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go_jets_go's avatar
go_jets_go
Explorer
Sep 28, 2013

Took new rig to cat scale today

Hi everyone. I took a trip to my nearest Cat scale today and was a little bit surprised by the numbers.
Tow vehicle is a 2013 ford f150 supercrew 4x4 with a 5.0 and 3.55's yellow sticker on door lists capacities as follows.
Gvwr 7350
Cargo capacity 1540
Front gawr 3750
Rear gawr 3850

Trailer is a 2011 forest river surveyor sport 295 with capacities as follows.
Dry weight 5136
Dry tongue weight 457
Gvwr 7457

First weigh on cat scale was with tow vehicle only. I had my weight distributing hitch head on and bars in the back of the truck along with a full tank of fuel , inside the truck was just me(200 lbs) and my youngest daughter (40 lbs). Normally my wife (150 lbs) and oldest daughter (70 lbs) would be with us but were not when I went to the scale. My numbers were as follows.

Steer axle. 3360
Drive axle. 2840
Gvwr. 6200

Second pass on scale was with trailer and weight distribution hitch but no tension on bars
Steer axle 3080
Drive axle 3760
Trailer axle 5160
Gvwr. 12000

Third pass on scale was with trailer and weight distribution hitch (robin industries 600lb trunnion bar) tightened up
Steer axle. 3360
Drive axle. 3400
Trailer axle. 5280
Gvwr. 12040

According to my calculations
Tongue weight. 920
Tongue weight %. 17%

According to these numbers I am very close to the cargo capacity of my truck. The thing I find most surprising is that the tongue weight is almost double what the listed dry weight is yet the overall weight of the trailer is very close to what the dry weight is listed at. I should also mention that the trailer was pretty much loaded except a few clothes etc., all the holding tanks were empty. I knew when I purchased the trailer my tv cargo capacity was what I needed to be worried about but figured with such a low dry tongue weight I would have had little extra cargo capacity to play with. Almost all the storage space in the trailer is at the front as it has bunks and an outdoor kitchen in the rear so it may be hard to redistribute the weight within the trailer. I was wondering if anybody had any opinions or suggestions. Thanks

29 Replies

  • lbrjet's avatar
    lbrjet
    Explorer
    Oct 02, 2013
    Loaded is approx 650lbs over dry weight. Not unheard of.
  • CHD_Dad's avatar
    CHD_Dad
    Explorer
    Oct 02, 2013
    go jets - you are correct, I have a wall/entertainment center with a TV in between the bedroom and living area. It just has two accordion curtains for privacy. Still, you scaled very close to the dry weight which is remarkable.

    Does the 2011 have the outside kitchen? That is our favorite feature by far and the big reason we picked this model.
  • go_jets_go's avatar
    go_jets_go
    Explorer
    Oct 02, 2013
    CHDdad you had asked how my trailer was so light compared to yours. I believe your trailer is a 2012 which I believe is a little different than the 2011 in that it has a wall to separate the front bedroom from the kitchen,mine only has an according type privacy curtain. I also only use 20lb propane tanks rather than 30lb to save a little weight. That might explain the tongue weight. That being said I was surprised at how close to the dry weight the trailer scaled at. When I had it weighed propane tanks were full,front storage compartment was full,all dishes,linens,pantry etc. The only thing missing were a few clothes and fridge items. I was actually expecting to be closer to 6000lbs
  • Ron_Gratz's avatar
    Ron_Gratz
    Explorer
    Oct 01, 2013
    popupcamping wrote:
    x2...TW is 920lbs
    No, the TW is not 920#.

    The TW is approximately (3760+3080)-(2840+3360) = 640#.

    Or, if you want to adjust the steer axle GVW with "no tension on bars" from 3080 to 3100
    and adjust the steer axle GVW with "bars tightened up" from 3360 to 3340,

    which would make the steer axle load change agree better with the drive axle load change and the TT axles load change
    and would make both GCWs equal to 12020#,

    the TW would be approximately (3760+3100)-(2840+3360) = 660#.

    Ron
  • mkirsch's avatar
    mkirsch
    Nomad II
    Oct 01, 2013
    Three pages and we're STILL arguing about what the tongue weight is?

    First pass:
    Steer axle. 3360
    Drive axle. 2840

    Second pass:
    Steer axle 3080
    Drive axle 3760

    Some people say TW = 3760 - 2840 = 920lbs

    INCORRECT.

    Notice that the STEER axle weight is 280lbs lower on the 2nd pass?

    Where is that weight?

    On the REAR AXLE!

    TW *REALLY* = 3760 - 2840 - 280 = 640lbs!!!
  • CHD_Dad's avatar
    CHD_Dad
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2013
    I am curious how you are so light! I have the same camper, have 3 small kids and loaded up I was at around 6200# for the trailer and had an 800# tongue weight.
  • eluwak's avatar
    eluwak
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    Pass 3 is most important to show that the FAW is restored by the WDH, which in your case looks real good.

    It looks like you have 11% TW too. I had a slightly less TW on my setup and it made the truck a little squirrelly. Shifting things to increase the TW helped fix that in case you run into that problem.
  • AlbertaNewbie's avatar
    AlbertaNewbie
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    mrekim wrote:

    Now, here's a question I haven't see addressed yet in the other threads:

    For determining whether the vehicle and trailer are within their respective weights (GAWR, GVWR) the values obtained in pass 3 with WD hooked up are used - correct?


    Yes, pass three is correct for determining what your GAW (no R), GVW and GCW (again no R). GAWR, GVWR, GCWR do not change they are set by the manufacturer.
  • mrekim's avatar
    mrekim
    Explorer
    Sep 28, 2013
    Road Ruler wrote:
    Simply put.... with trailer connected and WDH in place the actual weight the rear truck axle is feeling is 640lbs.

    But the tongue weight of the trailer is more.



    Again, I'm not claiming to be an expert, but after reading some of the threads I referenced earlier, I believe that with WD the rear axle is supporting an additional 3400-2840=560 lbs.

    The other 80 lbs of tongue weight is being supported by the travel trailer axles.


    Now, here's a question I haven't see addressed yet in the other threads:

    For determining whether the vehicle and trailer are within their respective weights (GAWR, GVWR) the values obtained in pass 3 with WD hooked up are used - correct?

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