Opinions on Suburban for toad

[TomC]

The newest Motorhome magazine has an article about braking systems for towds.  It has every type from motor, vacuum, and air activated.  The cheapest was the air operated with break away for about $800.00.  The advantage to this as compared to one you make from scratch, is if it fails and causes damage or injury, you can go back to the company and sue them, rather then being sued.  Just a thought.  Good Luck, TomC

[Busted Knuckle]

The newest Motorhome magazine has an article about braking systems for towds.  It has every type from motor, vacuum, and air activated.  The cheapest was the air operated with break away for about $800.00.  The advantage to this as compared to one you make from scratch, is if it fails and causes damage or injury, you can go back to the company and sue them, rather then being sued.  Just a thought.  Good Luck, TomC

Tom once again you are 100% correct and bring up a very real and good point! BK 

[NJT5047]

[Why is trailer such a pain? Not disputing your opinion, just want reasons...LOL INQUIRING MINDS WANT TO KNOW

It's always raining when you want to load or unload a trailer or dolly.  And then you gotta take the trailer or dolly to the specified "trailer" parking area using the toad.  It can be a major PITA.  That's why most toads are on a tow bar.
JR

[oldmansax]

Search the archives on this board and on BNO. Dozens of posts explaining difficulties encountered with trailers. BK's is only one of many that have been posted.
Richard

Richard: Searching for info would require real effort on my part, and, unlike you, I am not "driving" Miss Lazy, I AM Lazy!! It is much easier to simply ask and have hundreds of unselfish and reliable folks like yourself answer my questions ... When I grow up, I hope to be such a person

All joking aside, I guess I am not thinking in terms of campgrounds yet. Most of our excursions will be to friends & family in the beginning, and most of those have lots of room to park; just not much in the house, hence, the bus. I can see where a 40' bus, a 22' trailer, and a Suburban would be a problem unless they would let me rent two spaces in a campground.

Many thanks to all for your help!

[NJT5047]

Another thing to consider is what a resonable weight limit is hanging on the frame of an MC7, 8, or 9.  There is not really a place to attach a "load-leveling" hitch...without major engineering.    You'll just be spreading out the load on the cantilever and engine supports and levering the rearmost frame. 
The very best rationale for towing 4 down is that there is no vertical load on the bus.    It'll pull more than it will carry in the engine cradle area.   The engine and the steel at the rear of the bus "hang" on the upper frame members. 
Check your cradle and the frame around the cradle for cracks...you may have done this, and if not, you may be surprised at what you find.   The trailer and Suburban would be a good bit of weight, and the tongue weight would be prox to 10 or 15% of the combined weight of the Suburban and trailer.   Now bounce the load around a little and it becomes something to consider.  Probably not an ideal situation. 
Another perspective, JR
BTW, watch out for those big grassy pastures and yards....if the rains come up, you'll stay where you are!  Not sure about your bus, but I've had mine stuck in the front yard (horse pasture) on grass wet from dew.  We are talking flat here.  Buses don't do wet.  Be sure you know where the drain fields are too...don't ask how I know about this....I'm not very smart, but learn pretty quick from experience.   

[Barn Owl]

I want to pull a suburban four down behind my 4106. My hitch mounts to the engine cradle frame under the bumper. Do you all think that by not having the tongue weight of a trailer that this mounting point is strong enough?