Tongue weight, revisted

ependydad wrote:

allcool wrote:
My TH has a 13,000gvwr sticker, but in reality probably closer to 15,000 loaded. Thank God for 6 Michelin Ribs...

I thought the same thing with my bunkhouse fifth wheel. Fulltiming, I ran overloaded for about 2 years (16,800 lbs. vs. 15,800 lbs.). I had an air pinbox, replaced leaf springs, added shocks, and upgraded the wheels/tires to 17.5" commercial trailer tires.

I finally paid the piper: non-impact frame damage.

My frame buckled at the axles. The cross-member "supports" that were there twisted and broke. One basically pulled itself through the I-beam of the frame itself.

I was under axle rating (barely). And upgraded tires because I did an individual wheel weights weighing and found that 1 tire was overloaded and 2 were maxed out with the LR E Maxxis tires I had on at the time.

To each their own, but I won't run a trailer overloaded

Thanks for those pics/info.

So far not a problem for me. Hopefully S. Cali RV Dr strengthened my frame in 2012 enough that won't happen.

Was just under my TH replacing broken/missing wire ties so looked it over pretty good.