Trailer issues feedback

[sugarjohnson]

I was having work done this spring getting ready. Brakes adjusted, bearings packed and EZ-Flex installed. Trailer is one year old and two of the rear seals were leaking already, They also had two different grease colors in the hubs. EZ lube has never been used by me since new. So despite being new check those bearing seals I guess.

I also noticed my axle stickers while I was under my Tracer Air 250 were 2800#. I did some rough math and it works like this.

Per door sticker:

Dry weight- 4950
Max cargo-950#
4950+950=5900#
Subtract 500# Hitch weight =5400#
2800# axle x2 =5600#
Margin =200#

Anyone else find this to be an extremely small margin. The trailer also only has 10x1.5 brakes again somewhat small in my opinion.

[coolzzy]

I too am a little disappointed in the low cargo capacity of this trailer. The 215 has nearly double the capacity, does it have bigger axles or something? Makes me afraid that I'm going to brake something just by packing standard camp items in the trailer. As it is, I think I'm at gross vehicular weight right now before I even add clothes and food for camping.

I keep my camp chef Denali 3x, 5 chairs, 2 zero grav recliners, pots, pans, bedding, minor tools, and water hoses in the trailer at all times. Add 38 gallons of water, 120 pounds of batteries, two propane bottles and some food to the fridge and I think that maxxes the payload.

I mean, we have that huge front basement and rear under bed storage, plus all the cabinets (something that really sold us on this unit was it's amount of storage), yet filling them would overload the tiny axles? I just added heavier 6v batteries on the tongue and would like to add a power tongue jack and the larger propane bottles but that would eat up a chunk of my meager 950 payload pounds. I've also got the rvq and bumper swing arm out back with the spare tire...

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by sugarjohnson

I was having work done this spring getting ready. Brakes adjusted, bearings packed and EZ-Flex installed. Trailer is one year old and two of the rear seals were leaking already, They also had two different grease colors in the hubs. EZ lube has never been used by me since new. So despite being new check those bearing seals I guess.

I also noticed my axle stickers while I was under my Tracer Air 250 were 2800#. I did some rough math and it works like this.

Per door sticker:

Dry weight- 4950
Max cargo-950#
4950+950=5900#
Subtract 500# Hitch weight =5400#
2800# axle x2 =5600#
Margin =200#

Anyone else find this to be an extremely small margin. The trailer also only has 10x1.5 brakes again somewhat small in my opinion.

Your trailer should have about 1500 lbs of ccc.
Is that not right?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "4 nights"

[sugarjohnson]

I bet he 215 rides on the same axles but weighs less thus increasing the capacity. I agree spend a few more bucks PT and go one axle size up! I even called Dexter to inquire. Less then helpful. In order to upgrade axles you would have to weld in new spring supports since they are larger then what we have.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by coolzzy

I too am a little disappointed in the low cargo capacity of this trailer. The 215 has nearly double the capacity, does it have bigger axles or something? Makes me afraid that I'm going to brake something just by packing standard camp items in the trailer. As it is, I think I'm at gross vehicular weight right now before I even add clothes and food for camping.

I keep my camp chef Denali 3x, 5 chairs, 2 zero grav recliners, pots, pans, bedding, minor tools, and water hoses in the trailer at all times. Add 38 gallons of water, 120 pounds of batteries, two propane bottles and some food to the fridge and I think that maxxes the payload.

I mean, we have that huge front basement and rear under bed storage, plus all the cabinets (something that really sold us on this unit was it's amount of storage), yet filling them would overload the tiny axles? I just added heavier 6v batteries on the tongue and would like to add a power tongue jack and the larger propane bottles but that would eat up a chunk of my meager 950 payload pounds. I've also got the rvq and bumper swing arm out back with the spare tire...

Yours is about 1180 ccc?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "4 nights"

[sugarjohnson]

Originally Posted by TURBS

Your trailer should have about 1500 lbs of ccc.
Is that not right?

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "4 nights"

Nope....those numbers are right off the yellow door sticker.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by sugarjohnson

Nope....those numbers are right off the yellow door sticker.

Then they've sure upped the ccc in two years.


TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "4 nights"

[TURBS]

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "4 nights"

[TURBS]

Wait I'm confused.
What is the camper gvw? That's the number you should be working with.

TURBS
08 duramax tuned n modded, 32bhok Sabre
2015 camping "4 nights"

[sugarjohnson]

Thanks Turbs...mine is actually the 250 air. If anything the numbers make it worse.


Dry weight=4900+CCC of 1188= 6088 - TW of 500=5588#


2* 2800# axles =5600#


Now I never tow with water or that much cargo but just saying its a low margin......

[coolzzy]

OP and myself have the 250 air which weighs about 400 pounds more than the 240 from that chart. I guess that's where all our cargo capacity goes to. Wondering how accurate those axle weights are. I would hate to be hauling over capacity and ruining my bearings. Guess I'll just have to be real vigilant on keeping fresh grease in the hubs.

[sugarjohnson]

I agree which is why I posted. Considering after one year and 5,000 miles I already had 2 grease seals leaking. Axle ratings are accurate I called Dexter to verify with my serial number. He verified axle ratings are with TW subtracted. In fact he sent me the printout on my axles. I'll see if I can load it.

[coolzzy]

There is some unaccounted for weight that I see from my numbers. Makes me wonder if the ccc takes into account propane and battery weight?

My calculations are as follows (from numbers on my yellow sticker)

6095 gvwr - 951 ccc = 5144.

5144 - 4984 dry weight = 160 pounds of unaccounted for weight? Is that about right for two tanks of propane and a battery or two? My two 6v batteries weigh 120 combined. I would imagine full propane tanks weigh roughly 40 pounds each....

[sugarjohnson]

Per PT your dry weight does include LP.

[wicked1]

Originally Posted by sugarjohnson

Per PT your dry weight does include LP.

Empty Bottles or Full, just verifying my dry weight


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS
2014 (18) Nights Camp'd
2015 (6) Nights Camp'd

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[sugarjohnson]

Originally Posted by wicked1

Empty Bottles or Full, just verifying my dry weight


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS
2014 (18) Nights Camp'd
2015 (6) Nights Camp'd

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

It's unclear in the brochure just says includes LP?

[Oaklevel]

Using the dry weight only is asking for trouble. The only way to go is take it to the scales. ( CAT scales are probably the best ).

Often dry weight is without propane & dealer added options. I would only use dry weight (yellow sticker) only as a starting point. Our case is very different but our trailer dry weight is 9600lbs (yellow sticker), loaded ready to camp is 13,900 by CAT scales. Huge difference. I wish I had taken it to the scales before I took it home just to see how far off the sticker may have been.

[wicked1]

When we got our new Roo 23IKSS dry weight in the yellow sticker says 5105, I then added 100#'s for two 20# bottles filled 80% and 80#'s for battery and another 50# for Jack then added the weight of our gear so I am at 5600# trailer dry with our gear. TW is under 900 #'s and I have a Camco Ez-Lift rated at 1000#. Total trailer is just over 50% of 2014 F150 Crew FX4 EB tow rate of 11,200#'s and I have no issues towing.


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS
2014 (18) Nights Camp'd
2015 (6) Nights Camp'd

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums

[sugarjohnson]

I agree with you on using scales. It appears that PT at least included LP in their dry weight on yellow sticker. I verified that my dry ship weight did included all options as shipped. So any unaccounted weight now is gear and batteries. Either way I started the thread to show that they sure play it close to max weight especially in reference to my axle ratings. I'm not one of those people you see who pack the whole house into a TT and wonder why am I so heavy?

[wicked1]

I agree I put light minimal items in the RV , blankets, extra cloths, towels, min amount of cleaning supplies and we switched to paper and plastic instead of carrying dishes and washing them all the time. I also try not to load up the pickup bed too heavy. If we go away for a week and need more stuff sometimes we will just go to the local store and buy as we need items helps keep the truck and trailer safe on the trips and we have managed pretty well on using what we carry unless I bring a good amount of Firewood they I really watch the weight and distribution.


2014 F150 FX4 Crew 4X4 EB
2015 Roo 23IKSS

Sent from my iPhone using Forest River Forums