Help with CCC

rk911 wrote:

AGC wrote:
Need your help in calculating how much weight I can take with me. I'm looking at buying a 2007 Ford E450 B+ and trying to figure out if I'm correctly calculating the carrying capacity.

2007 Ford E450 GVWR = 14,050 lbs
Unloaded weight with full tank of gas = 12,545 lbs
44 gallons of water @ 8lbs/gallon = 365 lbs
11 gallons of lp gas @ 4.2lbs/gallon = 48 lbs
Adults @ 170 lbs/adult = 340 lbs
Kids @ 110 lbs/kid = 220 lbs

Does this mean I can only bring 500 lbs worth of stuff?

If the GCWR is 18,500 and hitch rating is 5,000 lbs, what's my limit for my toad, do I need to worry about tongue weight?

using your figures, yes. but there's more to that story. you need to determine if either or both axles are overweight. the GVWR of a MH is generally the sum of the front and rear GAWRs (gross axle weight ratings). it is entirely possible for the MH to actually weigh less than the GVWR with one of the axles exceeding it's GAWR. I know...it happened to us when we were shopping for a new MH years ago.

You need to load the MH as you would for travel with fuel, food, water, pets, clothing, people and other stuff and then get individual weights for each axle...4-individual corner weights is better. then you'll know for certain if your MH is safe to travel. if you find that one axle is overweight you need to remove weight from that axle.

re the GCWR....in general, the maximum amount of weight you can safely tow will be the lesser of the following:

• the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)

• the weight rating of your tow bar

• the weight rating of your hitch

tongue weight is usually 10% of the total hitch capacity but if you flat tow the tongue weight is negligible. assume your MH actually weighs in at the max GVWR and neither axle is overweight. your max tow weight would be 4450-lbs, the GCWR of 18,500 less the actual weight of the MH @ 14050.

this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad. Your MH will not collapse if it is overloaded but you will experience handling issues as well as longer braking distances and accelerated wear on suspension, brakes, steering, etc.