| Author | Message | ||
| Jeff Parker
Unregistered guest Posted From: 75.22.187.99 Rating: N/A |
I'm wanting to pull a 25' RV trailor behind my 1973 MCI Crusader (40 ft). I need the extra space for my expanding family, and I have been trying to research this possibility. I have found that I will be okay with a total of 65' long when traveling to most states without needing a permit. However, this particular trailor I want is rather heavy (6800 lbs) and then I haven't even loaded anything inside. Can I do this? What is the towing capacity of an MCI bus? Thanks for your help. | ||
| Ross Carlisle (Rrc62)
Registered Member Username: Rrc62 Post Number: 131 Registered: 5-2005 Posted From: 67.142.130.12 Rating: N/A |
General rule of thumb is to keep the tougue weight as light as possible. Personally, I would tow more than a small enclosed trailer. Maybe a 12 footer. It's not so critical with a toad because there is no tongue weight. | ||
| Marc Bourget Unregistered guest Posted From: 64.142.42.176 Rating: N/A |
I don't think a trailer length includes the hitch. A 25' trailer would, with the hitch, make you overlength. RV Safety Systems has various methods of reducing hitch load to the bus. There's Gross Combined Vehicle Weight considerations, but a trailer shorter than 25 feet will be lighter and is within the limits of many other converters. It's doable, you just have to be smart about it. | ||
| Chuck Lott (Chuckmc8)
Registered Member Username: Chuckmc8 Post Number: 171 Registered: 5-2004 Posted From: 68.223.32.196 Rating: N/A |
Jeff, I think its too much weight. (my opinion) Your empty trailer weighs as much as towing two cars......My MC8 with 8V71N bus wouldnt pull that with any kind of drivability-Meaning it would really slow down up any kind of hill (but yours may do fine) I think that towing 3,000 lbs is about the comfort limit. If you have a bigger engine or more than standard torque and the bus cooling system can keep up.....maybe. Buses weren't made to tow...they just humor us.....to a point. But we can reach that point in a hurry..... | ||
| Jeff Parker (Days_of_noah)
Registered Member Username: Days_of_noah Post Number: 1 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 74.130.65.7 Rating: N/A |
Thanks guys for your imput. I will definately take your ideas into consideration before making any purchases. I really wanted to be able to pull a trailor that I could make into a playroom for my kids (2yr old and one coming soon). If you have any other ideas, please let me know. With two small ones, we need the extra space for storage, as you can imagine! By the way, I'm on a limited budget! LOL Thanks again. Jeff Parker Jeremiah6911@yahoo.com | ||
| Bob Greenwood Unregistered guest Posted From: 65.150.45.195 Rating: N/A |
can ya' imagine trying to get that around a corner,WHEEEEEW, I would suggest a playroom, downstairs,in one of the bays,you could cut a trap door,kids would love that | ||
| JR Lynch (Njt5047)
Registered Member Username: Njt5047 Post Number: 2 Registered: 7-2006 Posted From: 69.132.238.127 Rating: N/A |
I don't think that the cantilevered frame section of an MC7,8, or 9 is up to towing the weight potential your describing. There's just nothing of strength to attach too without re-engineering the engine cradle section of the frame. Keep in mind that the bus has no frame, per se, behind the tag axles. The engine "hangs" on the frame that forms the radiator frames. More of a bridgework if you will. I'd find something lighter to tow. Towing a toad is not a problem due to the lack of tongue weight...trailers must have about 10% or better on the tongue..or more. That said, people are doing what you want to do. Some are towing large trailers behind early MCIs...without problems as far as I've read?? I'd want to check out the rear frame very carefully for rust or cracked welds in the rear structual assemblies before attaching anything to the rear of the bus. And, I agree with Chuck. Unless you got a big motor, you are going to have speed issues on every hill. An 8V71 just ain't gonna do it in the hills....it would move in the flatlands. I don't know what you plan to do with such a long vehicle, but if you get into a situation where you have to back up due to not quite making a turn complete, you're gonna have "situation" from heII to deal with. I reckon you have some idea of what driving a 65' rig, with the long part in front, would be like...Post pix of the outfit...be interesting to see. JR | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 983 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 71.195.113.23 Rating: N/A |
Get yourself a tent-trailer for the playroom. Lightweight, easy to tow, easy to move around (especially with that $40 gizmo from Harbor Freight), simple to set up, used ones in excellent condition can be found cheap. No hitch load issues, a 20' unit expands out to 30', lots of room to play, not a huge amount of storage - but manageable. Be sure to get one with 13" wheels, not the little tiny donuts that the older Coleman's used. See, a simple solution that fits your budget!  |