Trailer Weights in the Real World - Page 8 - Fiberglass RV
Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-07-2012, 03:40 PM   #141
Junior Member
 
Trailer: No Trailer Yet
Posts: 5
Burro weights

#01 and #06? Same model ie 13 footer, B13 etc but so much different
any ideas?
thanks
ray rod
ray rod is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2012, 05:38 PM   #142
Senior Member
 
Roy in TO's Avatar
 
Trailer: 1972 Boler American and 1979 Trillium 4500
Posts: 5,137
Yeah, look at #'s 2-4, 11, 12 and 17 all Compact Jr's

Condsider Frederick stated:
Item 02 is also My Trailer It is totally gutted, consisting of just the Frame & Wheels, Floor, Fiberglass Body, Windows, and Door.
Items 11, 12, & 17 are the same trailer, it was weighed 3 times

The weights vary by what is installed and what you carry.
Those weights range from 860 to 1750 Lbs. for the same model trailer.
Roy in TO is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-07-2012, 08:57 PM   #143
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
That is the whole point

Quote:
Originally Posted by ray rod View Post
Same model ... but so much different
You've found the reason I have conducted this research. There is no single exact number to make the decision about which trailer is light enough for you. The best you can hope for is knowing the range of possibilities. Remember, these are not "Dry" weights, but the actual weight that people are towing.

To take the concept further, I weighed my own Fiber Stream twice in this thread, but there is more data about it in the following previous thread:
http://www.fiberglassrv.com/forums/f...igh-24896.html

So here is a comparison of the different weights I have recorded for the same Fiber Stream trailer:
  1. Advertized Total Dry Weight = 1700 Lbs
  2. Actual Total Dry Weight = 2000 Lbs
  3. March 25, 2006 Total Traveling Weight = 2620 Lbs
  4. Today's Total Traveling weight = 3250 Lbs
Why is it so heavy today? Wretched Excess. In the past 6 years I have added Air Conditioning, Closet Shelving, and Solar Panels.
I have also doubled the steel channel in the frame, and doubled the cushions in the bed from 4" to 8".
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 09:51 AM   #144
Junior Member
 
Trailer: 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 26
Hi All,

I just came back from Backus with a new Scamp 13. Weighted her today on quarry scales.

Scamp 13 standard

Options added:

Sani Potti
3 speed roof fan
1.9 cu.ft. refer
4 extra reading lights
group 27 battery
electric brakes
gravel shield
window over stove
front and rear overhead cabinets
silverware drawer
2 extra ac outlets
2 extra dc outlets
full propane tank

total weight (without any of my stuff and no water) 1390 lbs.

without any options and dry,I'm guessing it would probably be close to the "1200 lbs" advertised by the factory.

Hope this is of some use.

Ches
Chesley Sugg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 12:14 PM   #145
Senior Member
 
Carol H's Avatar
 
Trailer: 92 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 11,756
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chesley Sugg View Post
Hi All,

I just came back from Backus with a new Scamp 13. Weighted her today on quarry scales.

Scamp 13 standard

Options added:

Sani Potti
3 speed roof fan
1.9 cu.ft. refer
4 extra reading lights
group 27 battery
electric brakes
gravel shield
window over stove
front and rear overhead cabinets
silverware drawer
2 extra ac outlets
2 extra dc outlets
full propane tank

total weight (without any of my stuff and no water) 1390 lbs.

without any options and dry,I'm guessing it would probably be close to the "1200 lbs" advertised by the factory.

Hope this is of some use.

Ches
Did that include the tongue weight>?
Carol H is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2012, 08:46 PM   #146
Junior Member
 
Trailer: 16 ft Scamp
Posts: 26
Quote:
Originally Posted by Carol H View Post
Did that include the tongue weight>?
Yes.

(Car weighted with trailer) minus (Car weighted without trailer.)

