Sway Fatigue

Rough31 wrote:


I located a CAT Scales near my home. The Tech directed two passes to obtain weights.

Now my weigh in results - Combined Weight - 13640lbs, Tongue Weight - 1200lbs, Trailer weight 7940lbs. GVWR - 6800lbs.

My wife and daughter were not with me so I was missing about 200lbs which would have brought the GVWR up to 7000lbs.

My understanding of those numbers is that I am at the high end of my limits, but have not exceeded them??? I do think the TW is probably heavier then i want as it does slightly exceed the 15% mark. I do have lumber for levelling and some other removable items in my front hatch that could help in bringing those numbers down.

Actually you are over on your TV receiver tongue wt. rating of 1,100 and it takes THREE passes to get all the important numbers NOT TWO which you could have found out here by reading previous posts instead of trusting some CAT scale TECH whatever that is:h.

Also you numbers don't make sense where you say your GCW is 13,640 with the trailer weighing 7940 and the TV with just you in it at 6800 equals 14,740 (7,940 + 6800). Please post the actual CAT scale numbers for each weigh in with the three values and what the configuration was on each weigh in (i.e. TV only, TV +TT with WDH engaged, or TV + TT with WDH attached, but not engaged). You have already missed several important numbers and it's unclear what the weights you are now reporting really mean. Another really important number is the RAWR and RAW of you TV with the TT attached and the WDH engaged.

I'm also wondering what your actual wts will be since you obviously did your weigh in w/o all passengers onboard and I would assume you were not fully loaded for both the TV and TT (i.e. all extra food, clothes, toys, etc.) as you would be as you pull out for a camping trip. This could easily add over 500lbs when those items missing are added and the weigh distribution by axle especially for the TV could be critical.

As I can see so far you are as Ben said at or over the edge on what you are trying to tow and no are faced with having to "JOCKY" things around to get the numbers within your ratings and IMO that tells me you have too much trailer for your TV. If you can't simply load things up and still be well under any one rating then you either have too much TT for the TV or not enough TV for the TT. It looks like again my WAG of keeping a dry TT wt. in the 5000 to 6000 range when dealing with most 1/2 T TVs is still a good approach so folks aren't in the situation you are now finding yourself in.

Larry