Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 06-26-2016, 01:42 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer , Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
Good Grief!!! 1150 lbs of Tongue Weight???

Just weighed my tongue with my new Sherline Scale:

1150 lbs.

You've got to be kidding me, there is almost nothing in the front of the trailer.

Specs say it is supposed to be 885 lbs. with batteries and propane.

This is too much on my truck, I have a 2015 30' Flying Cloud Bunk.

What can be done?
Ted S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 01:54 PM   #2
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted S. View Post
Just weighed my tongue with my new Sherline Scale:

1150 lbs.

You've got to be kidding me, there is almost nothing in the front of the trailer.

Specs say it is supposed to be 885 lbs. with batteries and propane.

This is too much on my truck, I have a 2015 30' Flying Cloud Bunk.

What can be done?
Remove one battery (40#) and one LP tank (50#), and tow with no water in the fresh tank, and don't put as much stuff under the bed in the front.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 01:57 PM   #3
Figment of My Imagination
 
Protagonist's Avatar
 
2012 Interstate Coach
From All Over , More Than Anywhere Else
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 10,868
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted S. View Post
Just weighed my tongue with my new Sherline Scale:

1150 lbs.

You've got to be kidding me, there is almost nothing in the front of the trailer.

Specs say it is supposed to be 885 lbs. with batteries and propane.

This is too much on my truck, I have a 2015 30' Flying Cloud Bunk.

What can be done?
(1) Calibrate the scale by weighing an already-known weight to see if the scale is accurate. Do this at least twice, with different weights.
(2) Shift portable trailer contents to a position behind the axles, the farther back, the better. Everything you add forward of the axles increases tongue weight, and the farther forward, the greater the effect.
(3) put the trailer spare in the tow vehicle to get it off the trailer.
__________________
I thought getting old would take longer!
Protagonist is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:04 PM   #4
Rivet Puller
 
SeeMore's Avatar
 
2003 28' Safari S/O
Atlanta Burbs , Georgia
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 2,006
Images: 3
Empty the wardrobes, too? ;-) Tell the bride the shoe collection has to stay behind? On second thought, it is probability safer to just upgrade from a 1500 to a 2500 HD.
__________________
"Good judgement comes from experience. Experience comes from bad judgement."

Sir Tristan
Air #48582, S/SO #003, WBCCI #4584
SeeMore is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:11 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
HowieE's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
Princeton , New Jersey
Join Date: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,070
Images: 12
You said NEW. Can we assume the trailer is empty and if not what are you carrying and where is it loaded?
__________________
WBCCI 12156 AIR 3144 WACHUNG TAC NJ6
2004 Excursion 4x4
1991 34 ft. Excella +220,000 miles, new laminated flooring, new upholstery, new 3200 lbs axles

HowieE is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:11 PM   #6
3 Rivet Member
 
Mach5's Avatar
 
2019 25' Flying Cloud
Woodland , California
Join Date: May 2015
Posts: 249
You must have charged your batteries full up...

But seriously, I don't think anyone on this forum is going to be able to suggest a general repair to fix your tongue weight. You may want to post over on the Flying Cloud specific trailer forum:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f516/

They may not be able to solve your issue either, but at least they can sympathize with your plight and suggest alternatives.
Mach5 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:39 PM   #7
Overland Adventurer
 
AtomicNo13's Avatar
 
1991 34' Excella
2009 34' Panamerica
Telluride , Colorado
Join Date: May 2012
Posts: 2,476
Add ballast to the rear?
AtomicNo13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:47 PM   #8
Rivet Master
 
Wayne&Sam's Avatar
 
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville , New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
Images: 21
Have all passengers ride on the AS bumper. Easy.


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
Wayne&Sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:48 PM   #9
Rivet Master
 
Currently Looking...
Mantua , Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
Blog Entries: 2
It's too easy to overload a trailer by adding additional weight to the rear. Be careful. High tongue weights require real tv.
xrvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:49 PM   #10
Rivet Master
 
Wayne&Sam's Avatar
 
2014 25' Flying Cloud
Cuddebackville , New York
Join Date: May 2007
Posts: 4,333
Images: 21
You're not using a weight ditribution hitch?


Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums
__________________
2014 25' Flying Cloud Rear Twin
2019 Ford Expedition Platinum
Wayne&Sam is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:54 PM   #11
Rivet Master
 
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer , Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
We are in-between trips. The trailer is barely loaded. I have a Propride, so that must be part of it.
Ted S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 02:59 PM   #12
Retired.
 
