Towing capacity and frame design

[USNMM1VETERAN]

I have a 2014 3051s forester and bought it because we need 7500 tow. Well it came from factory with a class 3 hitch, but with help from Mr. Clemens I finally got the class 4. During all this the dealer was very uneducated about changing out the hitch which made me call Ford. I actually got to the engineering people and found out that they ship an E 450 frame to FR which is 7500 rated and if FR extends frame for length of motor home it must be rated for Ford specs of 7500 and they had to submit drawing to ford. So after all this I am very confident in towing 7500. Since sunseeker and forester use same chassis I thought this info would help here.

[asparky]

Just bought a 2014 2860DS hitch has factory sticker @ 7500#. a couple other sizes on the lot didn't have the 7500# sticker. Seems like a lot of different opinions, I suggest to look for the silver sticker next to the hitch receiver. If one isn't there I would assume 5000#

RON

[bclemens]

ONLY Forest River Sunseeker and Foresters currently have a 7500# hitch and only on Ford E450's. Other sizes you mention could be other brands, Chevy's or E350's which are all 5,000#

[asparky]

BC, you are right a couple of the sunseekers were on the E350 chassis the small MH's and I'm not sure what the 31 footers were. I'll look again when I go over there.. the sales people said all were 5000# and I pointed out mine was 7500#.. They said OH! Go figure

RON

[bclemens]

Not surprising. There may be some 30'ers out there with the 5000# hitch still. We used to tell everyone that they could upgrade, but people are wary of aftermarket issues. So we just made a running change. 99% of the people won't need the extra capacity, but it sure is nice to have it just in case.

[UAVMX]

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but don't think it warrants a new discussion.

On the Chevy chassis with the 5k rating, can those hitches be upgraded to 7500?

[gmacklem]

Originally Posted by asparky

Just bought a 2014 2860DS hitch has factory sticker @ 7500#. a couple other sizes on the lot didn't have the 7500# sticker. Seems like a lot of different opinions, I suggest to look for the silver sticker next to the hitch receiver. If one isn't there I would assume 5000#

RON

Interesting. I have a 2014 2860DS and assumed it was only rated for 5,000#. Will have to check the sticker and see. Not that I need it to tow that much as I am towing a Jeep Wrangler Unlimited now. Though it goes over 4,000# without anything in it.

[jst3]

Originally Posted by UAVMX

Sorry to bring up an old thread, but don't think it warrants a new discussion.

On the Chevy chassis with the 5k rating, can those hitches be upgraded to 7500?

You have to look at the capacity of the chassis. The chassis is rated to support a certain weight. Subtract the weight of the coach including all the stuff you bring camping from the chassis rating weight and that's the towing capacity of your rig.

I don't believe the Chevy chassis is rated high enough to tow 7500 #.

[cyacc]

Can someone suggest where to get the upgraded 7500lb hitch.
No dealers close to me.
Online would be great!

Thanks

[bikendan]

Originally Posted by cyacc

Can someone suggest where to get the upgraded 7500lb hitch.
No dealers close to me.
Online would be great!

Thanks

This thread is 5 years old. You should probably PM the member you are asking. They may not be active anymore.