Making Sense of Numbers?

[KarenS144]

What I'm trying to understand is how the weight of a towed vehicle affects the amount of stuff that can be packed in the MH. I understand one has to factor in people, pets, food, water, bedding, propane & the stuff that's packed into storage bins & basements.

If there was weight on the tongue, I could see where it would make a big difference but since the weight of the toad is on it's own wheels, it doesn't seem like it should make as big of a difference.

I can see the restriction on hitch weight and how towing a 10,000 lb something with a 5000 lb hitch would not be a good idea but that's not what I mean. I get how hauling something weighing several thousand lbs would effect climbing & descending mountains and stopping distances. I tow a horse & horse trailer around some so have figured that part out!

So here's the math problem:

If the payload is 5000 lbs and the toad weighs 3000 lbs, how much is the payload reduced?

[ohhwell]

Originally Posted by KarenS144

What I'm trying to understand is how the weight of a towed vehicle affects the amount of stuff that can be packed in the MH. I understand one has to factor in people, pets, food, water, bedding, propane & the stuff that's packed into storage bins & basements.

If there was weight on the tongue, I could see where it would make a big difference but since the weight of the toad is on it's own wheels, it doesn't seem like it should make as big of a difference.

I can see the restriction on hitch weight and how towing a 10,000 lb something with a 5000 lb hitch would not be a good idea but that's not what I mean. I get how hauling something weighing several thousand lbs would effect climbing & descending mountains and stopping distances. I tow a horse & horse trailer around some so have figured that part out!

So here's the math problem:

If the payload is 5000 lbs and the toad weighs 3000 lbs, how much is the payload reduced?

I dunno, what is your weight before the toad, your GVWR and your GCWR?

[Jack1234]

Payload (GVWR) of the MH is reduced by the tongue weight & the weight of the hitch. The GCWR is reduced by the weight of the toad (3000lbs).

[KarenS144]

Originally Posted by ohhwell

I dunno, what is your weight before the toad, your GVWR and your GCWR?

Are you trying to confuse me? It worked!

[KarenS144]

Originally Posted by Jack1234

Payload (GVWR) of the MH is reduced by the tongue weight & the weight of the hitch. The GCWR is reduced by the weight of the toad (3000lbs).

Well, that hardly seems fair! Who thought up all these numbers we have to worry about anyway?

When I first started showing horses some.... umm.... well.. a LONG time ago, if you could hook it to a truck, you could tow it. It was another life, with a different hubs but we hauled a 4 horse stock with 3 & sometimes 4 horses plus hay, grain & tack with a 150. We also had a Winnie Brave for awhile and that poor thing did the same thing for a year or so.

Thanks for the explanation though. That helps!

[tankcj]

You asked "If the payload is 5000 lbs and the toad weighs 3000 lbs, how much is the payload reduced?"

First, never exceed the GCWR or the GVWR.

The GCWR is the GVWR + towed weight.

GVWR is weight of vehicle + cargo + tongue weight (if any)

If the towed weight has no tongue weight then no matter how heavy it is, it doesn't affect the GVWR - only the GCWR and should never exceed the maximum weight your vehicle can tow.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by tankcj

You asked "If the payload is 5000 lbs and the toad weighs 3000 lbs, how much is the payload reduced?"

First, never exceed the GCWR or the GVWR.

The GCWR is the GVWR + towed weight.

GVWR is weight of vehicle + cargo + tongue weight (if any)

If the towed weight has no tongue weight then no matter how heavy it is, it doesn't affect the GVWR - only the GCWR and should never exceed the maximum weight your vehicle can tow.

"What he said."

This may help. The GCVW is the manufacturers maximum recommended weight of the tow unit plus all attached trailers and/or vehicles. It is determined by engineers considering horsepower, gear ratio, brakes, transmission, drive line and other factors we are not aware of. I am sure they consider the capacity of the vehicle during its life cycle.

The GWV is the maximum weight the tow unit can be including vehicle, hitch weigth, fuel, food, water (all three kinds), people, pets, clothing and anything you might be trying to smuggle. It considers the frame, axles, tires (not much as that is another subject), springs, ride height, etc. This is the weight the engineers consider to be safe to drive at (or less) for the entire life of the vehicle. Note: Changing to bigger tires or adding air bags etc will not change the GVW.

Then there is GAWR (front and rear). This is the maximum weight that can be safely carried on either the front or the rear axles. This can affect handling. A trip to the weigh scale can quickly help you see how you are doing. If you are going to weigh it you should load it up as you would normally travel. Don't cheat and only add have a tank of water or fuel and then head home and top up!

The GCVW - GVWR = the maximum recommended weight that you can safely tow.

It can get very confusing and as you get more experienced it will become much easier.

Have a great time with your MH.

[Scarab0088]

Payload is a fuzzy term...

Here's what the governing body for RV mfgt's (the RVIA) defines these measures as:
Definitions and Terms | RVSEF

The big 2 that you should avoid exceeding are:
~Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) - The total weight (empty RV plus stuff in RV, including fuel and water) designed/allowed to be carried on the wheels of the motorhome.

~Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) - The total allowed mass of everything (RV, stuff, trailer/car and stuff in trailer/car) that the motorhome's engine is pulling down the road.

Best luck