30' Class A, but will use a Trailer Toad to handle the tongue weight. Some Class A's will have a drop down queen bunk in the front as well as a dinette that converts and a couch that pulls out to a bed. Be patient and do lots of searching and you can find good deals out there.

Not familiar with Toterhomes. Googling it shows semi trucks with extended cabs? What do you mean by a trailer toad?

Toterhomes can be built on medium duty truck chassis (think 16-24 box truck) and have a motorhome conversion done. Trailer Toad is a dolly arrangement that plugs into the trailer hitch and the trailer hooks up to the dolly which takes most of the tongue weight. Most motrhomes have a very long overhang behind the wheels and the leverage puts a real strain on the frame. The Trailer Toad eliminates this. Google Trailer Toad and you'll get more info.

Most Class A & class C motorhomes have a lot of rear overhang that can cause problems when you have high tongue weight. I prefer a Class A home as you get more room inside per foot of total vehicle length.

I used to tow a 20' enclosed trailer with a 23' Class A motorhome (454 Chevy).

It burned a piston and the torque converter. I would not pull an enclosed trailer (equal or greater than 20') with a motorhome again unless I went with a large diesel bus-based motorhome. If you do go Class A or C, be sure to beef up the hitch/tie it in the with the chassis frame (normally the hitch is just hung off the coach frame extension). Remember they are only designed to haul a passenger vehicle.

I have no personal experience with toterhomes, but heard many have drivetrain problems when they get stretched for the living quarters.

Now I haul a 40' gooseneck trailer (22' garage and 18' living quarters) with a 2011 Chevy dually. Toy haulers are more living quarters than garage (meant for motorcylces and/or ATVs). Look for enclosed car trailer with living quarters.

PDoane wrote: Look for enclosed car trailer with living quarters.

And while this goes for everything towed on the road, but SPECIFICALLY this case, watch your combined truck and trailer weights!!! In recent years, the DOT has had a hardon for people "skirting" the interstate commerce clauses for racing for $, even if you still lose money racing, logbooks for being more then 150 miles from home, and the devil of CDL licensing, which shouldn't apply upto a point, IMO.

Failure to heed the above warnings will lead to many THOUSANDS of dollars lost out of YOUR pocket.

PDoane wrote: Now I haul a 40' gooseneck trailer (22' garage and 18' living quarters) with a 2011 Chevy dually. Toy haulers are more living quarters than garage (meant for motorcylces and/or ATVs). Look for enclosed car trailer with living quarters.

Where did you find your trailer? That's more or less what I've been dreaming of provided I could figure out where to store it.

Ranger50 wrote: And while this goes for everything towed on the road, but SPECIFICALLY this case, watch your combined truck and trailer weights!!! In recent years, the DOT has had a hardon for people "skirting" the interstate commerce clauses for racing for $, even if you still lose money racing, logbooks for being more then 150 miles from home, and the devil of CDL licensing, which shouldn't apply upto a point, IMO. Failure to heed the above warnings will lead to many THOUSANDS of dollars lost out of YOUR pocket.

Quote for truth. In a lot of states, if the trailer (or the tow vehicle) is 10,001 lbs or over, you are into DOT requirements. Most seem to look at each separtely. If it is an RV you seem to be able to get around this. Not sure how toy haulers fit in. A buddy who pulls a trailer got stopped in NC for not having the DOT stuff, cost him some $$$$. They say there that it is needed if both the truck and trailer are over 10,000 lbs GVWR combined, which sucks since most pickups and trailers will easily exceed that.

Here you go, $20000.00, 31 feet long and 300 ponies.

http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14983

I've never seen a trailer with living quarters before (besides toy haulers which cant really haul cars)

I am very glad the Saab 99 project showed up in my garage, as otherwise I'd probably have some insane 70's Travco or Airstream motorhome project back there ;-)

Cummins turbodiesel and a 6 speed Allison? Survey say hellz yeah!

Jaynen wrote: I've never seen a trailer with living quarters before (besides toy haulers which cant really haul cars)

I've seen them, but they tend to be custom built units.

My thought was a gooseneck with ~28' of cargo floor and room for two cars, but configurable to haul one car with a "basic" living area towards the front. The tricky part is if you want fancy things like a bathroom with a shower (most of the reason for wanting such a thing, IMHO). I don't know if there's enough room in/under a car trailer frame/floor for fresh and grey water tanks (I'm ok with a porto-can for black water).

Go to RacingJunk.com classifieds and look under trailers. There are always some with living quarters. You can find them with full bath setups as there are shallow water tanks that fit between the frame rails just like on most tavel trailers.

