Can A Class C RV Tow A Car?
Many RV campers who have a Class C RV don’t want to have to break camp to sightsee or run errands when they reach their destination. One of the great things about having a Class C motorhome is that Class C RVs can tow a car (also known as a “toad“).
Some of the large Super C RVs can even tow a pickup truck. Bringing a car along on vacation allows you to leave your Class C RV (and camp) behind while you go into town in a more economical, easy-to-park vehicle.
Every model of Class C RV has its own towing capacity. Here are a few examples to show you how much towing capacity can vary.
| CLASS C RV | MAX TOWING CAPACITY |
|---|---|
| Forest River Forester | 4200 lbs |
| Thor Four Winds | 8000 lbs |
| Holiday Rambler Augusta | 7500 lbs |
| Forest River Sunseeker | 7500 lbs |
| Renegade Verona | 20,000 lbs |
| Jayco Greyhawk Prestige | 7575 lbs |
| Coachman Freelander | 5000-7500 lbs depending on model |
| Renegade Classic Super C | 40,000 lbs |
| Winnebago Winnebago Vita | 5000 lbs |
| Winnebago Ekko | 5000 lbs |
| Winnebago Minnie Winnie | 7500 lbs |
Things To Know Before You Tow
Although your Class C RV can tow a car, it will have a limit to the amount of weight it can tow, and this will be affected by the amount of weight you are carrying. It’s always best to err on the light side when towing with your rig to avoid putting undue stress on the components. To figure out what you can tow, you need to take a few things into consideration:
- Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity (OCCC) – Maximum allowable weight for all occupants (including the driver), plus the weight of all food, tools, water tanks, gas tanks, and personal belongings. If you are already carrying close to this, you will need to opt for a small tow behind vehicle (also known as a toad).
- Max Hitch Weight – The amount of weight the tow hitch can handle. Don’t exceed this.
- Trailer Tongue Weight – The weight that is placed on the hitch ball of the RV. Don’t exceed this either!
- Towing with a dolly or car trailer: Factor the weight of these items into your hitch weight and tongue weight.
It’s important to note that the towing capacity is the maximum weight that your Class C can tow. The gross weight of the fully-loaded RV also needs to be taken into consideration. When in doubt, refer to your RV’s manual, and talk to your RV dealer if necessary.
RVers looking for valuable how-to information have learned to go to the experts. Forums such as iRV2.com and blog sites like RV LIFE, Do It Yourself RV, and Camper Report provide all the information you need to enjoy your RV. You’ll also find brand-specific information on additional forums like Air Forums, Forest River Forums, and Jayco Owners Forum.
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Lynne Fedorick is a freelance writer with 35 years of RVing experience. She specializes in topics such as fulltime RV life, great destinations for RVers, RV organization, RV News, RV tech, and dog behavior/training.
Anywhere to find what vehicles disengage their transmission to be able to tow behind a class C. Ours is max 7500
Hello Lynne. I am retired and thinking of living in an RV full time. What are the pros and cons from your prospective of living in a RV? I am thinking of getting a pet. I like medium to large dogs. What are the best dogs for RV living?