Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home

Robbie Welch · 03-26-2008, 09:48 PM

I've been looking at a 91 Monaco Dynasty 34' it has a 230 Hp 5.9 L with a 6 speed trans. I'd be towing a 28' triple axle trailer with a door car, golf cart and tools probably around 10000 lbs Does anyone tow with something similar to this, can it handle this much weight and how's it tow. Thanks for your help Robbie

03-27-2008, 01:27 AM

I have a 95 Fleetwood with similar trailer. It tows fine, and the mileage is much better than bigger engines ( I get 10 mpg if I go 60 mph ).

slow dragster · 03-27-2008, 08:14 AM

Not enough HP/Torque, I have driven several back to back. We tow 7500# with a 300HP Cat / 860# torque 8 mpg @ 70 mph and it seems ok until you hit the mountains. I would suggest higher torque and a side radiator for cooling. The rear radiator with an intercooler gets hot if they are not cleaned and maintained.

Jason Oldfield · 03-27-2008, 09:48 AM

Honestly Robbie, I'd keep looking. I have a 1996 32' Itasca Suncruiser that has one of the high-output 454's in it, and it's sufficient, but I've been thinking recently about putting a Banks system on it to give it more power. I tow a single car, 24' trailer with a 4-wheeler (probably about 10,000 lbs. total), and by no means do I feel like I have all the power I could ever want, especially on hills. It's not as bad as my Durango was as even on the steepest hills I'll never fall below 50 mph, but cruising at 73 mph it loses speed or downshifts even with the slightest grade.

I don't know how much you're looking to spend, but you should be able to find a mid-90's RV pretty cheaply that has the Chevy 454 or Ford 460. Ideally, you'd want a diesel pusher, but I realize that's not in everyone's budget (mine included).

Just my $0.02....Good luck...

G E T Racin · 03-27-2008, 10:09 AM

I had a 1995 35' safari with a 250hp cummings. Chassis wise it was fine and towed no problem. Untill I got to the hills. Then it was a real dog.

Now I have a 1997 40" HR imperial with a 325 cummings. Set the cruise at 75 and forget it. MH weighs 4k more and I'm using the same trailer - a 28' dual axle haulmark at about 8500lbs.

60 mph just ain't my style, sorry don

Robbie Welch · 03-27-2008, 01:03 PM

Yea I was thinking it would be a little short on power, but it looked so nice I had to do some checking. A Gas house is a possibility. Thanks for the reply's Robbie

GaryGoFast · 03-27-2008, 01:18 PM

Robbie, just picked up a 31 ft 2008 Hurricane with a v10, from NY to Fl with a 28 ft trailer, golf cart etc, got 8 mpg cruising at 70, no issues on hills at all. I would check out gas units b/4 a diesel considering cost of unit & cost of fuel.

Gary Federico
S/St #11

Robbie Welch · 03-27-2008, 03:39 PM

Gray thats great milage from a V-10 I'm surprised you didn't go with a 8.1 Chevy. Every time I think If made up my mine about the 5.9 I read some where how good they tow .The research continues.and congrats on your championship.

03-27-2008, 01:27 AM	#2
crewchiefpro Guest Posts: n/a	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home I have a 95 Fleetwood with similar trailer. It tows fine, and the mileage is much better than bigger engines ( I get 10 mpg if I go 60 mph ).

03-27-2008, 08:14 AM	#3
slow dragster Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Spring Hill, TN Posts: 143 Likes: 0 Liked 6 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home Not enough HP/Torque, I have driven several back to back. We tow 7500# with a 300HP Cat / 860# torque 8 mpg @ 70 mph and it seems ok until you hit the mountains. I would suggest higher torque and a side radiator for cooling. The rear radiator with an intercooler gets hot if they are not cleaned and maintained.

03-27-2008, 09:48 AM	#4
Jason Oldfield Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Rochester, NY Posts: 619 Likes: 1 Liked 10 Times in 4 Posts	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home Honestly Robbie, I'd keep looking. I have a 1996 32' Itasca Suncruiser that has one of the high-output 454's in it, and it's sufficient, but I've been thinking recently about putting a Banks system on it to give it more power. I tow a single car, 24' trailer with a 4-wheeler (probably about 10,000 lbs. total), and by no means do I feel like I have all the power I could ever want, especially on hills. It's not as bad as my Durango was as even on the steepest hills I'll never fall below 50 mph, but cruising at 73 mph it loses speed or downshifts even with the slightest grade. I don't know how much you're looking to spend, but you should be able to find a mid-90's RV pretty cheaply that has the Chevy 454 or Ford 460. Ideally, you'd want a diesel pusher, but I realize that's not in everyone's budget (mine included). Just my $0.02....Good luck... __________________ Jason Oldfield S/G & S/St 1838

03-27-2008, 10:09 AM	#5
G E T Racin Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 66 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home I had a 1995 35' safari with a 250hp cummings. Chassis wise it was fine and towed no problem. Untill I got to the hills. Then it was a real dog. Now I have a 1997 40" HR imperial with a 325 cummings. Set the cruise at 75 and forget it. MH weighs 4k more and I'm using the same trailer - a 28' dual axle haulmark at about 8500lbs. 60 mph just ain't my style, sorry don __________________ Gary T

03-27-2008, 01:03 PM	#6
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,232 Likes: 52 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home Yea I was thinking it would be a little short on power, but it looked so nice I had to do some checking. A Gas house is a possibility. Thanks for the reply's Robbie

03-26-2008, 09:48 PM	#1
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,232 Likes: 52 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home I've been looking at a 91 Monaco Dynasty 34' it has a 230 Hp 5.9 L with a 6 speed trans. I'd be towing a 28' triple axle trailer with a door car, golf cart and tools probably around 10000 lbs Does anyone tow with something similar to this, can it handle this much weight and how's it tow. Thanks for your help Robbie

03-27-2008, 01:18 PM	#7
GaryGoFast Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: New York Posts: 804 Likes: 0 Liked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home Robbie, just picked up a 31 ft 2008 Hurricane with a v10, from NY to Fl with a 28 ft trailer, golf cart etc, got 8 mpg cruising at 70, no issues on hills at all. I would check out gas units b/4 a diesel considering cost of unit & cost of fuel. Gary Federico S/St #11 __________________ Gary Federico S/St, S/G 1814

03-27-2008, 03:39 PM	#8
Robbie Welch Live Reporter Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Golden Beach Maryland Posts: 1,232 Likes: 52 Liked 262 Times in 124 Posts	Re: Towing with 5.9 L in a motor home Gray thats great milage from a V-10 I'm surprised you didn't go with a 8.1 Chevy. Every time I think If made up my mine about the 5.9 I read some where how good they tow .The research continues.and congrats on your championship.