How Much Cargo Weight??

four22 wrote:
I've seen several manufactures that have capacities of this nature and makes me wonder if people realize what their buying.

Manufacturer carrying capacities are very generalized figures for the most stripped down models.

The numbers the mfr list will give you an idea, but always count of having 20-25% LESS carrying capacity than the brochure/ website specs.

You need to check the sticker on the actual rig, because two trailers of the same model built a week apart might vary by 10%.

Add options like a second battery, a spare time, a bedroom TV, a 15K vice 13.5K AC - and the brochure weight is now 150-250 lbs too light.

Also remember that both the brochure and the sticker on the rig are with empty propane tanks. I've got two 30 lb tanks. That's an extra 60 lbs right on the end of the tongue.

I've found it a necessary task to take the empty rig straight from the dealer to a certified scale.

I weigh the rig with the truck tires on different pads and the trailer on the trailer pad.

I weigh a second time with the trailer hooked up - each axle on a different weight pad and the truck not on the scale.

Then I drop the trailer in the parking lot, and weigh a third time. That gives me the truck/tow vehicle weight.

Subtracting #3 weight from the #1 total weight gives me the total trailer weight.

Checking the front and rear axle weights on the truck in #1 and #3 tells me how much weight is lifted off the front axle when hooked up - and consequently how much braking power is lost from the lighter front axle while towing.

The #2 weight tells me how much load is on the tires - and if one axle is carrying more weight than the other axle.

Subtracting the #2 weight of the trailer from the #1 total rig weight tells me how much tongue weight the truck is carrying, and if I am close to exceeding the TRUCK Carrying Capacity with the combination of the tongue weight, the weight of my wife and I, the weight of all the stuff I carry in the truck in an attempt to keep the weight out of the trailer.

Since we are full-timers - I weight at least once a quarter - and find out how much weight the rig has gained and we need to get out of the rig.

I've twice had the rig weighed at the Escapee's Rainbow's End Park in Livingston, TX - where each individual wheel is weighed.

The first time, I discovered the rig was 200 lbs heavier on the road side than the curb side. So I moved the way we set some stuff after the slides are in and we are setting up to tow.

A nose high towing attitude on the trailer can overload the rig rear axle, just as a nose down slant can overload the front axle.

Toy haulers are really susceptible to overloaded rear axles, and blowouts on the rear axle tires.