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cdbinns's avatar
cdbinns
Explorer
Sep 29, 2013

How much weight on the front axle?

We have taken delivery of our new 2014 F350 dually!

Yesterday we took it to the CAT scale. We had a full load of fuel, DH and I in the cab, and a small amount of gear. The total weight was 8980. 5160 on the front axle and 3820 on the rear. The limits on the door sticker are GVWR - 14,000, front GAWR - 5940 and rear GAWR - 9650.

We have pretty much decided on an Arctic Fox 1150 dry bath. As best as I can tell from the information on the Northwood Manufacturing page, the camper will be some where around 5200 lbs with the options we want, with full water tanks and allowing about 500 lbs for stuff. We realize we are going to be over the GVWR, but do not want to exceed the axle ratings. The rear axle seems like it will be fine. Do any of you have any insight on how much of the weight will end up on the front axle? I think we should be fine, but just want a sanity check before we actually order that camper. BTW, the truck is a crew cab, long bed.
Truck Campers

8 Replies

  • RamTC's avatar
    RamTC
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2013
    wnjj wrote:
    RamTC wrote:
    My empty AF 990 adds 160 lbs to the front axle, an AF 1150 would probably add only a few more. These TCs tend to have the weight centered close to the rear axle. A full forward FW tank would add more weight to the front axle, but you should still have front axle capacity left. Nice truck, good luck.


    According to the site I linked above, the 990's COG is 1/2" further forward than the 1150 so the 1150 will only add a few less lbs.

    I doubt AF's # is accurate to 1/2", and the 1150 does have a much larger forward FW tank (compared to mine when I scaled it) so it would probably still would add more weight forward compared to 990.
  • Golden_HVAC's avatar
    Golden_HVAC
    Explorer
    Sep 30, 2013
    Hi,

    You might add 300 pounds to the front axle with the camper on board, but probably will actually take away weight from the front axle, unless there are a lot of passengers in the cab.

    You can check with the camper dealer, and ask them to explain the center of gravity, and how far that model is from the tailgate to the center of gravity.

    Normally there is 36" from the tailgate to center of the rear axle. So if the center of gravity extends 39" forward from the tailgate - most of your weight will be on the rear axle, only 3/168 of the weight will be on the front axle. (3" forward of the axle and you have about 168" long wheelbase). So about 1/50 of the weight will be on the front axle, or 100 pounds out of the 5,000.

    Some campers are measured from the rear of the cab wall to the center of gravity. So in your case, there should be 60" between the cab and center of the rear axle, you can do the measurements either way.

    Fred.
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Sep 30, 2013
    RamTC wrote:
    My empty AF 990 adds 160 lbs to the front axle, an AF 1150 would probably add only a few more. These TCs tend to have the weight centered close to the rear axle. A full forward FW tank would add more weight to the front axle, but you should still have front axle capacity left. Nice truck, good luck.


    According to the site I linked above, the 990's COG is 1/2" further forward than the 1150 so the 1150 will only add a few less lbs.
  • RamTC's avatar
    RamTC
    Explorer
    Sep 29, 2013
    My empty AF 990 adds 160 lbs to the front axle, an AF 1150 would probably add only a few more. These TCs tend to have the weight centered close to the rear axle. A full forward FW tank would add more weight to the front axle, but you should still have front axle capacity left. Nice truck, good luck.
  • wnjj's avatar
    wnjj
    Explorer II
    Sep 29, 2013
    According to TC Magazine the 1150 COG is at 55". So string a tape measure from the front of your box 55" back. If it's at the axle, the rear carries it all. If it's in front, the front will carry a portion. If it's behind the rear will carry the whole camper plus some of the original front axle weight. The amount carried by or removed from the front axle will be the distance the axle is from 55" divided by the wheelbase then multiplied by the camper weight.
  • skyhammer's avatar
    skyhammer
    Explorer
    Sep 29, 2013
    You shouldn't have any problem with weight on the front axle.
    My 2011 Ford DRW front axle weight is 4550lbs with my camper which is probably a little heavier than what you will have.A camper usually subtracts weight from the front axle.
    While I only had 20 gallons of water on board, I also have a front hitch carrier with about 200lbs on board.
    Max weight for my front axle according to Ford is 5940lbs.
    As far as the rear axle goes, you have a Dana 80 like mine. Dana rates the axle for 11,000lbs, Ford derates the Dana axle weight to conform with Fords GVWR rating.
  • wintersun's avatar
    wintersun
    Explorer II
    Sep 29, 2013
    Usually the center of gravity is over the rear axle so it takes most of the load. With my 4000 lb. load in the bed there is only an extra 100 lbs. hitting the front axle. Gear and people in the cab are what will add to the front axle's load.

    The GAWR is based primarily on the load the tires and rims can handle. Secondary limitation is the leaf pack(s). The axle and wheel bearings can take up to 10,900 lbs. or more on current 1-ton trucks.

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