MGVWR and problems titling trailer

[Oreonut]

Hello!

We just took our trailer through local Delaware inspection and the trailer weight is 10,851 lbs. The MGVWR is 9905 and they are refusing to title it because the weights don't match. The trailer was purchased in PA.

Brand new just purchased and we did not stick 2200 lbs worth of stuff in it. A few TV's and some beach chairs and regular trailer stuff but certainly not much of anything. Tanks are empty. Their scale could be off but they wouldn't even consider that.

Anyone ever face this problem?? We have no idea what to do. The current tags expired from PA while the trailer was in getting some service done.

Thanks,
Kelly

[Oreonut]

Nope nothing more to the story. Brand new travel trailer purchased in PA with PA temp tags from a well known dealer. We live just over the line in DE and you have to take your trailer through inspection and get it passed (it did pass) then you can go in and register it, pay the taxes and get the title. They are refusing to title because of the weight. If we lived in PA, none of this would have been an issue.

If the CAT scale on Saturday morning states the DMV scale was correct it will definately be a dealer and manufacturer problem. Although they already told us we had to call the dealer but we haven't actually made much stink about it yet.

I don't actually think we have 900lbs of stuff in there that can be removed to get below the limit to pass even if we remove the propane tanks.

Aren't these items included in the dry weight? One aircon, batteries. Propane, awning, stabilizers? We did have the dealer put in the extra air conditioner and they of course didn't mention anything about the added weight and we didn't even consider it. The same trailer from other dealers had the 2nd air in them already.

[Cwilson333]

Let me get this straight? A brand new never titled travel trailer? The state you wish to register it in does not matter. This is the dealer and manufacturers problem to deal with IMO. I've never heard of a requirement to have a brand new, first time sold, commecially made trailer weighed to title it. I find it hard to believe that everyone in DE has to go to some state operated weigh station in order to title a new trailer. The COO has the weight and VIN as certified by the manufacturer which is registered federally by law when the label is printed and applied to the trailer, and should be a accepted at face value. There has to be more to the story. R title?

[valhalla360]

Start to add up the options and you might have 800-1000lb of payload used before putting anything else in it. 1200lb payload on a 34ft trailer would be a deal breaker for us.

Two aircon, batteries. Propane, awning, stabilizers, water, etc... adds up pretty quick.

As suggested strip all your personal gear out and get it weighed. If it's still over go back to the dealer and demand your money back as it's not legally usable. If you have 3-400lb of payload left, I would still argue with them but it's a gray area. If you have 800-1000lb left, you are kind of stuck.

[Oreonut]

JBarca wrote:

A question: Did you get the smooth-sided fiberglass siding option? That option on a camper that long can be 300 to 400# more weight.

Yes, it is the smooth fiberglass. The only larger thing I know that was added after manufacture was a rear air conditioner. We added 3 TV's, a few decorations, bedding, small dog crates, beach chairs & umbrella, lightweight mat, hoses, sewer hoses, blocks, laundry rack, a case of water and that is about it. The electric cord which feels like it weighs 30lbs was not even in it at the time of weighing.

Wishing we went through inspection earlier for sure before adding anything at all. Didn't see this coming and it was in the shop getting all the tv cables reran when the temp tags expired. All the ends of them were crimped too short and no connections for any of the tvs worked.

This is the exact one - 2023 Forest River RV Wildwood 31KQBTS

I'll have to check the stickers when I go over there. I know the one plate says 9905 which matches the Certificate of Origin.

[treyster]

If the weight is accurate you need to transfer 900 lbs of gear to the tow rig to make the trip next week. Fortunately a 2500HD should have over 3000 lbs payload so at least on paper it's doable.
If weight is accurate, you need to put the dealer on notice immediately they sold you a trailer that can't be titled. But if you strip it to make your trip, you lose your argument it can't be titled. If you get it titled then add stuff back in, you risk getting stuck at a weigh station somewhere. There's a lot to consider if weight is accurate, easiest out may be to have dealer loan you a trailer for this trip then sort it out afterwards.
Really hope the DE scale is inaccurate.

[JBarca]

Oreonut wrote:
Here are the stated manufacturer weights - 2023 Forest River RV Wildwood 31KQBTS

Hitch 905
Cargo 1292
Dry Weight 8573

MGVWR on sticker 9905

Weight on DMV scale - 10,851

There is no way our beach chairs, mat, sewer stuff, hoses, and random household supplies put it at that weight.

