|
10-14-2017, 02:24 PM
|
#1
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 16
|
Coach weight--something's wrong?
Weighed my coach the other day at a truck scale. First did both axles, then a re-weigh with only the DS on the scale. I then subtracted the re-weigh from the original to arrive at what I thought would be a fair approximation of what a true 4 corner weighing method would produce.
Surprise! There was a 1300# difference across the front axle, heavy on the PS. At the rear there was 480# difference, heavy on the DS. The coach basement is lightly loaded and reasonably balanced. Propane tank (on PS) is full, black and grey tanks at 1/3 and fresh water tank at 2/3). My passenger is 130#. DEF tank (also on PS) is full.
Thinking I might have a ride height problem, I went to the local Freightliner shop where the ride height was confirmed to be within spec. Technician said that the PS was probably lower than the DS when I did the re-weigh (thus shifting weight to the PS) and dismissed the 1300# difference as being "bogus."
Before weighing I had a quick look at the scale and it appeared be level with the concrete around it. If it was low, it couldn't be more than an inch or two.
I'm a rookie at all this RV stuff. Should I take the tech's word for it? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
__________________
2013 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
Toad: 2005 Honda Accord
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 RV Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
iRV2.com RV Community - Are you about to start a new improvement on your RV or need some help with some maintenance? Do you need advice on what products to buy? Or maybe you can give others some advice? No matter where you fit in you'll find that iRV2 is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with other RV owners, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create an RV blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
10-14-2017, 03:36 PM
|
#2
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
|
A re-weigh on a different scale would eliminate the possibilities but I would bet (if your math was correct) that the weight was accurate.
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
|
|
|
10-14-2017, 03:43 PM
|
#3
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Cosby, Tn
Posts: 6,587
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Folio
Weighed my coach the other day at a truck scale. First did both axles, then a re-weigh with only the DS on the scale. I then subtracted the re-weigh from the original to arrive at what I thought would be a fair approximation of what a true 4 corner weighing method would produce.
Surprise! There was a 1300# difference across the front axle, heavy on the PS. At the rear there was 480# difference, heavy on the DS. The coach basement is lightly loaded and reasonably balanced. Propane tank (on PS) is full, black and grey tanks at 1/3 and fresh water tank at 2/3). My passenger is 130#. DEF tank (also on PS) is full.
Thinking I might have a ride height problem, I went to the local Freightliner shop where the ride height was confirmed to be within spec. Technician said that the PS was probably lower than the DS when I did the re-weigh (thus shifting weight to the PS) and dismissed the 1300# difference as being "bogus."
Before weighing I had a quick look at the scale and it appeared be level with the concrete around it. If it was low, it couldn't be more than an inch or two.
I'm a rookie at all this RV stuff. Should I take the tech's word for it? Your thoughts would be appreciated.
|
I agree that a reweigh on another set of scales would confirm. It’s not particularly unusual for the side to side weights to be that far off.
__________________
Steve Ownby
Full time since 2007
2003 Monaco Signature
|
|
|
10-14-2017, 04:48 PM
|
#4
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
|
When I weigh, I put the DS on the scale, then the PS on the scale. Add them together to get the total.
My front PS was 500 lb heavy first time I weighed. Took about 15 min to tweak the ride height slightly, still had it in spec, and brought the weight to balanced.
Until if or when you get it adjusted, you need to set your front PSI's to handle the heaviest weight.
__________________
DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
|
|
|
10-14-2017, 07:55 PM
|
#5
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by Kiawah
When I weigh, I put the DS on the scale, then the PS on the scale. Add them together to get the total.
My front PS was 500 lb heavy first time I weighed. Took about 15 min to tweak the ride height slightly, still had it in spec, and brought the weight to balanced.
Until if or when you get it adjusted, you need to set your front PSI's to handle the heaviest weight.
|
Adjusted ride height or tag load?
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
|
|
|
10-14-2017, 09:50 PM
|
#6
|
Junior Member
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 16
|
Thanks for the replies.
Re-weighing on another scale: good idea. Will try that when I can find one. Scale I used is the only one in my area.
