THOR CLASS A - Page 51

WEIGHING, LOADING, AND TOWING
THOR MOTOR COACH | MADE TO FIT
43
6
• An auxiliary braking system may be required for
control of a towed vehicle behind the motorhome.
Do not assume the braking capabilities of the
motorhome can also adequately stop the combined
weight of the motorhome and towed vehicle.
• The designated hitch rating may exceed the GCWR
or other towing capacity limits of the motorhome. It is
your responsibility to properly load the motorhome,
while staying within the tow ratings, GCWR, GVWR,
and GAWR of the motorhome.
• Do not tow loads that cause the motorhome to
exceed the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating
(GCWR).
• Do not exceed the vertical hitch load rating (tongue
weight) as listed on the hitch label.
• Consult your owner’s manual for additional
information regarding towing guidelines for this
motorhome.
Failure to comply can result in loss of vehicle control
resulting in death or serious injury.
WARNINGWARNING
A SEPARATE FUNCTIONING BRAKE SYSTEM IS
REQUIRED FOR ANY TOWED VEHICLES OR TRAILERS
WEIGHING MORE THAN 1500 LBS WHEN FULLY
LOADED. NEVER EXCEED THE GVWR, OR THE GAWR
SPECIFIED ON THE MOTORHOME’S CERTIFICATION
LABEL.
Never exceed the weight ratings of the trailer hitch
installed on the motorhome. Failure to heed any part
of this warning could result in loss of control of the
motorhome and towed vehicle or trailer and may cause
an accident and serious injury. For specic towed
vehicle braking requirements, consult your chassis
owner’s manual.
WARNINGWARNING
THE FULLY LOADED MOTORHOME AND THE TRAILER,
OR TOWED VEHICLE, MUST NOT EXCEED THE
MOTORHOME’S GROSS COMBINED WEIGHT RATING
(GCWR).
Do not exceed the motorhome gross combined weight
rating (GCWR), the hitch rating (in pounds), or the
maximum tongue weight rating of the hitch (note:
tongue weight is the weight in pounds pushing down
on the hitch).
Consult with your selling dealer to determine the
GCWR of the motorhome and the towing capacity of
the motorhome.
WARNINGWARNING
DO NOT USE WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING HITCHES OR
WEIGHT DISTRIBUTING TOWING DEVICES WITH
THIS MOTORHOME. Applies to Class A and Class C
motorhomes.
WARNINGWARNING
Towing With Your Motorhome
Towing a Vehicle with Your Motorhome
ere are three basic methods of towing a vehicle with your
motorhome; all have advantages and disadvantages.
1. Flat towing with a tow-bar. With this method, a vehi-
cle-specic tow bar is attached to front of the towed
vehicle and the tow-hitch is attached to the motor-
home. All four wheels of the towed vehicle remain on
the ground. is method does not add tongue weight
to the motorhome, which is an advantage. However, it
is not recommended to back-up with a tow-bar due to
the likely-hood of jack-kning the towed vehicle.
2. Towing with a tow dolly. A tow dolly is designed to
tow a variety of vehicles, therefore, the advantage is
that it is not a vehicle-specic piece of equipment. It
also presents minimal tongue weight to the motor-
home; another advantage. However, like the tow-bar,
it is not recommended to back-up with a tow-dolly,
due again, to the likely-hood of jack-kning the towed
vehicle.
3. Towing a vehicle using a full vehicle trailer, either open
or enclosed. A vehicle trailer presents the advantage of
backing-up and since the towed vehicle is not in direct
contact with the road surface, there is no additional
wear to the vehicle while it is being towed. However,
like all trailers, a vehicle trailer adds tongue weight to
the motorhome.
If you are considering towing a vehicle behind your motor-
home, consult with your dealer or qualied towing expert
about the towing equipment options appropriate for your
motorhome and travel needs.