Trailer Weights in the Real World

[Frederick L. Simson]

This is a spreadsheet of all of the weigh-in results that I have from the past several years.
Several trailers were weighed multiple times.
8 trailers were weighed by others and reported in this thread.

Sorted 1st by TOTAL, 2nd by TONGUE, and 3rd by Length
Items 13, 14, & 19 are the same trailer, it was weighed 3 times
Items 33 & 37 are the same trailer, it was weighed 2 times
Items 39, 46, & 55 are the same trailer, it was weighed 3 times
Items 61 & 98 are the same trailer, it was weighed 2 times
Items 75 & 91 are the same trailer, it was weighed 2 times
Items 66 & 71 are My Trailer it was weighed 2 times
Item 02 is also My Trailer It is totally gutted*, consisting of just the Frame & Wheels, Floor, Fiberglass Body, Windows, and Door.
Item 105 has a generator on the tongue
Items 55 & 71 These 2 trailers had a FULL fresh water tank up front

ITEM_LENGTH_MAKE_______MODEL________AXLE__TONGUE__ __TOTAL
01___13_____Burro______B13___________718______90______808
02___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr____800______60______860*
03___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr____980_____140_____1120
04___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr___1200_____100_____1300
05___13_____Boler______B1300________1160_____140__ __1300
06___13_____Burro______B13__________1100_____200_____1300
07___13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1260_____180_____1440
08___13_____Burro______B13__________1260_____260__ __1520
09___13_____Perris_____Pacer________1260_____260__ __1520
10___13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1400_____150_____1550
11___13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1400_____160_____1560
12___12.5___WeisCraft__Little Joe___1380_____180_____1560
13___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr___1540______60_____1600
14___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr___1480_____120_____1600
15___13_____Scamp___________________1420_____200__ __1620
16___13_____U-Haul_____CT13_________1440_____240_____1680
17___13_____Hunter_____Compact II___1640______80_____1720
18___13_____Scamp______Standard_____1480_____240__ __1720
19___13_____Hunter_____Compact Jr___1600_____150_____1750
20___13_____Boler______B1300________1580_____220__ __1800
21___13_____Trillium___T1300________1600_____240__ __1840
22___13_____Hunter_____Compact II___1700_____160_____1860
23___13_____Scamp______Standard_____1720_____230__ __1950
24___15_____Trillium___T4500________1804_____170_____1974
25___13_____Hunter_____Compact II___1900_____120_____2020
26___13_____Escape__________________1780_____240__ __2020
27___16_____Casita_____Standard_____1780_____240__ __2020
28___14_____Surfside___EEE-TM14_____1880_____240_____2120
29___13_____Boler______B1300________1920_____280__ __2200
30___16_____Casita_____Liberty Dlx__2060_____280_____2340
31___13_____Casita_____Patriot Dlx__2120_____240_____2360
32___16_____Scamp___________________2100_____320__ __2420
33___16_____Scamp______Standard_____2280_____240_____25 20
34___16_____Scamp______SideDinette__2240_____280__ __2520
35___13_____Casita_____Patriot______2280_____280__ __2560
36___17_____Boler______B1700RGH_____2365_____220_____2585
37___16_____Scamp______SideBath_____2400_____200_____26 00
38___13_____Casita_____Patriot______2380_____260__ __2640
39___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______2340_____320_____2660
40___16_____Fiber Stream____________2560_____180_____2740
41___19_____Bonaire____Oxygen_______2420_____320__ __2740
42___17_____Casita_____Liberty______2260_____480__ __2740
43___16_____Scamp______Deluxe_______2440_____360__ __2800
44___16_____Casita_____Freedom______2580_____240__ __2820
45___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2260_____560__ __2820
46___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______2500_____340_____2840
47___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______2560_____320_____2880
48___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____2420_____480_____2900
49___16_____Casita_____Spirit_______2640_____300__ __2940
50___17_____Escape_____Plan B ______2560_____380_____2940
51___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2560_____380__ __2940
52___16_____Fiber Stream____________2800_____160_____2960
53___17_____Boler______B1700________2730_____240_____2970
54___17.5___Bigfoot_________________2600_____380__ __2980
55___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______2500_____500*____3000
56___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2680_____360__ __3040
57___17_____Casita_____Spirit ______2660_____380_____3040
58___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2620_____420__ __3040
59___17_____Casita_____Spirit ______2740_____380_____3120
60___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2700_____420__ __3120
61___19_____Escape_____Dual Axle____2670_____460_____3130
62___19_____Escape_____Dual Axle____2920_____220_____3140
63___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2760_____420__ __3180
64___17_____Casita_____Liberty______2860_____360__ __3220
65___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2880_____360__ __3240
66___16_____Fiber Stream____________3000_____250_____3250
67___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2860_____390__ __3250
68___16_____Casita_____Spirt________2960_____300__ __3260
69___17_____Burro______Wide Body____2900_____360_____3260
70___17_____Burro______Wide Body____2820_____440_____3260
71___16_____Fiber Stream____________2760_____500*____3260
72___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2980_____300__ __3280
73___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2900_____400__ __3300
74___17_____Casita_____Liberty______2880_____420__ __3300
75___17_____Casita_____Liberty______2840_____460_____33 00
76___17_____Casita_____Freedom______2980_____340__ __3320
77___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____2640_____680_____3320
78___17_____Escape_____Plan B_______3020_____320_____3340
79___20_____CustomLite_5th Wheel____2820_____520_____3340
80___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3040_____310__ __3350
81___17_____Casita_____Freedom______3000_____360__ __3360
82___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3000_____360__ __3360
83___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2960_____400__ __3360
84___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____2780_____580_____3360
85___18_____Trillium___T5500________3060_____340__ __3400
86___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3020_____480__ __3400
87___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2960_____440__ __3400
88___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____2720_____700_____3420
89___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2980_____450__ __3430
90___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______2960_____470__ __3430
91___17_____Casita_____Liberty______3000_____460_____34 60
92___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3140_____360__ __3500
93___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3020_____480__ __3500
94___17_____Casita_____Spirit_______3000_____520__ __3520
95___17_____Casita_____Liberty______3100_____460__ __3560
96___19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____3000_____580_____3580
97___19_____Escape_____5.0__________2860_____780__ __3640
98___19_____Escape_____Dual Axle____3305_____450_____3755
99___19_____Escape_____Dual Axle____3440_____360_____3800
100__17_____Casita_____Liberty______3140_____680__ __3820
101__19_____Escape_____Dual Axle____3620_____240_____3860
102__19_____Scamp______5th Wheel____3300_____560_____3860
103__17_____Oliver_____Elite________3560_____340__ __3900
104__19_____Escape_____5.0__________3220_____680__ __3900
105__17_____Casita_____Liberty______3300_____660_____3960
106__19_____Escape_____Dual Axle____3740_____240_____3980
107__17.5___Bigfoot_________________4040_____360__ __4400
108__20_____Bigfoot____5th Wheel____3600____1060_____4660
109__20_____Bigfoot____5th Wheel____3780____1000_____4780
110__20_____Bigfoot____5th Wheel____4420_____640_____5060
111__21_____Bigfoot____Rear Bed_____5200____1160_____6360
112__25_____Bigfoot____Rear bed_____6420____1420_____7840

