Finally weighed my MH!

[Rockwood27]

After 3 years of ownership, I went to a CAT scale and ran my MH over it. This is something I've been dreading for a while! I'm loaded with my 5 month snowbird weight.....includes full fuel and lpg, 1/3 water, and a bit in both gray and black tanks. I was towing my Ford Focus on the Master Tow dolly. My MH specs are: 22K GVWR, 26K GCWR, 8.5K FAWR, and 15K RAWR.

The results are: GVW: 21,660, GCW: 25,500, FAW: 6,940, RAW: 14,720, and toad/dolly: 3,840. It appears I'm light on the front, just under on the rear axle, gross and combined. I can't see moving much forward to offload the rear axle. It is nice to see I'm under spec in all regards!

One question I do have is: what takes precedence, my 22K GVWR or 23.5K axle ratings? This has always had me stumped!

[PDR John]

Highway patrol says the weight on the sticker.

At least that's what the one in SD told me when he pulled me over in a company car once. The law and the truth may very.

[aauummm]

Originally Posted by Rockwood27

After 3 years of ownership, I went to a CAT scale and ran my MH over it. This is something I've been dreading for a while! I'm loaded with my 5 month snowbird weight.....includes full fuel and lpg, 1/3 water, and a bit in both gray and black tanks. I was towing my Ford Focus on the Master Tow dolly. My MH specs are: 22K GVWR, 26K GCWR, 8.5K FAWR, and 15K RAWR.

The results are: GVW: 21,660, GCW: 25,500, FAW: 6,940, RAW: 14,720, and toad/dolly: 3,840. It appears I'm light on the front, just under on the rear axle, gross and combined. I can't see moving much forward to offload the rear axle. It is nice to see I'm under spec in all regards!

One question I do have is: what takes precedence, my 22K GVWR or 23.5K axle ratings? This has always had me stumped!

The 22K GVWR takes precedence. It's rated up to 15K on the rear and it's rated up to 8.5K on the front, but not both at the same time. Thus if you have 15K RAW then you can only have 7K FAW.

In any case, adding the actual weights (FAW and RAW) together cannot exceed the GVWR.

Congrats on getting it weighed! Will you be able to reduce tire pressures a bit?

[Rockwood27]

Originally Posted by aauummm

The 22K GVWR takes precedence. It's rated up to 15K on the rear and it's rated up to 8.5K on the front, but not both at the same time. Thus if you have 15K RAW then you can only have 7K FAW.

In any case, adding the actual weights (FAW and RAW) together cannot exceed the GVWR.

Congrats on getting it weighed! Will you be able to reduce tire pressures a bit?

I may reduce the fronts a bit. it doesn't ride rough now. I'll keep the rear tires where I have them for the load.

[paz]

Originally Posted by Rockwood27

...One question I do have is: what takes precedence, my 22K GVWR or 23.5K axle ratings? This has always had me stumped!

You should not exceed the GVWR. The combined weight ratings of the individual axles is higher than the GVWR so you have a little leeway in how you load the coach. In other words, you can be at the maximum weight limit of the front axle or the rear axle, but not both.

[Selah]

My opinion only. Neither takes precedence. These are simply "do not exceed" weights. Even though your total rig is below the GVWR if you exceed your FAWR you are out of spec and this should be addressed as soon as possible.
In your case all your specs look good. Only thing left to do is get a four corner weigh to make sure neither a left or right wheel is out of spec and fine tune your tire pressure.

[aauummm]

Originally Posted by Selah

My opinion only. Neither takes precedence. These are simply "do not exceed" weights. Even though your total rig is below the GVWR if you exceed your FAWR you are out of spec and this should be addressed as soon as possible.
In your case all your specs look good. Only thing left to do is get a four corner weigh to make sure neither a left or right wheel is out of spec and fine tune your tire pressure.

His question was: "what takes precedence, my 22K GVWR or 23.5K axle ratings?" He was adding the two axle ratings together and wondering if that total or the GVWR was the correct total allowable weight of the rig. In answer to the OP question, the correct total allowable weight of the rig (GVWR) is the 22K.

[wa8yxm]

Originally Posted by Rockwood27

One question I do have is: what takes precedence, my 22K GVWR or 23.5K axle ratings? This has always had me stumped!

The answer is both.. Do not exceed either rating.

Depending on how tight the design you can overload an axle without going over your GVWR or you can go over your GVWR by very carefully loading and not exceed any single axle.

But if you go over the axle ratings you risk suspension and axe damage.. Going over GVWR all sorts of damage. So do not exceed any of them.

Think of it this way,, Axles are like Arms and Legs
GVWR is your back

Which do you wish to break?

[Dougsee3]

Fleetwood seems to only rate the W22 at 8000 lb. Front and 14500 lb. Rear
With the 235/80r22.5 tires

[BigBadDad]

When close to the axle limits as a CAT reading shows then the four corner numbers get more important. Nice even side-to-side weight distribution is unlikely and some corners could be way overloaded.

[Rockwood27]

Originally Posted by Dougsee3

Fleetwood seems to only rate the W22 at 8000 lb. Front and 14500 lb. Rear
With the 235/80r22.5 tires

The 8.5K front and 15K rear axles were upgrade options on my year WH chassis.