Hitch weight on 25FB VS 25RB

[Belbein]

Can someone explain this to me? AS specs say they're virtually identical at under 850 lbs hitch wt. Some people here have said that the RB is actually around 900lbs and the FBT is over 1000, like around 1100 or 1200. Since we were looking at the 25FBT and I tow with a Ford F150 Supercab with Max Tow and I only have 1350 lbs for hitch weight, this is a really critical issue. Can someone help me?

[lsbrodsky]

I can tell you, because I have the 25FB, that the higher numbers are correct for the FB. I cannot give you an accurate explanation. It is what it is. I also had a 1/2 ton pickup when I started and bumped up against the payload limit. I wanted to carry more stuff, including a topper, and that was one of the factors in upgrading to a 3/4 ton pickup a couple of years ago. Glad I did.
Larry

[mikeinca]

I don't have real life numbers for you on the 25ft trailers you're asking about but let me share my experience with you. I heard lots of anecdotal info about how the tongue weight of our 30' Classic was actually much higher than the 886lb Airstream spec. So I was surprised to discover that when I actually checked the weight with a tongue weight scale it was almost spot on with the factory spec. As I played with different loading situations (full water tanks, moving around heavy items in the trailer (like my 50lb portable solar suitcase), etc. the tongue weight varied significantly.

My point is that since your buying decision may depend on it, it might be worthwhile to purchase one of the scales I've linked to below (very useful tool to have no matter what TT you buy) and take it to your dealer for some first hand measurements of the trailers you are considering. Just a thought...

https://www.amazon.com/Sherline-LM-2...a-493401034024

[cru-in]

Yeap, this is why we have a 25RB.

Several on this forum report a loaded TW, for the 25RB,of 800 to 875 pounds. Versus darn near 1200 pounds for the 25FB.

When you look at the trailers this makes sense. Grey/Black Tanks, Hot Water heater, 2nd AC, most of the storage, etc. is behind the axles on the 25RB.

Opposite for the 25FB. Grey/black tanks, 2nd AC, most of the storage, etc. is in front of the axle. Leading to a much higher loaded TW for the 25FB

The 25 RBT gives you even more storage behind the axles which should lead to a slightly lower Loaded TW than the 25 RBQ

[cegardner]

We had a 2015 FB FC and Now a serenity 27 FB 2018. If you look at the layout of all the outside pockets, they are all located in the front which is the hitch area. In the rear bed the outside lockers are located in the rear not at the hitch. our 25 had a 1350 hitch weight. So when you have the normal things in your front lockers, full water tanks and full propane you will get in excess of 1000lbs. We bought a 350 diesel so we would never have a hitch weight issue. It was our choice to go big on our diesel but we never have a payload issue.
Benefits of FB. Our view is the back and most of the time a. Scenic view. The off side, door is in the rear and some campsites we are stepping out beyond the site. Also check the differences in the bathroom size between the two.

[PatLee]

Hi, I am one of those who piped up about the hitch weight of my 2019 25' FBT. During 2018 road trip out west, I had stopped in Pender, NE on way home to get my then-Blue Ox hitch adjusted. The tech weighed the hitch with a scale that looks a lot like the one mikeinca recommends above. I took a photo of the scale with trailer attached; almost 1200 pounds and honest, I travel light. I often think about why its so heavy in the front. While the fresh water tank is above the axles, the black/gray tanks are somewhat past the axle, closer to bed area. I always empty tanks before breaking camp but keep fresh water full. The beds, the under-bed storage lockers with 'stuff' in them, the overhead storage with 'stuff' in it, the nightstand with the generous drawer in it - it all adds up. Photo attached.

[switz]

Our 2013 25FB International Serenity scaled a tongue weight of 1,150 pounds with the Hensley Arrow hitch and Tekonsha Prodigy RF brake controller installed on an otherwise new empty trailer with full water and propane.

I ended putting all the tools at the very back of the dinette seat area and fully loaded for camping we were at 1,175 pounds tongue weight.

These weights were before connecting to the tow vehicle and implementing the weight distribution.

[The Colonel]

I just happened to weigh my tongue yesterday in preparation for a trip. I have the 25 FBT FC and it was just under 1000lbs. I use the BO sway pro with 1000lb bars. Even if it goes up another 100-200lbs I think the wd takes care of that. I haven’t experienced any issues over the last 3 years.

[Rohoredtoe]

Hello Belbin,
The dry tongue weight on a 25RB is 835lbs. The dry tongue weight on a 25RB is 837lbs as per the 2017 Airstream Guide. Best, Marvin

[Mollysdad]

Why would it be different?
Because it's more than just moving the bed from the rear to the front.
All the appliances, bath and shower and storage have to shift also. Meanwhile the outside remains the same (except for the door). The axles are in the same place, therefore a weight shift.

[BillfromWI]

I have a 2014 FC25FB Twin. I've had the same experience as has been described above. I ordered an F-150 max tow, max payload and found it incapable of dealing with the 1252 lb. tongue weight. I now have a GMC 2500 Duramax. I loved the Ford but I love the GMC more.

The 1252 lb. number is from the Airstream production line scales. I had it weighed while at Jackson Center for warranty work. The propane was about 75% full and the water was about 50% but the water tank is over the axles. Gray and black were empty.

When I got home I reweighed the tongue on my Sherline scale. I reported 1150 lbs.; 8% lower than actual. Your numbers may vary.

