So, I took our Rockwood through a set of scales and am curious if the numbers mean anything. We had it loaded up like we always do, minus a few pounds of food. Full fresh water tank. Full tank of gas. DW and dog were at home. Truck was loaded with all the stuff (about 100lbs or so) we take for the weekend.
With camper:
Front - 2,860
Rear - 3,980
Trailer axle - 6,780
Gross - 13,620
So, when I look at this, it appears I am just over on GCWR.
It also appears I have about 1,120 tongue weight. That works out to about 14% of the trailer weight.
Plenty of truck payload left for another person or two.....but it will be over the GCWR and further push the weight on the rear axle over.
The one thing I find interesting is the weight on the front axle went down by 280lbs. Could that be because the WDH was set up with tanks and trailer empty and now it should be readjusted or is that little amount immaterial?
I would imagine some of these would come down with 300lbs of reduced trailer weight from an empty freshwater tank, but we usually have to bring our water with us.
Truck really doesn't sag much and seems to ride ok. Sometimes the wind makes me nervous, but it is never more than one rock and it is settled out again. Semis passing head on on a two lane road have no effect.
I think your front end may be a little light in the loafers! Pulling that much weight off the front is probably not good. Try another link in the WDH bars and shift some of that weight toward the trailer and lighten the load on your hitch.
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2016 Cherokee 264L (Rear Living)
2013 GMC Sierra Denali
I think you are off on the tongue weight. You will find a more accurate tongue weight weighing without the wdh hooked up as the wdh shifts some of the tongue weight forward to the front axle and done back into the trailer.
From what I see here, you appear to be too tongue heavy. Ideal tongue weight us 13-15% of loaded tt weight. The current figures indicate a TW of closer to 16.5%. I would shift some items rear of the axle. Too heavy a tongue weight can cause just as many handling issues as too light a TW.
Readjust your cargo. Go reweigh doing 3 passes. 1st pass, just truck. 2nd pass truck plus tt no wdh. 3rd pass truck plus tt with wdh.
Now once you have your tongue weight within the 13-15% range, readjust your wdh. The use a is to get your front axle back as close to unloaded weight as possible without going heavier. Once you do this, I think you will find your handling to be better. Oh and by the way, your available payload is 7100 lbs - 5720 lbs= 1380 lbs... subtract the weight of your wife and the dog to be even more accurate. Your towing capacity is 13,500 - 5720= 7780 lbs (again subtract the weight of spouse, pets etc. )
So, I took our Rockwood through a set of scales and am curious if the numbers mean anything. We had it loaded up like we always do, minus a few pounds of food. Full fresh water tank. Full tank of gas. DW and dog were at home. Truck was loaded with all the stuff (about 100lbs or so) we take for the weekend.
With camper:
Front - 2,860
Rear - 3,980
Trailer axle - 6,780
Gross - 13,620
So, when I look at this, it appears I am just over on GCWR.
It also appears I have about 1,120 tongue weight. That works out to about 14% of the trailer weight.
Plenty of truck payload left for another person or two.....but it will be over the GCWR and further push the weight on the rear axle over.
The one thing I find interesting is the weight on the front axle went down by 280lbs. Could that be because the WDH was set up with tanks and trailer empty and now it should be readjusted or is that little amount immaterial?
I would imagine some of these would come down with 300lbs of reduced trailer weight from an empty freshwater tank, but we usually have to bring our water with us.
Truck really doesn't sag much and seems to ride ok. Sometimes the wind makes me nervous, but it is never more than one rock and it is settled out again. Semis passing head on on a two lane road have no effect.
Thoughts? I feel like I am ok, but on the border. No need to rush out and get a new truck, but also shouldn't load up the bed either.
Hope not to sound curt, not my intent but your weights tell me you forgot to get the same set of weights without WDH, like a squared pointed out. Your WDH moved some TW to the trailer but we don't know how much. But we also know 280 went from the front axle to the rear which contributed the rear axle slight ly over weight. It sounds to me that you need at least 1400 to 1500# bars. If you could shift that 280 back front you would be golden IMO. I go by front and rear distance to the ground when adjusting WDH. With an occasional scale weight.
WW
OK. Thanks, all. I did not know about having to weight it three times. Once with the WDH bars off.
I guess when manufacturers publish capacities, they do it with the cheapest trim package and the sticker on the door should read:
"Payload capacity - 1,724lbs. Provided you didn't get air conditioning, power seats, power windows/door locks or basically anything else that makes it nice."
I say that because as I understand it, they rate them with a full tank of gas and 150lb driver. I'm only about 40lbs over that.
So, I'll put on my list of things to re-weigh it. This time I'll do it three times.
