Just had the RV weighed for the first time since we bought it

[Doug427]

On the way home from our first trip in the new to us RV, I stopped at a Love's truck stop and used their CAT scale. Hopefully these CAT scales are reasonably accurate?



I wanted to go to the Escapees to get weighed, since they're pretty close to me and get a full corner weight done, but they're shut down with this whole virus thing, so I figured this was the next best thing. It's not corner weights but it'll give me a basic idea on how close I am to having a weight issue with my RV. That being said, my coach shows the following weight limits on the sticker inside:


MAX GVWR - 44,200 lbs
MAX GCWR - 54,200 lbs
Front GAWR -14,200 lbs
Rear GAWR - 30,000 lbs


We have it loaded up about the same as we would when using it. I had almost full fuel tanks, a full fresh water tank, and 1/4 tank each in the black and gray tanks. The CAT scale showed:


Steer Axle : 13,360
Drive Axle : 15,020
Trailer Axle : 7,240
Gross wt: 35,620


I lined it up on the scale with the front axle, drive axle and tag axles all on three different pads. Assuming the "trailer axle" weight indicated on the CAT scale sheet is the tag axle, it seems to my relatively uneducated eye that I'm in pretty good shape weight wise. I have read that on tag coaches like I have, the issue is usually on the front axle. I have about a 840 lb. cushion on the front axle, if these numbers are to be believed as accurate.



I don't have individual drive/tag axle limits on the sticker from Newmar/Spartan, but I have been told that it's usually 20,000 on the drive and 10,000 on the tag for limits. If that is accurate (does anyone know if that is?), then it seems I'm in very good shape in the back. The total limit and weights on the back show me to have about a 7,740 cushion on the rear axle, and a total weight cushion of about 8,580 under the total max limit.


It's just my wife and I traveling in this fairly large RV, and we were only packed for a 3 day trip. All we'd have additionally in there for a longer trip would be more clothes and food, which in the big scheme of things wouldn't weigh all that much.


We have no plans of ever going full time, so it would seem that we're in good shape weight wise. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I missing something? This is my first time and I want to make sure my weight situation is what it appears to me to be.

[TimmyB]

Originally Posted by Doug427

On the way home from our first trip in the new to us RV, I stopped at a Love's truck stop and used their CAT scale. Hopefully these CAT scales are reasonably accurate?



I wanted to go to the Escapees to get weighed, since they're pretty close to me and get a full corner weight done, but they're shut down with this whole virus thing, so I figured this was the next best thing. It's not corner weights but it'll give me a basic idea on how close I am to having a weight issue with my RV. That being said, my coach shows the following weight limits on the sticker inside:


MAX GVWR - 44,200 lbs
MAX GCWR - 54,200 lbs
Front GAWR -14,200 lbs
Rear GAWR - 30,000 lbs


We have it loaded up about the same as we would when using it. I had almost full fuel tanks, a full fresh water tank, and 1/4 tank each in the black and gray tanks. The CAT scale showed:


Steer Axle : 13,360
Drive Axle : 15,020
Trailer Axle : 7,240
Gross wt: 35,620


I lined it up on the scale with the front axle, drive axle and tag axles all on three different pads. Assuming the "trailer axle" weight indicated on the CAT scale sheet is the tag axle, it seems to my relatively uneducated eye that I'm in pretty good shape weight wise. I have read that on tag coaches like I have, the issue is usually on the front axle. I have about a 840 lb. cushion on the front axle, if these numbers are to be believed as accurate.



I don't have individual drive/tag axle limits on the sticker from Newmar/Spartan, but I have been told that it's usually 20,000 on the drive and 10,000 on the tag for limits. If that is accurate (does anyone know if that is?), then it seems I'm in very good shape in the back. The total limit and weights on the back show me to have about a 7,740 cushion on the rear axle, and a total weight cushion of about 8,580 under the total max limit.


It's just my wife and I traveling in this fairly large RV, and we were only packed for a 3 day trip. All we'd have additionally in there for a longer trip would be more clothes and food, which in the big scheme of things wouldn't weigh all that much.


We have no plans of ever going full time, so it would seem that we're in good shape weight wise. Anyone have any thoughts on this? Am I missing something? This is my first time and I want to make sure my weight situation is what it appears to me to be.

I think you look great, Doug. Of course, I only have a single rear axle so I'm clearly not the "expert" but if the sticker inside says 30K and you are under 23K, you shouldn't have any issues. Considering you probably have 100 gallons of water and another 25 or more in your waste tanks, that's 1000 pounds right there, correct? If you were really concerned, you could always drop that right away before you set sail!

