Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 01-29-2013, 12:15 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: ma.
Posts: 55
gvwr and trailer construction

I have been looking at a Rockwood 8280ws 5th wheel. It only has a gvwr of 8950 pounds. The trailer I have now and other trailers I have looked at have much heavier gvwr. Should I be concerned ? I am looking for a trailer this size but I want one that is well constructed.
jeffscuda is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2013, 04:19 AM   #2
Denver, CO
 
garbonz's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Denver, CO
Posts: 2,102
I think the FR's have really tried to keep the weight down by construction techniques. My new V cross is 4K lighter than my McKenzie Lakota and yet has about the same payload capacity. It's 4 feet shorter also so that is some of it. The FR I just purchased is not quite as fancy as the Lakota, but it is very well put together and seems to hold what I need it to. IMHO.
__________________
2017 Fuse 23T
garbonz is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2013, 09:19 AM   #3
Wanna Be Camper
 
SaskCampers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
Posts: 2,420
The Rockwood is an ultra lite trailer which means lightweight frame and construction techniques. There is nothing wrong with these units but you cannot for example mount a bike rack to the rear bumper or frame for example and the frame cannot use levelers so you must level the unit with boards or something similar under the wheels to get the left right level, front to back is via the landing gear.
__________________

John & Deb
2011 F250 Lariat FX4 Crew Cab 6.2
2011 Flagstaff V-Lite 30WRLS
SaskCampers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 01-29-2013, 10:12 AM   #4
Moderator Emeritus
 
Dave_Monica's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: Ontario, Canada
Posts: 4,327
Rockwood used to determine the GVWR of the camper by adding the dry pin weight to the axle weight ratings. Ours is 9077 lbs...1077 lb pin weight plus 4000 lb x 2 axles. I'm looking at the spec sheet and they don't seem to follow that now in the case were they post a GVWR number.

All the Rockwood/Flagstaff 5Ws are on 4000 lb axles which gives them a GVWR between 9000 - 9500 lbs depending on pin weight. They're light-weight in design with fairly small CCC...doesn't mean that it's not well constructed. Other campers come with CCC over 3000 lbs due to heavier axles and frames. Most wouldn't be loading that much in a camper as 1000 lbs of stuff is quite normal.

We've had ours for 3 yrs and 146 nights of camping and haven't had any real issues.

Dave
__________________


Nights camped in 2013 - 55, 2014 - 105, 2015 - 63
Dave_Monica is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:26 PM.