[Frederick L. Simson]

This list is now complete.
While I may be computer literate, I am not totally computer fluent.
I have this data in an excel spreadsheet, and when I cut-and-pasted it here, I lost the column structure of excel.


I work so hard here because I am passionate about this subject.
This must be MY hobby.

[Steve Dunkel]

Good work Frederick. Very informative. Hope to have you weigh my Bigfoot 21RB at one of the gatherings. I weighed the tongue with a Sherline scale and it isn't anywhere near the weight of the 21' Bigfoot in your list.

[Frederick L. Simson]

I weighed the tongue with a Sherline scale and it isn't anywhere near the weight of the 21' Bigfoot in your list.

If I remember correctly, I think the "21' Bigfoot" in my list has the optional factory storage box on the tongue which adds 2' to the trailer.

[Lizbeth]

Good job Fred, thank you! People can use these real world weights when we hear "Oh it only weighs 950 lbs".

Did you deliberately leave my fatso Boler off the list?

[Thane]

Good job, thanks for the effort.

[sugermc]

Did any of these trailers have a propane tank on the tongue? The list is very helpful, thanks for all the good work

Did these trailers have regular "stuff" in them also?, the kind a person would take with them? Or did they just have factory stuff

And how did you weigh them at these outings???

[Frederick L. Simson]

Did you deliberately leave my fatso Boler off the list?

My spreadsheet includes 5 events:

• Oregon Gathering 2008
• Oregon Gathering 2009
• Lake Casitas 2009
• Oregon Gathering 2010
• Oregon Gathering 2011

I had completely forgotten that I also weighed at a 6th event:

• Lake Casitas 2008

I cannot find (or did not keep) a copy of the records for the 4 Trailers I weighed at that event.
On edit: I seem to remember your Boler being around 2100 pounds.

[Frederick L. Simson]

1. Did any of these trailers have a propane tank on the tongue?
2. Did these trailers have regular "stuff" in them also?, the kind a person would take with them?
3. And how did you weigh them at these outings???

1. I think all of these trailers had at least one propane tank, if not two. Many had Batteries on the tongue as well.
2. ALL of these trailers were loaded the way that each owner normally traveled.

3. I'm so glad you asked!



I use portable "Wheel Weigher" scales.
My employer loans me 3 of them to bring to FiberglassRV rallys.
For the Oregon Gathering, I developed a system to maximize ease and convenience for each person.
It is based on the "Pit-Stop" system used during auto racing.



This was done on the first day of the rally, as people were arriving, and I had a team of helpers.
I posted these instructions:

1. When you arrive, do NOT turn right into the Campground
2. Instead, Proceed ahead to the Beach Restroom Lot
3. Weigh your Trailer's Axles while hitched (but with any WDH bars removed)
4. Now go back, check in, and proceed to your campsite
5. Unhitch and get level. DO NOT deploy stabilizer jacks (but DO chock your wheels)
6. I will come to your site and weigh your Trailer's Tongue
7. After I'm done, you can set up your campsite

My team of helpers were stationed in a "Day Use" parking lot. When a rig pulled in they sprang into action!
They filled out a form with pertinent information for each rig, and then recorded the Axle Weight readings.




