Tongue weight on our '04 25' Safari

[DJW]

Hi- I just did the bathroom scale on a 4' beam measurement test (see below), and came up at over 1000 lbs! Has anyone measured a similar unit? We are lightly loaded (bedding, some food, full propane) and this seems really high. GVWR for our trailer is 6300 lbs. I've heard this series has heavy tongue weight, but is this accurate?

Thanks!

Don

....................jack.....................
__________|||____________________________
/\ 1’................ v.......................................... 3’ (scale)= 260 lbs

[dkottum]

Did you measure it at the coupler, or back by the jackstand which would show a higher weight? And the trailer must be level. If you're comparing it to factory weight spec it must also be empty and not modified.

[DJW]

At the jack stand. Trailer is level. Not modified, but has our stuff in it. Anyone have a similar model they've actually weighed at the coupler, or jack stand?

Thanks,

Don

[Ridgerunner3]

My trailer is an 02 Safari 25 with a gross weight rating of 6300#. I have calculated my tongue weigh to be 1020# when the trailer is loaded for camping with the water tank full. I have a Propride hitch which adds some tongue weight.

I have calculated tongue weight several times based on CAT scale weights. The way I calculate tongue weight at the CAT scales is total truck weight with trailer hooked up and no weight distribution minus total truck weight with no trailer attached. Both of the weight readings are taken during the same trip to the scale.

A couple of years ago I weighed my trailer while it was unloaded and not ready for camping (no water in any tanks either). At that time I had a Reese Dual Cam hitch. The calculated tongue weight for this trip to the scales was 860#.

I was never able to get a repeatable tongue weight using the bathroom scale method.

I hope this is of some use to you.

[mojo]

200 lb difference between jack and coupler with a sherline scale

[rodsterinfl]

I have a 2006 25' Safari. I weighed it at he CAT scales and got 1000 lbs. as the tongue weight. My gross weight rating is 7000 but at the time it was nearly empty with full propane. The trailer weight alone was 5040 pounds I believe.

[RLS]

Ummm, Yep, that sounds right I use the Sherline scale and 1,050 lbs at the coupler is usually what I am at fully loaded. This does not include the ball and hitch that goes in the receiver for the Reese dual cam set up, but it does include the bars.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by mojo

200 lb difference between jack and coupler with a sherline scale

^
X2

I got the same differential when using the Sherline Scale.

You'll find all of the factory weights are optimistically light especially TW.
860lbs factory.....1000-1200lbs actual depending on load.

Bob

[doorgunner]

Hi Don;
I can't believe you did not let me weigh your rig with my Shearline scale at the last Forum Rally. All the newer trailers weight on the pointed end are HIGH. Robertsunrus just could not believe the weight of his rig either, I'll bring my scale to Casini , you can see for yourself. I check the calibration of my scale by standing on the tongue and seeing a 179 lb. increase on the scales gauge, lol.
say hello to the bride!!

[idroba]

Both of my 20's, the old Argosy and the new FC, have similar tongue weights (scale measured) in the 700 lb. range. Makes them tow well.

[ROBERTSUNRUS]

Originally Posted by doorgunner

Hi Don;
I can't believe you did not let me weigh your rig with my Shearline scale at the last Forum Rally. All the newer trailers weight on the pointed end are HIGH. Robertsunrus just could not believe the weight of his rig either, I'll bring my scale to Casini , you can see for yourself. I check the calibration of my scale by standing on the tongue and seeing a 179 lb. increase on the scales gauge, lol.
say hello to the bride!!

Hi, doorgunner weighed mine at Jackson Rancheria; It hit about 1,000 pounds. Then I realized that my wife and dog were still in the front of my trailer and my Equal-I-zer hitch head was attached to my "L" bracket. The next weight was about 900 pounds. Still a bit more than I expected. The factory brochure shows that my tongue weight is supposed to be 680 pounds.

Thank You doorgunner.

[DJW]

OK, thanks for all the info! The underlying reason for my question is that it is time for a new WD hitch. It sounds like a good guess is around 1000# tongue weight, so 1000 lb bars are what I should get?

I have an OLD Eaz-lift hitch that's worked great, but some idiot (me) put the bars on reversed (R to L) and one fell out and got towed far enough to wear out about 1/3 of the diameter. I think it has 1000 lb bars, but it's too old to see any markings.

Thanks,

Don

PS- DG- thanks for the offer. We had to leave Jackson a day early this year, so I guess i missed tool-time fun! Pls bring it to Casini.

[RLS]

OK, thanks for all the info! The underlying reason for my question is that it is time for a new WD hitch. It sounds like a good guess is around 1000# tongue weight, so 1000 lb bars are what I should get?

