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Post Info TOPIC: Class A's GVW vs GCW???


RV-Dreams Family Member

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Class A's GVW vs GCW???


Please forgive me if this has been asked before.  I didn't see it but could have missed it.

We are trying to understand weights...and while my husband and I are rather inelegant people we are not wrapping our heads around this.

We are currently looking at used Class A's...both Diesel and Gas.  We know there are huge advantages to Diesel but we have found a Gas Class A that is the perfect floor plan for us.

It is the Georgetown 373. 

http://www.forestriverinc.com/nd/default22.asp?location=rv&unittype=&page=floorviewermh&model=373DS&choice=gt&nav=rec&name=198&series=Georgetown

We will be full timing with a 2 year old starting...well as soon as find our new home.  Our budget is very limited ($60K is the max we are comfortable with).  We have found one with under 15K miles and the dealer has told us it could tow our vehicle no problem...I just don't understand how.

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating: 22,000 lbs

Gross Combined Weight Rating: 26,000 lbs

Our SUV (2008 Chrysler Aspen) weights 5100 pounds.

I have talked to 2 dealers who have this unit for sale and they both tell me it can tow our SUV no problem.  I thought the GCW-GVW had to = 5100+ for us to tow it safely.  What am I not understanding?  Also, would we have any Cargo Weight to add in??

So frustrated and confused.

Thanks!

Blythe & Chuck



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Blythe & Chuck

**looking for our first Diesel Class A to call our new home**



RV-Dreams Family Member

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You are right to be worried. You can't exceed 26,000lbs combined so the weight of the motorhome with contents can't be more than 20,900 lbs while towing the Aspen. I suspect that will be very difficult and maybe impossible. Dealers are notorious for lying or stretching the truth.

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Bill Joyce,
40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid
Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com
Full-timing since July 2003



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Yeah... what Bill said.  IF you fully load the RV to the max GVWR of 22,000 lbs that would only leave you 4,000 lbs. for towing a vehicle - less than you need for the Aspen.  The only way you can make it work is to stay 1,100 lbs under on your GVWR so as to keep the GCWR under 26,000 lbs.  Problem with that is it limits your CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity).  Most folks agree that you need a minimum of 2,500 lbs of CCC to fulltime in a rig.  Doing the math you'd have to have a CCC of at least 2,500 + 1,100 = 3,600 lbs. to make it work as a full time rig and tow the Aspen.

Of course the other option, if you truly are in love with the Georgetown, is to get a lighter toad.  We tow a Honda Fit that only weighs 2,400 lbs. 



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Ron and Joan
2005 Itasca Sunova 34A
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

Fulltiming since 3/28/12

"With change comes opportunity"



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Ron - what is a Honda Fit and does it tow all 4 on the ground?

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2012 - 31 foot NEXUS Class C with one slide out.

Progressive EMS/Surge

Pressure Pro TPMS

WiFi Ranger Mobile Boost

2012 Honda Fit in tow 

BLOG LINK1: http://rvpainter.blogspot.com/

BLOG LINK2: http://art4rvs.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

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RVPAINTER wrote:

Ron - what is a Honda Fit and does it tow all 4 on the ground?


 We have the 2008 Honda Fit Sport, which was redesigned in 2010.  Here's the 2011 version:

2011-honda-fit-sport-01.jpg

Yes, it IS flat towable on all 4 wheels with both the standard and automatic trans.  We love ours.  30 mpg around town, nearly 40 on the highway.



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Ron and Joan
2005 Itasca Sunova 34A
2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland

Fulltiming since 3/28/12

"With change comes opportunity"



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thanks Ron - I'm going to check these out.

__________________

2012 - 31 foot NEXUS Class C with one slide out.

Progressive EMS/Surge

Pressure Pro TPMS

WiFi Ranger Mobile Boost

2012 Honda Fit in tow 

BLOG LINK1: http://rvpainter.blogspot.com/

BLOG LINK2: http://art4rvs.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Community Member

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Hello

What does the MH actually weigh? You will need to get it weighed first to use as a starting point. GVWR is just the max it can weigh buy itself, not the weight of the vehicle. The GCWR is the max it can weigh while towing the Aspen. Get it wieghed then figure in 2500lbs for your stuff plus water, propane, etc. and see how close you are to your GVWR. Then add the weight of the Aspen to see if you are over the CGWR.

Good luck and let us know how you make out.

John

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RV-Dreams Family Member

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The RV industry commonly turns out RV's that barely have enough carrying capacity to put 2 people and a dog (or a 2 year old) in your coach. You absolutely need to have the coach weighed BEFORE you buy. This should be done with a 4 wheel weighing but at a minimum take the coach to the local truck stop scales and get the overall number. Be sure to add the weight of a full tank of gas, full tank of propane, full fresh water (black and grey would be assumed to be empty). Now, add the 2500-3000 lbs. for clothes, grill, food, diapers, etc. and see what you have left over. My guess is that you are going to find that you "could" tow the car as the sales folks suggest, but that you will not be able to SAFELY tow that vehicle. Should you be in an accident and you have exceeded the max limits you will be found to be at fault as you will have exceeded the capabilities the unit was designed for.
With all the possible bad news, floor plans are the most critical part of a buying decision and I would buy for the floor plan for sure. You wouldn't by a house with 12 small bedrooms when you wanted 4 large ones so don't buy an RV with a floor plan you don't much care for. If this is it and it fits your budget I would get real serious about the weight and if the reality is that you can't tow that vehicle, look at some other tow car that will fall within the needed weight range.

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Bill Adams



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Got to hand it to you Bill - this is the best advice on this subject that I've read - good post.

__________________

2012 - 31 foot NEXUS Class C with one slide out.

Progressive EMS/Surge

Pressure Pro TPMS

WiFi Ranger Mobile Boost

2012 Honda Fit in tow 

BLOG LINK1: http://rvpainter.blogspot.com/

BLOG LINK2: http://art4rvs.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Thanks Painter! See, I'm not all bad.biggrin



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Bill Adams



RV-Dreams Family Member

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You do have your good moments - you have a lot of knowldge and "where to find out" info - sometimes your presentation needs a little work. :>)

__________________

2012 - 31 foot NEXUS Class C with one slide out.

Progressive EMS/Surge

Pressure Pro TPMS

WiFi Ranger Mobile Boost

2012 Honda Fit in tow 

BLOG LINK1: http://rvpainter.blogspot.com/

BLOG LINK2: http://art4rvs.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Posts: 612
Date:

I certainly am, and likely always will be, a work in progress!

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Bill Adams



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Posts: 487
Date:

Aren't we all!! Tis what makes us interesting!

__________________

2012 - 31 foot NEXUS Class C with one slide out.

Progressive EMS/Surge

Pressure Pro TPMS

WiFi Ranger Mobile Boost

2012 Honda Fit in tow 

BLOG LINK1: http://rvpainter.blogspot.com/

BLOG LINK2: http://art4rvs.blogspot.com/



RV-Dreams Family Member

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Posts: 38
Date:

Thanks all! I thought I was not understanding the weight but it looks like I was lop. Great advice by all. Thank you all:)

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Blythe & Chuck

**looking for our first Diesel Class A to call our new home**

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