Weight difference between loaded and not...

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Nov 2, 2017 | 06:32 PM

Metal twister

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From: Licking Missouri

Weight difference between loaded and not...

The folks gave me a 1993 26' sandpiper 5th wheel. Its super clean and im anxious to get it out on thr road. I found the original sales lititure and it claims that it weighs 5300 lbs with a hitch weight of 850 lbs. of course this is un loaded. About how much of an increase in weight can I expect to add loaded? Just me so i can go light as need be or... Just trying to get a feel for the adverage increase of a loaded trailer. Im sure the truck can handel it just fine but i have no clue what to expect when loaded. Thanx

Nov 3, 2017 | 07:23 AM

69cj

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From: Middle Tn.

JMO but when you start adding fluids and everything else my minimum estimate is at least 1,000 lbs. A lot of the unladen weights the mfg. state were also with out appliances. 10 bucks at a scale is the sure way to know.

Nov 3, 2017 | 11:52 AM

Irelands child

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From: Upstate NY

I doubt that anyone could come up with an 'average' weight as there are just too many variables to consider. Here are just a few
- 20(5 gal) vs 30 (7.5 gal) pound propane tanks
- battery quantity and size(Gr24 is 46#, Gr29 is 61#)
- gallons of water in each tank, fresh, gray, black
- food you carry
- toys and campsite things carried
- clothes and misc things like kitchen implements and your emergency tools

water is 8.3 pounds/gallon. prpane is 4.24 pounds/gallon

Nov 3, 2017 | 11:59 AM

Metal twister

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From: Licking Missouri

Im thinking with the trailer being as light as it is originally it would be difficult for me to overload it. Like i say its only me and i tend to travel light. But as mentioned earlyer i need to find one of those scales and know for sure?

Nov 3, 2017 | 12:32 PM

Shovelheadrob

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From: Cambs, England

There should be a plate/sticker on the trailer showing GVW & axle weights, then a trip to a weigh station will tell you what you have left as available payload. I'd have thought that given the weight you have mentioned, it will most likely only have perhaps 1500lbs available which isn't a huge amount if you factor in full water etc.

Nov 4, 2017 | 06:43 AM

bigredtruckmi

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From: Huntington Indiana

Yes stuff can weigh a lot. Easy 1000 lbs. as stated. Weigh and be sure

Nov 6, 2017 | 01:00 PM

RA12726

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Metal twister

Actually, the opposite is true. A lightweight trailer is the easiest to overload. The manufacturer would have specified springs, axles, brakes, wheels and tires only for the GVWR on the trailer's sticker. Lightweight trailer = lightweight equipment (unless it is designed as a cargo trailer, of course). Unless you have actual scale weights, use the GVWR on the trailer's sticker for max total weight and 23% of that number for an estimated loaded pin weight. As soon as possible, head to the nearest CAT scales and weigh all axles separately (there are plates for that at the CAT scale). Weigh the truck both hitched up and without the trailer (a re-weigh is only about $4). The difference in those two numbers for the truck's rear axle is the actual pin weight. Published (manufacturer's) weight numbers are almost useless and only a loaded trip to the scales will tell you what you really have.

Rob