1979 Dodge sportsman marque

[colandlysa]

Hi, I have just purchased a 79 dodge sportsman marque rv over here in the UK. I have no owners manuals etc for her. I wonder if someone could possibly give me the correct tyre pressure for both front and rear tyres, it is single axle and the weight is listed as 3.7 ton.i also have a problem with the rear turn signals on both sides, the front marker lights and turn signsls work but neither work on the rear, could someone tell me if the rear marker lights and turn signals are separately fused please. Thanks Colin

[bsinmich]

I have many neighbors here in our condo who are from the Netherlands. A ton is 2000#, not 2200#. This is a vehicle made in the USA so it was built to our specs and weights. 2.2 lbs = 1 Kg. 2200# was quoted some place and I think it was a metric ton. That is not used in normal weights and measures here.
We are named Holland because in 1847 Dr. VanRaalte brought a bunch of Dutch here to get religious freedom. Our neighboring towns are Zeeland, Graafschap, Zutphen, and a lot of your names from there.

[jadatis]

OK then thats already a rounding saying 1 ton =1000kg = 2000 lbs and itshould be 2200lbs.
But see now you are also from Holland, but then Michigan? , I am from Holland Europe:W.

[bsinmich]

# is our usual abbreviation for pounds. 3.7 pounds @2000# per ton = 3364 Kg.
I personally like KG because then I only weigh 100 instead of 220.

[jadatis]

Let topicstarter give the answer before we spend 2 pages on the discusion about it. But risking that , I dont understand the 3.7 ton being set over to 7400# , and even dont know what # means in this notation.
3364 then again in KG would be the GAWR and not the empty weight.
this weight is that close to GVWR that you cant speak of any loadcapacity.

I agree with your first post here that 4 point weighing ( loaded as you use it) is the best way to determine the loads for determination of tire-pressure, second best axle-weighing, but as long as you did not do that , you will have to do with the GAWR/MPAW to determine a pressure going from the idea that you are not allowed to go over your GAWR's to law. In my spreadsheet I use in case of only GAWR given , rear a reserve of 18% , to cover overloading, wich is not allowed by law, but practice proves that Rear axles of motorhomes often are.

[bsinmich]

Assuming this is an American made vehicle the 3.7 ton translates to 7400#. Divided by 2.2 pounds per kilogram=3364 Kg. That is under the 3500Kg European limits for the drivers license. That seems about right for an empty vehicle that size. What you add inside is your choice.

[jadatis]

Strange 3.7 ton , and I asume 3700 kg MPVW/GAWR/MTA because driverslicence B in Europe is for up to 3500 kg.
But OK then we go from that .

What you have to search for is the VIN plate wich has Maximum permissable axle loads on it , mostly I = front axle and II is rear axle.

Then from tires the maximum load or loadindex and the pressure needed for that or loadkind.
Probably European tyres C-tyre ( C for Comercial, USA LT( lighttruck)).
Mostly used are D-load/ 8PR ( plyrating) with pressure needed for maximum load of 65psi/4.5 bar or 69/70/4.75/4.8.
Then when you are searching also searc on sidewall for the speedcode.
This is mostly Q speedrated for up to 160km/99m/h.

Give those data and I will put it in my made Motorhome tyre/tire-pressure calculator, and give a picture of it in answering post.

Greatings from Holland from a self declared tyre-pressure-specialist.

The strange lighting problem can also be because of bad earthing,-connection ( if I use the right word) . Search for a wire for that from Chassis to the lights .

[bsinmich]

colandlysa wrote:
Hi, I have just purchased a 79 dodge sportsman marque rv over here in the UK. I have no owners manuals etc for her. I wonder if someone could possibly give me the correct tyre pressure for both front and rear tyres, it is single axle and the weight is listed as 3.7 ton.i also have a problem with the rear turn signals on both sides, the front marker lights and turn signsls work but neither work on the rear, could someone tell me if the rear marker lights and turn signals are separately fused please. Thanks Colin

Tire pressure should be stamped into the tire when made. You should really weigh all 4 corners and then look at the tire makers charts for correct air pressure. Since RVs usually have fiberglass bodies they make lousy power connections. There is a great possibility you have poor ground connections on the rear lights. Corrosion takes a toll. You may have to run a wire from the metal chassis to the lights to get a good ground. A good source of information for the drive train is a Motors manual or Chilton. I don't know if they are available there but they may be here. For all of your appliances you can go to the manufacturer website and download everything for your model. Just have the model & serial # handy when getting the info.