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Old 10-18-2015, 03:51 PM   #1
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Upgrading Hitch receiver on the 2300

I have a 2012/13 Sunseeker Ford chassis/ coach with a 3500 lb rated receiver. I want to upgrade it to a 5000 lb receiver since that is what the specs say for the 2300 and I have a Jeep Wrangler to tow. Some have told me to go with the 3500 lb, but when I consider hills and mountains I know the tow weight will increase some due to the incline. This is what I have run in to when getting ready to have a new receiver installed. A hitch specialist that is local here took a look at the coach and told me that since the chassis had been extended they did not want to install the 5000 lb due to any liability that might fall back on them. I am going to try to explain to them, with what information I can find, that the 2300 is rated for a tow weight of 5000 lbs by the manufacturer of the coach, Forest River.
Any suggestions on getting this upgrade done quickly and done right?
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Old 10-19-2015, 09:09 AM   #2
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Another reason why I bought the Chevy (4500 with 5k hitch rating)
The hitch itself is probably a 5k. It's rated at 3500 probably due to the gross vehicle weights and tow weights of the 350 Ford.
Maybe a mod can chime in on this one for the reason behind the 3500 hitch rating.
That seems more like a MBS rating than a Ford 1 ton.
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Old 10-19-2015, 09:57 AM   #3
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From the Forest River spec info that I have there is a 5K tow weight rating for both Ford and Chevy chassis. The Sunseeker that I have is a 2012/2013 chassis/ coach and gives 5K as it's tow weight rating. My concern is in towing a 3900 lb Jeep with four down. Aside from starts and stops the tow weight should show below 3500 lbs if tested, but I need the piece of mind knowing that the tail of my coach isn't going to be torn off with the 4 ft extension built on the chassis. Any moderators that can speak on behalf of Forest River and help me out?
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Old 10-19-2015, 10:56 AM   #4
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Remember this forum is not run by are controlled by forest river in any way. The moderators are just volunteers that look after the web site and have no affiliation with forest river.
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Old 10-19-2015, 11:47 AM   #5
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Thanks Happy Vibe, my question might have seemed as a request for permission from Forest River. Not intended that way. I'm trying to determine how Forest River defines tow weight. The confusing thing for me is that I have specs that say 5000 lbs and physically I have a receiver that is rated 3500 lbs. and appears to be factory. As for actual Forest River representation, I am working with the dealership to contact their factory rep to help me understand what is the best option to meet my needs.
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Old 10-19-2015, 05:09 PM   #6
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Can you put a photo or 2 up?
Is the decal on the hitch what dictates the 3500 rating? or is it physically stamped into the hitch?
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Old 10-19-2015, 07:41 PM   #7
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I always thought it was a 5000lb hitch as the info that came with my 2012 Ford 2300 said. If it is any comfort to you I pulled my 4200lb Jeep liberty around 4 down for five years without any issues.
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Old 10-19-2015, 10:12 PM   #8
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If you are going to use a ball hitch, then the rule of thumb is that your "tongue weight" is 10-15% of what your "loaded" trailer, or in this case, a vehicle is. If your gross vehicle weight on the Wrangler is 3900 lbs, then your tongue weight is going to be around 390 lbs. You also have to take into consideration that unlike a trailer, where the arm between your ball and the axle of the towed vehicle is much longer, and as all 4 wheels are on the ground, your actual tongue weight is going to be somewhat less due to the distribution of weight on the vehicle suspension. If you opt to go for a Blue Ox or Roadmaster, towing system, then they are also "weight distributing". I think there is a misconception that ALL of the vehicle weight is going to be focused on your hitch and then distributed forward. No. Now if you decide that you're going to pull the jeep with the transmission in Park and the emergency brake on, OR pull 20% grades, then ok, your fears may be valid. I have seen class C gassers pulling 3/4 ton pickups flat. But my intuition is that they still are not close to the "rated tongue weight" for the hitch. If you use a tow dolly,with the front wheels on the dolly, then that figure becomes more important for obvious reasons! On 5th wheels, the gooseneck is rated at 15-30% of the loaded weight!
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Old 10-19-2015, 10:29 PM   #9
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Check out this old Solera thread. Per Brian Clemens of Forest River, all the Soleras have 5000 lb hitches. Forest River put a 3500 lb label on the hitch - later changed to a 4200 lb label. Label at 4200 lbs was based on GCWR les GVWR, as I remember - not based on hitch, which is 5000 lb rated.
Not sure if this applies to Ford chassis, but likely.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ago-52352.html
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Old 10-20-2015, 08:44 AM   #10
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We take the GCWR minus the GVWR. On the E-350 it was rated for 5000 LBS
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Old 10-20-2015, 08:59 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Timmy Jim View Post
If you are going to use a ball hitch, then the rule of thumb is that your "tongue weight" is 10-15% of what your "loaded" trailer, or in this case, a vehicle is. If your gross vehicle weight on the Wrangler is 3900 lbs, then your tongue weight is going to be around 390 lbs. You also have to take into consideration that unlike a trailer, where the arm between your ball and the axle of the towed vehicle is much longer, and as all 4 wheels are on the ground, your actual tongue weight is going to be somewhat less due to the distribution of weight on the vehicle suspension. If you opt to go for a Blue Ox or Roadmaster, towing system, then they are also "weight distributing". I think there is a misconception that ALL of the vehicle weight is going to be focused on your hitch and then distributed forward. No. Now if you decide that you're going to pull the jeep with the transmission in Park and the emergency brake on, OR pull 20% grades, then ok, your fears may be valid. I have seen class C gassers pulling 3/4 ton pickups flat. But my intuition is that they still are not close to the "rated tongue weight" for the hitch. If you use a tow dolly,with the front wheels on the dolly, then that figure becomes more important for obvious reasons! On 5th wheels, the gooseneck is rated at 15-30% of the loaded weight!
On 4 down flat towing, the tongue weight is about half the weight of the towbar...or 20-25 lbs only.
You really only really have push/pull (and some lateral load when turning or emergencies) loads.
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Old 10-20-2015, 09:00 AM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JLeising View Post
Check out this old Solera thread. Per Brian Clemens of Forest River, all the Soleras have 5000 lb hitches. Forest River put a 3500 lb label on the hitch - later changed to a 4200 lb label. Label at 4200 lbs was based on GCWR les GVWR, as I remember - not based on hitch, which is 5000 lb rated.
Not sure if this applies to Ford chassis, but likely.

