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Hi, Keith. Welcome to your new Esteem. We have the 27U, and really like it. Curb weight is not something I've seen on RV's, per se. But maybe I can help a little. The maximum design weight, the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating), is the most you want to plan to have your motorhome weigh. Also, you will want to know the actual weights on each of the axles. The sticker on our drivers door jamb says the GVWR is also 14,500 pounds, like yours. It also states that the front axle rating is 5,000 pounds and the rear axle rating is 9,600 pounds, which actually adds to 14,600 pounds, but the 14,500 number is the ruling total. I would plan to try to stay at or below those numbers.
The GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) on ours is 22,000 pounds. So that means we can tow up to 7,500 pounds if the coach is loaded to 14,500 pounds. That is the weight of what you are pulling. The tongue weight of whatever you are pulling is another story, and I do not have that number at my finger tips for our rig. That is the actual down force on the hitch on the back of the coach. But from our experience, with the RV loaded as we feel we need it for our RV lifestyle, there isn't much room for any tongue weight. As you put load on the hitch, the rear axle sees even more than what the actual tongue weight is, as it will load the rear axle while at the same time it will actually UNLOAD the front axle. It does this because the coach will tend to pivot to the back with the added rear "bumper" load. It won't be a visible pivot, but it will be a pivoting of the weights.
You will also want to be aware of how much water you have in your fresh tank as well as both of your holding tanks. Fuel also enters into the equation. I would highly recommend that you load the coach with what you would consider to be your normal "stuff" including typical clothing, personal goods, food and such, and make sure that the fuel tank is full and the propane tank is essentially full. I would also suggest that you fill the fresh and the gray and black tanks with what you believe will be the way you will likely take it on the road. Then take it to a scale and weigh the front and the rear axles, and either add the two numbers or, if the whole coach will fit on the scale, the entire coach. AND MAKE SURE THAT THE HUMANS THAT WILL NORMALLY BE IN THE COACH are in it when it is weighed. That should then be your guide for future activities with your new RV.
The empty weight is something you could find by doing the opposite and visiting a scale, but that number doesn't really mean too much. What really matters is the weight with the rig outfitted and loaded the way you expect to use it.
We found that with our rig outfitted the way we want to use it, we are right at the limits on both axles and the total. In fact, if we travel with too much in the gray or the black tanks we exceed the rear axle and total limit by maybe up to a couple hundred pounds.
Tires, wheels, bearings, axles, the brake system, frame and suspension limits and specifications all come into play when it comes to establishing vehicle weight ratings. Even engine, transmission and differential capabilities can become a limiting factor. So it is important to respect the limits on our RV's.
I hope this helps. Do enjoy your new coach! Entegra built a pretty nice product in their Esteem line. We traded "down" from a 42' Monaco Dynasty, so the change was HUGE. But we're enjoying it a ton. Cheers, and a very Merry Christmas!!!
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Jim & Angie, Boise, ID
2021 Entegra Esteem 27U
2017 GMC Acadia Denali
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