Advantage of weight or lack of?

[TheCatsRV]

We finally got a rig and was wondering what the advantages of weight or rather lack of would mean?


The one we got is a 30' Coachmen Mirada 300QB which claims a dry manufactured weight of just under 7 tons. It's the lightest we've seen (I photo the weight labels when taking a look to help make a decision) other than a really-old Triple E on a P30 chassis. Others have been up to 2 tons heavier for not much longer (35-36' maybe? and perhaps 2 slides, ours is slide-less).



I guess lighter weight is good for:

• fuel economy
• faster braking/better brake life
• more nimble on the road
• perhaps high tow capability (not in our current plans)

Disadvantages:

• crosswind stability?
• highway stability?
• harsher ride?

[Skip426]

Chassis and RV weight ( higher ) can mean a bunch of differences in suspension parts , brake systems , tires, transmissions and differentials .

At under 14,000 dry for the length , I'd be more concerned about OCCC ( Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity ) .

What is the GVWR , GCWR and OCCC listed on the weight placard ?

[TheCatsRV]

Originally Posted by Skip426

Chassis and RV weight ( higher ) can mean a bunch of differences in suspension parts , brake systems , tires, transmissions and differentials .

At under 14,000 dry for the length , I'd be more concerned about OCCC ( Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity ) .

What is the GVWR , GCWR and OCCC listed on the weight placard ?

A very good question.



15,700 GVWR

26,000 GCWR (which means the rig could theoretically haul 5 tons when the coach is fully loaded?)

is NCC same as OCCC?
UVW is 13,792 that gives NCC of 1,908

[Skip426]

NCC , OCCC basically the same yes .

10,000 tow capacity is huge for a that light a chassis .

My 28,000 GVWR Freightliner has only 5,000 tow.

What engine/trans in the RV ? Chassis manufacturer?

[Tha_Rooster]

Originally Posted by TheCatsRV

A very good question.



15,700 GVWR

26,000 GCWR (which means the rig could theoretically haul 5 tons when the coach is fully loaded?)

is NCC same as OCCC?
UVW is 13,792 that gives NCC of 1,908

I seriously don’t think a Miranda can haul 10,000 lbs

[TheCatsRV]

Originally Posted by Skip426

NCC , OCCC basically the same yes .

10,000 tow capacity is huge for a that light a chassis .

My 28,000 GVWR Freightliner has only 5,000 tow.

What engine/trans in the RV ? Chassis manufacturer?

'06 F53 with the V-10. The GCWR seems to be in line with the other V-10 F53s RVs that I've had a look at. The higher tow capacity must be due to the lower GVWR.

[TheCatsRV]

Originally Posted by Tha_Rooster

I seriously don’t think a Miranda can haul 10,000 lbs

Just because you can doesn't mean you should.



Only thing that might be hauled is if we buy my B-i-L's Chevy Sonic (3,000 lbs at most). Surprisingly heavier than our '04 Corolla (not towable w/o a tow dolly).

[768Q]

Originally Posted by TheCatsRV

A very good question.



15,700 GVWR

26,000 GCWR (which means the rig could theoretically haul 5 tons when the coach is fully loaded?)

is NCC same as OCCC?
UVW is 13,792 that gives NCC of 1,908

This looks close to the weight ratings of the 29' (280QB) 1996 Coachman Santara that we had, it was the F53 Ford chassis with the 460 and it towed my 8K pound enclosed 24' trailer very well. Do other big vehicles move you around? Yes very much so that I remember turning the wheel 1/8th of a turn when big rigs came by. I bought it from the original owner who was a good racer friend and one thing he did just before he sold it to me was replace the worn rubber rear sway bar bushings with poly-graphite which he said made a huge improvement, so you might check yours.See below as my UVW was 13k and GVWR of 17k, I was at 16k +/- loaded which still left me with 9k towing before I got to the GCWR of 25k.

[Ray,IN]

Coachmen Mirada series come with a 5,000# hitch, an 8,000# hitch is optional.
reference: https://coachmenrv.com/class-a-motorhomes/mirada


Your hitch rating should be identified on the hitch. What the coach is rated for is immaterial, the hitch rating is the deciding factor.
FWIW, no MH mfgr. uses weight ratings measured in tons because there are three definitions, only pounds.

[TheCatsRV]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Coachmen Mirada series come with a 5,000# hitch, an 8,000# hitch is optional.
reference: https://coachmenrv.com/class-a-motorhomes/mirada


Your hitch rating should be identified on the hitch. What the coach is rated for is immaterial, the hitch rating is the deciding factor.

The mfg label does have that caution. Immaterial for us as the only thing likely to ever be on that rack under our ownership s a bike rack and two bikes.



Thanks for the tip anyway. I shall look for the hitch rating label just to know what it is. It is "somewhere" on the hitch itself? Hope it hasn;t fallen or worn off.

FWIW, no MH mfgr. uses weight ratings measured in tons because there are three definitions, only pounds.

True enough. I was using 2,000 lb short tons which I was under the impression was standard in the U.S.?

[Vibeman]

We have a 30' class A with 18,000 lbs GVWR. I find it rides and handles significantly better when fully loaded. It is also seems more stable in crosswinds when loaded. Loaded/unloaded fuel mileage is not significantly different.
It is a Ford F53 and I have done CHF and added a rear trac bar.

[TheCatsRV]

Originally Posted by Vibeman

We have a 30' class A with 18,000 lbs GVWR. I find it rides and handles significantly better when fully loaded. It is also seems more stable in crosswinds when loaded. Loaded/unloaded fuel mileage is not significantly different.
It is a Ford F53 and I have done CHF and added a rear trac bar.

Thanks. I guess like pickup trucks, the leaf springs need some load otherwise they bounce too much. I'd only lighten the load (e.g., minimize black/gray water + fresh water) only because some or all of our driving involves lots of climbing + descent. Will bear addng load in mind when driving on prolonged flats.

[Mudfrog]

Originally Posted by Ray,IN

Coachmen Mirada series come with a 5,000# hitch, an 8,000# hitch is optional.
reference: https://coachmenrv.com/class-a-motorhomes/mirada


Your hitch rating should be identified on the hitch. What the coach is rated for is immaterial, the hitch rating is the deciding factor.
FWIW, no MH mfgr. uses weight ratings measured in tons because there are three definitions, only pounds.

Ours has a 5000/500 lb hitch, from the manufacturer of the hitch. But, Winnebago also placed their own sticker on the other side of the hitch stating 5000/300 lb rating. The coach's rating is important and the deciding factor.

[Teamfoxy]

We have a Mirada 32 DS on the 20,500# chassis, with 228" wheelbase, and our OCCC is 4100#. We usually weigh in at 19,500 +/- at the truck scales. Similar size coaches by other makers are on higher capacity chassis with less cargo carrying capacity.
I have found no disadvantages to being light. Many campgrounds we like require crossing bridges with 10 ton weight limits. Our 19.5" tires are half the price of 20.5" tires. We don't get blown around by passing trucks very much and cross winds don't seem to affect us too often. Two things help a lot. Our wheelbase is long and our weight is kept forward and low in the coach. I can easily tell the difference if we move heavy items to the rear.
Heavier rigs with a higher center of gravity in sway more and require suspension modifications to compensate for the extra weight. As a marine engineer, I know that heavy does not equal strong and additional weight puts more strain on the structure so there is a design spiral involved.