lazyxj
NAXJA Member #1310
- Location
- Los Angeles
I have owned two Class-C MHs over the past 16 years.
The first MH weighted 11,000 lbs, was built on a G-30 chassis, with a Chevy 350 165-HP V-8 and a Turbo 400. It did not have the power to pull the XJ up hills without staying in first or second gear. It was pig.
Our present 6 year-old MH weights 12,500 lbs and has a Ford E450 chassis with a 305-HP V-10.
We have towed the 4000 lbs XJ over 25,000 miles throughout the West, including many 11,000 ft passes in Colorado without any problems.
It slows down on steep grades but usually will pass the semi-truck/trailers. On level ground, or mild grades, you do not feel the XJ.
Pulling power is a matter of horse power/torque to weight ratio.
Keeping the engine and transmission alive depends on having a top notch cooling system. You cannot have too much cooling in a MH, especially in the summer and/or in the mountains.
Most states have a weight limit on how heavy a towed vehicle can be without having auxiliary brakes.
Ford owner's manual states a 1500 lbs limit.
For peace of mind and legal reasons, we have a braking system.
Our MH and XJ have a SMI braking system.
http://www.smibrake.com/
It is built-in, just requiring plugging in the umbilical cord between the MH and XJ, and turning the power switch on. The braking action is adjustable as to when it kicks in and how much braking it provides. You will appreciate having one on long, steep downgrades or in panic situations.
Another built-in brake, popular with the RV community, is the US Gear Unified Brake http://www.usgear.cc/unified_tow_brake.htm
The first MH weighted 11,000 lbs, was built on a G-30 chassis, with a Chevy 350 165-HP V-8 and a Turbo 400. It did not have the power to pull the XJ up hills without staying in first or second gear. It was pig.
Our present 6 year-old MH weights 12,500 lbs and has a Ford E450 chassis with a 305-HP V-10.
We have towed the 4000 lbs XJ over 25,000 miles throughout the West, including many 11,000 ft passes in Colorado without any problems.
It slows down on steep grades but usually will pass the semi-truck/trailers. On level ground, or mild grades, you do not feel the XJ.
Pulling power is a matter of horse power/torque to weight ratio.
Keeping the engine and transmission alive depends on having a top notch cooling system. You cannot have too much cooling in a MH, especially in the summer and/or in the mountains.
Most states have a weight limit on how heavy a towed vehicle can be without having auxiliary brakes.
Ford owner's manual states a 1500 lbs limit.
For peace of mind and legal reasons, we have a braking system.
Our MH and XJ have a SMI braking system.
http://www.smibrake.com/
It is built-in, just requiring plugging in the umbilical cord between the MH and XJ, and turning the power switch on. The braking action is adjustable as to when it kicks in and how much braking it provides. You will appreciate having one on long, steep downgrades or in panic situations.
Another built-in brake, popular with the RV community, is the US Gear Unified Brake http://www.usgear.cc/unified_tow_brake.htm