Ches
Chesley Sugg is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2012, 05:22 AM   #147
Senior Member
 
Bonnie n Claude's Avatar
 
Name: Bonnie and Claude
Trailer: N/A
Ontario
Posts: 224
Registry
Interesting to see the various weights of the different models of fiberglass trailers particularly the two Boler B1300's (#5 1300 lbs total; #18 1800) 600lbs is quite a difference! I read that we can weigh our trailer at the truck weigh stations on the highway. Has anyone else done this? What is the next Boler rally Frederick (The Scaleman) will be attending?
Bonnie n Claude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2012, 07:58 AM   #148
Administrator
 
Mary F's Avatar
 
Name: Mary
Trailer: 2015 Escape 21; formerly Casita 1999 17 ft Liberty Deluxe
Posts: 10,941
Registry
A couple of posts about a specific axle/trailer (Burro) need were split off from this topic and can be found in the Problem Solving forum, thread titled Bigger axle needed?
__________________
Mary F Fiberglass Rules!
________________________________
FGRV Forum Custom Search
Info on Adding Photos to a Post
RV Life Network FAQ
Mary F is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2012, 07:45 PM   #149
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonnie and Claude View Post
What is the next ... rally Frederick (The Scaleman) will be attending?
Oct 25-29 2012: Lake Casitas 11th Rally
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-24-2012, 08:27 PM   #150
Senior Member
 
Mike Magee's Avatar
 
Name: Mike
Trailer: 2012 Escape 19
Oklahoma
Posts: 6,018
I'm glad to see that you have been able to borrow the scale once again!
Mike Magee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 05:47 AM   #151
Senior Member
 
Bonnie n Claude's Avatar
 
Name: Bonnie and Claude
Trailer: N/A
Ontario
Posts: 224
Registry
Tongue Weight and Gross Trailer Weight

Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson View Post
As we won't be able to go to California at the end of October I was wondering if we could determine the weights with a bathroom scale and services of a truck weigh station (like those along the highway)?

I understand that an acceptable tongue weight for any trailer is 9-15% of the gross trailer weight (GTW) and that too little downward pressure on the hitch ball could result in sway; too much downward pressure (weight) could affect the TV steering. I was told we can measure the tongue weight by setting up a box or cinder blocks with a bathroom scale on top (scale to be same height as TV hitch ball) and carefully placing the tongue on the scale.

If the tongue weight is over 9-15% of GTW, trailer cargo needs to move to the rear to behind the trailer's axle. If weight is less than 9-15% of GTW, cargo needs to move forward of the axle.

Is this correct? And...how do you use a public weigh station?
Bonnie n Claude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 10:18 AM   #152
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
Quote:
Originally Posted by Bonnie and Claude View Post
And...how do you use a public weigh station?
This is how I suggest you proceed to weigh your Travel Trailer. It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes, and the truckers behind you will take at least that long or longer if they're getting separate axle weights, and they'll understand.
  1. Position the trailer on the end of the scale so the tow vehicle's rear axle is off the scale, but the tongue jack is over the weigh deck.
  2. Get the reading for the Axle Weight.
  3. Use the tongue jack on the scale, and unhitch raising the coupler clear of the hitch ball.
  4. Get the reading for the Total Trailer Weight.
  5. Hitch up and move away from the scale for the next customer in line.
  6. Subtract the Axle Weight from the Total Trailer Weight to compute the Tongue Weight.
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-25-2012, 01:02 PM   #153
Senior Member
 
Bonnie n Claude's Avatar
 
Name: Bonnie and Claude
Trailer: N/A
Ontario
Posts: 224
Registry
Thanks Frederick and Carol, I've copy-pasted your suggested methods into a email to my husband. (Yes, we do talk but this way he can print it out and add it to HIS trailer file.) Appreciate the information. Will try to stop at the scales on our way home from picking it up on Tuesday (hopefully they'll be opened and have few truckers).
Bonnie n Claude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 12:29 PM   #154
Moderator
 
Frederick L. Simson's Avatar
 
Trailer: Fiber Stream 1978 / Honda Odyssey LX 2003
Posts: 8,222
Registry
Send a message via AIM to Frederick L. Simson
Post I have only some of that data

Quote:
Originally Posted by honda03842 View Post
It would be interesting if the trailer spreadsheet also showed the trailer's tow vehicle.
I was going through my paperwork and found some copies of recent forms that have that information.
The older forms were discarded and that Tow Vehicle data is lost.
I will match up the tow vehicle data with the line item in the spreadsheet in this post for the records that I do have.

