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01-15-2021, 05:48 AM
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#1
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Junior Member
Join Date: Jun 2020
Location: Milan
Posts: 16
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another weight number to consider??
Looking at camper specs on-line for purpose of getting overall height and came across the following numbers:
dry weight 5,808
payload capacity 1992
GVWR 7,800
Hitch Weight 575
Obviously dry weight is shell with bare basics of camper. Payload is how much you can add. GVWR is the combination of the 2 and should not exceed together. What are they telling us with the hitch weight? Is this the amount a weight on the hitch if at the GVWR?? Would this then be the number you subtract off your Hauling capacity of towing vehicle along with the hitch weight and cargo weight in truck?
__________________
John Prifogle
2010 Keystone Cougar 26bhs
2021 F 250 6.2
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01-15-2021, 05:55 AM
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#2
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
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Hitch/king pin weight is subtracted from the cargo carrying capacity of the TOW VEHICLE.
That weight is before propane, battery(s) are added. You also have to subtract the weight of the hitch.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-15-2021, 06:29 AM
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#3
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Willamette Valley Oregon
Posts: 330
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The hitch weight listed is for the trailer dry weight listed, not GVWR.
Hitch weight should be calculated based on your trailer loaded weight.
At 7800 GVWR, the hitch weight would be 936lbs (@ 12%)
__________________
2020 Keystone 291RLS
2014 Ram 1500 EcoDiesel 4x4 Crew 3.92
EAZ-Lift Recurve R3 #1200
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01-15-2021, 06:39 AM
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#4
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson
Posts: 822
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Lord only knows where the designers come up with their listed "hitch weight" - some place in the twilight zone I suspect. In this case, it looks like they used just under 10% of the listed "dry weight". The listed hitch weight is NOT representative of what one can expect in real life.
The number I've seen used most is to take 13% of the GVWR of the trailer to estimate the real life hitch weight. So 13% of 7800 is 1014 - that's much more realistic an estimate. This weight, of course, will be taken from the TOW VEHICLE payload cargo weight, along with the weight of the WD hitch itself and all other applied weights in the tow vehicle (people, bikes, tools, fuel cans, etc.).
When you say "dry weight is bare basics of camper", you do know that this is only the shipping weight, correct? The camper will never be this light after the dealer adds propane, batteries, spare tire, etc. The camper would be nearly un-usable at its "dry weight".
Best way, of course, is to take your rig across a CAT scale and get the actual numbers.
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01-15-2021, 07:20 AM
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#5
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Senior Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Fruitland
Posts: 3,357
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They use those lighter than real numbers to sucker people into believing they can tow it with an inappropriate tow vehicle.
At the very least if the RV companies were honest they would print disclaimers that all weights they list are 100s if not a thousand pounds lighter than when used.
The disclaimers I have read put it all back on the truck owner/ RV buyer to determine if it will be safe. A person new to the RV world is lost in all the weight crap. No wonder we see over loaded TV/RV combos daily on our roadways. Where people figure their combo is safe because they made it to the campgrounds.
__________________
2013 24RKSWE (27ft TT) Cougar 1/2 ton series SOLD 10-2021
2013 Ford F350 4x4 CC 6.7 engine, 8 ft bed, 3.55 rear end, lariat package
Retired from Oregon State Police in 2011 than worked another 9.5 years as a small town traffic cop:
As of 05-2020, I am all done with 39 years total police work. No more uniforms for me.
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01-15-2021, 07:27 AM
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#6
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
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I have 2 tongue scales in my tool box. One for TT (0-2000) and one for fivers (0-5000). Not once has the scale read what the advertised weight was.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-15-2021, 08:09 AM
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#7
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Site Team
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Gaylord
Posts: 26,841
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LewisB's closing statement: "The camper would be nearly un-usable at its "dry weight"." should be expanded on a bit.
Not only would the trailer be "nearly un-usable" it would be illegal to tow in any state in the US (and I suppose in Canada).... A functional emergency braking system is required by every state law (AFAIK). That requires a "self contained battery capable of applying electrical power to the brakes when activated by the break-away switch"... Adding that 40-50 pound battery makes the "brochure tongue weight" of 450 pounds around 10% greater than advertised. That's only the beginning, unless you plan to drain all the water out of your water heater, fresh water tank, plumbing lines (hot and cold) as well as never tow with anything in the trailer....
Additionally, as Chuck posted, the "brochure shipping weight" is for an empty trailer with no spare, no propane, no battery, no optional equipment, no hitch, no dealer or owner installed equipment.
The reality that "brochure weights are FANTASY" comes even more revealing when you read the statement, "Specifications are for the base model in the line" and then you read the "FEATURES" section and find that nearly half of what's included in the trailer is "advertised as mandatory optional packages"... In other words, they "claim standard equipment" then exclude things like air conditioners, stabilizers, leveling systems, upgraded mattress, extra insulation (arctic package)... They call them "optional mandatory packages".
, then exclude optional equipment from the shipping weight... In RV brochures, like in truck brochures, you CAN have your cake and eat it too.....
The ONLY way to know what your trailer weighed when it left the factory is to look at the front left sidewall for a sticker that gives GVW and Cargo Capacity. Subtract the CC from the GVW to get the "trailer weight".... Then, realize that doesn't include anything the dealer added, such as batteries, propane, spare tire and rack, camping starter kits, or anything you requested such as the second air conditioner, added bumper hitch, grill rack and grill....
