New Sandpiper 365SAQ is here

[Helmsey]

Got a follow up call from Wayne at FR to let me know my dealership has contacted them and that FR is getting the parts together to ship out to my dealer.
I was sure to let him know that I appreciated the call to update me, it might have been a little thing but it was nice to get the progress update from them.

[kerrlakelover]

Pardon me jumping in on your discussion related to 356SAQs. We picked up a 2011 Sandpiper 345RET this summer and reading your thread, I'm a bit concerned that I might have the same issue on my model. May I ask a couple of questions? Do you guys know if this 6K vs 7K axle issue only effects your 365's? Next, I'm going to dig into the weights of my 345 this weekend and would like to know where I find the weight identification on the axle...can someone tell me please? I love this forum and am constantly impressed at the brain power that can be found here.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by kerrlakelover

Pardon me jumping in on your discussion related to 356SAQs. We picked up a 2011 Sandpiper 345RET this summer and reading your thread, I'm a bit concerned that I might have the same issue on my model. May I ask a couple of questions? Do you guys know if this 6K vs 7K axle issue only effects your 365's? Next, I'm going to dig into the weights of my 345 this weekend and would like to know where I find the weight identification on the axle...can someone tell me please? I love this forum and am constantly impressed at the brain power that can be found here.

I've been swapping posts with Helmsey and golfmedik on another forum. To their credit- they haven't told me to bugger off yet.

This 6k vs. 7k axle isn't an issue unless your cargo carrying capacity is so low that it causes you to exceed it. In Helmsey's case, it sounds like his yellow sticker on his camper indicated that he had approximately 1,200 pounds of cargo carrying capacity. In golfmedik's case, he had approximately 965 pounds of cargo carrying capacity. In each case, their actual scaled weights came in heavier by 200 pounds for Helmsey and 100 pounds for golfmedik. It is then compounded by their desire to carry a full tank of water which comes in roughly at 500 pounds. For a camper that is supposed to sleep 10+, having such a low amount of cargo carrying capacity is pert near impossible to not exceed. In their cases, increasing the axle capacity by 2,000 pounds is going to give them the breathing room that their camping plans require.

In your case, I would not immediately crawl under your camper and inspect your axles. Instead, I would start with what your yellow sticker says that you have as cargo carrying capacity. For instance, here's a random sticker for a 2011 345RET:


If you squint a little and do the conversion to see, this camper has 1,171 kg (or 2,582 pounds) of cargo carrying capacity. Even if you fully fill this fresh water tank (I'm estimating it matches current campers at 64 gallons), you still have 2,000 pounds of cargo carrying capacity regardless if it has 6k or 7k axles. It has sufficient cargo carrying capacity.

Good luck!

[golfmedik]

Also, my rig had the generator prep on it as they knew I was putting one on it, thereby further reducing my CCC. If you have a CC of around 1800 pounds you should be set. Our rigs were overweight when we put our basic camping supplies in it, BEFORE we put any clothes or weekend supplies.

[Helmsey]

Originally Posted by kerrlakelover

Pardon me jumping in on your discussion related to 356SAQs. We picked up a 2011 Sandpiper 345RET this summer and reading your thread, I'm a bit concerned that I might have the same issue on my model. May I ask a couple of questions? Do you guys know if this 6K vs 7K axle issue only effects your 365's? Next, I'm going to dig into the weights of my 345 this weekend and would like to know where I find the weight identification on the axle...can someone tell me please? I love this forum and am constantly impressed at the brain power that can be found here.

No problem jumping in, thats why I post here (and other) public forums, so others can possibly be helped.
The axle should have a tag\sticker on it that will tell what the weight rating is but you will have to crawl under the camper to see it. An easy way to tell is the 5200\6000lbs axles are 6 lug where the 7000lbs axles are 8 lug.
As far as if it's an issue with your camper, only the scales can tell you that for sure.

