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dakonthemountai's avatar
dakonthemountai
Explorer
Jul 30, 2015

I've UNDERweight!!

Or at least my Truck/camper combo is! Just before I left for my recent FIRST adventure in my new to me Lance 1055 into the Lassen and Sierra National Forests I went to a certified scale and got my rig weighed. the totals include 32 gallons of fuel, me at 185lbs, my dog at 65lbs plus all her food/supplies, 2 full propane tanks, 30 gallons of fresh water, 5 gallons bottled water, full food and supplies for 17 days (including some fresh produce) including frozen pork, beef, chicken, etc. 2 six packs of beer, 4 bottles of wine and gin for my martinis, . :D tools and the BBQ (that quick connects directly into the camper propane) In other words, everything and completely loaded to the max. No firewood though, as I always purchase it where I burn it if possible.


Here are the numbers:

Front axle is rated for 3,800lbs

No camper at the scales with me, tools, and 32gal fuel: 3,460lbs

Weight at scales with camper: 3,600lbs.

Rear axle is rated for 7,500 lbs

No camper at the scales with me, tools and 32gal fuel: 2,820

Weight at scales with camper: 7,120 lbs.

So, total camper weight is totally loaded for 17 days is 4,440lbs, and I'm under my GVAR by 580lbs! Yahooo!!! :)


Tire rating is not a concern either as I've got a dually with E rated tires.

I'm so happy! I absolutely LOVE my new to me camper and feel very confident in it's performance and the safety factor. I have Rancho 9000 on the back but no other suspension modifications. Drives like a dream at 65-70mph with no sway issues in the wind either.

Now, I have to gather all the photos, read my daily trip journal and post a trip report!


Happy camping everybody!! :)

Dak
Truck Campers
  • dakonthemountai's avatar
    dakonthemountai
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2015
    Reddog1 wrote:
    Kayteg1 wrote:
    I think once you load the beer for 17 days, you become overloaded ;)

    I think that would depend on how long it took you to drink it. :B

    Wayne


    Well, I DID have some company from time to time and shared! :)

    Dak
  • dakonthemountai's avatar
    dakonthemountai
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2015
    twodownzero wrote:
    What is GVAR? And what is your GVWR?


    GVAR is Gross vehicle axle rating and it's 11,300 on my truck

    GVWR is Gross vehicle weight rating, and standard for a 1996 3500 Chevy dually like mine is 10,000lbs, which would normally bring me 720lbs OVER my GVWR. However, I'm the second owner of my truck and it apparently was a special order. It has some sort of factory commercial add ons with bigger brakes, a thicker sway bar and an additional leaf spring, with a sticker that says the new GVWR from the factory is 10,800lbs. I'm no expert, but I do know from my research and my 28 years of RV/truck experience that it's the axles, brakes and shocks that mostly still make the difference in safety. So with the factory add ons it's still 80lbs under the listed GVWR. The weights I reported in my original post are referring to the Gross axle ratings though...

    Hope this helps. Like I said. I'm happy.

    Dak
  • Reddog1's avatar
    Reddog1
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2015
    Kayteg1 wrote:
    I think once you load the beer for 17 days, you become overloaded ;)

    I think that would depend on how long it took you to drink it. :B

    Wayne
  • Kayteg1's avatar
    Kayteg1
    Explorer II
    Jul 30, 2015
    I think once you load the beer for 17 days, you become overloaded ;)
  • campn4walleye's avatar
    campn4walleye
    Explorer
    Jul 30, 2015
    you have room enough to bring us all souvenirs!

    P.S. thanks for not transporting firewood.

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