Bounder: 2005 Bounder 34F Actual Weight/Tire Pressures

[GerryB54]

As you all know, we bought this rig a week and a half ago, it came with Goodyear 245/70R19.5 tires and they were manufactured in June of 2004. Since I wasn't sure of the loading, I have been using 90 PSI Fronts and 85 PSI Rears. Workhorse & Fleetwood list 95 PSI Max. Fronts and 90 PSI Max. Rears.

I finally got all our gear loaded where we wanted it, and with a full tank of fuel and water, got it weighed at one of my customer's scales locally.

Actual results were:

<UL TYPE=SQUARE><LI>Front Axle - 7400 LB (Fleetwood Max. 8000 LB)
<LI>Rear Axle - 13360 LB (Fleetwood Max. 14500 LB)
<LI>Total - 20760 LB (Fleetwood Max. 22000 LB)[/list]My Jeep Grand Cherokee toad was weighed as well, and came in at 4300 LB, so my total GCWR is 25060 LB, and Fleetwood lists for this model/year a maximum of 26000 LB GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating - The Mfr. maximum allowable loaded weight of this motorhome and towed vehicle).

I decided to use a fudge factor/buffer of 5% just to be safe on the high side, and we all know our weights change constantly just by driving the rig and expending fuel anyway.

Fronts 7400 LB/2 Tires X 1.05 Buffer = 3885 LB/Tire
Rears 13360 LB/4 Tires X 1.05 Buffer = 3507 LB/Tire

Per the Goodyear RV Load/Inflation Information PDF File

Front Tire - 3890 LB should use 80 PSI (my actual was 3885 LB)
Rear Tire - 3515 LB should use 75 PSI (my actual was 3507 LB)

End Result - I can actually LOWER my tire pressures 10 PSI per tire for a smoother, quieter ride, and hopefully even better tire wear.

Hope this helps you decide to get your RV weighed and properly tuned.

[sal avitabile]

you really have to weigh each corner independenty , this will give you the true specs to adjust your air pressure and also tell you if you have to move some gear around;
thanks Sal Avitabile

[GerryB54]

Agreed, but I tried to balance things out, and the only scale I had access to could only do axles and total.

[GerryB54]

Follow Up: Tested the new tire pressures last weekend with a trip to PA Dutch country, around 130 miles each way.

The ride was good, but everything just felt a little soft...I've decided to add 5 PSI to each tire for additional safety, so I've moved the fronts from 80 PSI to 85, and the rears from 75 PSI to 80.

We'll see how that rides & performs next weekend on a short trip to Atlantic City.

[MrMudstud]

GerryB54,
My coach is similar to yours and this is what I have. My front axle is 7420 and the rear is 12540 for a total of 19960 lbs when only the axles are weight.

I then weight each wheel and this is how it came out. Driver front is 3660 and rear is 5980 lbs. The passenger front is 3740 and rear is 6320 lbs.

The front total is 7400 lbs. The rear total is 12300 lbs. Both together are 19700 lbs.

19960 less 19700 is the difference between the two weights of 260 lbs. Therefore, we have a margin of 1.3% error.

My front difference is only 80 pounds, and that I can live with. However, the rear is a difference of 340 pounds and THAT has to be taken in consideration when it comes to PSI safety.

After figuring it all out and having a safety factor, I use 90 in the front and 80 in the rear. I also notice since I use more PSI in the tires, I don't have as much sway from the sidewalls on corners and when the winds blowing sideways. It also helps being passed-up by truckers. This is my consensus. Good Luck........

[sal avitabile]

In my 34F I had it weighed 4 corners and set my tires to Goodyear Specs My weights were about the same as yours ,now I have 13000 Miles on it and the tires have more wear on the edges,my tires I had 75 rear and 85 frt n just had a flat and the tire repair srvice said that pressure is to low ,we put in 90 PSI all around I have not taken it for a ride yet I,ll keep you posted.

PS I have had problems with steering ,having to keep correcting maybe this will correct my problem, Keep in mind every coach is the same but different

Sal Avitabile