Ridiculous Hitch Weight Specs...

[garbonz]

I've have noticed, upon reflection that the specked hitch weight on my V-cross is OVER 1000 lbs lighter than the real thing.. 1193lbs in the spec VS the 2200 lbs reality (in a under 10K lb RV). In looking around I think it is the rear door, living room design that is the culprit, along with an grossly under estimated hitch lbs in the first place. Granted, I have an extra battery and a couple other goodies up toward the front, but certainly not 1K.

I was looking at some other similar units and notice a Keystone Cougar 276 with the same layout and a similar problem. with a almost 800 lb overage at the hitch.

These 30ft under 10K campers are prime target for the 1/2 ton TV crowd and MAN are they in for a suprize. I have my payload down to about 100 lbs over by shifting stuff to the back of the rig (several posts on this).

Has anyone else seem a huge discrepancy between the stated hitch weight and the actual scale weight on their rig? Just wondering.

[ependydad]

Our camper is 42' long. It has an advertised pin weight of 1,825. Mine weighed in recently at 2,540 (700 pounds).

BUT- given the almost 4,000 pounds of cargo carrying capacity and it being a huge jass camper, I think this is reasonable.

[whj77372]

That has always been the issue when you pull a 10,000 lbs fiver that the maker says can be pulled with a half ton pickup. You will not have the pay load you need with the so called 1/2 ton pickup.

[garbonz]

Yes, in fact my 3/4 Chev is overloaded even. It would be a different story if the hitch weight was closer to spec, tho. There is plenty of axle and overall capacity in the camper itself, but over 25% is on the hitch in my case. Anyway it is an interesting phenomena and a potential pitfall for the unaware (like me). I bought this trailer cause my previous 5er was to big for my truck in my opinion (a 2008 Lakota 34 ft) and in reality I did not gain much, if any, payload cause I was about 500 over on payload with that rig (but not over on anything else).

This unit is SO much easier o tow and maneuver so at least I gained that.

[F and E Damp]

It's more the wimpy manufacturers giving in to the lawyers than any real weight problem. In the UK, a Ford Focus is rated to tow 3000 pounds, and my Kia Sedona is rated at 3000 Kg (3500# in the US).

There are very few US-size pickups in Europe, so not many 5-ers, but there are lots of 30 to 35 ft TTs being towed by Jaguars and Range Rovers.