So I generally post in the travel trailer forum...but fact is I have a front deck toy hauler. My question is, what is the reality of what I can store there? The whole reason that I bought the thing was to take my goldwing on various adventures and have the camper to sleep in. I'm having a proper ramp installed in a week or so but I'm curious to know what the reality is with tongue weight. I have a suburban 2500, and I'll be installing the 3600 lbs bump stop upgrades. I dont particularly want to install airbags, but I will if I have to. I'm well under tow capacity, but tongue weight is obviously the concern.

Derick, few things will help. What RV make/model do you have. Some of the front deck units had pretty high tongue weights to start with. Have you weighed it already setup with your Suburban?

I'm sure there is a weight rating for the front deck. There's no doubt that a Gold Wing near the front is going to add a lot of weight to the hitch. What is your unloaded hitch weight? Depending on where you set the bike you should be able to estimate what weight it will add to the hitch. My guess is it would be marginal, but without any specs it is impossible to say definitely, just speculate.

you're adding like 900 lbs to the tongue! At least that's what my '89 wing weighs. That's a LOT of tongue weight. What's the max tongue with WD hitch rating on you 'burb?

I know..thats why I'm asking! lol I have been looking at other bikes too to take on my travels. However, none of them are as good at 2 up as my wing. I also have a kawasaki concours, that would be about 200lbs lighter, but harder to strap down. I dont see any labels on the decking that would outline the weight capacity, however it does have 1500lbs folding ramps built on to it. This is a Sunray RV Smokey 23TH. It's 23 ft long in total, but 18 of that is camper. I dont know what the actual weights are right now. I know it's all in spec as it's pretty bone stock. The WDH is 1200 lbs, I bought the biggest one I could get on amazon and the eaz lift was rated pretty high. Would it be reasonable to cantilever it with some sandbags in the back of the camper? I have a pretty fair amount of stuff in the storage compartment at the rear. But mostly just my water and sewage supplies. Nothing with any real weight.

That's a new one on me, never heard of that unit. I did some searching, curious if this is like what you have.

Reality of a front deck toy hauler | Good Sam Community

camperdave
Explorer
Aug 31, 2018
Not to be too nit-pickey, but the tounge weight is loaded truck minus unloaded truck which is 1140lb. You are adding 1300 to the rear axle because you are also pulling 160 off the front.

I'd keep an eye on those trailer tires too, that's a lot of weight for a single axle.
noteven
Explorer III
Aug 23, 2018
A little bit of math is the key to weight distribution.
nayther
Explorer
Aug 22, 2018
Derick wrote:
nayther wrote:

The difference on the drive axle from with/without should be your tongue weight so 1300 would be right, so your trailer weighs 6,140# without your bike on the front, add the bike and your tongue weight is over 2,000#!

Then I have to ask, why the heck would they design this?! The camper is at limits itself....without a "toy". Golf carts weight similarly, so its not like they are substantially lighter.

Guess it's just for bicycles and maybe a small generator. Certainly not a Goldwing.
Y-Guy
Moderator
Aug 21, 2018
Derick wrote:
So am I reading that there is 1300 pounds on the tongue already? How does that play into my WDH that is rated for 1200 LBS and that was the highest one that camco offered? It seems to me like this is high already, and then expect to put a 'toy' of some sort on the deck. But this was engineered, and built.....but was it built for a frickin peterbilt or what???

Yep you're right and so is nayther. This is partially why the front deck units are not very popular. They're ok if you are only hauling wood and a couple of bikes. Beyond the concern about the hitch and truck, I do wonder if the actual trailer frame can take that much weight or if its likely to bend some.
Derick
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
nayther wrote:

The difference on the drive axle from with/without should be your tongue weight so 1300 would be right, so your trailer weighs 6,140# without your bike on the front, add the bike and your tongue weight is over 2,000#!

Then I have to ask, why the heck would they design this?! The camper is at limits itself....without a "toy". Golf carts weight similarly, so its not like they are substantially lighter.
nayther
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
Derick wrote:
OK! I have more info! But I'm left with more questions than answers now.

Here are my weights;

LOADED w/ camper
Steer: 3300
Drive: 4600
Trailer: 4840
Total: 12740

UNLOADED
Steer: 3460
Drive: 3300
Trailer: 0
Total: 6760

So am I reading that there is 1300 pounds on the tongue already? How does that play into my WDH that is rated for 1200 LBS and that was the highest one that camco offered? It seems to me like this is high already, and then expect to put a 'toy' of some sort on the deck. But this was engineered, and built.....but was it built for a frickin peterbilt or what???

The difference on the drive axle from with/without should be your tongue weight so 1300 would be right, so your trailer weighs 6,140# without your bike on the front, add the bike and your tongue weight is over 2,000#!
Derick
Explorer
Aug 21, 2018
OK! I have more info!
Derick
Explorer
Aug 20, 2018
So I have HALF of the info. I need to go back and do a tare weigh this week to get the other half, but here's what I weigh fully packed and ready to rock;

Steer: 3300
Drive: 4600
Trailer: 4840
Total: 12740
fj12ryder
Explorer III
Aug 12, 2018
Thank you. I actually bought one when they first came out many years ago, seems like back in the 80's. Their first covers weren't waterproof, and would let dirt filter through them in especially dusty conditions. But they fit well and could be easily cleaned. Basically back then they were just sun and overnight dew protection.
Dirtclods
Explorer
Aug 12, 2018
fj12ryder For what it worth ~ Great find!