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Tow it or Rent it
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Here is the solution for those not wanting to tow :
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That boy needs a tailroller on that puppy!
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At some point I would not be surprised to see the engine cradle on that coach, along with the engine sitting somewhere in the middle of an interstate. The center of that car is about 30 inches or more out from the specified point at which Prevost limits the tongue weight. Whether the hitch limit is 1000 pounds or 2000 pounds doesn’t matter. Even if the car weighs only 1000 pounds it is likely putting 2 to 4 times the limits on the hitch.
But its a Prevost……….it can handle all that weight, right?
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No.
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That is even more stupid than the overbilt hitch guys and their motorcycles! I hope the engine does fall out. Man..what stupidity.
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The engine cradle is short lived.
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George,
How long have you been towing like that? Some people seem to think you are over extending the chassis.
MM.
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MM,
This is a serious issue and despite a lot of posts, despite warning labels, a lot of owners of coaches insist on overloading the coach with either excessively heavy trailers or tongue weights.
To appreciate the problem it needs to be first understood the basis for our conversions is a conventional seated bus. Neither the engine cradle or the chassis structure was designed to be used to carry or tow heavy weights. If someone takes the time to go to the Prevost web site they can negotiate through the service manual and / or the parts manuals and see the engine is cantilevered off the drive and tag axle structure with some bracing to the upper trusswork. A lot of the Prevost strength comes from the upper tube structure of the chassis but it was never created to handle dynamic vertical loads which are applied at the hitch. The engine cradle has been designed so its standard capacity is 10,000 towing, and a 1000 pound tongue weight 6 or 8″ from the bumper.
Some coaches have 20,000 pound towing capacity and 1500 or 2000 pound tongue weight limits. Later model coaches have the heavier capacities and some early model coaches with an upgraded 20,000 pound cradle also can handle heavier loads, but not one whose center of gravity is so far out past the bumper.
The ability to tow heavier weights is much greater than the ability to tolerate downward forces, but owners ignore the limits and sometimes hang heavy bikes on heavy lifts subjecting the coach to hidden damage which Prevost will not repair because of concerns about liability (I assume).
This likely applies to all RVs also unless they somehow were designed to carry heavy vertical loads, which I doubt.
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Geeez……………
Jon you are spot on and there is even more than what you stated! What about the geometry for the suspension with this “lever” being applied, what about braking distances, steering. load distribution (CG for some of us)………not to mention handling, especially in adverse conditions. To the most basic, have fun adding a quart of oil or changing a belt…..gone from the simple to the complex.
I think that Georges snapped a photo, do not believe that the pic is his coach. mm, this is carrying a load, it is not towing a towed, big difference here!
Words for the day, fulcrum, moment arm, geometry.
Helen
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Jon,I have never seen a Prevost coach rated for more than 1500 LBS tongue weight.
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Fly,
I see you have a very good sense of humor. I want to apologize for making the statement that you would be very difficult reason with. Sometimes not seeing someone’s facial experessions and hearing their voice tones, things can come across differently.
Have a good day.
MM.
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Jack,
My memory, which might be failing seems to recall the Prevost 20,000 pound engine cradle had a 2000 pound tongue weight limit.
Don Curtis, if you are tuned in do you recall what the tongue weight limit was on your new cradle?
I did find out one thing that caught me by surprise Jack…….I asked Prevost for a replacement data plate for the hitch because mine was unreadable. While checking the build sheet they told me the coach was built without a hitch and that Liberty built and installed a hitch with the 20,000 pound tow rating and 1500 pound tongue weight. If that is not correct I am just repeating what Prevost in Nashville told me.
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No worries MM, you gave me a new identity anyway, now I am just a crusty old gal! I too realize there is a fine line between humor and odor….remembering that humor is just a shift of wit!
Boater Al, you now have the thread creeper of the year award,
Happy Trails!
Helen
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Al,
I can move an entire thread, but I can’t move a post. Delete it and re-do in chassis.
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