Towing and Trailer Tongue Weight Revisited

[RJ]

I recently moved into a different neighborhood here in Fresburg, and last night got an opportunity to chat with my neighbor who lives kitty-corner across the street.

Turns out he's the body shop supervisor for one of the large RV dealerships here locally.  That revelation turned the topic to towing, hitches and tongue weight, and how that relates to what he sees in the shop.

Bent frames, delaminating fiberglass and walls pulled away from floors are the three most common problems associated with heavy tongue loads, he says.

Some are so bad, they have to actually be sent back to the factory to be straightened out and reconstructed. 

Mucho $$$$ to fix, too, he says - in one case, a two-year old. front-engined 30' Class A was scrapped because the chassis/body were so badly tweaked.  And all the guy towed was an enclosed 22' race car trailer with the car and a heavy toolbox on board.

Interesting food for thought. . .

[plyonsMC9]

I just had a trailer hitch installed.  FINALLY.  on our MC9.  That I think was my original test post to this board.  e.g., where could I get this done?  I "think" Fast Fred was one of the responders.  It took all this time to find a place to do it right.  But I digress.  They did a beautiful job on the hitch.  Very sturdy install.  However, max tongue weight is only 500 lbs.  I guess because of the engine cradle configuration.  I'm thinking we'll be OK for a small horse trailer or pulling a rolling weight such as a car, but that is about it for me.  Better safe than $orry.

Best Regards, Phil