Depends on tow vehicle and what hitch. I use an suv with 800 lb bars that works good. I did try the higher weight bars first, but it was too rough a ride. These trailers do better with a smooth ride.

[A W Warn]

My 25' Safari 6 sleeper has a GVRW of 6,300 lbs. I have weighed it a few times. These weights are while loaded for camping with maybe 5 or 10 gallons of fresh water in the tank. Also there was one full 30lb tank of propane and one partial tank of propane.
weigh #1 - 5,280 lb with tongue 580 lbs
weigh #2 - 5,460 lb with tongue 650 lbs
weigh #3 - 5,240 lb with tongue 560 lbs

Weigh #2 had two bicycles, a bike rack, a full ice chest, a tent, and a loaded storage container setting in the floor in front of the axles, thus the extra weight.

[DJW]

Originally Posted by RLS

Depends on tow vehicle and what hitch. I use an suv with 800 lb bars that works good. I did try the higher weight bars first, but it was too rough a ride. These trailers do better with a smooth ride.

Yeah, I'm all for the trailer getting a smoother ride. I learned to not cinch up the chains so tight on the Eaz-lift. The weight still got distributed well, and the ride was easier.

BTW, we have 2007 Tundra. It's a bit bothersome to think about a 1/2 ton truck, and a 1000 lb tongue weigh....

[Rollster]

We have a 25FB and it has a tongue weight of 960 lbs. We thought that seemed pretty high, too.

[Ridgerunner3]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

My 25' Safari 6 sleeper has a GVRW of 6,300 lbs. I have weighed it a few times. These weights are while loaded for camping with maybe 5 or 10 gallons of fresh water in the tank. Also there was one full 30lb tank of propane and one partial tank of propane.
weigh #1 - 5,280 lb with tongue 580 lbs
weigh #2 - 5,460 lb with tongue 650 lbs
weigh #3 - 5,240 lb with tongue 560 lbs

Weigh #2 had two bicycles, a bike rack, a full ice chest, a tent, and a loaded storage container setting in the floor in front of the axles, thus the extra weight.

Alan, what method did you use to measure the tongue weight on your trailer? Your tongue weight seems light compared to what others are reporting for a 25 footer.

[ROBERT CROSS]

Originally Posted by A W Warn

My 25' Safari 6 sleeper has a GVRW of 6,300 lbs. I have weighed it a few times. These weights are while loaded for camping with maybe 5 or 10 gallons of fresh water in the tank. Also there was one full 30lb tank of propane and one partial tank of propane.
weigh #1 - 5,280 lb with tongue 580 lbs
weigh #2 - 5,460 lb with tongue 650 lbs
weigh #3 - 5,240 lb with tongue 560 lbs

Weigh #2 had two bicycles, a bike rack, a full ice chest, a tent, and a loaded storage container setting in the floor in front of the axles, thus the extra weight.

Very interesting TW's...even lower than AS's stated guess.

2000 25' SAFARI 6...SLEEPER STANDARD FEATURES CHASSIS
6300 Lb. GVWR " 6000 Lb. Axle System" Styled Aluminum Wheels" Radial Black Wall Tires. LRC 15" • 12" Electric Drum Brakes" Stabilizer Jacks w/Pads (4) .. Steel Step" Manual Hitch Jack


4770# Factory Weight· 680# Hitch weight 1530# Additional Allowable vvelYlllU ...A.CI;VI '-CI I~" ~:'...." .... .. A'C; 1/?"•InteriorWidth-8'1".ExteriorHeightw/AC..9'T'aInterior
Height - 6' 3.5" • Hitch Ball Height - 173/4"

Airstream,Inc."419W.Pike51.•JacksonCenter,OH 45334·937/596-6111 ~~ifi"Jlltlons are subleet to change without notificalton.


Bob

[A W Warn]

Each weigh was on Cat Scales.
On a six sleeper most of the storage is over the axles. Mostly, we use the storage under and above the front gaucho for clothing, towels, etc., things that are light. The same with the storage under the dinette. I guess I did this unintentionally by loading the heavy stuff in the center and/or under the bed in rear storage compartments.

add/edit - hitch and sway control, weighing 91 lbs, are not included in the tongue weight.

[Vantair]

All,
Our 2005 International CCD Rear Bed with spare tire, batteries and 90% full large dual propane tanks + 40lbs of stowed gear in front goucho (placard tag says 5304 dry/6300 GVWR.

Used accurate 660lb rated digital crane scale ($35.00 Amazon)hanging from truck hitch hooked to truck receiver to coupler and lowered jack slowly. Adding bath scale underneath coupler with 6lb bottle jack to off load the difference minus these test components = 745.00 less hitch.

Adding back truck hitch gear , WD Eze-Lift 1k bars adds 56 + 29 = 70lbs. ACTUAL hitched up and driving TW = 830 lbs.