GCWR ratings & limitations

[rskeans]

Originally Posted by piper guy

Just a FWIW comment. My Dually is 9160 lbs with full fuel and 1 person.

Many thanks for your Dually weight. I could even be more than that with full fuel. I have a 70 gal replacement fuel tank under the truck, plus a large Highway Products 5th wheel tool box. I can save some weight by removing the Tork Lift camper tie downs and the extra leaf springs installed for the camper. But with the extra items I should still exceed your weight.

[JerryL]

[QUOTE=Oriana;36117]

Originally Posted by JerryL

I find it hard to believe that most here add an additional 3500+ pounds, to get up to the rated max of 16,500. QUOTE]

Our coach left the factory at 13,452 lbs and with "E" ties the GVWR is only 16,000 lbs. Changing to "G" tires doesn't change the sticker. Therefore, we can only add 2,548 lbs. Last time I weighed we were 15,500, but are now about 15,800 lbs and that is with no fluids, W/D, genny and minimal stuff.

If you have a W/D, genny, and carry water you will be close to or more likely over 16,500 lbs. You can read older posts that quote weights over 17,000 lbs, but they have 8K axles.

No gen. Only W/D, 2nd air and propane. I don't carry water, except for a few "flush gallons.

[JerryL]

My Rushmore has a certified dry wgt sticker on it. They don't add the options, propane , or water. Does CR do this for their RWs?

[Elliott & Vicky]

My Redwood had one on the door. Not sure it was certified, but it was signed.

[Oriana]

Originally Posted by JerryL

My Rushmore has a certified dry wgt sticker on it. They don't add the options, propane , or water. Does CR do this for their RWs?

The RW's all have a sticker with the weight ex factory. In our case this includes 2 x empty 30lb propane and only 1 battery.

Therefore, by changing to and filling 2 x 40 lb propane tanks and 2 good batteries this has already added over 100 lbs.

[piper guy]

The RW weight sticker on both the door inside the coach and also outside the coach with the VIN on it is specific to THAT coach and reflects true weight as it left the factory with the options on it WHEN IT LEFT THE FACTORY.

My 36 RL for instance, weighed 13,794 when it left the factory. That was with 1 battery, no fluids and empty propane. It is very easy and not inconceivable to add more than 2000 lbs in cargo and fluids. A full tank of water alone adds almost 1000 lbs. There are times when I will tow with a full water tank both for better stability and traction and also if I'm going somewhere that I need it.

One should always use the "brochure" weights as only a starting point.

[JerryL]

^ I understand about RV weights. I understand dry weight, weight as it left the factory, and what adds weight to the coach as I pull it. That's why I said my coach is about 15,000, when the sticker says 12,390.

[almcc]

Jerry, just a comment on your truck weight estimate. Our 2003 F-350 SRW weighed in at about 8,400 lb. ready for hauling on the road and our 2011 F-450 comes in at around 9,100 lb., both the above numbers are scaled weights. Maybe Ford puts more metal into their trucks than Dodge does but the 7.800 seems low.

[JerryL]

Originally Posted by almcc

Jerry, just a comment on your truck weight estimate. Our 2003 F-350 SRW weighed in at about 8,400 lb. ready for hauling on the road and our 2011 F-450 comes in at around 9,100 lb., both the above numbers are scaled weights. Maybe Ford puts more metal into their trucks than Dodge does but the 7.800 seems low.

It probably is a little low. My previous ram's all 2500, quad cab, long bed, 4x4, scale weighed in at 7000. I was just guessing at 2 extra wheels, fender extensions. I am probably closer to 8-8500. I haven't had a chance to weigh this one yet.

[Elliott & Vicky]

My RAM 3500, DRW, 4x4, long bed, crew cab with full tanks-diesel and def plus teo people, a 100 lb German Shepherd, an extra 6 gallons of diesel and a 20 lb propane scaled in at 9550lb.

[piper guy]

Jerry - think you missed the point of what I was saying. The brochure may say 12390. My 36RL left the factory without Generator, WD or dishwasher but weighed 13794 when the factory weighed it and certified it. I don't think any of us on the forum that weighed our coaches have one that's weighed less than 13500 from the start.

My point, and it won't really matter because you have a Dually, is that if you really expect yours to weigh in the 12's when you get it, I truly think you are about to be disappointed. My hunch is that it will be somewhere mid to upper 13's

[JerryL]

Originally Posted by piper guy

Jerry - think you missed the point of what I was saying. The brochure may say 12390. My 36RL left the factory without Generator, WD or dishwasher but weighed 13794 when the factory weighed it and certified it. I don't think any of us on the forum that weighed our coaches have one that's weighed less than 13500 from the start.

