Towing

[Motodad]

Ok guys. I know I'm about to get it but here goes.
I have a 2011 390bh
340hp Allison 2500 trans
Is anyone out there towing more than the 5000k hitch can handle?
I bought used and they told me and the paperwork showed it was a 360/3000 coach which is 10k hitch. It is not. I purchased with full intentions of towing 8000k behind it most of the time. I'm not trying to race tow just wanta get there. Should I add power, leave it alone or what? Will it handle it ok?

[dan-nickie]

Boy I would be pissed if they said Lt was the 360 and it isn't. Sorry I know this doesn't answer the question.

[accumack]

The weak point is the 2500 Allison transmission. I wouldn't want to have replace that.

[Phil57]

Keep your weight below 33000 lbs GCVW and have fun. The hitch is the same hitch that the 360 have. As long as you don't exceed AWR or go to far over GCVW I wouldn't worry.
Yes I have a 340.

[ernest917]

What does the Freightliner tag in the compartment above drivers seat show ?? Mine lists engine and transmission....


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[clr]

OK just me and being an engineer maybe but I would be very leery of towing 8k# with a hitch that is only rated for 5k#. The unit must have a type 2 hitch and therefore is only rated for 5, 000 pounds. And this is not considering the TV here at all.

[Phil57]

Originally Posted by clr

OK just me and being an engineer maybe but I would be very leery of towing 8k# with a hitch that is only rated for 5k#. The unit must have a type 2 hitch and therefore is only rated for 5, 000 pounds. And this is not considering the TV here at all.

The hitch is only rated at 5000 because of the gross carry weight. It is set to allow a cargo and passenger weight to stay below 33000 lbs in this case. The hitch itself is the exact same hitch that is on the 360 model. The 360 model has a larger transmission and also a higher GCVW.
This was confirmed by me with three sources. FR engineer.
FL customer support and a very good local hitch builder and installer that I had look at mine. He said that is a 10000 lb hitch. They do not stick two different hitches. The one hitch is a 10000 lb for a 360 application and de rated to 5000 for the 340. Both are not mounted on extended rail. That means they are mounted to the frame.
Now that does not mean you can haul 10000 lbs and all the stuff you usually do. When I'm loaded to travel I am at my GCVW pulling a 3700 lb Jeep. I would never think about towing a 8000 lb toad or trailer. That would make me way over in weight and would not be safe.

[Motodad]

Yes mine does show the hp and trans numbers in the over head compartment. But being my 1st motorhome I didn't know that at the time. All the paperwork shows 360hp 3000 trans. I've been towing a 20ft enclosed trailer with 6 dirt bikes and a 4wheeler. Lots of tools and stuff. Pulls it 70mph with no problem. I need to weigh it. I know the Offroad truck and trailer weighs 8k. Haven't pulled it yet. Thanks for all the input guys. I will update this if I try it.

[accumack]

The 360 Allison 3000 combo is like a $30,000 plus option so if the all your paper work says 360 and Allison 3000 they owe you some money back. It could also be considered fraud!

[dan-nickie]

Originally Posted by accumack

The 360 Allison 3000 combo is like a $30,000 plus option so if the all your paper work says 360 and Allison 3000 they owe you some money back. It could also be considered fraud!

Exactly what I was thinking.

[boowho]

Originally Posted by dan-nickie

Exactly what I was thinking.

If you find provable fraud on this let me know. I still think I was a victim of (at the very least) false advertising. My carrying capacity was over stated by about 1800 lbs.

Boowho??

[dan-nickie]

Originally Posted by boowho

If you find provable fraud on this let me know. I still think I was a victim of (at the very least) false advertising. My carrying capacity was over stated by about 1800 lbs.

Boowho??

I was just talking about dealer paperwork stating 360/3000 and getting a 340/2500. Provable.

Sounds like you are thinking of something else like advertised capacity?

[boowho]

Originally Posted by dan-nickie

I was just talking about dealer paperwork stating 360/3000 and getting a 340/2500. Provable.

Sounds like you are thinking of something else like advertised capacity?

Exactly. A yellow sticker (non-DOT) on the entrance specifies an empty weight, a total gross and the net difference. The empty weight was very much understated and therefore the carrying capacity (net difference) was very much over stated.

Again, this is probably not a DOT related issue, but a falsified (whether intentional or not) statement to provide a better inducement to a potential buyer (me); not unlike rolling the odometer back on a car before selling it, IMHO.

After 3 years of ownership, this is STILL my biggest beef with FR.

Boowho??

[dan-nickie]

Originally Posted by boowho

Exactly. A yellow sticker (non-DOT) on the entrance specifies an empty weight, a total gross and the net difference. The empty weight was very much understated and therefore the carrying capacity (net difference) was very much over stated.

Again, this is probably not a DOT related issue, but a falsified (whether intentional or not) statement to provide a better inducement to a potential buyer (me); not unlike rolling the odometer back on a car before selling it, IMHO.

After 3 years of ownership, this is STILL my biggest beef with FR.

Boowho??

I understand what your beef is with FR but I don't think it relates to the dealer selling a 340/2500 that was stated on the contract to be a 360/3000.
As someone else stated the 360/3000 is about a $30K option.

The numbers variance on the weight sticker do not change the price.

[Phil57]

I agree that the OP should have a issue with the seller if it was in fact wrong info provided him at purchase. If it was me I would be going after the dealer for some cash or another MH. It's a big difference in price.

[boowho]

Agree a $30K price increase for something you didn't get would be far worse than my situation. In fact outright fraud.

And Motodad, did you ever get it worked out to your satisfaction? Did you actually get a 340, but paid for a 360??? The contract being incorrect may have been just a clerical error.

If is does turn out to be purposeful, I'd bet at lease a few $$$ that it's a dealer in Tucson, AZ. I had quite unpleasant dealings with them. PM me if you want to know the dealer name.

How does your final price you paid compare to NADA on a 340 and 360?? I'd say figure on about halfway between what NADA says for wholesale and retail, for what you should have paid.

FWIW, $30K for 20 more HP and a beefier transmission is a huge ripoff, IMHO. I had always heard the diff should be about $10K. Even less on a used unit.

Just sayin'

Boowho??

[accumack]

The $30k for the 360 also gets you aluminum wheels and I think a few other extras like higher gross, larger tires.

[Bluepill]

Originally Posted by accumack

The $30k for the 360 also gets you aluminum wheels and I think a few other extras like higher gross, larger tires.

Possibly also bigger radiator, CAC, differential, suspension, etc.

[boowho]

Originally Posted by Bluepill

Possibly also bigger radiator, CAC, differential, suspension, etc.

From research done previously by another member here, the rear axle assembly for the 360 and 340 are identical. This was determined by comparing the bills-of-materials for the the axle on the 340 and the BOM's for the axle on a 360 and finding every part number/description exactly the same.

The BOM's used were from actual coaches owned by two different members here; one a 340, one a 360.

Bigger radiator, I have no idea. What's CAC??

Boowho??

[dan-nickie]

360 HP & 800 torque
3000 Allison
larger tires
aluminum wheels
beefier airbags
more carrying capacity.

I don't know what all is upgraded but the point is it is a lot more than the 360HP and 3000 Allison.

I didn't think the OP was trying to work anything out on the difference. Some of us were saying we would not be satisfied with the deal, not him.