ITEM_LENGTH_MAKE_______MODEL________AXLE__TONGUE__ __TOTAL_____TOW VEHICLE
06___13_____Burro______B13__________1100_____200__ __1300______2007 Toyota Tacoma
07___13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1260_____180_____1440______2 001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
10___12.5___WeisCraft__Little Joe___1380_____180_____1560______2007 Honda Odyssey
16___13_____Scamp______Standard_____1480_____240__ __1720______2007 Honda Accord
17___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr___1600_____150_____1750______1997 Toyota RAV4
21___13_____Scamp______Standard_____1720_____230__ __1950______2006 Hyundai Tuscon
25___16_____Casita_____Standard_____1780_____240__ __2020______2003 Ford Ranger
26___14_____Surfside___EEE-TM14_____1880_____240_____2120______2007 Toyota Tundra
31___13_____Casita_____Patriot______2280_____280__ __2560______2004 Chevrolet SSR
33___16_____Scamp______SideBath_____2400_____200__ __2600______2007 Subaru Outback
37___19_____Bonaire____Oxygen_______2420_____320__ __2740______2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
43___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______2560_____320_____2880______2009 Ford Ranger
57___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2760_____420__ __3180______2007 Toyota Rav4
59___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2880_____360__ __3240______2000 Dodge Dakota
60___16_____Fiber Stream____________3000_____250_____3250______2003 Honda Odyssey
61___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2860_____390__ __3250______2000 Toyota Tundra
70___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2980_____340__ __3320______?? Honda Ridgeline (year not recorded)
74___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3040_____310__ __3350______2005 Ford Explorer
83___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2980_____450__ __3430______2005 Toyota Tacoma
84___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2960_____470__ __3430______2010 Jeep Liberty
95___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____3300_____560_____3860______2002 Ford Ranger
__________________
Frederick - The Scaleman
Frederick L. Simson is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 03:41 PM   #155
Member
 
Name: Rick
Trailer: 1973 Bugeyed Boler
British Columbia
Posts: 50
Registry
13 foot Boler weight

I thought I would add the weight of my trailer loaded. 1973 Boler 13 foot trailer fully loaded with fridge, 20 lb propane tank, battery and porta potty. No water was on board, but loaded with food and clothes. This Boler has a one piece fiberglass floor (not plywood or chip board). I have weighed this twice at 1230 lb axle and 120 lb tongue for a total of
1350 lbs total. We travel light and load our Honda CRV with cooler and Misc items. We also have to be careful not to overload the rear axle of the car by adding too much weight. We keep under the 1500 lb towing capacity and the maximum weight in the car. We have weighed our trailer on the highway scales in BC when open or closed. They are more than accommodating when open. (our tax dollars pay for this)
rhkirkham is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 04:04 PM   #156
Senior Member
 
Bonnie n Claude's Avatar
 
Name: Bonnie and Claude
Trailer: N/A
Ontario
Posts: 224
Registry
Think our weight will be close to yours Rick as we started out with a 1050 lb 13' foot Boler with 120 lb tongue weight and don't carry water on board. Our floor is carpeted with no wood underlay but the front-end dinette has a wood frame and plywood top and sub-floor. Our goal is to keep it under 1500 lbs. We have weighed everything we added and are currently at 1373 lbs (excluding food). We didn't make it to the local weigh station after picking it up from the fellow who did the modifications but plan to stop at the first weigh station we come to on our next trip. Will be interesting to see how closely our calculations are to reality.
Bonnie n Claude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-07-2012, 04:05 PM   #157
Senior Member
 
Bonnie n Claude's Avatar
 
Name: Bonnie and Claude
Trailer: N/A
Ontario
Posts: 224
Registry
Thanks for the spreadsheet with tow vehicles Frederick. It is interesting to see the trailer and TV combinations.
Bonnie n Claude is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 10:21 AM   #158
Senior Member
 
Jim_B's Avatar
 
Trailer: Teardrop
Posts: 141
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson View Post
I was going through my paperwork and found some copies of recent forms that have that information.
The older forms were discarded and that Tow Vehicle data is lost.
I will match up the tow vehicle data with the line item in the spreadsheet in this post for the records that I do have.

