yankeeslover wrote:
I probably shouldn't ask this question here, as im sure once I get experienced with all this I will get my own routine, but im just wondering how everyone loads there campers for the weekend? I have a small featherlite which only holds around 400 pounds ccc.. plus my 1500 ram is gonna be pushing the payload limit of 1500 pounds when I figure in people and 500 pound hitch weight so I don't want to load up too much in the bed of truck.
im just wondering where best spot is to put things like pillows or sleeping bags? also I have a bunch of those fold up type lawn chairs, if im pushing 500 pound tounge weight am I better off loading lawn chairs in camper towards rear, or is it ok to still load in the storage area in the front by the hitch? I also have a small outside grill that I will probably put in the front storage.... and I have my coolers, but coolers im thinking is easier to load in the rear of my truck.. I guess I can put everything in truck but like I said, with 5 passangers I don't want to overdue my payload..... how does everyone else load up? just looking for tips/ideas from experience...I will buy wood and drinks by the campground after I unload
This is the right place to ask but maybe you will find that the answers are not what you are looking to get.
Your specific question - with a low RV cargo carrying capacity, how best should you load the RV and truck so that nothing is overloaded - is likely not the same scenario that most here face, as evidenced by the answers so far. I have a very similar situation to yours - single axle RV with a 500# CCC and a half ton truck.
There is no magic bullet - you have to get the RV and truck loaded and weighed, and then you can make adjustments afterwards.
In the meanwhile you should be thinking along the lines of --
RV: food in the cupboards and fridge, bedding, pack light on everything else (water fittings, sewer fittings, extension cords, cutlery, appliances, etc.) - that is all assuming no mods to the RV since they have to be counted towards the payload.
Truck: everything else - barbecue, chairs, clothes, propane tank, grey water tank, etc.
Pack light overall - your rig is not meant to carry everything you own.
Once that is done get over to the scales and weigh the rig so that you can get the truck weights at both axles and also the RV weights at the axle and tongue. You can then work out the RV's longitudinal centre of gravity and from that point onwards, if you keep good records, you never have to weigh again and can shift cargo around to suit limitations.
It is very hard to keep to the 500# (400# in your case) CCC of the RV. That is why single axle RVs are not a very good idea. In my case my RV is weighed to be 300# over the 3500# GVWR, although my axle 200# - 300# under the axle rating. Most of the excess load is on the tongue which is about 600#, up from 350# spec unladen load.
In this condition the RV tracks true and there have been no problems with the rig in all the time and thousands of miles I have pulled it.
So good luck in finding your own sweet spot for loading this restrictive combination. Also, hopefully you will get precise answers to your question.
