Flat Towing a 2015 Chev 2500HD

[Rick Daniels]

Would like to start towing my 2015 Chev Silverado 2500HD LTZ w/Duramax Diesel so that I can put my Harley in the back and travel with the motorhome, my truck and my Harley.  My motorhome is a 1999 Maqrquis with a Cat C-12 (435 HP I think).  I have checked the truck owners manual and the FMCA towable guide and both say the vehicle is flat towable.  Blue Ox makes a very easy to install base plate which is compatible with my blue ox aux. brake and tow bar.  The base plate actually replaces the front tow hooks. My concern is that my toad weight with truck and Harley will push 7000 lbs.  Does anyone have experience towing a truck like mine and if so how did it follow and am I pushing the limits for the C-12?  What can I expect other than not being able to pass a fuel stop.  Does anyone know what the hitch capacity is that Beaver put on my coach?

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Rick,
IMHO the C12 barely know it's back there. The concern is your hitch weight capacity. I'm pretty sure that it is rated for 5000 lbs. However I know of a couple of members that had welding shops beef therm up.
Steve

[LaMonte Monnell]

I would have to agree with Steve. The engine will do fine. I would be concerned with the weight of the Chevy 2500 and a harley in back with the hitch weight limits. It would have to be modified I am sure to pull the weight.

[Rick Daniels]

Thanks for the input.  When daylight comes tomorrow morning I will check to see if the hitch has a class rating stamped on it.  It is my understanding that a class IV is rated at 10000 lbs.  It is a 2" receiver so that eliminates a class V.  It would be nice if Beaver put a class IV on the Magnum chassis.

[Steve Huber Co-Admin]

Rick,
The 98 Marquis and 2000 Pat Thunder Owner's Manuals both spec a 5000 lb hitch capacity so unless yours has been upgraded I'm 99.9% sure that's what you've got.
Steve

[Rick Daniels]

Looks like I will be upgrading my hitch.  Thanks for the advice. 

[Gerald Farris]

Rick,
Your hitch is definitely rated at 5,000 lbs. and it will either have to be seriously modified or replaced to safely tow the load you are referring to. The 5000 lb. hitch on my 2000 Marquis broke on three of the four sides where the 2 inch receiver attaches to the cross tube when I was towing a 5200 lb. Grand Cherokee and the hitch on Lamar's Marquis broke in the same place when he was towing a Suburban.

Gerald 

[Jerald Cate]

Rick,
Another option you might look into is a motorcycle lift.  I purchased one from cruiserlift.com that carries my Goldwing just fine.  They provide all the parts to upgrade your hitch to a 10000 lb hitch along with platform.  My lift has an electric winch but there are other companies that do hydraulic lifts if you so prefer.  You can still tow a vehicle behind the motorhome with this lift.

Bruce

[Jerry Emert]

Not to beat a dead horse but I tow a Dodge 4X4 that weighs about 6500 lbs loaded for travel.  I can't tell it's back there and if the fuel mileage suffers it is such a small amount that I don't notice.  Happy camping!
Jerry

[Rick Daniels]

Gerald, I doubt that a replacement hitch is an off the shelf item which means custom made which means $$$$$.  Did you or Lamar beef up the existing hitch or replace it?

[Joel Ashley]

Don't forget that hitch ratings take into account chassis build and braking composition of the coach, in addition to engine and hitch frame construction.  At least be sure to use an auxilliary braking system.

Joel

[Rick Daniels]

I have the blue ox aux breaking system and the blue ox aventa 10000 lb tow bar.  The new base plate is in the mail.  I have an appt. with a hitch company here in Montana to do what is necessary to get the proper hitch on the coach.  Thanks to all for your advice.  Once again, this forum and those who contribute have sent me in the right direction.  Being relatively new to the motorhome world, I have found that this forum is my best source of information.  Thanks to all.

[Gerald Farris]

Rick,
Sorry about the late response, but Lamar and myself both rewelded and reinforced our hitches after they failed and have had no reoccurring problems.

On another issue, I do not think that the motorcycle lift that was suggested above will work with your coach because you do not have a tag axle and the extra weight on the rear of your coach will overload your drive axle that is probably near max weight without the lift.

Gerald

[Jeremy Parrett]

We towed a 2004 F250 King Ranch 6 liter 4x4 .over 20,000 miles. We had the tow hitch reinforced with gussets and used the Blue Ox Aventa 10,000 lb tow bar with Brake Buddy.  Worked fine.  C12 mileage dropped from 8.5 to 7.5 mpg.