We recently purchased a 2008 Four Winds 5000 31P, 31.5 feet long, with a Chevy Workhorse engine and less than 15,000 miles. To go with it, we also acquired a 2017 Chevy Equinox LT that we want to set up for towing.
We are in central Indiana, so we talked to Waymire Hitch in Indianapolis, which uses Blue Ox products. Besides wiring the lights, they recommend the new Patroit 3 braking system and the Blue Ox Avail tow bar and accessories. They prefer the Patroit 3 because it's simpler than hydraulic braking and goes dead if it ever tips over, so it won't damage the Equinox's brakes.
Has anyone had experience with this setup?
The motorhome can tow up to 5,000 lbs and my dealer says the Equinox is 3,827 lbs. However, I want to make sure we don't strain the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 14,050 lbs. The motorhome's spec sheet says that unloaded (UVW) it weighs 11,990 lbs. I estimated a full tank of water, 2 occupants, household items and clothing and got 1,224 lbs. That's 836 lbs less than the GVWR.
The Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is 17,600 lbs. Subtracting 13,214 and 3,827 lbs, I get 559 lbs less than the GCWR. Is that an adequate margin to avoid straining the motorhome? Waymire says the margin is actually more because the Equinox is "rolling weight," which I don't really understand.
That's a lot, sorry. Anyone have any comments on all this?
Thanks in advance.
