Towing Capacity

[streamlean]

Hello -

Does anyone know the maximum towing capacity for a '75 Argosy 26ft. with a 454 engine? I'm looking to tow my Toyota 4runner which is approxiamately 5,250 lbs.

If anyone knows how the brake buddy systems work or what I would have to do transmission wise to my 4runner to tow it that would be awesome as well.

Cheers,
Allen

[2airishuman]

time2learn2search

LOTS of threads on this topic in the moho section...

Argosy 24 MH Tow Capacity Question

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f160...c-mh-4431.html

and the range appears to be 2k 2 4k.

regardless 5.2k is way too much. the moho will move at snail speed...

IF you can deal with the rear airbag, and receiver and brake issues safely.

cheers
2air'

[streamlean]

Thanks 2air -

The second thread was very helpful. No black and white answers but according to the threads the Toyota is way too heavy for a classic to pull. Nothing is easy is it

Cheers,
Allen

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by streamlean

Thanks 2air -

The second thread was very helpful. No black and white answers but according to the threads the Toyota is way too heavy for a classic to pull. Nothing is easy is it

Cheers,
Allen

Allen,

Don't be so quick to say you can't pull the Toyota. There is another member of the forum that has a 345 and pulls a 24' or 28' enclosed trailer with his porsche race car inside. As a matter of fact I beefed-up the hitch on our 310 to match his modified hitch.

Here is a picture of the 345 pulling the enclosed trailer.


The 345 is a stout engine with a lot of grunt. Especially if you've made improvements for air intake and exhaust.

The biggest issue you will have pulling the Toyota is the brakes. But for $1000 you can buy a brake system that goes inside and actuates the brake pedal on your Toyota.

We bought the 20' Argosy specifically to pull our 1974 31' Excella 500 that is being modified to hold our two Triumph race cars. The Excella will weigh somewhere around 6500 lbs when done. I will be modifying the frame and axles to handle the load appropriately. I'm a firm believer that the Argosy can handle towing the load.


Brad

[streamlean]

Hi Brad -

My Argosy has a 454 with a brand new rebuilt transmission. I beleive like you that the power plant is probably not the problem. Can you tell me what kind of frame alterations you are going to have done to pull the load? Are you planning to do this yourself or a shop? Have you had any estimates on this work?

Cheers,
Allen

[Chaplain Kent]

Allen,
Your engine and transmission are not the problem with the towing capacity the receiver is. AS attached it to the bumper thus giving you only a 2000 lb. capacity. There are several threads on beefing up the receiver here. We had a new receiver bolted to the frame beyond our gray water tank. That way if I ever have to replace the tank I do not have to cut the receiver off. The information you need for your Toyota can best be found at a dealer. I have attached a link to the 2006 dinghy guide from MH magazine which may give you some help.
2006 Dinghy Guide

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by streamlean

Hi Brad -

My Argosy has a 454 with a brand new rebuilt transmission. I beleive like you that the power plant is probably not the problem. Can you tell me what kind of frame alterations you are going to have done to pull the load? Are you planning to do this yourself or a shop? Have you had any estimates on this work?

Cheers,
Allen

Allen,

Do you know which version of tranmission you have in your Argosy? Is it the TH400 or TH475 (as was used in the later Airstream motorhomes like our 310)? From everything I've read the TH400 should be up to the job but if you have the opportunity to get a TH475 (straight cut gears in the TH475 vs helical cut in the TH400) get it. Oddly enough our Argosy also has a rebuilt TH40o in it.

I've attached before and after pictures of the 345 hitch mod that the other forum member posted. I don't have pictures yet of our 310 hitch mod but I modeled it after the picture shown below.





Keep in mind the Argosy rear frame setup is somewhat different. On our 20' Argosy the chassis frame rails are one continuous run from front to rear. On our 310 the chassis frame rails don't run full length and so Airstream added about 2 feet to the rear of the frame. Thats the area that needs to be beefed-up properly. If its not done properly the rear of the moho can sag and that will cause huge problems with your shell.

I feel there are two reasons the tow ratings on these mohos are low, one is the longer mohos have the frame rail additions that can sag if not supported properly the other is braking or stopping power. You have to supplement the brakes of the moho with brakes on the trailer or vehicle you are towning.

Below is a picture of our 310 (with the modified hitch) pulling our 14' flatbed and Susan's Spitfire. Total trailer load was probably around 3500 lbs.



Brad

[klattu]

Weak link is the hitch...
Like in photo above, look under bumper, see if PO has beefed it up.
You have basicly a 1 ton or better truck your pulling with.
Long tearm...I would tie towd brakes in or add them to dolly.

Yes,
I could tell they were back there, just like I would if towing with my 3/4 ton Suburban, but nothing more.
Just no jack rabbit starts.

[klattu]

Got a good look at it from down under,
Is not tied into bumber at all.
All frame...and beefed up too.
Would be easy to make changes to be stronger.
Frame sag? It would take the whole car sitting on ball to bend this frame.

[bkahler]

Interesting. The modifications made to your hitch are similar to what I did on our 310. The 310 frame rails don't extend all the way to the rear of the coach. They stop about 18" short.

The way I have it figured is the diagonal braces will keep the hitch and frame extension from side to side movement, the 2"x4" channel keeps the hitch from going up/down/forward/back. I'm fairly comfortable with how ours came out.

Your 26' Argosy hitch looks plenty strong to me. Other than stopping power you should be all set.





Brad

[klattu]

Exactly...must have been problems back then with tail wag.

[bkahler]

Originally Posted by klattu

Exactly...must have been problems back then with tail wag.

Our very first motorhome was a little 20' coachmen class C. The frame had been extended about 4-1/2 feet by the coach builder. The entry door was on the passenger side rear. Over the years the rear had sagged presumably from towing and it was very difficult at times to get the entry door open. We ended up having the rear of the frame reworked and that helped some. But towing a trailer was a definite pain.

Since we're going to use our 20' Argosy motorhome to pull our 31' airstream trailer I'm real happy that the hitch bolts directly to the frame of the Argosy

Brad