Believing a "brochure weight" is like believing that leaving an extra cookie for Santa will get you better presents under the tree.......
__________________
John
2015 F250 6.7l 4x4
2014 Cougar X Lite 27RKS
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01-21-2021, 05:09 AM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: 4 Corners ..The land God 4 got
Posts: 203
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Alright guys, gals, I have a question. I've been RVing now for pertnear 50 years and keep reading that the dry weight of an RV is just the Rv, no propane, no battery no nuttin but the RV itself. I understand that. I also keep reading in different posts that the dealer supplies the propane, the battery and anything extra and bah bah bah. Well and good, but tell me as I've never thought to ask a dealer, and wanted to ask on different forums but didn't have the balls to till now. I know!
If the dealer supplies the battery, then how does the transport driver get the RV to the dealer. Does the transport driver supply his own battery to get from the factory to the dealer or is the battery installed at the factory and not by the dealer? Cuz everyone keeps saying by law, the RV can't travel without a battery to activate the breakaway switch. An inquiring mind wants to know.
Milo
__________________
13 F-150 XLT HD Ecoboost
14 Cougar 26SAB 5er
Pullrite SuperGlide 15K
Life is fantastic & gettin
better every day
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01-21-2021, 05:31 AM
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#9
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by theasphaltrv'er
Alright guys, gals, I have a question. I've been RVing now for pertnear 50 years and keep reading that the dry weight of an RV is just the Rv, no propane, no battery no nuttin but the RV itself. I understand that. I also keep reading in different posts that the dealer supplies the propane, the battery and anything extra and bah bah bah. Well and good, but tell me as I've never thought to ask a dealer, and wanted to ask on different forums but didn't have the balls to till now. I know!
If the dealer supplies the battery, then how does the transport driver get the RV to the dealer. Does the transport driver supply his own battery to get from the factory to the dealer or is the battery installed at the factory and not by the dealer? Cuz everyone keeps saying by law, the RV can't travel without a battery to activate the breakaway switch. An inquiring mind wants to know.
Milo
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Yes the transporter puts in their own battery which they remove after delivery.
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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01-21-2021, 05:55 AM
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#10
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Site Team
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Modesto
Posts: 20,235
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Quote:
Originally Posted by flybouy
Yes the transporter puts in their own battery which they remove after delivery.
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Yup! Unfortunately I have seen plenty arrive with no battery. Old dealership I worked at had an employee that moved units between lots in different cities and constantly forgot to put a battery in.
__________________
2012 Copper Canyon 273FWRET being towed by a 1994 Ford F350 CC,LB,Dually diesel.
Airlift 5000 bags, Prodigy brake control, 5 gauges on the pillar.Used to tow a '97 Jayco 323RKS.
Now an RVIA registered tech. Retired from Law enforcement in 2008 after 25+ yrs.
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01-21-2021, 06:06 AM
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#11
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Tucson
Posts: 822
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I've also seen multiple camp trailers loaded on a "low boy" hauler trailer, so battery not needed for these.
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01-21-2021, 06:24 AM
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#12
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Site Team
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Joppa, MD
Posts: 11,714
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Quote:
Originally Posted by chuckster57
Yup! Unfortunately I have seen plenty arrive with no battery. Old dealership I worked at had an employee that moved units between lots in different cities and constantly forgot to buy a battery in.
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Sounds like the old dealership was pretty cavalier in their responsibility if they were aware of that. You don't need much capacity so a small 12 v battery that costs $15-$20 will stop a disconnected trailer. In my thinking, no matter how remote the possibility may be of needing it the cost of not installing it could be tremendous. If the person transporting is so careless as to not connect the battery can they be be trusted to properly secure the hitch?
__________________
Marshall
2012 Laredo 303 TG
2010 F250 LT Super Cab, long bed, 4X4, 6.4 Turbo Diesel
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01-24-2021, 09:04 AM
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#13
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2018
Location: vancouver canada
Posts: 35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by JohnnyP
Looking at camper specs on-line for purpose of getting overall height and came across the following numbers:
dry weight 5,808
payload capacity 1992
GVWR 7,800
Hitch Weight 575
Obviously dry weight is shell with bare basics of camper. Payload is how much you can add. GVWR is the combination of the 2 and should not exceed together. What are they telling us with the hitch weight? Is this the amount a weight on the hitch if at the GVWR?? Would this then be the number you subtract off your Hauling capacity of towing vehicle along with the hitch weight and cargo weight in truck?
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Not to confuse you more but I will add my comments. Of the numbers listed, the only meaningful number listed is the GVWR.
When towing, the actual weight of the trailer when loaded should be under that number. It is also important to know in order to be under the tow limit for your truck.
There is weight transfer from your loaded TT to your truck which is the hitch weight. That number is important in order to be under your GVWR for the truck.
The best way to learn these numbers is to go thru a CAT scale to know the actual GCW, GVW for both truck and trailer, hitch weight etc.
But it is possible to estimate these numbers. You assume that you are going to load your trailer to the max number or the GVWR of the trailer. The weight transfer is between 10-15 %. Different people will select a different number to use but 12 % is a good number to use as an average. That will tell you the amount of tongue weight transferred to the truck or the hitch weight. With that weight, your truck must remain under its GVWR which includes everything in the truck including people, cargo, tools etc and the tongue weight.
I hope that helps you.
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