Community Forums

Charles L · 06-15-2017, 12:04 PM

2017 FR Sunseeker 2800qs. The listed GVWR is 14,500 lbs. GAWR is listed front 5,000 lbs. and rear 9,600 lbs. Seems there is a 100 lb. discrepancy in their math. Anyway my loaded rv weighed in at 4480 front (520 lbs. under) and 8680 rear (920 lbs. under) for a total of 13,160 lbs. Does this mean I have 1,340 lbs. extra I can load? I will be towing a Toyota Camry on a dolly. Camry weighs 3,362 lbs. and the dolly weighs 380 lbs. It is my understanding that I only need to count the tongue weight which should be about 375 lbs. If I subtract this from the rear weight I still have 545 lbs to spare in the rear. Is this correct? Please educate me if I am wrong. I will be making a cross Country trip soon and am trying to be wise and safe by covering all bases. The hitch tow rating on my rv is 7,500 lbs.
Thanks to all for viewing my post.

Lv2Roam2 · 06-15-2017, 01:55 PM

Charles

Tell us please whether or not anyone was in the coach when weighed - how full were the fuel / propane / fresh water / grey and black tanks? Was the frig and cabinets loaded with food and clothes aboard? Anything else you add at the last minute like mechanic tools, etc?

All of this factors in - and will help us give a 'safer' answer ... thanks

Charles L · 06-15-2017, 04:00 PM

full gas, full propane, 1/4 tank fresh, all groceries except refrigerator not loaded yet, mostly full with what we need. All tools and other items loaded in exterior storage bins. Also the heavy upgrades installed track bar and steering stabilizer. Gray and black tanks empty which we always leave empty when travelling between stops. I would say 90% loaded.

Mr_D · 06-15-2017, 04:05 PM

No problem with their math, you can have 5,000#'s on the front OR 9,600#'s on the rear, just not both at once.
Most dolly tongue weights will be 100#'s or so.

Charles L · 06-15-2017, 04:40 PM

Shows how much I know. The reason why I am asking numerous questions.
Another question is the rv info tells me to run 75 psi front and 80 psi rear. The Michelin load and inflation table tells me I can run 70 on all six tires.
I am not sure I want to go that low on the rear. With my weights and tow do you think I could make this 70 front and 75 rears? Opinions please, I know the final decision is mine but 80 in the rears ends up close to 95 when hot. Makes for a super stiff ride. I just want to do what is correct. Tires are 225/75/16 LRE.

http://www.rvtirepressure.com/assets..._Inflation.pdf

**CLIFFTALL** · 06-15-2017, 04:43 PM

The Michelin table is what you should go by , however adding 5lbs is what I always did. Don't worry about the temps at speed. This is normal.

Mich F · 06-15-2017, 04:48 PM

According to the Acme tow dolly company

Quote:

On a properly loaded tow dolly the tongue weight will always be 10-15% of the weight over the axle of the tow dolly.

Charles L · 06-15-2017, 05:33 PM

I did not have my dolly and car connected when I weighed the rv. So I have 920 lbs to go before reaching max on the rear of 9,600 lbs. Do I add the 10-15% tongue weight to the total rear weight? That would still leave me with a cushion of 357 lbs.

Lv2Roam2 · 06-15-2017, 06:18 PM

Charles

Given the added info you shared - plus adding your dolly tongue weight, the driver / passenger(s) weight, and the inevitable little bit of 'this and that' - looks like you're right on your max weight.

I second the advice on following the Michelin load tables - and adding 5#s is a good practice. Take a close look at the tire sizes - its not uncommon to find a larger tire size on the fronts (singles) than the rears (duals). If its possible get a 4-corner weight so that you inflate to the heaviest side weight on an axle rather than just the total divided by 2 (which might leave you with an under-inflated tire(s) on one side of the axle.

Safe travels ...

CharlesinGA · 06-15-2017, 08:47 PM

The axle weight rating is at the axle, not at the hitch. The only way to determine how the tongue weight of the dolly affects the axle weight is to hitch it up and weigh it. It stands to reason, given the leverages involved, that the tongue weight will be less than what is added to the axle, and some will be subtracted from the front axle. In this case, math won't work, you have to weigh it.

Charles

Charles L · 06-16-2017, 07:06 AM

Thank you for all of the responses I believe I will not be over the limits. I may adjust my air pressures down a bit from 75 f and 80 .

Neisman · 06-16-2017, 03:19 PM

Don't forget to check your coaches tow weight limits. It has nothing to do with the weight of the coach, but with how much weight you are pulling.

Charles L · 06-16-2017, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neisman

Don't forget to check your coaches tow weight limits. It has nothing to do with the weight of the coach, but with how much weight you are pulling.

Thanks for your assistance.

Sweetbriar · 06-16-2017, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Charles L

Shows how much I know. The reason why I am asking numerous questions.
Another question is the rv info tells me to run 75 psi front and 80 psi rear. The Michelin load and inflation table tells me I can run 70 on all six tires.
I am not sure I want to go that low on the rear. With my weights and tow do you think I could make this 70 front and 75 rears? Opinions please, I know the final decision is mine but 80 in the rears ends up close to 95 when hot. Makes for a super stiff ride. I just want to do what is correct. Tires are 225/75/16 LRE.

http://www.rvtirepressure.com/assets..._Inflation.pdf

If you use the axel maximum load limit against the pressure chart, front 5,000 lbs. and rear 9,600 lbs, the pressures recommended cross at 75 PSI on the front and 80 PSI on the rear rounding up which is what the coach placard advises. It's a default pressure if you don't know the coach weight but you not overloaded.

You can certainly run the lower pressure for the current weight as long as you or your traveling companion(s) never, ever, watch the movie "The Long, Long, Trailer". Actually maybe you should watch it.