Community Forums

jab3143 · 10-06-2005, 05:51 PM

Hey everybody,

The trailer (not me) is going back to the cat scales tomorrow.... I originally weighed my trailer when I first got it....apparently I was most concerned about the CCC, because I don't remember being concerned about tongue weights at all. Last week I noticed my hitch receiver on my Excursion was ovaling out the whole where the lock pin goes. I was talking to the weld shop and I remembered I had my weight tickets from the scales. I was surprised that the tongue weight came in at 1780 pounds ( maybe I figured the toys would offset a bunch of the weight). I have since installed a second AC right on the front of the trailer. My original weight was full water and propane, half full on gas, and just some misc. stuff in the front storage compartment. Well I want to be safe and relatively legal...So I am loading the trailer like I am going on a trip (wish I was)...I filled the water tanks today, I will stop by the gas station and fill the fuel tanks, I will fill the propane tanks, and I will load all the stuff we usually take on our trips. I am only concerned about tongue weights now....I feel comfortable with the axle weights with the new tires and rims on, and the new weight sticker from WW. I did talk with my dealer and explained that I am concerned about the tongue weight and he seemed surprised with the high weights. I told him I looked at upgrading my tow vehicle but if the tongue is really high like 1800 pounds....that even a new F-350 is only rated for 1500 pounds on the tongue. I am hoping the tongue gets down to 1400 or so when I am loaded....but I am concerned it is closer to 2k.... Anyway I need to know what my weights are loaded so I can make some upgrades if neccessary. I personally think WW should be responsible if the tongue weights are way over. I will know tomorrow and I will post a follow up.

jab3143 · 10-06-2005, 05:51 PM

Hey everybody,

The trailer (not me) is going back to the cat scales tomorrow.... I originally weighed my trailer when I first got it....apparently I was most concerned about the CCC, because I don't remember being concerned about tongue weights at all. Last week I noticed my hitch receiver on my Excursion was ovaling out the whole where the lock pin goes. I was talking to the weld shop and I remembered I had my weight tickets from the scales. I was surprised that the tongue weight came in at 1780 pounds ( maybe I figured the toys would offset a bunch of the weight). I have since installed a second AC right on the front of the trailer. My original weight was full water and propane, half full on gas, and just some misc. stuff in the front storage compartment. Well I want to be safe and relatively legal...So I am loading the trailer like I am going on a trip (wish I was)...I filled the water tanks today, I will stop by the gas station and fill the fuel tanks, I will fill the propane tanks, and I will load all the stuff we usually take on our trips. I am only concerned about tongue weights now....I feel comfortable with the axle weights with the new tires and rims on, and the new weight sticker from WW. I did talk with my dealer and explained that I am concerned about the tongue weight and he seemed surprised with the high weights. I told him I looked at upgrading my tow vehicle but if the tongue is really high like 1800 pounds....that even a new F-350 is only rated for 1500 pounds on the tongue. I am hoping the tongue gets down to 1400 or so when I am loaded....but I am concerned it is closer to 2k.... Anyway I need to know what my weights are loaded so I can make some upgrades if neccessary. I personally think WW should be responsible if the tongue weights are way over. I will know tomorrow and I will post a follow up.

Hoverbug · 10-07-2005, 09:26 AM

Wow Jab. Thats quite a tongue weight. Is'nt that pushing the capacity of your hitch, not to menthion the Excursion. Are you using the largest reciever pin you can? If the pin is to small it will wobblel and wear the reciever hole. Will looking for your new weights. Happy Trails!!

SAS! · 10-07-2005, 03:14 PM

[QUOTE]Originally posted by jab3143:
Last week I noticed my hitch receiver on my Excursion was ovaling out the whole where the lock pin goes.QUOTE]

My stock hitch on my Dodge did the same thing. I read somewhere that if you use a pin with the curved or bent end, it will wedge itself in the hole and open it up. I went out and checked mine and sure enough it was worn on the side where I place the bent end of the pin. I changed my hitch to a Putnam to handle the high tongue weight.
I also put a plastic spacer on the bent end of the pin to keep the bend away from the hole and have had no problems with the new hitch so far.

SAS!

jab3143 · 10-08-2005, 10:05 PM

Hey SAS thats a good idea that I never thought about....the whole curved pin being part of the problem....the receiver is ovaling on the curved side of the pin.... I will get a new pin...but I will need to do something about the receiver as well.

I have all my weight sheets from the scales...I weighed with and without toys, with and without weight distribution bars, and just the tow vehicle...I need to go over the sheets and I will post it shortly

I did notice I am not doing well distributing the tongue weight....For whatever reason I am actually taking about 500 pounds off the front excursion axle and moving that weight to the rear axle. Anyway I have some questions for the experts....let me get my numbers together

James

James