Down Sizing

Alex and Tee wrote:
Regarding weight, the Tiffin rep said our unit should come in at 21-22,000 lbs. and we have a 30,000 lb. total capacity. With our tow vehicle and dolly counting 5000 lbs. toward that, it leaves us with 3000 lbs. of leeway roughly. I think we’ll run out of space before we hit the weight limit.

I think they are confusing GCWR with GVWR. Which often happens since weights are complicated to explain and they'll just give you the numbers that sound the best.

Tiffin's website says it either has a 24,000 lb or 26,000 lb GVWR depending on the chassis option (24K or 26K) (as far as I know, the only difference between the two is the axle springs, the chassis+axle is identical). There's an overall 30,000 lb GCWR for either chassis option.

The GVWR is the max weight you can have on the chassis (driver, passengers, water, cargo, etc), the GCWR is the max weight for the RV + any towed vehicle. The hitch is rated at 5000 lbs for either chassis, so that's the upper limit of what you can safely tow, but it's not the only limit.

If you have the 26,000 lb chassis and load it up to 26,000 lbs, then you can only safely tow 4000 lbs because of the 30,000 lb GCWR.

If the RV weighs 22,000 lbs empty and you have the 24K chassis, you can load 2,000 lbs of passengers+water+cargo. If you have the 26K chassis, you could load up to 4,000 lbs, but then you'd reduce your towing capacity to 4,000 lbs. So if your towed vehicle weighs 5,000 lbs, you can only load up the 26K chassis to 25,000 lbs which would give you the 3000 lbs that they said you'd have. But it really depends on which chassis option you have.

If you're using a tow dolly, that should have a pretty light tongue weight, probably around 100 lbs, but could be 200 lbs (that's what U-Haul says their dolly tongue weight is), that weight would count toward the GVWR too.

But still, check the stickers and weigh to be sure.

rent a dumpster and just start putting stuff in it.

It's really really really hard at first and gets easier as you move along. We went from 2200 sq ft with a very full basement to roughly 1400 sq ft. Also sold the travel trailer while we wait for the 5th wheel, so all of that stuff is in storage shed and stuff we kept, and don't have room for it in the "home".

Regarding weight, the Tiffin rep said our unit should come in at 21-22,000 lbs. and we have a 30,000 lb. total capacity. With our tow vehicle and dolly counting 5000 lbs. toward that, it leaves us with 3000 lbs. of leeway roughly. I think we’ll run out of space before we hit the weight limit.

I'll just add that storage space isn't the only restriction -- big gas Class A's often have limited weight capacity for passengers and cargo... depending on what options you got (like a higher capacity chassis) you might find you only have 1500 lbs of occupant + cargo capacity, which won't go far especially if you plan on filling the freshwater tank (70 gallons of water weighs nearly 600 lbs).

There will be a sticker with the weight info, including OCCC. The best way to know if you're overweight is to load it up, then take it to a scale (with all passengers) and get it weighed, pay attention to axle weights too.

I'd take as little as you think you need, leave the rest in storage, then come back in 6 months and dispose of it.

We began full-timing in 2014 in a 43' 5th Wheel Toy Hauler. Based on over a year of perusing FT forums and asking questions, we decided to get rid of virtually everything we could not take with us. We had the kids come get what they wanted, gave family heirlooms to other family members, then had an estate sale and sold the rest. We did save a few tubs of items we knew we wanted to keep and those are stored in my wife's sisters attic. It is primarily family memorabilia. I digitized all of our home movies, pictures and photo albums and gave the hardcopies to the kids. I built a tool collection of ones I felt I'd need (to which I've added over the years) and the wife did the same with her craft stuff. All in all it has worked out well.

We were both all in on the new lifestyle and downsizing from 3000sf to 450sf has been no issue. If you are going to use a storage building, make sure to not let it go too long. You'll find most of it was just "stuff" and you'll be paying to store things you really are not invested in. We have zero regrets and our first 7 years has been wonderful. Good Luck.

Load up the mh with your clothes, cups, glasses, dishes etc for two people or perhaps four if you plan to have guests, sheets towels, favorite pictures, computer / electronics, important financial and legal documents. Lock the storage area and leave. Come back in 6 months with a list of what you need and donate the rest to charity.

You also have to watch how much weight you put in it. If you have anything but a stripped model, all the upgrades weight will not be subtracted from the advertised amount of weight you can carry.

However you reduce your stuff, you will still be eliminating more as you travel and get a feel for what you have to have with you. I don't know how anyone can tell you what you will need or not need.