Hit the scale, how can I be this heavy?

[hedge]

I hit the scale yesterday and pretty surprised by the numbers. I'm over on GVW, rim capacity and tire capacity. Would never have thought I was based on estimates. I thought I was maybe over by a couple hundred, some of the units I see must be crazy overloaded. I've been using it this way for 4 years and it never felt unsafe but now I'm concerned.

Truck: 2012 F350 SRW Diesel, 11,500GVW, tires: 3750x2=7500
Camper: 2013 Adventurer 89RB, published dry weight ~2400lbs

Scale: Front 5,038, Rear 7,700, Total 12,738

Truck GVW is 11,500 with a cargo capacity sticker of 3,492, that would mean the truck empty weighs ~8,008. 12,738 - 8,008 would mean the camper weighs ~4,730.

This just does not seem possible for a non-slide camper. It was in ready-to-camp condition with water but still that's over a ton more than the dry weight. Something here is not making sense, I am not towing and I don't really pack many extras... where would it even go on this small camper.

[Powerdude]

No real surprise about the heavy part.

Even a no-slide camper can tip the scales at 3500+ lbs, fully loaded.

My Lance 820, fully loaded for camping with me and the family in it, adds 4000 lbs to the truck.

If you're still under tire ratings, you are good.

[hedge]

I'm already looking at bigger campers hehe, be right back where I started.

[SidecarFlip]

JimK-NY wrote:

SidecarFlip wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
Underwear is the least of the concerns for weight. I camp with 30 pairs of socks, underwear and almost as many T shirts. The whole pile must weight less than a 6 pack or two of beer.

Just the opposite, 2 pairs of jeans, a couple pair of undies, 2 pair of socks 2 Tee shirts with obscene silk screening on them and a baseball cap. If I run out of clothes, the dirties go in a plastic 5 gallon pail with a lid (also doubles as a hamper), a dash of laundry detergent, couple gallons of clear stream water and a trip on the back of the quad. Back at camp, a quick rinse in the stream and on the laundry line strung between the camper jacks. We live light...

I wear the same pair of shoes unless I'm trekking, then on go the Kenetrec hunting boots.

We obviously camp differently. I do lots of travel and do not want to stop for Laundromats. I rarely see a stream. I travel from the east coast but spend most of my camping time in the desert southwest. I try to get by on no more than 3 gallons of water a day: drinking, dishwashing and a shower.

My only camping in the Southwest is in a hunting lodge and it has a shower and a cook.:B

[Kayteg1]

Buzzcut1 wrote:

hedge wrote:
2017 F350 DRW diesel platinum package in black.

you will love it

add lower stable loads and even strong cross winds will not cause you any problems

I did 2 hockey pucks on upper springs and think that is overkill.
But I scale only 6500 lb with my camper.

[Buzzcut1]

hedge wrote:
2017 F350 DRW diesel platinum package in black.

you will love it

add lower stable loads and even strong cross winds will not cause you any problems

[hedge]

2017 F350 DRW diesel platinum package in black.

[Buzzcut1]

hedge wrote:
GOG isn't behind axle, it's actually slightly in front.

I've solved the problem, pick up the dually on Tuesday.

what did you get???? inquiring minds want to know

[hedge]

GOG isn't behind axle, it's actually slightly in front.

I've solved the problem, pick up the dually on Tuesday.

[Buzzcut1]

yeah our rigs are heavier than what we guestimate

my cat scale tags

truck only: no tailegate 1/2 tank of fuel, no humans or gear


truck with Lance 1055 loaded with gear, full water tank two full propane tanks


truck with TC loaded with gear and 3 horse slant load trailer with two horses and hay on board

[Rustofer]

Hedge:
Your post inspired me to dig into my own weights. I have a 2017 F-350 gas, long bed crew cab 4x4, and NL 9.6 that supposedly weighs 2695 wet. My loaded scale weights were 4800 front axle and 7100 rear. With the truck new and empty, (two of us in the truck) I was 4500 front and 3100 rear. With plywood, bed mat, tools, tie downs, and the two of us but no camper loaded it's roughly 8100 pounds.

I made a list of all the stuff I carry and found it added up to very close to 1000 pounds, so it all makes sense now.

From your weights, and your diesel engine, I'm guessing you have a short box truck, and actual camper COG slightly rear of the rear axle. So your rear axle is picking up some load from your front. Otherwise I'd expect your front axle would be even heavier, as the diesel adds roughly 730 pounds.

[JimK-NY]

SidecarFlip wrote:

JimK-NY wrote:
Underwear is the least of the concerns for weight. I camp with 30 pairs of socks, underwear and almost as many T shirts. The whole pile must weight less than a 6 pack or two of beer.

Just the opposite, 2 pairs of jeans, a couple pair of undies, 2 pair of socks 2 Tee shirts with obscene silk screening on them and a baseball cap. If I run out of clothes, the dirties go in a plastic 5 gallon pail with a lid (also doubles as a hamper), a dash of laundry detergent, couple gallons of clear stream water and a trip on the back of the quad. Back at camp, a quick rinse in the stream and on the laundry line strung between the camper jacks. We live light...

I wear the same pair of shoes unless I'm trekking, then on go the Kenetrec hunting boots.

We obviously camp differently. I do lots of travel and do not want to stop for Laundromats. I rarely see a stream. I travel from the east coast but spend most of my camping time in the desert southwest. I try to get by on no more than 3 gallons of water a day: drinking, dishwashing and a shower.

[SidecarFlip]

My suggestion a while back was visit a CAT scale in a truck stop and dismount the camper in a parking spot, weigh the truck and the remount the camper and weigh the whole thing.

No one will bother you, in fact I would imagine curious truckers would watch...lol

[jimh406]

Different rules in WA and different again in MT.

[Eric_Lisa]

I wonder if anyone has tried something like this with their camper:







When I purchased this boat in Washington and brought it to Oregon, the DMV nicely informed me that fully loaded trailers less than 1800lbs do not need a plate. They leave the highway scales on 24x7, so I went by on a Saturday and took these pictures. Came home, took the plates off the trailer, and called it good.

I do keep a copy of these pictures in the boat just in case I am pulled over for no plate.

Instead of doing the math, why not take the truck camper off the truck right at the scale. Yeah, it will take a few minutes, but you will get a 100% reading on what the camper itself weighs.

-Eric