Good luck on your travels.

[Ivylog]

I do not think your Mtn Aire has an adjustable tag axle so your weights are good. If it is adjustable I’d back off on how much the tag is carrying by 2000 lbs which will take approx 200 lbs of the front and add 1800 to the drive.

[lawjohnson]

The numbers look good to me! I wish I had that amount of CGVW!

[Doug427]

Based on the above weights, setting tire pressure for the single steer axle is pretty straight forward. The drive and tag axles confuse this new guy. My Toyo 144A tire chart is as follows:


Toyo 144A Tire size 295/80R22.5




PSI WEIGHT
70 Single - 4920 (9840) Dual - 4360 (8720)

75 Single - 5200 (10,400) Dual - 4610 (9,220)

80 Single - 5475 (10,950) Dual - 4855 (9,710)

85 Single - 5750 (11,500) Dual - 5095 (10,190)

90 Single - 6020 (12,040) Dual - 5335 (10,670)

95 Single - 6285 (12,570) Dual - 5570 (11,140)

100 Single - 6545 (13,090) Dual - 5805 (11,610)

105 Single - 6810 (13,620) Dual - 6035 (12,070)

110 Single - 7065 (14,130) Dual - 6265 (12,530)

115 Single - 7320 (14,640) Dual - 6490 (12,980)

120 Single - 7575 (15,150) Dual - 6715 (13,430)

125 Single - 7830 (15,660) Dual - 6940 (13,880)


Since it's an axle rather than corner weigh, I will run 110 PSI on the steer axle just to play it safe, unless someone here thinks I have that wrong. What would you experienced guys suggest I run in the tag and drove axle tires? The tag, as usual has one tire on each side.. The driver axle has duals on each side. Help would be greatly appreciated.

[757driver]

Steer 115 psi
Drive 80 psi
Tag. 80 psi

Dividing your axle weights in half and then adding 5% to account for side to side imbalance these are the numbers that I would go with. Add a few psi to the steer for safety.

Your drive and tag are off the bottom of the scale so I would keep them at 80-85 psi to keep the tires from unseating the bead.

Just my 2 cents worth.

[Milford 47]

Originally Posted by 757driver

Steer 115 psi
Drive 80 psi
Tag. 80 psi

Dividing your axle weights in half and then adding 5% to account for side to side imbalance these are the numbers that I would go with. Add a few psi to the steer for safety.

Your drive and tag are off the bottom of the scale so I would keep them at 80-85 psi to keep the tires from unseating the bead.

Just my 2 cents worth.

Sounds good to me as well

If the Tag or Duals run hot then another 10 psig

Lots of folks that think the coaches act squirrely on corners or in swervey roads tend to run with lower inflated tires

[Dale & Mark Bruss]

CAT scales are limited to weighing axles only. Ideally at least one time, you should have your loaded RV weighed by a service that measures individual wheels.

Early on I had my Pace Arrow measured by wheel and the front axle was within limits but the left front wheel was overloaded. I had stashed a whole bunch of tools in the forward left cargo compartment. Easy enough to fix but without the individual wheel weighing I would never had known.

[Doug427]

Originally Posted by Milford 47

Sounds good to me as well

If the Tag or Duals run hot then another 10 psig

Lots of folks that think the coaches act squirrely on corners or in swervey roads tend to run with lower inflated tires

Do they think the coaches are squirrely because the tires are too low on pressure, or do they think the coaches are too squirrely and then they lower pressure to cure it? I can't tell which you're saying. Sorry, I still have very little experience at this point. I appreciate all of your input.

[Doug427]

Originally Posted by Dale & Mark Bruss

CAT scales are limited to weighing axles only. Ideally at least one time, you should have your loaded RV weighed by a service that measures individual wheels.

Early on I had my Pace Arrow measured by wheel and the front axle was within limits but the left front wheel was overloaded. I had stashed a whole bunch of tools in the forward left cargo compartment. Easy enough to fix but without the individual wheel weighing I would never had known.

Escapees is only about 1 hour up the road from me. I'm hoping to get up there to get corner weighed as soon as they open the service back up. It's shut down now due to the virus issue. Thanks!

[Doug427]

Originally Posted by 757driver

Steer 115 psi
Drive 80 psi
Tag. 80 psi

Dividing your axle weights in half and then adding 5% to account for side to side imbalance these are the numbers that I would go with. Add a few psi to the steer for safety.

Your drive and tag are off the bottom of the scale so I would keep them at 80-85 psi to keep the tires from unseating the bead.

Just my 2 cents worth.

This 737 driver says thanks! I miss the 757, what a great plane.