Trailer Weigh-In at The Oregon Gathering

[Frederick L. Simson]

Link to Previous Discussion last year

All trailers are different; even 2 trailers that are the same Make, Model, and Size will have different weights when modified and loaded by different people.

I am a believer in having individuals know what their own trailer actually weighs, so they can take proper precautions for Towing Safety. As a Scale Service professional, employed by San Diego Scale Company, Inc. I wish to share my knowledge with as many people as possible. I want to make knowing what your actual weight is as easy as possible: This is why I bring my portable scales to the Oregon Gathering.

People who are looking to buy, and know that I weigh trailers, will post questions wanting to know what the results were. In my view, they innocently expect my results will be a standard against which all trailers can be judged. It is easier to look at a published report on a website, than to actually go out and weigh a specific trailer for themselves.

I believe that these weights are privileged information. I believe that it is not MY place to broadcast to the world what anybody else's individual trailer weighs. I could be wrong. This is why I am posting this poll.

[paulw]

Thanks for asking this Fredrick.

Your service at the Oregon Gathering is a terrific opportunity to gather real world data and make it available to those interested in fiberglass rvs.
I'm fortunate to have a free highway scale available to me minutes from my home, but not everyone seems to know their numbers.
When we bought our Scamp the previous owner had never weighed it and only had the factory invoice that listed the weight as 1450#.
When I weighed it on the way home, I discovered it was 1930# and loaded for the trip to Bandon last year it was ~2340#.
Knowing actual weights has helped me make better decisions...what tow vehicle to use, for instance.

I didn't weigh in last year because I knew what my weights were. If we are going to share the data, I will definitely weigh in and contribute.

Thanks for helping people understand what their rigs weigh and suggesting we share this knowledge,

[Donna D.]

I think publishing the weights is a grand idea. You could keep it anonymous by leaving off the owners names, but put in Year/Brand/Size/Model and a general idea of "stuff" packed.

[Frederick L. Simson]

You could keep it anonymous by leaving off the owners names, but put in Year/Brand/Size/Model [b]and a general idea of "stuff" packed.

I don't collect any data on contents. I don't even remember if any of last year's participants had a big tongue box or not.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Link to Previous Discussion last year

[b]I believe that these weights are privileged information. I believe that it is not MY place to broadcast to the world what anybody else's individual trailer weighs. I could be wrong. This is why I am posting this poll.

I see that there is at least ONE person who would not participate if the results were published. This concerns me.
I plan to ask each participant if they are willing to allow ANONYMOUS data to be published.

• If their answer is YES, I will keep a copy of their data
• If their answer is NO, I will NOT even make a copy of their data

I will not record data directly into my laptop like I did last year. I had technical difficulties keeping it powered up on my portable inverter. This year I have printed up paper forms, and will give the completed form to the participant. I have old-fashioned carbon paper to make copies with. I won't even make a copy if any participant does not grant permission to do so.

[Carol Christensen]

Looks like a good plan to me. Publish anonymous results from those who don't mind and leave out those who do mind. It can be very helpful to have an idea of what our little trailers weigh.

We weigh ours at weigh stations occasionally but plan to participate in your Weigh-in also.

I don't know exactly what procedure you will use but was wondering about weighing ours with and without the WDH. It might be an interesting comparison.

[Jim Bennett]

Unfortunately, I won't be there. I sure wish I could swing it, but I did get to visit Oregon for a couple weeks in June. Loved it.

I voted in the poll, because I would love to see the comparisons of the various trailers. It will be quite interesting.

[Frederick L. Simson]

We weighed 25 Trailers yesterday!

I still need to transcribe all of the data, delete the owner's identification, and post the ANONYMOUS results.
That will take some time.

Once I get that done, and I find time to come to the Coffeeshop that has WiFi (no internet access at Bullard's Beach) during their business hours, I will post the ANONYMOUS results for both 2009 and 2008 in this post. I will also email Gene so he can post the CASITA results on his website.

[Frederick L. Simson]

The Anonymous Weight results of those trailers who granted permission for me to post:

#1
08 CASITA SD 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1460, Right Wheel=1540
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=3000
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3360

#2
95 SCAMP 16
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1060 , Right Wheel=1040
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2100
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=320
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2420

#3
98 CASITA FD 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1240 , Right Wheel=1460
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2700
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=420
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3120

#4
05 SCAMP 13
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=720, Right Wheel=700
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=1420
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=200
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=1620

#5
02 CASITA LIBERTY 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1460, Right Wheel=1420
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2880
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=420
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3300

#6
06 CASITA SD 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1480, Right Wheel=1660
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=3140
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3500

#7
88 BIGFOOT TF20 5W
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1160, Right Wheel=1040
Trailer axle 2: Left Wheel=1140, Right Wheel=1080
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=4420
TRAILER HITCH (pin) WEIGHT=640
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=5060

#8
06 BIGFOOT 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=2160, Right Wheel=1880
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=4040
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=4400

#9
01 SCAMP 5W 19
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1600, Right Wheel=1400
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=3000
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=580
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3580

[Frederick L. Simson]

#10
07 CASITA FD 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1380, Right Wheel=1620
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=3000
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3360

#11
09 CASITA FD 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1320, Right Wheel=1360
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2680
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3040

