GVWR and GAWR as a purchase consideration

[backtrack15]

I'm just curious how much the rather high GVWR and GAWR values of the Micro Minnie trailers factored into your purchase decision vs other brands.

[SonofBert]

Originally Posted by backtrack15

I'm just curious how much the rather high GVWR and GAWR values of the Micro Minnie trailers factored into your purchase decision vs other brands.

I like those values because they mean a stout frame and axles. With a 1706fb I don't go much over 4200lbs even for offgrid, but those values assure me the basic platform can take a beating off pavement. I found with a 2016 1706fb (and several other trailers) the problems offroading were screws vibrating loose, no basic structural problems.

Screws vibrating loose is common with trailers that go off pavement. Simple cure is low-strength Loc-Tite. I also crawl underneath the trailers and use wireloom and zipties on every exposed electrical wire I can find that could snag on something or rub against metal causing a short.

[COSCamper]

Those #s were a big factor for us. I'd had an camper prior that only had bout ~700lbs CCC, and when you put in a load of water (clean or dirty), your down to 4-500lbs of capacity at most, which just feels low to me. Particularly if you are planning a 1-2+week trip, you just have lots of food, gear, stuff, etc that just adds up.

I really like that we can technically haul ~3000lbs of cargo. I know we will never do that, but it's nice to never have to worry about being overloaded and we can throw whatever we want in. Really the limitation becomes space, not weight.

[Goodspike]

It's more the low ratings of some other trailers affected my decision to no buy them. Some seemed like you could easily exceed their limits.

The tandem axle was a big factor.

[backtrack15]

I completely agree with everyone so far. I have found the GAWR and GVWR of the Micro Minnies to be a major selling point. I never liked the idea of loading axles right up to their rated capacity. Many folks with Micro Minnies probably never exceed ~65% of the axle capacity. That's an appealing safety margin to me.

[backtrack15]

There are a handful of the 2021.5 models on RV Trader now and the specifications have now appeared on the Winnebago website. In looking at the photos/tables, it appears that the smaller dual axle units (1708FB, 180X, 210X) have switched to 2500# Dexter torsion axles (each) and a GVWR of 5000#. The dry weights look similar to before. The 1700BH and the 2306BHS now have 4000# Dexter torsion axles. The 2306BHS now has a GVWR of 6000#.

If you're a big fan of high GVWR and GAWR, you might want to snap up one of the few 2021.0 models still on the lot.

[backtrack15]

I inquired as to the rational for this change and it basically comes down to consumer ignorance. The dealers were telling Winnebago that people shop based on GVWR and many were turned-off by the GVWR of 7000. The average shopper does not understand the difference between actual loaded weight and GVWR.

The plus side, if you can live within the new cargo limits, is that the softer suspension should yield a more compliant ride for your belongings. I'd advocate that Winnebago bump the GVWR up to account for the dry tongue weight just to get a bit more cargo capacity on the 210X units.

[Frankf]

Originally Posted by Goodspike

It's more the low ratings of some other trailers affected my decision to no buy them. Some seemed like you could easily exceed their limits.

The tandem axle was a big factor.

My wife and I just ordered a 2021 2108DS from a dealer in Raleigh, NC this past Saturday. Twin axles was a must for us also, along with a 7' wide unit.

There were other manufactures that had the exact floor plan, but they were either single axle, or dual axle at 8' wide.

Hope we get lucky and see only minor issues with the new unt.

[SonofBert]

Originally Posted by backtrack15

The plus side, if you can live within the new cargo limits, is that the softer suspension should yield a more compliant ride for your belongings.

I install D-rings to keep heavy cargo in place off pavement. The generator, extra LP tanks. A beauty with the 1706fb is it can be towed offroad to some nice places with a 4Runner, but being front heavy I want the generator and extra LP tanks strapped down inside the trailer door. Don't want that weight inside the 4Runner. My generator is propane powered so I carry two extra 20lb bottles for offgrid.