http://www.forestriverforums.com/for...ago-52352.html
I bet they put the wrong decal on the hitch.
I have never heard of a 3500 tow rating on a E350- RV or not.
I would love to look at it- post some photos if you can.
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Old 10-20-2015, 07:15 PM   #13
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I think it is a third party after market hitch for the previous owners boat or something. I'll have a 5000 lb receiver put on at the dealership. I tried to post a picture but am not sure how. Happy Trails!
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Old 10-21-2015, 02:43 PM   #14
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Well I guess I'll bark up this tree. I have a chevy 2300 and toad a jk with a blue ox. First of all there is no tongue weight present less a third of the tow bar when parallel to the ground. Pulling is not the issue, rather stopping is the trick relevant to weight. I do use a patriot brake for short stops or slow downs like from four lane highways to the next to nothing ramp at Alabama rest stops.

We live on I65 or so it seems heading to the beach and we are always passing cars in tow with toads often as large as the tow'er. They seem to be headed to a much warmer climate.

I fully understand the anxiety but it will pass. Like shifting the tranny to park in the jk then tearing down the road at 65. just ain't natural......
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Old 11-01-2015, 05:13 PM   #15
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So I had a hitch installed and along with the Blue Ox that is on my jeep we towed to Texas from Missouri with no problems. Braking system and all worked fine, like nothing was behind me except for a couple of faster than normal stops, where the braking system worked great. Thanks for all the input and helpful comments.
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