ITEM_LENGTH_MAKE_______MODEL________AXLE__TONGUE__ __TOTAL_____TOW VEHICLE
07___13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1260_____180_____1440______2 001 Chrysler PT Cruiser
10___12.5___WeisCraft__Little Joe___1380_____180_____1560______2007 Honda Odyssey
16___13_____Scamp______Standard_____1480_____240__ __1720______2007 Honda Accord
17___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr___1600_____150_____1750______1997 Toyota RAV4
21___13_____Scamp______Standard_____1720_____230__ __1950______2006 Hyundai Tuscon
25___16_____Casita_____Standard_____1780_____240__ __2020______2003 Ford Ranger
26___14_____Surfside___EEE-TM14_____1880_____240_____2120______2007 Toyota Tundra
31___13_____Casita_____Patriot______2280_____280__ __2560______2004 Chevrolet SSR
33___16_____Scamp______SideBath_____2400_____200__ __2600______2007 Subaru Outback
37___19_____Bonaire____Oxygen_______2420_____320__ __2740______2007 Hyundai Santa Fe
43___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______2560_____320_____2880______2009 Ford Ranger
57___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2760_____420__ __3180______2007 Toyota Rav4
59___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2880_____360__ __3240______2000 Dodge Dakota
60___16_____Fiber Stream____________3000_____250_____3250______2003 Honda Odyssey
61___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2860_____390__ __3250______2000 Toyota Tundra
70___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2980_____340__ __3320______?? Honda Ridgeline (year not recorded)
74___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3040_____310__ __3350______2005 Ford Explorer
83___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2980_____450__ __3430______2005 Toyota Tacoma
84___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2960_____470__ __3430______2010 Jeep Liberty
95___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____3300_____560_____3860______2002 Ford Ranger
#6 on your original list had a '07 Tacoma for the tow vehicle. (13' Burro 1300 lbs total, 200 lbs tongue weight)
Jim_B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 10:27 AM   #159
Senior Member
 
Jim_B's Avatar
 
Trailer: Teardrop
Posts: 141
Registry
Quote:
Originally Posted by Frederick L. Simson View Post
This is how I suggest you proceed to weigh your Travel Trailer. It shouldn't take you more than 5 minutes, and the truckers behind you will take at least that long or longer if they're getting separate axle weights, and they'll understand.
  1. Position the trailer on the end of the scale so the tow vehicle's rear axle is off the scale, but the tongue jack is over the weigh deck.
  2. Get the reading for the Axle Weight.
  3. Use the tongue jack on the scale, and unhitch raising the coupler clear of the hitch ball.
  4. Get the reading for the Total Trailer Weight.
  5. Hitch up and move away from the scale for the next customer in line.
  6. Subtract the Axle Weight from the Total Trailer Weight to compute the Tongue Weight.
You can also pull in a weigh station that is closed. The scales are on and there is no pressure to hurry up. I pulled up to where my truck tires were just off the scale and jacked the tongue off the hitch to get total trailer weight. I hitched back up and the difference gave me the tongue weight.
Jim_B is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 10-09-2012, 02:02 PM   #160
Senior Member
 
Bonnie n Claude's Avatar
 
Name: Bonnie and Claude
Trailer: N/A
Ontario
Posts: 224
Registry
We're newbies when it comes to actually MOVING a trailer. We had a tent trailer but didn't think about weight, etc, etc. and we have a 33' but it's not moved in 14 seasons. I didn't know we could use the scales when the weight station was closed. We'll see if we can find a weigh station that isn't too far off the road we are taking en route to Florida. How does it actually work? Do you push a button, weight the trailer and insert a credit card in order for the machine to spit out the results?
Bonnie n Claude is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
weighing, weight


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Trailer Weights...What are They Really? Pamela H Care and Feeding of Molded Fiberglass Trailers 55 12-01-2009 02:21 PM
List of trailer real weights? Cory Lewis Towing, Hitching, Axles and Running Gear 10 11-11-2009 08:17 AM
World's smallest trailer... Roger H General Chat 3 12-27-2008 08:21 PM
Realistic Tow/Cargo Weights V'sGlassSleeper General Chat 25 07-18-2007 12:11 PM
Real world weight issues Legacy Posts General Chat 2 05-02-2003 05:52 PM

» Upcoming Events
No events scheduled in
the next 465 days.
» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 12:04 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.