[backtrack15]

I was planning to get a 2108TB but was really angered when I spotted the reduction in GVWR. The new cargo capacity is just 760 lbs. When you put two 30 lb propane bottles and two 6V batteries on the tongue, then add 300 lbs of water, there just isn’t much left. The change seems excessive and unnecessary given how well the Forest River Ibex and No Boundaries units are selling (high GVWR and low dry weights like previous Micro Minnies). The MM is just too heavy for such a low GVWR. I’m interested to see if they end up back-peddling on this change. My guess is they’ll revert to 6K GVWR with 3K axles within a year or two. Most people could probably live with 1500 lbs of cargo capacity; and most probably expect that as a minimum on dual axle trailers.

[JACKAL0PE]

Huge. I'm very limited on what I can tow so I need something pretty light. On the other hand, some of the very light models by other manufacturers are just junk...pure garbage.

[55ahdrn]

I have also been looking at 2108TB and surprised by change in GVWR. Towing with F150 4x4 3.5 eco boost. I cant see that 960 pounds is enough as I gather this needs to include the people in addition to water / propane / supplies etc.

[Goodspike]

I just checked the Winnebago site this week and the 2106DS is still 7,000 pounds as are three other models, including other 2106 and the new 2225RL.

https://www.winnebago.com/models/pro...micro-minnie-1

[backtrack15]

Originally Posted by 55ahdrn

I have also been looking at 2108TB and surprised by change in GVWR. Towing with F150 4x4 3.5 eco boost. I cant see that 960 pounds is enough as I gather this needs to include the people in addition to water / propane / supplies etc.

It does not include the people. The 2108TB stickers I’ve seen so far say 760 lbs for cargo capacity. Not sure why it isn’t 960.

[backtrack15]

Originally Posted by Goodspike

I just checked the Winnebago site this week and the 2106DS is still 7,000 pounds as are three other models, including other 2106 and the new 2225RL.

https://www.winnebago.com/models/pro...micro-minnie-1

I don’t think they are still making the 2106. I think those will go away once all the inventory has been sold. Couches are now optional on the 2108 trailers.

The 2225RL and 2306BHS are 6000 GVWR.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by backtrack15

I don’t think they are still making the 2106. I think those will go away once all the inventory has been sold. Couches are now optional on the 2108 trailers.

The 2225RL and 2306BHS are 6000 GVWR.

You're right on the last two--I missed that.

Seems like there are three different axles now--2,500, 3,000 and 3,500. I don't remember that back on the 2019s or even the early 2020s. I wonder what changed (besides the axles). Did they move to a different brand?

[backtrack15]

Originally Posted by Goodspike

You're right on the last two--I missed that.

Seems like there are three different axles now--2,500, 3,000 and 3,500. I don't remember that back on the 2019s or even the early 2020s. I wonder what changed (besides the axles). Did they move to a different brand?

There are two axles now; 2500# (small trailers) and 4000# (big trailers) Dexter axles. Previously all had 3700# Lippert axles.

[Paul n Nancy]

I was talking to one of the project persons and he said the 2106 is going away.

[backtrack15]

I got to see a new 2108DS in person today (cargo capacity of 860 lbs). The axles are definitely Dexter and the GVWR and GAWR have changed as discussed above. The new Murphy bed design adds a huge amount of storage (nice front pass-through + lower cabinets + lower drawers). The downside is the mattress is now split into two pieces. The "cut" runs horizontally across the mattress and is angled through the thickness at 45 degrees to make it more comfortable. I actually liked the new interior more than I had anticipated, but I expect owners will quickly add double-roller catches to keep the cabinets closed while traveling. The drawers already have catches. The Murphy bed drawers are fully accessible even with the bed down.

My dealer also confirmed the death of 2106 models... they are redundant now that the couch is optional on all the 2108 models.

[Goodspike]

Originally Posted by backtrack15

My dealer also confirmed the death of 2106 models... they are redundant now that the couch is optional on all the 2108 models.

Well the 2108 is slightly larger, but not significantly so. I can see that makes sense.