Acutal Tongue Wt vs. Manufacturer's Statement
So tomorrow we are going to pay/sign for our first TT (30' KZ Connect) whoich we ordered back in September at the Hershey RV show. The dealer is a 3hr drive away and will be storing the TT until Apri...
Forum Discussion
Hi,
As the others have said, the dry TW from a brochure is a stock model and may not even be right for the options on your camper. Plus there is not battery or LP in the tanks.
If this the camper you ordered? Maybe with some added options. https://www.kz-rv.com/products/connect-travel-trailers/C241BHK.html
If it is, that UVW is stated 5,120 on a 6,800 GVW. Where did the 5,880 you listed come from?
Bottom line, inside the camper should be a weight sticker of what that camper weighed when it left the factory and no dealer installed options. Again less the LP in the tanks and the battery. Check on a kitchen or bathroom cabinet door.
If your camper actually has a 5,880 UVW then the 690# dry TW is suspect. Something not adding up. There is 760# of GVW that increased from the brochure with no change in TW. Some number is not right. Don't know which.
Odds are high with that floor plan, the loaded TW could rise 300 to 350# above whatever the unloaded TW is. You have a lot of storage space upfront. And not so much in the back, although the outside kitchen will help offset some of the front weight.
You asked about 1,200# WD bars. If you're TW ended up at 1,000# and it's not hard to get there, they would be a good choice. But, does the truck you have and the truck receiver able to handle a 1,200# TW and WD bar? And is the camper frame rated to handle a 1,200# WD bar? On these lite campers, it's good to confirm with the factory the largest WD bar it can handle.
If the dealer comes out with a 800# WD bar hitch, you have a problem from the get go. It is not going to work. A 1,000# WD hitch fits to 15% of the 6800 GVWR and is better choice. But it is hard to know until you load the camper and weigh it. Ask them if they will exchange WD bars if the 1,000 is not enough and can the hitch they are selling you accept 1,200# bars if it needed it?
That and confirm ideally from the factory, not the dealer, the A frame handle a 1,200# WD bar. Assuming your truck can handle that too. You may find that you have to manage down to 1,000# loaded TW. That's not really bad, more of a realization that you may have to move some gear to the back to keep within the hitch rating and not go too low below 12% TW of the loaded GVW.
Hope this helps and have fun with the new camper.
John
PS the price on the WD hitch sound like a basic WD hitch with a single friction bar. If it is, 29 feet long is pushing the limits of one friction bar. 2 friction bars is more recommended that long. Or better, a WD hitch with integrated anti sway control.
As the others have said, the dry TW from a brochure is a stock model and may not even be right for the options on your camper. Plus there is not battery or LP in the tanks.
If this the camper you ordered? Maybe with some added options. https://www.kz-rv.com/products/connect-travel-trailers/C241BHK.html
If it is, that UVW is stated 5,120 on a 6,800 GVW. Where did the 5,880 you listed come from?
Bottom line, inside the camper should be a weight sticker of what that camper weighed when it left the factory and no dealer installed options. Again less the LP in the tanks and the battery. Check on a kitchen or bathroom cabinet door.
If your camper actually has a 5,880 UVW then the 690# dry TW is suspect. Something not adding up. There is 760# of GVW that increased from the brochure with no change in TW. Some number is not right. Don't know which.
Odds are high with that floor plan, the loaded TW could rise 300 to 350# above whatever the unloaded TW is. You have a lot of storage space upfront. And not so much in the back, although the outside kitchen will help offset some of the front weight.
You asked about 1,200# WD bars. If you're TW ended up at 1,000# and it's not hard to get there, they would be a good choice. But, does the truck you have and the truck receiver able to handle a 1,200# TW and WD bar? And is the camper frame rated to handle a 1,200# WD bar? On these lite campers, it's good to confirm with the factory the largest WD bar it can handle.
If the dealer comes out with a 800# WD bar hitch, you have a problem from the get go. It is not going to work. A 1,000# WD hitch fits to 15% of the 6800 GVWR and is better choice. But it is hard to know until you load the camper and weigh it. Ask them if they will exchange WD bars if the 1,000 is not enough and can the hitch they are selling you accept 1,200# bars if it needed it?
That and confirm ideally from the factory, not the dealer, the A frame handle a 1,200# WD bar. Assuming your truck can handle that too. You may find that you have to manage down to 1,000# loaded TW. That's not really bad, more of a realization that you may have to move some gear to the back to keep within the hitch rating and not go too low below 12% TW of the loaded GVW.
Hope this helps and have fun with the new camper.
John
PS the price on the WD hitch sound like a basic WD hitch with a single friction bar. If it is, 29 feet long is pushing the limits of one friction bar. 2 friction bars is more recommended that long. Or better, a WD hitch with integrated anti sway control.
