Foretravel Owners' Forum For owners and Fans of Foretravel Motorcoaches September 10, 2025 ...

power to pull a 20 ft car hauler/trailer

September 07, 2011, 09:17:54 pm

I have a 1994 Foretravel Grand Villa, 36ft.U240 with a 250 horse diesel engine, with close to 250,000 miles on it.  Do I have the power to pull a 20ft. Car hauler/trailer?  That will double as my wife's studio housing a heavy drawing table among other things. Will my transmission handle this kind of a load? This coach has been a real trouper taking us all over this country including a four month trip from the mid-west through Alaska, back down the west coast and home. We really love this coach!  It now needs some updating as a coach this age with this kind of mileage needs. But my question is - Is it going to be worth it if it can't pull this very necessary trailer? 

Quote Selected

hauling a trailer

Reply #1 – September 07, 2011, 09:19:50 pm

I'm Susan's husband Randy.  She's the computer tech, I'm the guy doing the coach.

Quote Selected

Re: power to pull a 20 ft car hauler/trailer

Reply #2 – September 07, 2011, 11:35:23 pm

I have pulled our old 18' Work & Play toy hauler, 8' wide, back from OKC, the weekend we bought our 93 U-225 with a Cummings 5.9, 230 HP, 4 speed.  We had tail winds, and did ok, on the flats, lost speed on the climbs, but made up the losses on the downhills.  Did only to get the TT home.  Since, I have made an 800 mile trip towing the Avalanche, which is heavier than the TT.

I will not do anymore heavy towing if I can avoid it in the future.

Quote Selected

Re: power to pull a 20 ft car hauler/trailer

Reply #3 – September 08, 2011, 12:01:42 am

Lets put it this way - my 95 U320 is rated for 500 lb tongue weight and 5K on the hitch. I'm towing 'around' 5500 lbs with my 07 Z71 Tahoe and I justify it because we don't full time and I'm always loaded light. But I feel that much weight - and I didn't when the Jetta TDI wagon on a tow dolly was back there.
I seriously doubt what you are contemplating is under 5K. You may be able to pull it, but can you stop it...?

Quote Selected

Re: power to pull a 20 ft car hauler/trailer

Reply #4 – September 08, 2011, 01:14:20 am

Dave's right about stopping it. Does it have brakes? How much does it weigh? Should be a tag somewhere on the trailer with weight. 20' trailer is pretty big.  Our RAV is right at 3300 lbs. and we do travel pretty light. With 350hp, I don't feel it on the flat, a little on mild grades and it does slow us down on the steep ones. 5000 lbs., high altitude and steep grades would be a drag (so to speak). Would not feel safe without brakes at 5000 lbs, especially if your U240 does not have a Jake or retarder.

Quote Selected

Re: power to pull a 20 ft car hauler/trailer

Reply #5 – September 08, 2011, 02:28:56 am

Randy,

I would not feel safe with the combination you describe.

Quote Selected

Re: power to pull a 20 ft car hauler/trailer

Reply #6 – September 08, 2011, 11:30:24 pm

Some questions to clear the air................
What is the GVWR of the coach?
What is the scale weight of the coach when ready for travel?
What is the age and carrying capacity of the M/H tires?
Is your engine a Cummins 8.3 normally aspirated diesel?
What transmission are you running?
Does your unit have the Allison Retarder?
Where are you traveling? Great Plains, Mountain West? Lots of hills or mountains?
What will be the weight of the trailer and its cargo?
Brakes on both axles?
Is your chassis comparable to the 36' U280?
Lots of factors to consider..............
Regards,
Just wondering.........
Regards,

Quote Selected