Finally got a four-corner weigh

John_Canfield · 10-23-2006, 07:43 AM

Been wanting to get all four corners weighed ever since we have owned the coach. Finally had an easy opportunity here at the Datastorm Rally in Kerrville.

Looks like I need to shed/shift some weight in the right rear - I suppose I really don't need all of those tools I brought

The numbers were with me sitting in the driver's seat (Jane is out running errands), about 95 gallons of fuel, 1/3 tank of water, full propane, 0/0 gray and <1/3 black:

Left front - 5,950
Right front - 6,000
Steer axle total: 11,950

Left rear - 9,600
Right rear - 10,300 <<whoa - 700 more pounds than left!
Drive axle total: 19,900

Total GVWR: 31,850 << wow - real close to the magic 32,000 number!

John_Canfield · 10-23-2006, 07:43 AM

Been wanting to get all four corners weighed ever since we have owned the coach. Finally had an easy opportunity here at the Datastorm Rally in Kerrville.

Looks like I need to shed/shift some weight in the right rear - I suppose I really don't need all of those tools I brought

The numbers were with me sitting in the driver's seat (Jane is out running errands), about 95 gallons of fuel, 1/3 tank of water, full propane, 0/0 gray and <1/3 black:

Left front - 5,950
Right front - 6,000
Steer axle total: 11,950

Left rear - 9,600
Right rear - 10,300 <<whoa - 700 more pounds than left!
Drive axle total: 19,900

Total GVWR: 31,850 << wow - real close to the magic 32,000 number!

AFChap · 10-23-2006, 08:12 AM

John

You no doubt have a slide out on the right rear corner, right? Our UA was 800 lbs heavier on that corner when we had it weighed with all our stuff on board. There isn't a lot we can shift from basement compartments (batteries & heat pump are on that corner too), but one adjustment we can easily make is to drive with minimal fresh water. Our front was about 300 heavy on the driver's side. Again, not much we can shift unless I get out of the driver's seat! Those two corners are where our two slides are...

John_Canfield · 10-23-2006, 12:15 PM

Paul - no, as a matter of fact our bedroom slide is on the left side! I can eliminate some tools and move some weight around, but I seriously doubt if I can shift 3-400 pounds from right to left rear unless I throw out some batteries!

jimandsue60 · 10-23-2006, 12:32 PM

John, I agree, throw out some batteries but wait till I am parked next to you.

I don't think the weight difference is that big of a deal. Just pressure up the rear tires to match the heavier side.

Jim

peter griffin · 10-23-2006, 02:29 PM

john with your weight on your rv did you notice any shifting of the rear end while traveling?

John_Canfield · 10-23-2006, 04:45 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by peter griffin:
john with your weight on your rv did you notice any shifting of the rear end while traveling? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>No - I really don't think so Peter. Our rig is really rock-solid... we have had 18 wheelers pass us with 30+ mph winds blowing from every direction and we just need to make a fairly minor steering correction. The rig is really a joy to drive.

Jim - yes - more air in the tires! We're going to run more air in the rears than we have ever before. If anybody wants to drop by where we are now, maybe I can make you a good deal on some stuff

peter griffin · 10-24-2006, 12:21 PM

john, had a 2" shim block added to my passenger side rear leaf spring now my rv rear end is all over the road....heard of this before? i am thinking of adding a supersteer rear trac bar.

Also anyone have any idea where i can get all 4 wheels weighed in massachusetts?

thanks...

bobpie · 10-24-2006, 03:21 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by peter griffin:
john, had a 2" shim block added to my passenger side rear leaf spring now my rv rear end is all over the road....heard of this before? i am thinking of adding a supersteer rear trac bar.

Also anyone have any idea where i can get all 4 wheels weighed in massachusetts?

thanks... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Just wondering why you would need a 2" shim in your springs of a brand new coach?

peter griffin · 10-24-2006, 05:44 PM

i am wondering that too..it was leaning to the passenger side while sitting and driving down the road....still working with ford and bago on the issue

tderonne · 10-29-2006, 01:44 PM

Hmmm 700 pounds is a bit (7% of 10,000) more than the scales may be in error.

But, something to consider. Were the scales perfectly flat? 700 pounds is maybe a 1/4" of wheel travel, if the scales weren't flat by that same 1/4", you can ignore the numbers you just got...

depchief · 10-29-2006, 02:06 PM

I would want Ford to replace the spring, if weight is an issue and is overloaded in that corner, take to a spring shop and have it rearched. This will lift the rear and get you level again.
This is something a spring shop can handle with no problem.

John_Canfield · 10-29-2006, 03:17 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by tderonne:
Hmmm 700 pounds is a bit (7% of 10,000) more than the scales may be in error.

But, something to consider. Were the scales perfectly flat? 700 pounds is maybe a 1/4" of wheel travel, if the scales weren't flat by that same 1/4", you can ignore the numbers you just got... </div></BLOCKQUOTE>Tim - we really had an ideal situation here at Buckhorn Resort - the pads are all concrete (whoo hoo!) and the sites are real level. The weigh service uses very expensive certified scales so I'll bet the numbers are real close (unfortunately

.)

peter griffin · 10-29-2006, 03:24 PM

i will give you the results after bago tells me they will pay for it...thanks

peter griffin · 11-10-2006, 01:12 PM

ok got four coners weighed and it looks close to john canfields..the passenger side is heavier due to the slide ...I Guess

lf front 3500 rf 3500 (passenger side)
lr rear 6150 rr 7400 (passenger side)

this is with very little of my belongings...i have nothing on the passenger side...

keep ya posted...thanks

FrontRangeRVer · 11-10-2006, 03:22 PM

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by peter griffin:
ok got four coners weighed and it looks close to john canfields..the passenger side is heavier due to the slide ...I Guess

lf front 3500 rf 3500 (passenger side)
lr rear 6150 rr 7400 (passenger side)

this is with very little of my belongings...i have nothing on the passenger side...

keep ya posted...thanks </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Did you have full water, fuel and propane with those weights?

peter griffin · 11-10-2006, 03:38 PM

propane water and fuel was full

jimandsue60 · 11-11-2006, 04:25 AM

Anyone know where I could get a 4 corner weigh in the Panama City, Fort Myers Florida area?

Jim

peter griffin · 11-11-2006, 07:41 AM

go look for a scale company...alot of wrapping and small mfg have the scales...truck stops and railroads usually dont need or have all 4 corner scales

vicsryd · 11-12-2006, 10:30 AM

When I was got a 4 corner weigh by RVSEF at a rally I found the left front 600 lbs more than the right front and the right rear 900 lbs more than the left rear.

The front difference is explainable by slide on left only and nothing but a chair on the right interior. I've adjusted by shifting around what I carry in what bay and putting hte heaviest stuff in the front right cargo bay.

The rear difference was easy to identify because the basement air, water heater, furnace, washer/dryer and refrigerator are all within 5 feet of the rear axle on that side. No slide on the right though.

The rear axle has been more difficult to deal with as there's not much to shift around.

Side note for newbie's; when reading a tire pressure chart the weight of the heaviest side of an axle dictates the tire pressure required for both sides of that axle.