Weighing a Class C

j-d wrote:
Do you have the "published" Front and Rear Axle weights from Jayco, or just the total "as built" weight? Even though the model number is "29" the length is over 32-feet. Wheelbase is 223 which suggests to me that Jayco is trying to take advantage of Ford's 5000-lb front axle rating and not overload the rear axle. At least take a test drive to a CAT scale and see for yourself. One, is there enough capacity left, between the empty weight and GVWR of 14,500-pounds, to carry you, your people and your "Stuff." Two, that neither axle is overloaded. Most of what you can load, will put its weight on the Rear.

That's how our C is also at 31' 4" on a 220 inch chassis. We load weight forward to keep the front axle heavier but not overloaded as she steers and rides better that way. Also helps relieve the rear axle somewhat as it is always near or at max weight.

Dave

Do you have the "published" Front and Rear Axle weights from Jayco, or just the total "as built" weight? Even though the model number is "29" the length is over 32-feet. Wheelbase is 223 which suggests to me that Jayco is trying to take advantage of Ford's 5000-lb front axle rating and not overload the rear axle. At least take a test drive to a CAT scale and see for yourself. One, is there enough capacity left, between the empty weight and GVWR of 14,500-pounds, to carry you, your people and your "Stuff." Two, that neither axle is overloaded. Most of what you can load, will put its weight on the Rear.

Thanks for all the good information! I’ve been looking at the Greyhawk 29MV floorplan and thought it looked fairly balanced out, but was interested in what the weight difference might be for the sides. I asked a salesman, who called Jayco for me, then I called Jayco, but we never got a number. Only bit of information we could get from Jayco was that a ‘top engineer’ said it was very close, but wouldn’t share what the numbers were. When I bought my 5th wheel I also found that the closest CAT Scale to me wouldn’t allow enough space on the sides to get only partly on the scale and a local landscape company’s scale was also on a platform. Thus, I’d hadn’t weighed my 5th wheel for the side to side difference, but then I had the weight numbers from the manufacturer and just always tried to balance it out when loading up. Just thought it was a simple question....until I asked it. Lol

So again, thanks for the replies and the information. A 200 pound difference was about what I would’ve of guessed and would hope for on this particular C.

Many of the truck stops have CAT Scales that are installed on a trestle above ground, so you can't run one side onto them. A simple in-ground scale (flat with the adjoining pavement) would be best and that will require calling around.

A Portable Scale would do it. Could be slightly inaccurate in total axle weight since you're weighing a corner that's a little higher than the other, but it'll call out any major differences.

Michelin acknowledges that RV's are often loaded off balance which is why the RV version of their Weight/Pressure Chart uses corners. Still, this is the Gold Standard procedure. You can get very useful information from a CAT Scale. If you tow something, have it hitched up and pull the whole rig on. You'll get Steer (Front of RV), Drive (Rear of RV) and Trailer (Toad, Boat, Trailer, Whatever) and having this is FAR FAR better than no information while you hunt the Perfect Scale. Going CAT Scale fee looks to be $11.00

We use the 4 corner scales at an Escapees park here in Arizona. Our C is about 200 lbs. heavier on the right side (the kitchen, water heater and Refer) than the left side. The side to side weight wasn't posted on the weight sticker for the RV. Can't move enough stuff in storage to really even it out. Only 3 sites have them full time but they are normally at all Escapades. Look HERE to see if you are close to any of them. Well worth the time and minimal cost to get it done.

Dave

Find a local public scale and tell them what you would like to do. In my area there is a scale that weighs Allied van lines and such household moving vans. They declined my offer to pay and gave me all the time I needed to unhitch my goose neck trailer and weigh my truck and trailer separately. The weigh master always got a nice tip though. I think public scales may be 20 bucks or so? Truck stops have them.