My point, and it won't really matter because you have a Dually, is that if you really expect yours to weigh in the 12's when you get it, I truly think you are about to be disappointed. My hunch is that it will be somewhere mid to upper 13's

No brochure, that's the actual sticker on my coach. But, as I've said before, I'm still in the Rushmore until this coming Friday. I think my RW will come in at about 15k, with options and propane. I don't carry fluids. At any rate, with my truck, and RV options, I'm still going to be under my 25,000 towing, and 5900 pin capacity. I've been towing for over 10 years, with 5 different units, over many thousands of miles. I fully understand what the brochure stated, and actual numbers are. My point is, if you don't carry much fluids, any one ton dually can handle any RW out there, including most options.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by JerryL

My trailer towing capacity is 16,790. My RW, according to website, 12,7something, dry. With propane, washer/dryer, and my stuff, I will probably be right at 15,000.

I for one am totally confused Jerry - are you talking about your REDWOOD or RUSHMORE! I'm assuming RW n the statement above means REDWOOD, but maybe not....

[JerryL]

Originally Posted by atom ant

I for one am totally confused Jerry - are you talking about your REDWOOD or RUSHMORE! I'm assuming RW n the statement above means REDWOOD, but maybe not....

That above quote(you quoted) is about the Redwood. Post #52 is about the Rushmore. As I've said, going by what RW says, and the options I've ordered, and propane, I expect to be around 15-15,500K. I'd also be willing to bet that I'll be under my towing capacity of GCWR of 25k, for my truck.

[Oriana]

Jerry - when heading down the road, if your RW's GVW is < than 15,500 lbs, you will probably be the only RW other than possibly the 31's and 34's.

With a SRW F350, we pack light, carry no fluids, no genny and no W/D and we are still at 15,800 lbs. I believe Johnboy 2 is probably about the same and manages weight careful, as we do.

Regardless, with a dually you don't have an issue. Would be real interested when you hit a scale to find how you cut the weight, if below 15,500 lbs.

[JerryL]

Originally Posted by Oriana

Jerry - when heading down the road, if your RW's GVW is < than 15,500 lbs, you will probably be the only RW other than possibly the 31's and 34's.

With a SRW F350, we pack light, carry no fluids, no genny and no W/D and we are still at 15,800 lbs. I believe Johnboy 2 is probably about the same and manages weight careful, as we do.

Regardless, with a dually you don't have an issue. Would be real interested when you hit a scale to find how you cut the weight, if below 15,500 lbs.

The 36rl is 16,500 gvwr. I'd be willing to bet money that with my options, and propane, I'll be lower than that. I'd also be willing to bet that I'll be under my trucks GCWR of 25K, and pin capacity of 5900+ lbs.

[johnboytoo]

Not sure why we are spending so much time on guess-timates and friction

It's no big deal to go weigh it at a cat scale ----
http://catscale.com/cat-scale-locator
takes $10 and 15 minutes if THAT long for us...
(And I would recomend everyone do it just for you edification - just like being sure of your height !)

I used to weigh it periodically as I was learning the 38gk to make sure I understood what I was getting into...

Yes, it pulls fine, yes it stops fine, and yes it is at it's limits so I have to watch the wife's shoe count AND where she puts them....

[coloradolivin]

I weighed at a local trucking company before our trip to Navajo (which was awesome, thanks Brad for the inside info).

7/8 tank of diesel
3/4 fresh water
No W/D
2 small yamaha gennys
Just me

Total wt: 23,620#
Truck weight by itself: 8,900#
Steering axle: 4,960#
Drive axle: 6,940#
Pin weight: 3,000#
5th wheel: 14,760#

Added the wife, groceries for 4 days and a few other misc sundries after the fact

[JerryL]

^That sounds about right. For me, it won't matter for about 1- 1 1/2 years, if the RW is working right, I won't be leaving this site until then.

[atom ant]

Originally Posted by JerryL

That above quote(you quoted) is about the Redwood. Post #52 is about the Rushmore. As I've said, going by what RW says, and the options I've ordered, and propane, I expect to be around 15-15,500K. I'd also be willing to bet that I'll be under my towing capacity of GCWR of 25k, for my truck.

Well I lost the point around #31 or so at no Redwood weighs over 15K, but here are some facts - good or bad:

Finished loading our rig after delivery - no water or food/clothes:



Less truck:



15,880 lbs. Subtracting our 290 lb generator, you'll be closer to 15,500 Jerry, but I will say we collected about 400 more lbs since that day, and with water, food, clothes we are 17,222. Not sure where this got spun off on a tangent.