Question on Weight

[RickV]

I was on my way home from a camping trip in Orlando on Saturday and my plan was to weigh my truck and 5ver at the Cat Scales in Ocala. Traffic was insane but, I still wanted to weigh them. When I get to the scales it was drizzling but, since I was there I decided to at least get the weights of the two together I didn't feel like getting wet unhooking them. I have a 2003 F250 Lariat Crewcab SB with the 7.3 Powerstroke diesel as my tow vehicle and my 5ver is a 2006 Rockwood 8280 SS. I plan on doing the weighing again later this month on another trip but, was just curious if one of the Weight Gurus could tell by my combo #'s how things look.

Steer Axle 4300lbs

Drive Axle 4280lbs

Trailer Axle 6740

We where pretty well loaded much more then when we left home.

Thanks in Advance,
Rick

[ependydad]

Do you know what your truck's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is? On a 2003, I'm not sure if there is going to be a sticker on the doorjamb or not- you might have to either look it up in a towing guide or in your owners manual.

If you can also find axle weight ratings, that would be good. Especially for the rear axle.

And finally, the last thing you want to double-check is the tire load capacity. This one sucks a little because it's written in TINY print on the tire itself.

You had the truck loaded with 4300 + 4280 = 8,580 pounds.

Without having a separate weight of truck-only, we can't figure out your pin weight. The camper's weight is going to be the trailer axles + that pin weight.

When you do re-weigh, I suggest doing both weights at the same time. It can really mess with your numbers to have weights from 2 different time periods.

[RickV]

I have been busy and didn't have a chance to weigh my truck without the 5ver until today. I filled it with diesel and had the 5ver hitch in the bed and I stayed in the truck while it was weighed.
Front Axle: 4180
Rear Axle: 3020

I took a picture of the door sticker and I am not sure I quite understand. I shows Front GAWR: 4670LB
Rear GAWR: 6084LB

But the GVWR is only 8800LB I attached the picture of the sticker.

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[WEMig]

That would give you 1500 lbs of cargo capacity (GVWR - TRUCK WEIGHT).

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[Dave_Monica]

You weighed it today with fuel full and yourself. When you weighed it hitched up, was the fuel, passenger and gear the same?

If it was the same, you can calculate the pin weight of the camper by subtracting the TV weight when hitched to its unhitched weight...1380 lbs. Total camper weight is 1380+6740 for 8160 lbs. and that's 16.9% pin weight.

Dave

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

You weighed it today with fuel full and yourself. When you weighed it hitched up, was the fuel, passenger and gear the same?

If it was the same, you can calculate the pin weight of the camper by subtracting the TV weight when hitched to its unhitched weight...1380 lbs. Total camper weight is 1380+6740 for 8160 lbs. and that's 16.9% pin weight.

Dave

Oh! Oh! I just found (ok, made) this neat site that has a simple calculator for figuring that out:
http://www.towingplanner.com/ActualW...WheelCatScales

[RickV]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

You weighed it today with fuel full and yourself. When you weighed it hitched up, was the fuel, passenger and gear the same?

If it was the same, you can calculate the pin weight of the camper by subtracting the TV weight when hitched to its unhitched weight...1380 lbs. Total camper weight is 1380+6740 for 8160 lbs. and that's 16.9% pin weight.

Dave

No they were big time different. The wife wasn't with me and the total weight also included about 800# of stuff in the back seat. I had weighed the Truck and 5ver just out of curiosity. I knew I was good with the 8280SS. I will do a hitched and unhitched next time we go out. We are considering buying a Brand Spanking New Rockwood 8289WS and wanted to see what the weight of the truck was want to be sure my F250 will handle it.

Here is the info on the 8289WS:
Hitch Weight 1524
Unit Dry Weight 7793
GVWR 9350

[Dave_Monica]

By the weight you did today you have 1600 lbs of payload available for the camper's pin weight (GVWR - unhitched truck weight). If you consider the available payload based on the RAWR of 6084, you have 3064 lbs. Looking at the specs for the 8289WS, you'll be over the truck's GVWR but well under it's RAWR...a common occurrence. You'll have to decide whether that's OK with you.

Dave

[RickV]

Originally Posted by Dave_Monica

By the weight you did today you have 1600 lbs of payload available for the camper's pin weight (GVWR - unhitched truck weight). If you consider the available payload based on the RAWR of 6084, you have 3064 lbs. Looking at the specs for the 8289WS, you'll be over the truck's GVWR but well under it's RAWR...a common occurrence. You'll have to decide whether that's OK with you.

Dave

That is what I don't understand why is the RAWR 6084 and the GVWR only 8800? If the axle supports the weight why is the GVWR so low? Is there anyway to beef up the frame? I really like my truck and don't really want to shell out big $$$ for a new one.

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by RickV

That is what I don't understand why is the RAWR 6084 and the GVWR only 8800? If the axle supports the weight why is the GVWR so low? Is there anyway to beef up the frame? I really like my truck and don't really want to shell out big $$$ for a new one.

Sorry but I can't clear that up...just one of the mysteries of the manufacturer's ratings. If the truck's GVWR was the law, there'd be lots of 3/4 T diesels for sale as I believe that exceeding the GVWR is a very common occurrence.

Dave

[Herk7769]

Originally Posted by RickV

That is what I don't understand why is the RAWR 6084 and the GVWR only 8800? If the axle supports the weight why is the GVWR so low? Is there anyway to beef up the frame? I really like my truck and don't really want to shell out big $$$ for a new one.

Short answer:

GVWR is based on the LOWEST rated item in the "truck system." Normally, that is the truck's frame and not the axles.

[RickV]

We went to Super Show in Tampa. Wife really liked the Sierra 375RKS had a pin weight of over 2000lbs. Plus it was 41' long I would have to add at least 6' feet on the back of my pole barn. Salesman said your truck can handle it I was like yeah sure. I believe my truck can handle the 8289WS's pin weight and we will probably move in that direction. Worse case scenario I will have to get a bigger boat.