[gypsydad]

And then you might ask, "twin or queen"? We had 3 different 25's. All 3 had different TW's then the "spec" said, when we took them to the CAT scales...I would recommend you either have the dealer weigh the one your looking at or get a tongue scale and do it yourself. I don't remember the last one, but I can tell you when we picked up our new 2017 28, the TW was 1100 pounds...dealer tried to tell me it was 950; I made him weigh and we pegged his scale at 1000lbs! That's why you should check actual AS your thinking about.

Your payload on your 150 will be marginal with 2 passengers and any gear in back, so you will have to be careful how you load. We hauled around kayaks, a canoe, and around 200lbs of gear in the back for the first couple years I owned my F150, before we understood payload. We were overloaded every trip, and didn't know/understand it! Good luck!

[daleyocum]

My 2019 F150 XLT Supercab shortbed with max tow has a payload of 1,850 and pulls our 2018 FCFBT fine with a blue ox hitch. I swapped out the shocks for Bilsteins which help a lot with porpoising. I love the F150’s backup assist taking all the stress out of backing up. The tongue weight comes in at 950 with the water and waste tanks empty and loaded for camping.

I’ve replaced the factory batteries with Lithium under one of the twin beds so that helps a bit. We do take care about what we bring in the truck, though, and I load things like my tool box in the very back of the trailer to help offset the heavy tongue weight.

I don’t tow my trailer further than I have to with the waste tanks loaded as that puts me over the payload limit of the truck.

A really cool, fully loaded, F150 with only a 1,300 payload isn’t practical for a trailer with a tongue weight around a 1,000 pounds in my opinion.

[cru-in]

I suspect our 25RBT, if the waste tanks are full and I have the rear compartments heavily loaded, could suffer from too little TW. Especially with a bike rack on the back. Or at least get close to 10% TW. This is one of the reasons I chose a Pro Pride. They handle light TW well.

Amazing the difference flipping the Floorplan makes.

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by BillfromWI

The 1252 lb. number is from the Airstream production line scales. I had it weighed while at Jackson Center for warranty work. The propane was about 75% full and the water was about 50% but the water tank is over the axles. Gray and black were empty.

When I got home I reweighed the tongue on my Sherline scale. I reported 1150 lbs.; 8% lower than actual. Your numbers may vary.

Now you have me concerned about the accuracy of the Sherline scale I just bought!

Out of curiosity, where did the factory weigh your trailer, at the hitch or the jack pad? And where did you weigh the trailer using your scale?

FWIW, on my trailer there is about a 5% variation between weighing at the jack pad and the hitch. It's easier to weigh at the pad but it reads heavy. According to the Sherline owners manual this requires a calculation to get a more accurate reading. In my case, I have to multiply the jack pad measurement by .95 to get the actual weight on the hitch ball.

[SSquared]

I have a 2013 25FB Flying Cloud Twin. It was ordered with no options besides the twin bed. I did not weigh the tongue the day we got it (wish I did).

Three weeks later we went to a rally and weighed the tongue while the trailer was loaded for camping with some fresh and waste water. We got pounds with the trailer slightly nose down. Adding one "lego" block under the scale made it slightly nose-up and dropped the weight to 940. On the way home we hit a CAT scale and got a tongue weight of 900, and also got 900 at a CAT scale on the next trip out.

So a 25FB doesn't have to be over 1000 pounds.

[cru-in]

Originally Posted by mikeinca

Now you have me concerned about the accuracy of the Sherline scale I just bought!

Out of curiosity, where did the factory weigh your trailer, at the hitch or the jack pad? And where did you weigh the trailer using your scale?

FWIW, on my trailer there is about a 5% variation between weighing at the jack pad and the hitch. It's easier to weigh at the pad but it reads heavy. According to the Sherline owners manual this requires a calculation to get a more accurate reading. In my case, I have to multiply the jack pad measurement by .95 to get the actual weight on the hitch ball.

The only way to really way to know how much weight the trailer is imparting to the truck is on a CAT scale. That takes into account the weight, and effect, of the WDH. It will show you if the truck is approaching its' GVWR and what each axle is loaded to.

[kpm]

At least a couple of times per year we weigh our rig on a CAT scale using the 3-pass method. This spring the tongue weight on our 2018 25FBT fully loaded with our things, filled with fresh water, but empty black and gray tanks, was 1120 lb.

Because of the additional large window in the dining area, we consider the extra weight of the FB to be worth it

[mikeinca]

Originally Posted by cru-in

The only way to really way to know how much weight the trailer is imparting to the truck is on a CAT scale. That takes into account the weight, and effect, of the WDH. It will show you if the truck is approaching its' GVWR and what each axle is loaded to.

I understand that. Getting a tongue weight measurement does provide a useful, even if imperfect, reference point for those times when you're loading the trailer and a CAT scale isn't available.

[twbucksr]

I’ve been told by the CAT scale near me that it can’t accurately weigh anything less than 1000 pounds.

I weighed the hitch of my 27FBQ FC yesterday as we prepare for a 2 week journey. It is sitting in our full time campsite with a full freshwater tank, 65% full black tank, empty gray tank, 1 full and 1 (I don’t know) propane tank, normal clothes underneath the bed and nothing in the front storage compartment yet. Tongue weighed 860 pounds. I will weigh it again Thursday morning fully loaded for travel before we take it to the CAT scale and report back to this thread.