[kerrlakelover]

Yep, I had gleaned from the thread that 6K was 6 lug and 7K was 8. But did not know there was a sticker on the axle, thanks. I'll climb under the Piper tomorrow and verify from the sticker. We are planning a trip out west next July and I want to fully understand the weight/balance and insure I'm not overloading anything.

[ependydad]

Getting weighed a couple of times with various loading that are typical for you is the best thing to do. Pretty easy - just make sure you do 2 weights each time (truck + camper and truck only). The worst part can be parking among the big rigs.

[Helmsey]

Update Time...
I talked to my dealer today and they have 2 new axles, 5 new wheels, and 5 new tires waiting for me. I will be taking it in Monday, assuming I finally get the rest of my hitch, to get the work done. The one thing we were not sure on is if they sent new weight placards for the 5er. If I remember right golfmedic got new ones with his. The lady at the dealer said that they should have sent them and if they don't have them now they will call and request them.

[5 hole]

Helmsey. You mentoned you will need more truck in your future...
Your sig says F-450, but photo was a GM, did you swicthc trucks to the GM from the 450?

[Helmsey]

Originally Posted by 5 hole

Helmsey. You mentoned you will need more truck in your future...
Your sig says F-450, but photo was a GM, did you swicthc trucks to the GM from the 450?

Yes, that is correct. I traded the GM for the Ford in December after the picture was taken. This is what it will look like now (no hitch, just measuring)



and

[jrobichaud]

That is a beast of a rig! Good luck with it!

On a separate thread in the forum, aquaman installed an access door for the fridge which is to the right of the rear door. on the 2012 (and maybe '13) this is where they put the fridge. At some point they decided to abandon that and put them on the counter in the outside kitchen. I wondered if the Sandpiper did the same as they did with the Sierra model.

Very brave of him to cut into the exterior wall but it looks clean once complete.

[AquaMan]

If I recall right, I think the 2010's and some of the 2011's had the hatch door fridge, they did away with it in the 2012's, brought it back(maybe as an option because I never saw one with it, but was included on floorplan) in 2013, and looks like they removed it again for the 2014.

[jrobichaud]

My philosophy... if it aint broke, don't fix it. Maybe in 2013 they had some extra doors. It always amazes me how one unit the same year can have different features. Its almost like, hey, we have this extra door, what should we do with it... I dunno, go install it in that one... LOL

[AquaMan]

I think they should offer a customizable outside kitchen. Offer like 3 different plans. Would think that other than the sink placement, everything else could be easily swapped from one camper to the next, since most kitchens are in a bunk slide.

[Helmsey]

Originally Posted by jrobichaud

That is a beast of a rig! Good luck with it!

On a separate thread in the forum, aquaman installed an access door for the fridge which is to the right of the rear door. on the 2012 (and maybe '13) this is where they put the fridge. At some point they decided to abandon that and put them on the counter in the outside kitchen. I wondered if the Sandpiper did the same as they did with the Sierra model.

Very brave of him to cut into the exterior wall but it looks clean once complete.

My outside fridge is in the outside kitchen, so it looks like the stayed the same on both brands.

[AquaMan]

The only difference between the sandpiper and Sierra are the nose cones. They are built side by side in the factory.

[Helmsey]

Hooked up to the new truck for the first time this morning and hauled her to the dealer for some new axles. Here we are just before leaving storage:



Someone had asked earlier about the actual weight of the rig vs what it said on the sticker. Well, here is a picture of the sticker:



When I took it to the scales directly from the dealer it weighed 12,980lbs so they were close.

[5 hole]

Man those 450's are MONSTERS!!

[Seasonal]

Must have to stand a long ways back in order to fit the truck and camper in the picture.

Nice looking setup. Looks like a lot of fun.

[jevanb]

sure looks nice, what is the pin weight of they monster?? thought it would not push the truck rear that far down.. should of looked at the first post, that 2500HD looks the same as mine with the trailer attached (level)