We are thinking bad scale or Forest River stated weight is just wrong. Just have no idea how to fix it. The DMV guy is calling the state headquarters today but says there is nothing he can do. I'll call the dealer today.

Frustration is we are supposed to leave on 6/1 for two weeks so have little time to get this worked out and really don't know how that even gets done.

Thanks!

Hi,

Trying to help here, I looked up your camper and others in the same Wildwood group. Here:https://forestriverinc.com/rvs/wildwood

Your 31KQBTS is 36'7" lg, triple slide, and the book-listed dry cargo rating is 1,292#. Several other 36 to 37 ft long campers are also listed, but they all list more cargo capacity. And a few in the 11K GVWR range.

A question: Did you get the smooth-sided fiberglass siding option? That option on a camper that long can be 300 to 400# more weight.

I thought there was a semi-new law that each camper is supposed to have a weight sticker inside the camper stating that the camper weighs less cargo, the LP gas adds so many pounds, freshwater filling the tank adds, and what remaining cargo capacity is left, as that exact camper left the factory with all options. There should also be a cargo capacity sticker outside up front on the left where the tire size and pressures should be. Does the inside weight sticker cargo capacity align with the outside tire cargo sticker capacity?

Using the brochure weights may not be accurate as it does not include added options. But, the inside weight sticker should consist of all the options from when it left the factory.

I will say this, only having a dry 1,292# cargo capacity on a 36' 7" lg bunkhouse camper is not a lot. Filling 2, 30# LP tanks with gas and group 24 battery uses up a little over 100# before you even put any cargo in the camper.

I wonder if they optioned it up by the dealer order for their stock, and the options ate into your low cargo capacity?

Please post back how this comes out and your trip to the scales.

Hope this helps,

John

[Bobbo]

MitchF150 wrote:
I am not sure what the "M" in your "GVWR" means

Manufacturer

treyster wrote:
I'd empty it and take it to another set of scales to verify dry sticker. What's your tow rig gross combined weight rating?

The problem is not with the tow vehicle capacity. The problem is that the trailer weighs significantly more than the trailer's GVWR, so the state won't issue tags for the trailer.

[TravelinDog]

Oreonut wrote:

dieseltruckdriver wrote:
Take your trailer to a CAT scale first. They are certified weights so you will know for sure what your weight is. If you really are over that much, strip the trailer and then hit the CAT scale again. When you are good there head to the DMV with the CAT scale ticket in hand. Then you can get it licensed for your trip.

Thanks! Heading to a CAT scale on Saturday. Everyone I talk to from the dealer to the DMV say they have never seen this happen before. IDK .... weird for sure.

Please let us know the outcome with your problem.

[nickthehunter]

A 31 foot, 3 slide trailer that weighs 8500 pounds - that doesn’t sound right to me. The 10,000 pound number sounds closer to me.

[Oreonut]

Thanks! Heading to a CAT scale on Saturday. Everyone I talk to from the dealer to the DMV say they have never seen this happen before. IDK .... weird for sure.

[dieseltruckdriv]

Take your trailer to a CAT scale first. They are certified weights so you will know for sure what your weight is. If you really are over that much, strip the trailer and then hit the CAT scale again. When you are good there head to the DMV with the CAT scale ticket in hand. Then you can get it licensed for your trip.

[treyster]

To make your trip and get it titled, you need to get that trailer down to 9900 lbs even if you have to clean it out, take out the propane and battery, etc. Your gear would then be in your tow rig and that cannot exceed the GCVWR or your tow rig GVWR. Get to the scales and figure it out.
If the trailer is stickered wrong, you need to let the dealer know ASAP and can fight it out after your trip.
I'm guessing the scales were screwed up.

[Oreonut]

Dealer says there isn't anything they can do. Have a call into Forest River.

[Oreonut]

treyster wrote:
I'd empty it and take it to another set of scales to verify dry sticker. What's your tow rig gross combined weight rating?

We are towing with a Chevy 2500HD - so plenty of towing capacity - 17,000+

[ferndaleflyer]

Normal DMV incompetence. Ask 10 0f them a question and get 10 different answers every time.