Can Class C Motorhomes Tow a Car? (With 11 Examples)

Class C motorhomes are generally considered to be the smallest class of RV. These vehicles can tow a car according to 11 examples from different manufacturers on ConsumerReports.com, but this is not always true for every example listed.

Class C motorhomes are usually designed to tow a car with a weight of up to 10,000lbs. There are 11 examples of class c rv that can tow a car.

On December 26, 2020, this page was last updated.

 

A automobile can be towed behind most class C RVs. However, before you go forward with it, you need consider certain numbers. Maximum towing capacity, weight, and weight-related ratings of your RV are all numbers to consider.

 

The weight of your automobile is another crucial component that determines whether you can tow it or not. A smaller RV with less capacity may struggle to tow a large SUV or vehicle and will struggle to draw up hills or slopes.

What is the maximum weight that a Class C Motorhome can tow?

Towing capacity for most class c motorhomes ranges from 3000 to 8000 pounds. However, certain high-end Class C vehicles (sometimes known as super Class C Motorhomes) can tow up to 30,000 pounds.

 

The towing capability of certain Class C motorhomes is shown below.

RV Class CCapacity of Towing
Forest River Forester is a fictional character.4200 lbs
View from a Winnebago4220 lbs
Augusta Holiday Rambler7500 lbs
Sunseeker of the Forest River7500 lbs
Verona, the renegade20,000 pounds
Greyhawk Jayco Prestige7575 lbs
viva Winnebago5000 lbs
Dynamax Force is a trademark of Dynamax Corporation.21,000 pounds
The Four Winds of Thor8000 lbs
Superstar Newmar20,000 pounds
Minnie Winnie Winnebago7500 lbs

Hopefully, these figures have clarified what the towing restrictions are for class C motorhomes.

 

There are class C motorhomes that can pull 8,000 pounds, 10,000 pounds, and even more. These are usually high-end products with a hefty price tag.

The maximum towing capacity for the RV is specified in the chassis specifications by the class c motorhome manufacturer, and you must adhere to that restriction. If you don’t have the weight limit with you, you may calculate it using the RV’s other weight ratings. There are several factors to consider before towing a vehicle behind an RV.

 

Check the maximum towing capacity listed in the chassis specs to see how much weight a class c motorhome can carry. Subtracting the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) from the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) will give you the maximum towing capability (GCWR).

For example, if your motorhome’s GVWR is 16,000 lbs and the GCWR is 2000 lbs, your motorhome is capable of towing a vehicle weighing up to 4000 lbs. Here are some additional examples to help you understand it better.

GCWRGVWRTowing Capacity of a Car
22,000 pounds17,0005000 lbs
15,000 pounds12,000 pounds3000 lbs
12,000 poundsa weight of 10,000 pounds2000 lbs

Let’s look at what the GVWR, GCWR, and other weight ratings mean.

 

Understanding the importance of ratings and weights

 

Let’s look at an example to understand how you can determine how much weight you can pull behind your RV. You’ll need to know and have certain ratings for your RV to do this.

GCWR GCWR GCWR GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)

 

This is the total weight of everything inside and outside your RV. The total weight of the motorhome, including the passengers and driver, as well as the weight of the tow dolly and towing vehicle. This is what it is: your complete motorhome, including the automobile, should not exceed this limit.

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)

This is the weight of the RV, including the tongue weight, but excluding the weight of the towed vehicle.

 

 

OCCC OCCC OCCC OCCC (occupant and cargo carrying capacity)

This is the weight of the passenger, driver, and additional cargo aboard the RV, not the weight of the RV when empty. That is, this is the maximum amount of extra weight you may load onto your RV.

 

What’s the best place to look for these ratings?

These rating numbers may be found on a label issued by the motorhome manufacturer inside the vehicle. If the RV manufacturer hasn’t specified the towing capability, you may use the formulas below.

Your calculation will be the total weight of the RV plus the weight of the automobile, and the total weight should not exceed the GCWR. If it exceeds this threshold, you are overweight. Keep in mind that cargo weight includes things like water, tanks, and other items.

As a result, you must exercise caution while loading the RV, as you may quickly exceed the weight restriction for your class C RV. Also, whether or not you’re towing the automobile, make sure you drive the RV carefully. Take a look at these really important guidelines for driving a class c rv.

Towing a vehicle behind a motorhome may be done in a variety of ways.

Okay, your RV can tow a vehicle. You’ve double-checked the weight restrictions, but how can you pull it behind your Class C RV?

 

There are many options, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages.

It also depends on whether you have an automatic or manual gearbox vehicle.

You should also verify with the automobile manufacturer about different towing limits. Let’s have a look at the many methods for towing an automobile.

