Revised 2014 Pin weights for Rockwood 5's

[French]

Just got a phone call back from Brett at Forest River. I had inquired about the new revised lite 5 pin weights that were just uploaded recently for all Rockwood lite 5's. Thanks to Joe Mazz for the heads up. According to Brett these changes were made in April /May as they began to manufacture the 2014's. The unit we have our eye on was manufactured in June2013 and he confirmed that the 8282 built then DOES have a 12% INCREASE in pin weight FROM WHAT THEIR PRINTED LITERATURE CLAIMS (1184LB in the brochure 1324LB online). They do not update the printed brochures that often and if you read the back of the brochure thay say 'they reserve the right to change specifications ..." basically at their discretion. So bottom line for us the 8282 is a non starter. The good news is that Brett mentioned the 8280 and the new 8285IKS are redesigned and have now have bedroom doors! as well as larger 72gal gray tanks than the 8282 so we are still thinking Rockwood

[Mtelkman]

Did he give a reason for the weight change? Are they using different frames?

[French]

He did not elaborate on specifically why weights had changed. only that these units are constantly being revised and changed as user feedback and manufacturing feedback is received. If you look at the changes in pin weight there are some that only changed a few pounds to almost 200 lb. Some went up some went down. I listed all the changes in a previous post here
Only one unit (the 8285 not the new 8285IKWS) was the same pin weight as last year (2013)

[WFD]

Is that 1 - 72 gal gray tank or is it 2 separate gray tanks, (a bathroom gray and kitchen gray) for a total of 72 gal ?

Rick

[French]

I checked the forest river site. The gray tank is 76 gallons total for the 8280 and the 8285ikws while the 8282 is exactly half at 36 gallons. I can only surmise that they use 2 -38 gallon tanks.

[French]

Make that 38 gallons

[JoeMazz]

This would explain why the 2013 I tested dipped my Truck far less than the 2014 I bought (built in June 2013).
I love my rig, but if I could get a do over, I would probably have bought the 8280ws. Every lb. counts...

Originally Posted by French

Just got a phone call back from Brett at Forest River. I had inquired about the new revised lite 5 pin weights that were just uploaded recently for all Rockwood lite 5's. Thanks to Joe Mazz for the heads up. According to Brett these changes were made in April /May as they began to manufacture the 2014's. The unit we have our eye on was manufactured in June2013 and he confirmed that the 8282 built then DOES have a 12% INCREASE in pin weight FROM WHAT THEIR PRINTED LITERATURE CLAIMS (1184LB in the brochure 1324LB online). They do not update the printed brochures that often and if you read the back of the brochure thay say 'they reserve the right to change specifications ..." basically at their discretion. So bottom line for us the 8282 is a non starter. The good news is that Brett mentioned the 8280 and the new 8285IKS are redesigned and have now have bedroom doors! as well as larger 72gal gray tanks than the 8282 so we are still thinking Rockwood

[French]

joeMazz Yes I understand, I thought about your careful research and the fact that you were given incorrect data to make your decision. Kind of a bummer...
The good news is thAt FR indicated that the rigs now have a door on the bedroom instead of that paper thin translucent sliding partition. Perhaps u could get the dealer to retrofit your rig with one?

[JoeMazz]

Forest River website still does not show a door on the 82 82.
For now I'm not adding any weight in front of those axles until I take her on a long trip and see how she handles. That'll be this summer up to Niagara . I'll tell you though it drives pretty nice on the short trips I've taken so far. We'll see......

Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Forest River Forums mobile app

[French]

You are wise to wait till summer for Niagara. We live 80miles away and we have a full blown blizzard happening now. -24 is forecast as overnight low. I hear it is cool all the way to you folks. To clarify Brett at FR said the 8285ikws and the 8280 had doors in his rig schematic pictures. Perhaps they would fit yours as well. He did indicate that there was some customer feedback that a door was a needed feature on the otherwise well equipped rig.

[WFD]

French....noticed you are from Guelph. We have family in Guelph but have never been there with trailer in tow...have flown there, driven car there, but would like to take the 5th down there one of these summers. Are there nice RV parks or campgrounds very close to Guelph? We like full service.

Rick
Winnipeg

[RhoZeta]

I wonder if the addition of the Reese Sidewinder pin box is also affecting pin weights? It is heavier by itself than a standard unit and it seems it would increase the moment arm of pin itself?

[Dave_Monica]

Originally Posted by RhoZeta

I wonder if the addition of the Reese Sidewinder pin box is also affecting pin weights? It is heavier by itself than a standard unit and it seems it would increase the moment arm of pin itself?

They have been using the Sidewinder pinbox as standard on Rockwood/Flagstaff 5vers starting in 2010.

Dave

[RhoZeta]

Well maybe they just now getting around to revising the specs....