Weight Difference Excessive R to L Rear??

[Downsizer]

We just had the weight done on all 4 corners individually. Weird readings!!!!
Front within 100 lbs, rear right is 11,800; left is 9,200 Difference of 2600 lbs?!!??!
It's a 2000 Windsor without any slides (6 wheel-no tag). Could they have designed it to be that way for a slide to be factory installed on the left side (common for that year) and then balanced?? It has the Roadmaster full airbag suspension. We even lowered the coach down to "no air" just to be sure the bags weren't causing a problem. Same weight it has carried for 11 years... but first 4 corner weighing! Refrig is on the R/S, but the rear corner weights combined are within a few hundred lbs of axle weight last year. Rides fine and sits level......
Thoughts/Ideas??

["007"]

My coach has two slides on drivers side but the most weight is on the passenger side.
Passenger side has kitchen, refrigerator, batteries ,Gen, full wardrobe cabinets in bedroom and larger storage compartments.
You need to load the compartments to the drivers side to try and balance your load if you can.
Air pressure would be set for the heaver side for both left and right tires using your tire mfg air pressure tables.

[Arch Hoagland]

Interesting post. I'd be curious to hear from others who have weighed all 4 corners.

I've not weighed all four because the scales I've gone to want to make sure no one cheats by keeping one side off the scale so they set them up to make you stay centered on the scale.

[walt2137]

Originally Posted by Downsizer

We just had the weight done on all 4 corners individually. Weird readings!!!!
Front within 100 lbs, rear right is 11,800; left is 9,200 Difference of 2600 lbs?!!??!
It's a 2000 Windsor without any slides (6 wheel-no tag). Could they have designed it to be that way for a slide to be factory installed on the left side (common for that year) and then balanced?? It has the Roadmaster full airbag suspension. We even lowered the coach down to "no air" just to be sure the bags weren't causing a problem. Same weight it has carried for 11 years... but first 4 corner weighing! Refrig is on the R/S, but the rear corner weights combined are within a few hundred lbs of axle weight last year. Rides fine and sits level......
Thoughts/Ideas??

Be sure to air all the tires using the right side weight and try shifting the heavy stuff to the left side. That is a unusual difference and puts you over on the rear axel, You have a 13,000 front axel and a 20,000 rear axel but the axles that Monaco used could be rated up to 22,000 and that is not legal on fed hwys. Was the fresh water thank and fuel tank full.

[Dr4Film]

Downsizer,

You have a 38 foot Windsor PB/FD floor-plan. See this link.

Windsor Floor Plans

As Walt pointed out, according to the weights and specs for your coach, you are over the spec by 1000 lbs. on the rear axle. It is rated for 20,000 lb's. However, I would not worry so much about your over axle weight versus discovering why there is such a huge difference of weights from one side to the other.

Have you been inside each of the bays to see where both Monaco and you have stored everything? Regarding the stuff you have upstairs inside the coach, I don't believe there would be anything that heavy that you could move around or change to make a 2600 lb. difference. I am guessing that there is stuff down below that is causing the big difference between each side.

In my 2002 Windsor with 3 slides, my weights are within a few hundred pounds of each side well within reasonable differences.

2600 lb's is WAY out of any reasonable weight difference.

Who did your four corner weights and were they certified?

Dr4Film ----- Richard.

[CoryP]

Try and reweigh your coach going the other direction. I am betting something was wrong with the scales. (unless you have a minicopper in one of your storage bays)

[moisheh]

Probably it is your anvill collection causing the problem. But seriously are you sure the weighing was done on level ground? What is in your storage bay?

[Steve Ownby]

Hey Downsizer,

Where did you weigh? Was it during the FMCA event in Perry? If so call the organization that did the weighing and discuss with them. I suspect that something having to do with airing down the coach caused a weight transfer. It's a known condition that the 3 point ride height valve system can cause a false weight. The best way to get a correct weight with an air bag suspension is as follows:

1. Set up in a straight line behind the weigh station.
2. Turn engine off.
3. Dump air.
4. Start coach & allow to return to ride height.
5. Pull straight ahead to weigh station.

[William Willard]

We have a 07, 42ft Camelot -- We had the corners weighed at the FMCA Rally in Redmond OR -- Fronts were the same -- Right Drivers were 900 lbs heavier than the Left -- Right Tag was 75lbs heavier than the Left -- The one that did the weighing said that was typical of Monaco MH`s -- He has a Dynasty, & his is heavier on the Right -- We don`t full time, & carry very little "Stuff" with us, so our cargo would have no bearing on the weight difference -- Our frig, & a heavy sleeper sofa is on the drivers (left) side -- Bill Willard

[Norm4015]

Originally Posted by CoryP

Try and reweigh your coach going the other direction. I am betting something was wrong with the scales. (unless you have a minicopper in one of your storage bays)

I agree. There was something wrong with the scales.

The maximum weight difference side to side is 5%. If an axle has a GAWR of 10,000 pounds there should be no more than 500 pounds difference side to side. And an axle rated at 20,000 pounds should have a difference of no more than 1,000 pounds.

[gg]

Try a certified CAT scales as this can affect handling/ tire wear.

Handling.

1. Have it weight at all four corners with a full tank of gas and full of 80 gals of water. If you have all the (STuff) already put that in also.
With all the driver/pass in position weight it at a CAT scale for about $10.00 with a print out.

First time you will get the front and back axles. Then around again with the driver side front and back axle on the scale pads leaving the pass side off. You can take the driver side weight and subtract from the total front and obtain the pass side corner weight.

My 2009 34SBD came in at 3480lb DF 3340 lbPF
6540lb DR 6620 lbPR
for a total of 19,980 lbs - 22,000 total = 2020 lbs of Stuff.
This is not a lot when we add all the food and cloths, rock collection, stuff, Tools,then more stuff ect.

2. Air Pressure from the Michelin man chart says 75 psi on all the tires, I run 83 psi. with good wear so far.


My MH handles neutral one finger, this is with the Toad on the back.
With the Toad, I did notice less of the PUSH from Semi Trucks passing then without the Toad.

I have since loaded my front pass side compartment with all the heavy things to help balance the front side to side .

I am thinking of adding the rear track bar that OMEYS has a write up on.
This can be made for ($60.00) See his web sitelink of IRV2 ,great site.

My Wife says the MH handles like a pickup truck/ Gvan.

[moisheh]

gg: You were fortunate to find a scale that is level on the sides. I have looked at more than 15 truck stops and they either had posts to prevent that type of weighing or the surrounding terrain was lower than the scale. If your unit is not level the weights are very innacurate. Maybe someone should start a thread of suitable truck scales. Maybe scale tecnology has improved over the years ( electronic) but at one time if you were off center by a lot the weight would be incorrect. Trucks dont have that problem as the scale is not wide enough to be off center by very much.

[gg]

This Cat scale was near Wakarusa, IN. The Dealer called ahead as the four corner weight was a requirement I had in my PA. When i got to the truck stop, I talked to the scale attendent an he instructed me how to go through twice. The scale had level concrete off to the side. He said he had weighted a lot of motorhomes and provided me with the Certificates and signed them.

[moisheh]

I have made a mental note fo that post. Do you remember the name of the truck stop and on what highway?
Cat scales web site shows 2. One is 19 miles away and the other 21 miles. South Bend and Plymouth. Both Pilot's.
Thanks