How many weigh their coach?

[Dougjpr]

I took my coach to a scale yesterday to see what it weighed all loaded with our stuff, full water, full fuel and me. Wanted to make sure I had tire pressures correct.

At the scale the person working the counter asked why I needed to weigh it, which made me wonder how many coaches go over their scale and people weigh their coaches?

Was at a CAT scale at a Flying J just west of Toronto, Ontario

I weighed it when I first picked it up but had no water or gear in it.

Not that much more than first weigh.

As for tire pressures, when setting the pressure for the weight, is there a rule of thumb for how much to allow for other items, extra passengers etc? 5%over the axle weight?

Coach weighed 11,200 on steer and 17,900 on drive (just a little coach)

I have the Michelin load guide for the tires.

Thanks

[BBelanger]

This is a big discussion but if you go by what you have now and add 5 psi I’d say you’re pretty safe.

[Ron Postma]

Freightliner recommends 5 psi over the calculated pressure. You should also weigh each wheel independently. You should try and equalize the weight on each tire. Then use the weight of the heaviest tire to set pressure.

[AITG]

We left MI for W CO this morning. When everything was loaded up, clothes, food, full fuel and fresh water tanks I weighed it before we left. I am 720 pounds below the GVW. Neither axle is over and the tires have reserve capacity.
I am anal about tire pressure. It pays off. My last RV was a pickup camper. It was 2450 pounds over the GVWR. I adjusted tire pressure, drove it 30000 miles without a problem.

[scrowell52]

I weighed my motorhome and it is maxed at the GVWR, but approx 1000# under on the CGVWR, so will likely cary some heavier items in the car. Still not to sure about fudge factor on GVWR, but several people including my mechanic say that 10% over on GVWR would be ok.

[Mr_D]

I should I guess. My front axle weighed 18,030 with the late DW in the passenger seat and loaded for a weekend. Front axle is rated for 20,000#'s as are the tires. Drive axle is rated for 20,000#'s and the tag for 14,000#'s.
Since CC says to run the pressure on the Federal weight sticker that's what I do. My CCC is about 7,000#'s so I'm not too worried about being overloaded.

[Algoma]

Originally Posted by Dougjpr

I took my coach to a scale yesterday to see what it weighed all loaded with our stuff, full water, full fuel and me. Wanted to make sure I had tire pressures correct.

At the scale the person working the counter asked why I needed to weigh it, which made me wonder how many coaches go over their scale and people weigh their coaches?

Was at a CAT scale at a Flying J just west of Toronto, Ontario

I weighed it when I first picked it up but had no water or gear in it.

Not that much more than first weigh.

As for tire pressures, when setting the pressure for the weight, is there a rule of thumb for how much to allow for other items, extra passengers etc? 5%over the axle weight?

Coach weighed 11,200 on steer and 17,900 on drive (just a little coach)

I have the Michelin load guide for the tires.

Thanks

Your question was that since not many motorhomes go on the CAT scale it means owners aren't getting their coaches weighed. Wrong! It means most owners are getting their coaches weighed properly on scales that check the weight on each wheel individually. The CAT scale will give you a rough idea but it is no substitute for individual wheel weighing. Read the rest of the Michelin RV tire guide.

[Luv2go]

If you can move left or right to get your right or left wheels off the scales and the coach is still level you can use a CAT scale to get individual wheel position weight. I do this at the Haw River, NC CAT scale all the time. Unfortunately a lot of them have too much slope on the sides, or bars or guardrails that keep you from doing this. The scale people are good with this, just tell them you're doing a reweigh.

[tom chelbana]

All Newmar, and for that mater all RV owners should have their unit weight. This is the only way to have the correct tire pressure and know if their RV is within the capacities it was built for to be safe.

[vsheetz]

I weigh. I add 5 psi.

Many don't weigh - but they should.

If not weighed tires should be inflated to max noted on the tire.

[sedaliaterry]

I agree with vsheetz, I don't think many even consider weighing. CAT or Individual wheel. I think a lot of folks are oblivious to the whole cccw, weighing, and tire pressure concerns (or it is just ignored). Heck, how many folks keep proper tire pressure on their cars (even with TPMS alerting them they run around with the indicator on).

There are many posts on this forum that seem to point to this. Some rigs unfortunately put folks in the hole (or very close to it) on this subject when they buy them (certain models from several manufactures including Newmar, and especially Sprinter chassis rigs).

This goes beyond just weighing for proper tire pressure settings IMO.

[CLIFFTALL]

I had my MH’s weighed to be sure I carried the proper tire pressures ( added 5 psi for good measure ) . I also had it weighed each year when starting out for our usual 4-5 month trip to be sure I wasn’t over the max that my axels were rated for. If you have an accident , any smart Lawyer would be sure to check this as this could contribute to determining fault if you’re overloaded.

[BBelanger]

Ok, this begs the question. Those who got their newer 43xx DSDP or VTDP 4 wheel weigh, how far off were you on tire pressures from the total axle weight pressures? Did it make more than a 5 psi difference?

[MTK46]

I weighted mine and found what the factory sticker recommended pressure was right on.
Yes I am new to motorhomes but not to RV's or heavy equipment. I was a City Fleet Manger and we had all kinds of commercial vehicles. We never weighted them 4-corner wise.
City bus would change 4-corner weight all the time. Street sweeper would change, trash trucks would change, Hope you get my drift.

So if you want to four corner weight your MH feel free.

Do you know why Fire Trucks don't have to stop at the scales? Simple most all of them run over the GVWR. We sent one Fire Truck back to the factory to install a heavier front axle under it. Loaded it was 3 tons over the axle weight rating.