B190 tow rating?

[mimiandrews]

Does anyone know how much the B190 vans are rated to tow? Could one tow a Safari with a B190?

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by mimiandrews

Does anyone know how much the B190 vans are rated to tow? Could one tow a Safari with a B190?

Don't know numbers for the B190 or the Safari. But there are two limits to deal with:
1 - What the hitch receiver is rated for. Probably 5000# for a full-sized van conversion.
2 - GCWR minus the B190's actual loaded weight. Tongue weight is considered part of the loaded weight, though. A B190's loaded weight, like most van conversions, is probably pretty close to the GVWR, so for a ballpark estimate you could use GCWR minus GVWR to get an idea of the allowable trailer weight, which probably will be less than what the receiver is rated for. You should be able to find those numbers in the owner's manual or on the driver's side door post.

[Skater]

The GCVW on my B190 (based on the Econoline 350 chassis, which almost all of them are) was 15,000 lbs. The van weighs ~9,000 lbs, so you have about 6,000 lbs of capacity for you, your stuff, and the trailer, and everything inside it.

That said, I've seen people towing 34 footers with them, which is clearly more than 6,000 lbs. Not to endorse breaking the rules, but I suspect the fact that Airstreams tow so well, plus the fact that they have brakes, means that breaking the 15,000 lb GCVW rule isn't quite as bad as it at first seems.

[mimiandrews]

Thanks!