 

1. Four-wheel down towing or flat towing

All four wheels of your automobile or SUV will be on the ground with this manner of towing. The hitch will be linked directly to the automobile. For such towing, your automobile will most likely need to follow particular stages and procedures. It will largely be about following the transmission protocol.

When compared to manual transmission vehicles, automatic vehicles may be more difficult to flat tow. You should verify with the automobile manufacturer before using this procedure, since it might result in transmission problems owing to a lack of lubrication. While flat towing, there will be an unique transmission technique to follow.

With automatic vehicles, you must ensure that the transmission lubricant is in good working order. Towing such vehicles on a regular basis might also cause problems. As a result, I’ll have to take care of it as well.

Before flat towing, it’s best to double-check with the manufacturer. However, there are a lot of automobiles that can be flat towed. Automatic cars, such as the 2015 Dodge Dart and the Ford C-MAX Hybrid, may tow four wheels.

 

Flat towing has the following advantages:

1. The automobile is simple to hitch and unhitch.

2. You are less concerned about your automobile collapsing (in case tow dolly you are worried about this).

 

3. You can easily detach the automobile if anything goes wrong. If the RV couldn’t pull the vehicle up a hill, for example, you may unhitch the automobile and drive independently.

4. You can effortlessly navigate city streets and small roadways. In comparison to other approaches, even rotating with the whole setup is easy.

2. Towing using a tow dolly

Towing your automobile behind a motorhome or RV is one of the less expensive options. Your automobile will not be moving on all four wheels in this way; instead, the front two wheels will be towed while the back two wheels will continue to roll on the road.

 

This strategy may be utilized if you don’t want to risk transmission problems due to insufficient lubrication. If you have an automatic automobile, this strategy may be really beneficial since you will not have to deal with the repercussions of a broken transmission system.

Even though a car’s manufacturer specifies that it can be pulled four wheels down, there’s always that 1% question, and putting the two front wheels on a tow dolly may really assist.

Tow dollies come in a variety of styles, and some even include electronic brakes and lighting. Having these extra items on hand might be beneficial while turning or performing u turns.

One downside of using a tow dolly is that backing up an RV may be difficult, and most people avoid it. One of the most significant advantages of using a tow dolly is that your car’s odometer will not be operating.

Having a tow dolly may need a thorough examination of state legislation. Some states require you to have a unique license plate.

Tow dollies also add weight, which might put strain on your RV’s towing capabilities, especially if you have a weight restriction. Because tow dollies are heavier, you’ll need to practice correctly positioning them at your campsites. It will also take some effort to bring your automobile down, which is not the case with the four-wheel down option.

Assume you experience problems while traveling, such as having the automobile unplugged on a slope or hill. It won’t be as simple as hauling with four wheels down. Overall, loading your automobile onto a tow dolly and lowering it might be a difficult task.

3. Towing a flatbed

The automobile will be totally encased on a trailer in this way. The trailer that will transport the automobile will have its own braking system and lights. You can pull any car or SUV using this approach, and it secures the vehicle correctly.

The disadvantage of this strategy is that loading the automobile onto the trailer might be difficult and time-consuming. It will also take some effort to write it down.

Your motorhome mileage will be impacted once again by the trailer weight. Your automobile will be fully off-road, and no miles will be added to it. The weight of the trailer will be added to the total weight of your RV system.

The covered trailer you’ll use to transport your vehicle may also be utilized to transport other objects. As a result, this may be more storage space for you. However, as a general guideline, you should be cautious with your weight.

Before towing a car, keep this in mind.

Towing a vehicle behind a camper or RV is simple, but it requires a great deal of care. You should be extra cautious and not rush into beginning with your RV, especially if you are new to this.

1. Make sure you give yourself plenty of time to double-check your RV’s and car’s connections.

2. If you don’t have the confidence to tow it, don’t do it. Double-check the car’s and motorhome’s connection.

 

3. It is essential to use the proper equipment while towing a vehicle weighing 3000 -5000 lbs or even more. Purchase high-quality items that have been on the market for at least a few years. Installing them correctly is also vital; if you are unsure, choose the proper expert to perform the task.

4. It will be tough to turn, back up, or make u turns with a pulled vehicle. Backing may be difficult, so avoid it as much as possible. A U turn will be more difficult this time, and a bigger radius will be required to complete the maneuver. When towing a vehicle behind an existing large RV or camper, it’s best to avoid u turns.

5. Use the proper towing technique. Determine the weight of your vehicle and the capacity of your RV before deciding on a strategy. Getting assistance from a friend or family member who has done this kind of towing before might also be beneficial. But keep in mind that not all RVs and automobiles are alike. Check with your automobile maker to see whether towing is permitted, and if so, review all of the guidelines.