OK. Thanks, all. I did not know about having to weight it three times. Once with the WDH bars off.
I guess when manufacturers publish capacities, they do it with the cheapest trim package and the sticker on the door should read:
"Payload capacity - 1,724lbs. Provided you didn't get air conditioning, power seats, power windows/door locks or basically anything else that makes it nice."
I say that because as I understand it, they rate them with a full tank of gas and 150lb driver. I'm only about 40lbs over that.
So, I'll put on my list of things to re-weigh it. This time I'll do it three times.
thanks,
the brochure/website "dry" numbers are for a stripped-down version of the trailer.
no so-called "options", no battery, no propane.
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Dan-Retired California Firefighter/EMT
Shawn-Musician/Entrepreneur/Wine Expert
and Zoe the Wonder Dog(R.I.P.)
2016 PrimeTime TracerAIR 255, pushing a 2014 Ford F150 SCREW XTR 4x4 3.5 Ecoboost w/Max Tow Package
4pt Equal-i-zer WDH and 1828lbs of payload capacity
the brochure/website "dry" numbers are for a stripped-down version of the trailer.
no so-called "options", no battery, no propane.
This applies to truck ratings too. The "Curb Weight" is for that model with no options. Once you start adding stuff to the truck, curb weight goes up and payload/tow rating goes down.
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Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
the brochure/website "dry" numbers are for a stripped-down version of the trailer.
no so-called "options", no battery, no propane.
Here is what Forest River calls UVW (Dry Weight) I quote from the website.
" UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight)* – is the typical weight of the unit as manufactured at the factory. It includes all weight at the unit’s axle(s) and tongue or pin and LP Gas. The UVW does not include cargo, fresh potable water, additional optional equipment or dealer installed accessories. *Estimated Average based on standard build optional equipment."
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2017 Fleetwood Discovery LXE 40D Diesel Pusher 41 foot. CC 5740
2017 Solitude 310GK-R Pick Up Oct 24th.
2016 GMC Denali 1 ton Cargo Capacity 3722 lbs
Sold 2016 Keystone Montana 3711FL
Sold - 2015 Crusader 315RST 5th Wheel -
2015 Ford F350 SRW Cargo Capacity 3744
Here is what Forest River calls UVW (Dry Weight) I quote from the website.
" UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight)* – is the typical weight of the unit as manufactured at the factory. It includes all weight at the unit’s axle(s) and tongue or pin and LP Gas. The UVW does not include cargo, fresh potable water, additional optional equipment or dealer installed accessories. *Estimated Average based on standard build optional equipment."
That is what the salesman told me as well. The "dry" weight of the camper is 6995, which, according to all this means as I have it set up, it picked up 905lbs somewhere. 37 gallons of water is about 310lbs. Hard to believe the hitch, three anti-gravity lawn chairs, another folding chair, a table, "dishes and whatnot" add up to 600lbs, but ultimately, I guess it doesn't matter. "It is what it is."
It doesn't handle bad, but I don't have much to compare it to, and it does seem to make sense to move some of that weight from the back axle to the front axle if possible.
Need to do the reweigh when I can. Likely be a couple of months.
Measure the front fender well on the truck when it's not hitch, hitched with no spring bars and the with spring bars. Ford recommends you return the front of the truck to 50% or less of the unhitched to hitched numbers.
Example.
Unhitched 38"
Hitched W/O spring bars 40"
You need the be at 39" -38".
Saves trips to the scales.
Having your front axle weight lesser by 280# is not safe, as you lose steering control, readjust WTH to add weight to front axle , your comb weight is a little over not bad ,try driving in between weighing and adj to see the difference
I've only done two weighs. One on my own without the trailer and full fuel, and anther heading out to camp for four days with the family. Doing some math, my trailer gained about 700 lbs from its 6026 dry weight on the sticker of the A frame. I didn't really see how, as it didn't seem I added much, but apparently it adds up.
Having your front axle weight lesser by 280# is not safe, as you lose steering control, readjust WTH to add weight to front axle , your comb weight is a little over not bad ,try driving in between weighing and adj to see the difference
What's a good ratio front to back on the TV. I weighed heading out on a trip and the front felt floaty in crosswinds. My weights looked about as it felt. I adjusted my WDH at the next rest stop after weighing. Felt a little better, but really it was just a WAG on the adjustment. Here's my weigh ticket.
Measure the front fender well on the truck when it's not hitch, hitched with no spring bars and the with spring bars. Ford recommends you return the front of the truck to 50% or less of the unhitched to hitched numbers.
Example.
Unhitched 38"
Hitched W/O spring bars 40"
You need the be at 39" -38".
Saves trips to the scales.
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