An American Dream goes up in smoke
Approximately three weeks ago a local RVer lost her husband. She decided to get away in the Motorhome that she and her husband enjoyed for a number of years together. Yesterday morning she left west...
Forum Discussion
OK, It’s a slow day at the office, so here’s a bit of engineering. The left hand numbers are for towing at the front axle, and the right hand numbers are for towing at the frame 2’-6” forward of the front axle. I assumed Center of Gravity (CG) at 4’-6” above grade. And located the CG 1/3 of the distance from the rear axle to the front axle or forward tow point. As I said… lot’s of assumptions, and only static loads.
Sorry about the formatting
My MH has these approximate dimensions and weights:
Level Ground / Level Ground
Towing @ Front axle / Towing @ Front frame
24,000 lbs Total weight 24,000 lbs
16,000 lbs Rear axle 14,618 lbs
8,000 lbs Front axle / tow point 9,382 lbs
19’-0” Rear axle to tow point 21’-6”
6’-4” Rear axle to CG 7’-2”
12’-8” Tow point to CG 11’-10”
4’-6” Height of CG 4’-6”
Towing @ Front axle / Towing at Front Frame
(Elevated 3 degrees) / (Elevated 3 degrees)
24,000 lbs Total weight` 24,000 lbs
16,815 lbs Rear axle 16,093 lbs
7,185 lbs Front axle / tow point 7,907 lbs
18’-11 5/8” Rear axle to tow point 21’-5 5/8”
6’-2 1/8” Rear axle to CG 7’-0 7/8”
12’-4 15/16” Tow point to CG 14’-4 3/4”
4’-10-1/8” Height of CG 4’-10 3/4”
Towing @ Front Axle / Towing @ Front Frame
Climbing 8/11 stairs / Climbing 8/11 stairs
(Elevated 36 degrees) / (Elevated 36 degrees)
24,000 lbs Total weight 24,000 lbs
17,850 lbs Rear axle 17,393 lbs
6,150 lbs Front axle / tow point 6,607 lbs
15’-4 3/8” Rear axle to tow point 17’-4 5/8”
3’-6 15/16” Rear axle to CG 4’-3”
17’-9 7/8” Tow point to CG 13’-1 5/8”
7’-8 11/16” Height of CG 8’-2 9/16”
The weight on the axles does move forward with the tow point, and almost remains there as the MH is lifted for towing. As the MH is lifted more the CG rotates aft about the rear axle, and as “dieharder” said, you don’t want to be at the bottom of the stairs.
Sorry about the formatting
My MH has these approximate dimensions and weights:
Level Ground / Level Ground
Towing @ Front axle / Towing @ Front frame
24,000 lbs Total weight 24,000 lbs
16,000 lbs Rear axle 14,618 lbs
8,000 lbs Front axle / tow point 9,382 lbs
19’-0” Rear axle to tow point 21’-6”
6’-4” Rear axle to CG 7’-2”
12’-8” Tow point to CG 11’-10”
4’-6” Height of CG 4’-6”
Towing @ Front axle / Towing at Front Frame
(Elevated 3 degrees) / (Elevated 3 degrees)
24,000 lbs Total weight` 24,000 lbs
16,815 lbs Rear axle 16,093 lbs
7,185 lbs Front axle / tow point 7,907 lbs
18’-11 5/8” Rear axle to tow point 21’-5 5/8”
6’-2 1/8” Rear axle to CG 7’-0 7/8”
12’-4 15/16” Tow point to CG 14’-4 3/4”
4’-10-1/8” Height of CG 4’-10 3/4”
Towing @ Front Axle / Towing @ Front Frame
Climbing 8/11 stairs / Climbing 8/11 stairs
(Elevated 36 degrees) / (Elevated 36 degrees)
24,000 lbs Total weight 24,000 lbs
17,850 lbs Rear axle 17,393 lbs
6,150 lbs Front axle / tow point 6,607 lbs
15’-4 3/8” Rear axle to tow point 17’-4 5/8”
3’-6 15/16” Rear axle to CG 4’-3”
17’-9 7/8” Tow point to CG 13’-1 5/8”
7’-8 11/16” Height of CG 8’-2 9/16”
The weight on the axles does move forward with the tow point, and almost remains there as the MH is lifted for towing. As the MH is lifted more the CG rotates aft about the rear axle, and as “dieharder” said, you don’t want to be at the bottom of the stairs.
