I have a 99 Harney on a Magnum chassis. It says by SMC on the tag, which I think I have figured out is Spartan. It has been great, but when it is windy, the front seems to get re-aimed a lot. Kind of like the front just doesn't have enough weight on it. It is a bit worse when we have the trailer hooked up.Here are the weights:Front: 4660 lbsRear: 15,420 lbsThat is with 1/3rd tank of fuel and 1/2 tank of water. So I think I could have 700lbs or so more on the front axle full. I am way below the front capacity. I am sure I have too much air in the front tires, as I was assuming that I had more weight up there until I recently weighed.Is this a pretty low front weight percentage? Anyone ever mount ballast up front or find room for a tank up there? My generator is in the back, so I miss out on that weight in the nose.

No you do not have a Spartan chassis-- at least, I suspect you are on a Magnum chassis, as Safari (Safari Motorhome Corp) owned Harney.They did a TERRIBLE job of weight distribution. Yes, moving weight forward is an excellent idea. I have photos of a friend with a Safari who moved the generator from the drivers side "tail pipe" to just behind the passenger's front wheel. Made a big difference.Ideally you want the same percent of GAWR on each axle. Suspect your front axle is substantially UNDERloaded. This will result in a rough ride, as there is insufficient weight to cause the springs to deflect. Said another way, the motion of every bump is transmitted directly to the chassis rather than being absorbed by springs and shocks.Do you have air suspension or torsalastic?

Some of the short Beaver DPs of that vintage actually had a large steel weight bolted to the frame up front. Moving the generator up front would help. If there is room behind the front cap I'd be tempted to move it there running side to side, But it will be harder to service.

Yup, in that time frame, Safari owned Safari, Harney and Beaver.

So is SMC Safari Motorcoach?Would love to move generator, but in the nose they left very little room....not enough for that I would say. Plus, access would be a nightmare for service. But that sure would be ideal. Slide out access would be best, but beyond what I want to tackle with the bodywork and all.Behind the front tires is all basement. Would have to segragate it off of the rest of the basement, and cut the bottom out. Less fun yet. I would love to get a fuel tank up in the nose. And that isn't out of the question. Would want to extend frame up around it. I have a propane generator, and that has been a pain fuel wise. So I converted it to gasoline. I added a tank in front of the drive wheels, but it is small and didn't put weight where I really need it. I don't mine putting ballast in the front. Kind of keeping my eyes open for ideas and materials to use.Thanks for the responses thus far. Please add more if you like!

DP Weight distribution? | Good Sam Community

14 Replies

Bucky1320
Explorer
Oct 27, 2015
So is SMC Safari Motorcoach?
Would love to move generator, but in the nose they left very little room....not enough for that I would say. Plus, access would be a nightmare for service. But that sure would be ideal. Slide out access would be best, but beyond what I want to tackle with the bodywork and all.
Behind the front tires is all basement. Would have to segragate it off of the rest of the basement, and cut the bottom out. Less fun yet.
I would love to get a fuel tank up in the nose. And that isn't out of the question. Would want to extend frame up around it. I have a propane generator, and that has been a pain fuel wise. So I converted it to gasoline. I added a tank in front of the drive wheels, but it is small and didn't put weight where I really need it.
I don't mine putting ballast in the front. Kind of keeping my eyes open for ideas and materials to use.
Thanks for the responses thus far. Please add more if you like!
wolfe10
Explorer
Oct 26, 2015
Yup, in that time frame, Safari owned Safari, Harney and Beaver.
Ivylog
Explorer III
Oct 26, 2015
Some of the short Beaver DPs of that vintage actually had a large steel weight bolted to the frame up front. Moving the generator up front would help. If there is room behind the front cap I'd be tempted to move it there running side to side, But it will be harder to service.
wolfe10
Explorer
Oct 26, 2015
No you do not have a Spartan chassis-- at least, I suspect you are on a Magnum chassis, as Safari (Safari Motorhome Corp) owned Harney.

They did a TERRIBLE job of weight distribution. Yes, moving weight forward is an excellent idea.

I have photos of a friend with a Safari who moved the generator from the drivers side "tail pipe" to just behind the passenger's front wheel. Made a big difference.

Ideally you want the same percent of GAWR on each axle. Suspect your front axle is substantially UNDERloaded. This will result in a rough ride, as there is insufficient weight to cause the springs to deflect. Said another way, the motion of every bump is transmitted directly to the chassis rather than being absorbed by springs and shocks.

Do you have air suspension or torsalastic?

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DP Weight distribution?

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