I only had 2 wheel weighers in use at the parking lot.
We had to improvise to weigh double axle trailers. Wood blocks before and after the scales kept the axles level.




When all of that trailer's axles were weighed, Eric would give the form to the driver, and send him back to the campground to check in.
Then he would text message me that driver's campsite number. I would be waiting in my car with the 3rd scale at the campground, and add that number to my list. I would meet that driver at their site and weigh their tongue after they unhitched and leveled up.


The tongue jack is raised just enough to clear the ground.

Then I would complete the form, and give that camper the original. I would keep a copy for my records so I could create this post.

[Frederick L. Simson]

For those who came too early, and were already set up, and didn't want to break camp, pack up, go to the beach, get their axles weighed, go back to their campsite, and re-set everything in their campsite, I weighed them at their site.



This is also the procedure I use at the Lake Casitas rally.

[Vickie B.]

Whoa---thanks for all the work you do (in the field and on the computer!) I wish I could get to one of the rallys and get weighed. I wondered how you did it---thanks for the explanation!

[Steve Dunkel]

If I remember correctly, I think the "21' Bigfoot" in my list has the optional factory storage box on the tongue which adds 2' to the trailer.

That would certainly account for the extra overall weight and especially the tongue weight assuming the axle placement stays the same with the optional storage box.

Thanks for providing this service to the members here. The following link reminded me that something can go wrong very quickly and unexpectedly when a trailer is not set up properly. Knowing your trailer weights is an important part of towing safely.

http://www.kingmandailyminer.com/main.asp?...ArticleID=39227

[jack maloney]

My 13ft. U-Haul weighs in at 150 lbs. tongue and 1400 lbs. axle (including full water and propane tanks).

[Frederick L. Simson]

My 13ft. U-Haul weighs in at 150 lbs. tongue and 1400 lbs. axle ([b]including full water and propane tanks).

Thank you Jack! I will add you into the list above.

[Pam Garlow]

My 13ft. U-Haul weighs in at 150 lbs. tongue and 1400 lbs. axle (including full water and propane tanks).

Jack, You mentioned propane tanks (plural). Do you have a dual setup? U-hauls usually only have one tank, I'm just wondering. Additionally, what do you have that would add appreciable weight such as swamp cooler or AC, propane furnace, 3way fridge, solar panel, spare tire, etc. Thanks!

(I'm still trying to figure out how to get a tongue weight on mine with my digital bathroom scale....not easy....) Its certainly interesting to see that Uhauls are not so common on the west coast! And Frederick - great job on that list!

[Frederick L. Simson]

Its certainly interesting to see that Uhauls are not so common on the west coast!

My across-the-street neighbor has one in his garage. (He rented that house specifically for the garage w/barn doors.) It hasn't seen the light of day since he moved in 5 years ago. I think there may be many more circumstances like that.

[Bill K]

Pam,
Here is how I weigh my tongue.
I happen to have a BIG block of wood ( a jack stand would work ) and put it under the coupler. I then take the tongue jack up till all the weight is on the block of wood. Slide the scale under the jack and take the jack down till the coupler is off of the wood and you will have a close tongue weight.

It is close enough for me.

Bill K

(I'm still trying to figure out how to get a tongue weight on mine with my digital bathroom scale....not easy....) Its certainly interesting to see that Uhauls are not so common on the west coast! And Frederick - great job on that list!

[Carol H]

*Thanks* Frederick for doing the weigh in at Bandon. It sure helps to give some of us ;-) a reminder that we need to pay close attention to what and where we stow our trailers.

I noted that you have a 16' Scamp listed with a axle weight of 2280 and tongue of 280 total 2520 suspect this is my 16' Standard Side bath but the tongue weight is a typo and should read 240? which is what my sheet showed.

As a side note I did do a minor re stow after you weighed it and stopped to have the trailer weighed again after and the axle came in at 2300 and tongue at 220 so I still need to work on getting the tongue down a bit more for its tow.

Thanks again.
Carol

[Frederick L. Simson]

Originally Posted by Carol H

I noted that you have a 16' Scamp listed with a axle weight of 2280 and tongue of 280 total 2520 suspect this is my 16' Standard Side bath but the tongue weight is a typo and should read 240? which is what my sheet showed.

Thank you for catching that. Yes, 240 is the value on my exel spreadsheet. I spent too much time trying to edit that data on the inversion powerboard software. Now that we are using vBulliten, the columns are all catywampus again.

[RonMayo]

I came across a free vehicle scale that allowed me to determine that my 2005 13’ Deluxe Scamp weighed in at 1880 pounds including a tongue weight estimate of 164 pounds. Included was 12 gallons of water and about 200 pounds of food, clothing, and tools. That makes a dry weight of 1580 pounds. (Lesson: Scamp’s literature tends towards underestimates.)