Good to know that a 1300# diffierence may not be unusual. Still ... makes me wonder.
I could only place the PS off the scale I used. No access to hang the DS off the scale. It was a one-way truck scale at a truck stop.
No tag or toad was involved with this issue.
__________________
2013 Tiffin Phaeton 40QBH
Toad: 2005 Honda Accord
|
|
|
10-15-2017, 08:44 AM
|
#7
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2014
Location: Georgia
Posts: 1,127
|
If it rides and drives ok, I wouldn't be concerned about weights. To many other problems with rv's to be concerned about. Dave
__________________
no more rv's
2018 Honda CRV
|
|
|
10-15-2017, 10:35 AM
|
#8
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 4,040
|
Getting accurate individual weights is best done on a level surface with individual axle scales. Using a platform scale can give you significantly inaccurate weights - even if it is less than an inch difference between scale platform and the pavement around it.
Have your ride height checked and adjusted by a shop that knows what they are doing. In the meantime you can use axle weights and use the simple formula to get close:
Make sure you know your tire model and load range and look those up in the manufacturer's inflation tables.
Axle weight X 1.05% / 2 Look the resulting weight up in the tire table, get your inflation pressure, and add 5 psi to that.
Do the same thing to your rear axle (table is usually for dual mounted tires)
A good place to get individual wheel weights are at rallies, FMCA rallies, Escapees, etc.
__________________
Roger & Mary
2017 Winnebago Navion 24V (Sold)
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH (Sold)
|
|
|
10-15-2017, 05:06 PM
|
#9
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,772
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by luvlabs
Getting accurate individual weights is best done on a level surface with individual axle scales. Using a platform scale can give you significantly inaccurate weights - even if it is less than an inch difference between scale platform and the pavement around it.
Have your ride height checked and adjusted by a shop that knows what they are doing. In the meantime you can use axle weights and use the simple formula to get close:
Make sure you know your tire model and load range and look those up in the manufacturer's inflation tables.
Axle weight X 1.05% / 2 Look the resulting weight up in the tire table, get your inflation pressure, and add 5 psi to that.
Do the same thing to your rear axle (table is usually for dual mounted tires)
A good place to get individual wheel weights are at rallies, FMCA rallies, Escapees, etc.
|
Looks like you are adding 5% twice?
__________________
Terry & Alice
2006 Bounder 38L DP
2012 GMC Terrain
|
|
|
10-15-2017, 05:13 PM
|
#10
|
Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Worcester Pennsylvania
Posts: 1,063
|
Look up your local Masonry supply house, they usually all have scales for the rock trucks. Usually free, and don't seem to mind doing it.
Also did at the local scrap yard, and the lady came out and started yelling at me to leave... Was thinking, don't yell,,,charge... Free money.
__________________
2006 Fleetwood Bounder 35E Trek pure Trike, electric, 50 mile range, 7000 ,miles the get everything runner. To be toad list Done, Ford E450 toad. Stay & Play active brakes.
Full-time since 2018. LG 4.5 cu ft washer/dryer.
|
|
|
10-15-2017, 08:33 PM
|
#11
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Appalachian Campers Mid Atlantic Campers Coastal Campers Freightliner Owners Club
Join Date: Jan 2015
Posts: 1,622
|
Quote:
Adjusted ride height or tag load?
|
I adjusted the DS ride height ever so slightly, to put a little more pressure on the front left tire. It's still within the Freightliner adjustment specs.
__________________
DaveB, Raleigh, NC
2015 Tiffin RED 33AA, w/Honda CRV
VMSpc, Magnum BMK/ARC50
|
|
|
10-17-2017, 02:19 PM
|
#12
|
Senior Member
Tiffin Owners Club Winnebago Owners Club
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Las Cruces, NM
Posts: 4,040
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by firedoc
Looks like you are adding 5% twice?
|
Big difference between 5% of 6000 lbs and 5 psi. So no, I didn't add 5% twice. The 5 psi is a safety or fudge factor if you will.
__________________
Roger & Mary
2017 Winnebago Navion 24V (Sold)
2014 Tiffin Phaeton 36GH (Sold)
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
Search this Thread |
|
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Discussions |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|