#12
74 COMPACT II
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=940, Right Wheel=960
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=1900
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=120
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2020

#13
82 FIBER STREAM
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=700, Right Wheel=440
Trailer axle 2: Left Wheel=820, Right Wheel=840
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2800
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=160
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2960

#14
04 SCAMP DELUXE 16
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1220, Right Wheel=1220
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2440
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2800

#15
07 CASITA PATRIOT 13
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1160, Right Wheel=1220
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2380
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=260
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2640

#16
08 CASITA SD 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1480, Right Wheel=1480
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2960
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=400
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3360

#17
07 SCAMP 5W 19
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1400, Right Wheel=1240
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2640
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=680
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3320

#18
03 CASITA LIBERTY 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1480, Right Wheel=1380
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2860
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=360
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3220

[Frederick L. Simson]

An Escape owner weighed Last Year (2008)...
08 ESCAPE B 17
TRAILER AXLE 1: Left Wheel=1300, Right Wheel=1200
TRAILER AXLE WEIGHT=2500
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=500
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=3000

...and came back and weighed again This Year (2009):
08 ESCAPE B 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=1220, Right Wheel=1120
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=2340
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=320
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=2660

[Deb & Chuck]

An Escape owner weighed Last Year (2008)...
[b]08 ESCAPE B 17
TRAILER AXLE 1: Left Wheel=[b]1300, Right Wheel=[b]1200
TRAILER AXLE WEIGHT=[b]2500
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=[b]500
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=[b]3000

...and came back and weighed again This Year (2009):
[b]08 ESCAPE B 17
Trailer axle 1: Left Wheel=[b]1220, Right Wheel=[b]1120
TRAILER’S TOTAL AXLE WEIGHT=[b]2340
TRAILER HITCH WEIGHT=[b]320
TOTAL TRAILER WEIGHT=[b]2660

Frederick,
Do you know what accounted for less weight this year in this Escape at weigh-in?
Deb & Chuck

[paulw]

Frederick, Robert and Eric,
Thanks for all the work gathering this information and sharing it with us

[Frederick L. Simson]

Frederick,
Do you know what accounted for less weight this year in this Escape at weigh-in?
Deb & Chuck

If I remember correctly, The owner told me that the major difference was that in 2008 the Fresh Water Tank was [b]Full, and in 2009 the Fresh Water Tank was [b]Empty.

[Frederick L. Simson]

The 2008 results are posted HERE.

[Patrick M.]

We were at the Oregon Gathering of Fiberglass, but had already parked and plugged in so we missed taking advantage of Fred and his gang's weighing efforts. (Well, not entirely, we got them to weigh our Odyssey but that's another matter.) Kudos to Fred for this effort.

However, we did take advantage of the Oregon scales and weighed our Casita Liberty 17' Deluxe several times. The primarily result was:

Wheels: 3,000#
Tongue: 450# (includes Honda generator + 2 gal gasoline)
Total: 3,450#

EDIT: Actually, the above breakdown is not correct as I failed to separately weight the tongue and the wheels separately. The total was 3,450, but adjusting for the impact of the WDH puts the tongue around 550# and thus the wheels 2,900#. (Approximately, since without the WDH the hitch was still engaged and no doubt impacted the axle weights a little.)

I also wanted to see what the effect of a weight distributing hitch was, so I weighed it at another scale with these results:

With WDH Engaged - Without WDH Engaged

Front Car Wheels: 2,600# - 2,350#
Rear Car Wheels: 3,000# - 3,400#
Trailer Wheels: 3,050# - 2,900#
Total Weight: 8,650# - 8,650#

Oregon scales round off to 25# increments, and I have no idea if its a round up or round down calculation.

(Moved here from the 2008 thread! - Ooops, a copy of that post since I find I can no longer edit that 3-day old post. Sorry for the dup!) EDIT: Thanks Fred for the fix!

[Frederick L. Simson]

(Moved here from the 2008 thread! - Ooops, a copy of that post since I find I can no longer edit that 3-day old post. Sorry for the dup!)

I fixed it.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Oregon scales round off to 25# increments, and I have no idea if its a round up or round down calculation.

Actually, it's kind of both.

For example, If the actual weight = 2035, the scale will [b]display 2025, but if the actual weight = 2040, the scale will [b]display 2050. The Department of Agriculture, Bureau of Weights and Measures Inspector checks for the "Break Point" between displayed values. It must increment to the next highest value above 50% of the displayed increment size.

[Frederick L. Simson]

I also wanted to see what the effect of a weight distributing hitch was, so I weighed it at another scale with these results:

With WDH Engaged - Without WDH Engaged

Front Car Wheels: 2,600# - 2,350#
Rear Car Wheels: 3,000# - 3,400#
Trailer Wheels: 3,050# - 2,900#
Total Weight: 8,650# - 8,650#

Several people asked us to do the same thing. I only reported the results here without the WDH.

Also, one person asked me to find out what was the effect his bicycles being on the back of the trailer had on his tongue weight; so I weighed it both with and without bicycles.

The result was that 2 bicycles on the back bumper subtracted <strike>60</strike> [b]40 pounds from the tongue weight.

[Frederick L. Simson]

Link to: 99 BURRO WB 17'