6. Before opting to tow the automobile, check the car’s weight and RV’s weight-related characteristics. Check the RV manufacturer’s guidelines for how much weight it can pull, then compare it to the weight of your automobile. If you’re unsure, take your RV to a specialist to get the limitations verified.

Automobiles that can be pulled behind an RV

There isn’t a single automobile that can be stated to be the greatest for towing a rv or motorhome. This is due to the fact that people’s circumstances vary. Some individuals will have motohromes that enable them to lift just a particular amount of weight, while others will be able to lift more.

Our requirements differ. However, there are a variety of automobiles that can be hauled behind RVs. The only thing you need to remember is that you aren’t going over your weight limit.

Flat-towing vehicles include the Chevrolet Malibu, Fiat 500 Abarth, and Chevrolet Colorado, to mention a few. Cars like the Wrangler Jeep Wrangler and the Honda CRV are common tow vehicles for RVs.

Class Cs have towing capacities ranging from 3000 to almost 30,000 pounds, which means your automobile may be towed as long as its weight is within the towing capability.

Here are the weights of several popular automobiles.

CarWeight
Jeep WranglerThe weight ranges from 3948 to 4449 pounds.
Honda CRV3-337 lbs. to 3,569 lbs.
Escape, Ford3,870 lbs
Jeep Grand Cherokee is a vehicle manufactured by Jeep.4,513–5,356 lbs.
Nissan Versa is a car manufactured by Nissan.lbs. 2,599 to 2,729
Honda Fitlbs. 2,522 to 2,648
Tacoma is a Toyota pickup truck.4,480 lbs. to 3,980 lbs.
Hyundai Santa Fe is a vehicle manufactured by Hyundai.lbs. 3,649 to 4,076
Odyssey Honda Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Honda Odyssey Hondaweighing between 4,398 and 4,603 pounds
Nissan Leaf Nissan Leaf Nissan Leaf Nissan Leaf Nissan Leaf Nissanlbs. 3,538 to 3,946

Larger vehicles, such as a land cruiser or a jeep, may be useful on rough roads, but they add a lot of weight to the RV. Boondocking is best done in a four-wheel-drive vehicle, so prepare accordingly if you anticipate to go on such roads. On city roads, an SUV or premium automobile is best for towing.

You should be able to tell if you can pull it or not by looking at the data for both the Class C Motorhome towing capability and the car’s weight.

If the towing capability of a class C RV is larger than 4449 pounds, it can pull an SUV like a Jeep Wrangler.

Is that automobile really necessary for RVing?

It may be hard to travel in a large RV, especially if you are unfamiliar with it. When you have to go in a vehicle that is 30 feet long, your choices for seeing surrounding sights are restricted. You won’t be able to visit all of the locations that you would if you were in a vehicle.

Is it really justifiable to have that automobile hauled after you? It’s up to you if you’re willing to put in the additional work and get it done. Let’s look at the advantages of towing a vehicle behind an RV or a motorcycle.

  1. If you have a vehicle, you may easily explore the surrounding areas. Taking your huge, wide motohrome everywhere may not be the best idea.
  2. You may use your automobile to assist you in an emergency. When you’re parked at a campground and need something from a nearby shop, you can drive your vehicle to get it, but you can’t actually take the rv all the way there. Moving an RV inside a city or town might be difficult as well.
  3. Even if you are able to drive your RV to all of those locations inside the city, finding a parking spot might be difficult. You’ll have a difficult time locating the ideal parking spot. Parking will not be a problem with a vehicle.

Let’s look at the disadvantages of bringing the automobile along.

  1. It’s an additional source of stress for you as a rv driver. Moving with such a large truck as well as a car may be difficult and stressful. It’s more challenging for new Rvers.
  2. Turning or backing up might be quite difficult. The turning radius of a vehicle increases dramatically as its total length increases.
  3. As a result of the added weight, the motorhome’s total mileage is reduced.
  4. It will take some time to tow a vehicle behind an RV. As a result, getting started or leaving the campground may take some time. You must also properly inspect the connection, which takes extra time before you can begin.
  5. If you have a vehicle, you may drive to the grocery store or other locations in the city. However, with such a long vehicle, your options for where you may take your motorhome and automobile are restricted.

Watch This Video-

Class C motorhomes are a type of recreational vehicle that have an 8,000-pound towing capacity. These motorhomes can tow cars with the use of a hitch receiver. Reference: class c rv with 8 000 lb towing capacity.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I tow a car with a Class C motorhome?

A: Unfortunately, the answer is no. The hitch youre looking for will be too small to accommodate your Class C motorhome.

How much weight can you tow with a Class C motorhome?

A: A Class C motorhome can tow up to 9,000 lbs.

What car can be towed behind a Class C motorhome?

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Aaron Cardwell