Currently Looking...
. , At Large
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 21,276
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted S. View Post
We are in-between trips. The trailer is barely loaded. I have a Propride, so that must be part of it.
The ProPride is roughly a couple hundred pounds, so that would be part of it.
__________________
Meddle not in the affairs of dragons, for you are crunchy, and taste good with ketchup.
Terry
overlander63 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 03:03 PM   #13
Rivet Master
 
Currently Looking...
Mantua , Ohio
Join Date: Jul 2005
Posts: 7,062
Blog Entries: 2
It also will distribute some of the weight.
xrvr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 03:12 PM   #14
4 Rivet Member
 
1973 31' Sovereign
Middletown , California
Join Date: Oct 2013
Posts: 424
Crank up the WD bars a bit more and just be sure you don't exceed the tire rating of the rear axle. Maybe add air bags to boost rear spring capacity. Load the stuff from the truck bed to the rear of the trailer. That's about all you can do except get a bigger truck.
ijustlee is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 03:24 PM   #15
Lost in America
 
mojo's Avatar
 
2015 27' FB International
2006 25' Safari FB SE
2004 19' International CCD
Santa Fe , New Mexico
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 2,151
Did you measure the weight at the tip of the pro-pride or from the jack post? Could be a difference of 200lbs +/- .
__________________
This is the strangest life I've ever known - J. Morrison

2015 Airstream International Serenity 27FB
2017
Chevy Silverado 2500HD Duramax Diesel

mojo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 03:51 PM   #16
Rivet Master
 
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer , Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
I drive a Ford Excursion with a diesel. If that can't haul an Airstream, then I don't know what I'll do short of going to a 3/4 Ton pickup and then getting told I have too much truck.

Measurement was under the jack post on the scale.
Ted S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 04:02 PM   #17
Rivet Master
 
Al and Missy's Avatar
 
2002 30' Classic S/O
Fleming Island , Florida
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,668
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ted S. View Post
I drive a Ford Excursion with a diesel. If that can't haul an Airstream, then I don't know what I'll do short of going to a 3/4 Ton pickup and then getting told I have too much truck.

Measurement was under the jack post on the scale.
Was the propride hanging off the trailer? If so, subtract 200 +/- pounds form 1150. 950 is a lot closer to the Airstream-specified wieght. The "tongue weight" is measured at the trailer coupler with no hitch attached. The "hitch weight" is the load imposed on the TV hitch by the trailer and any additional components, i.e. the WD hitch.

You will get a slightly lower number at the hitch coupler. In addition, the trailer needs to be level. If it is tongue down, that will increase the weight at the hitch.

Al
__________________
“You cannot reason someone out of a position they have not been reasoned into"
Al, K5TAN and Missy, N4RGO WBCCI 1322
2002 Classic 30 Slideout -S/OS #004
2013 Dodge 2500 Laramie 4x4 Megacab Cummins
Al and Missy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 04:17 PM   #18
Rivet Master
 
dkottum's Avatar
 
2012 25' Flying Cloud
Battle Lake , Minnesota
Join Date: Jun 2009
Posts: 7,714
The weight of the ProPride will be nearly erased by the additional length of the ProPride hitch. As Mojo said and has done, the weight difference between the tongue jack post and the ProPride stinger at the truck receiver position is about 200 lbs on his combination.

You can expect about 950 lbs on the truck receiver before weight distribution and even less added to the truck's weight after. Our 2012 FC 25 (factory hitch weight spec 835 lbs) plus our ProPriode hitch plus our loaded Airstream and truck add 840 lbs to the truck after weight distribution, using the CAT scale weighing the truck alone, then with the Airstream hitched and weight distribution set.

Your diesel Excursion is overkill for pulling and weight carrying of your Airstream. Always load heavy stuff toward the center of the Airstream, light toward the ends, and do not overload the axles of your SUV. Hitch weight with the ProPride hitch is the least of your concerns, watch loading, handling, and braking of the truck.
__________________
Doug and Cheryl
2012 FC RB, Michelin 16, ProPride 1400
2016 Ram 1500 Laramie Crew Cab 4X4 Ecodiesel 3.92 axles

The Truth is More Important Than the Facts
dkottum is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 04:20 PM   #19
Rivet Master
 
J. Morgan's Avatar
 
1972 31' Sovereign
1975 31' Excella 500
Currently Looking...
Benton , Arkansas
Join Date: Mar 2013
Posts: 5,868
Images: 11
With a good WDH with the right bars, 1140 pounds of tongue weight is inconsequential imho.


Superat stultitia.
__________________
The fact that I am opinionated does not presuppose that I am wrong......

J. Morgan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-26-2016, 04:28 PM   #20
Rivet Master
 
2015 30' FB FC Bunk
Ayer , Massachusetts
Join Date: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,114
Quote:
Originally Posted by dkottum View Post
Your diesel Excursion is overkill for pulling and weight carrying of your Airstream.
My Excursion is over GVWR with the Airstream hitched per Cat scales and we spent the afternoon dialing it in. We have passengers, bikes and some gear in the truck but have dramatically reduced that.

I always scratch my head when told my truck is overkill and the cat scales say I am way WAY over GVWR.
Ted S. is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Tow vehicle Tongue Weight vs. Trailer Tongue Weight KeepPedaling Hitches, Couplers & Balls 10 03-23-2016 12:33 PM
Good grief... another trailer's saggy rear laducky Repairing/Replacing Floor &/or Frame 7 12-29-2014 05:15 PM
Good grief, about to go FT!! lebolewis Full-Timing 41 10-30-2014 03:57 PM
Anyone towing 27FB (7,600 lbs / 770 lbs tongue) with a V8 or TDI Touareg ? Timofeevich Tow Vehicles 41 09-23-2011 05:55 PM
Good Grief! What have we done? ND10CentCan Exterior Restoration Forum 32 03-23-2011 03:44 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:13 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.