Who weighs?

Wife and I are planning on traveling 3-6 months out of the year after she retires next year. Looked for a place to weigh all 4 corners- and found no place near, so I invested ($200, ebay) in one of these- http://www.ebay.com/itm/Intercomp-PT-300-100127-Wheel-Load-Weigher-Portable-truck-Scale-Qty-4-1-Works-/350858402936?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item51b0ca5c78. (Don't know how to make clicky). Figure I can weigh once or twice a year to be sure tire pressures are right and balanced.

The weight of our coach changes too much for the weight to be accurate. We seldom spend more than a few days at a locations so we are constantly burning fuel(50+ pounds per hour). We also travel mostly during the Winter months so we are using our fresh water tank instead of hooking up to park water. This means that our water weight(500 pounds) is constantly shifting from the fresh tank to the black and gray tanks. Then, of course we are using our food supplies and replenishing them on a regular basis. Basically, since the weight is constantly changing while we are on the road, getting it weighed is only a temporary indication of what is going on. Not worth the hassle for me and certainly something that cannot accurately be used to determine tire pressure.

I never have weighed the corners. I just keep 100 lbs in front tires and 90 lbs on each rear tire. If that chassis can not carry what I have in the compartments, then it is time to get rid of the coach. We really do not carry anything that is heavy. The heaviest thing on the coach would be the water tank full and the fuel tank full. We never carry full black or gray tanks.

I weighed my coach mainly out of curiosity. Currently I run tires at max pressure all the way around - mainly due to handling. I could run as low as 64 psi in the rear, but I prefer more responsive handling, and 80 psi does not hurt the ride.

I did weigh it with the motorcycle on the rear, I wanted to make sure my calculations were correct and confirm the rear was not overloaded.

Been a couple of years, so I am due to check it out again. At just under 37k overall we are well below the fiver's GVWR and not even within shouting distance of the Volvo's limits.

Usually do axle weights, but have weighed side-to-side as well.

Typically I don't weigh. I just try to keep things within "reason". I know it's not really "the way to do it". Have not had a problem though.

wolfe10 wrote:
Have weighted each coach we have had-- individual wheel position weights.

Only way to accurately determine tire pressure.

The correct PSI for our tires per Michelin inflation tables is 70 or 105 depending on load. That is WAY too large a range to guess at.

There is NO way any table would have our class A's tires at 70 psi, ever. Every tire has a weight range based on the weight they are handling. I can tell a lot from just looking at a class A and can see what weight range they are in. DPs are the heaviest and should always be inflated to what the chassis manufacturer states. A newer DP will be running at 3500 lbs or so less than GVWR should always be at max PSI according to the manufacturer. Weighing should be to see how close to GVWR and the distribution of the weight not whether or not you can deflate your tires for a better ride!

No, I have not had mine weighed. I already know that it is "very heavy". Sometimes I am just curious and may run it on a scale eventually.....

Well Sir, (OP)
I did weigh our coach, but for numerous reasons. The first time I did it was because I was about to install what's called a "Hydralift" motorcycle lift/carrier on the back of it. So, I wanted some true and actual weights to know just what I was dealing with prior to the install.

Then, after the install, and, over 8,000 miles of carrying our 2008 Honda GL 1800 Goldwing on the back, a mere 900 lbs., and, by the way, the lift was 300 lbs., I weighed it again, all loaded down. It came out over 3,000 lbs. over the actual rear axle weight limit.

So, we decided to make some major changes. But, to answer your question, I did the weight thing for the carrying of the bike and, to have specific tire pressures pertaining to the actual tires I have in relation to the actual weight. Turns out, I was running way too much pressure for the weight without the lift and the bike. This rig rides so much better now.
Scott

We had the coach weighed at a CAT scale early on coming in at 39,xxx lbs., A year or two later we got weighed at a moving company and weighed each corner and each axle. Our total weight at that time was 40,029 lbs.

I adjusted our tire pressure accordingly which wasn't much different that what I already had. Actually, I was able to lower the drive and tag axles pretty good.

Our weight requires that we keep 110 in the fronts, 85 on drives and 75 on the tags. I keep a safty cushion so I keep 115 on the fronts (120 max cold) and 95 on all the rears.

To the OP, you really should weigh your coach to make sure you are running the correct pressures, but this is a free world, do what you feel is best.

Safe travels,
MM.

I check my coach weight yearly when we hit the road or our yearly vacation. Find I'm pretty regularly 2000 lbs. under GVWR of 18K lbs. loaded for two. Also I have more capacity in the tires aired up to minimum, per the OEM tables, then I do in my axles. For our weekend travels I loaded much lighter so I don't worry about it. Also I have a TPMS to watch the pressure.

If I was a full timer I would do the same a Dennis, every couple of fill ups.