Ian F wrote:

Jaynen wrote: I've never seen a trailer with living quarters before (besides toy haulers which cant really haul cars)

I've seen them, but they tend to be custom built units. My thought was a gooseneck with ~28' of cargo floor and room for two cars, but configurable to haul one car with a "basic" living area towards the front. The tricky part is if you want fancy things like a bathroom with a shower (most of the reason for wanting such a thing, IMHO). I don't know if there's enough room in/under a car trailer frame/floor for fresh and grey water tanks (I'm ok with a porto-can for black water).

http://www.racingjunk.com/Living-Quarter-Trailers/2816488/CUSTOM-DESIGNED-LIVINGQUARTERS-TRAILERS.html

Or get super simple and air mattress ready.

http://www.racingjunk.com/New-Trailers/2709604/44-with-Bathroom-Shower-Package.html

bearmtnmartin wrote: Here you go, $20000.00, 31 feet long and 300 ponies. http://www.wanderlodgeownersgroup.com/forums/showthread.php?t=14983

You Sir really are a bad influence. After you got yours, I got to checking around and damn if I didn't find one about 2 hours away. Mr problem is the parking issue when not in use.

Ian F wrote: I've seen them, but they tend to be custom built units. My thought was a gooseneck with ~28' of cargo floor and room for two cars, but configurable to haul one car with a "basic" living area towards the front. The tricky part is if you want fancy things like a bathroom with a shower (most of the reason for wanting such a thing, IMHO). I don't know if there's enough room in/under a car trailer frame/floor for fresh and grey water tanks (I'm ok with a porto-can for black water).

It is possible to get tanks under the trailer, depending on how it is built. My Horton 28ft would require a long narrow tank (with limited capacity) due to all the crossmembers. Tanks are available in a various sizes. Hard part is the plumbing to the tanks, unless the tank is under the shower.

There are plenty of trailers with LQ that are big enough for cars, friend of mine has one. Down side is the weight of the trailer. Definitely would require a 1 ton (dually preferred) to handle it. 1/2 ton won't cut it and some 3/4 tons would be overloaded.

I think my needs are more on the family RV and less on the track car hauling side

Ranger50 wrote: Or get super simple and air mattress ready. http://www.racingjunk.com/New-Trailers/2709604/44-with-Bathroom-Shower-Package.html

That's pretty close to what I'd want and the $25K price tag doesn't sound unreasonable (although more than I can afford). The 44' length, though... Would need at least a 1 ton dually to tow that comfortably.

Jaynen wrote: I think my needs are more on the family RV and less on the track car hauling side

Understood. As for towing, most Class C are 3500-5000 lb tow rated, a few may be higher. Some good advice I was given when looking at Cs, was to look at the frame. Quite a few builders cut and stretch the frame, usually behind the axle but sometimes in front as well. This is usually what hurts the tow ratings, well that and the long rear overhangs. They can be reinforced to better handle trailers or just use a trailer toad as mentioned. Class As tend to have higher tow ratings and better chassis for it as well.

I prefer class C layout/number of people sleeps/etc. But with any sort of towing in mind it feels like the chassis/brakes/availability of diesel swings me towards class A more strongly

I had a local welding company with extensive experience build my hitch, but so far its worked out great

Most car trailers w/living quarters run in the 48'-50' range, which was bigger than I wanted. My ideal trailer would have been a 40' aluminum, but there weren't many used ones out there and a new custom one would have been $50-60K. In the 40' length (w/decent garage space) squeezing a bathroom into the LQ is tough. Mine does not have a bathroom, but we keep a camp chemical toilet in it for those late night urges. Most tracks have shower facilities and in a pinch my trailer has an outside shower handle. The 40 gal potable water tank lives under one of the kitchen bench seats.

I do miss being able to use the motorhome for non-racing trips (including a portable guest house for visiting the in-laws), but I also like having the truck for other chores and it serves as my winter/snow vehicle.

As always there are trade-offs to be made either way.

I tried to haul the 40' gooseneck with my previous 3/4 ton Chevy, but it was over the GCWR. I then balanced a used 4500 against the new 3500 and the new truck won out. Don't tell DOT, but my 2011 Chevy 3500 DWR has a GCWR of 29,2000.

As for parking; I used to be able to squeeze the motorhome and tag trailer into my driveway for the entire summer. Made the neighbors plenty mad. A local gas station let me keep it there over the winter in exchange for signage on the trailer. [something I would not do now due to DOT clamp-down on even hobby racers]

The gooseneck rig isn't any longer overall, but the low floor and long rear overhang means it won't make the driveway or gas station transition so I keep it at the local storage lot for $80/month. It is plain white with "Not For Hire" on it.

I pull my C5 on a heavy steel trailer (about 5500lbs total) behind my 'Super C'. It's a kind of unusual class C built on a Chevy Kodiak 5500 chassis. Mine is an 8.1 gasser with an Allison trans. GVW is 19,500 and my coach fully loaded with 80 gallons of gas, 75 gallons of water, tools, spares and 3 sets of Corvette wheels and tires in my huge rear storage bin only weighed 15,500lbs. GCW is 26000 so I am well under. 5-7 mpg is the penalty, with or without the trailer. The price is more than a regular C, but nowhere near that of a toterhome, and it doesn't feel overloaded or overworked.