2021 189DD Appears Overweight When Empty

[JeffroH]

Just weighed my 189dd prior to our trip out west. It weighs 3880 with no propane tanks, completely empty with just the battery on the tongue.

What the heck??

 

[Chuck v]

Sticker names and icons seem poorly chosen -- the first entry might be attempting to communicate the tongue weight, and the second the axle weight. Not official numbers, where did you get them???

Here are the numbers from the GS site on the 189dd trailer.

Chuck

 

[JeffroH]

The image is from the cat scale yesterday. 460 is the tongue weight with propane tank removed. Just the battery on the tongue. The rig is completely empty. Weighed just as it sits.

 

[Chuck v]

Thanks for the added information. The measured tongue weight indicates there is a forward bias of weight distribution from factory "dry" weight...could be optional equipment/furnishings and/or fluids in the fresh and black tanks.

Note the total of the factory weight specs (2996 +350 + 854) works out to be 4200 lbs, which is still marginally more than your observed weight -- but not comfortably so. Since the truck scale is built for a very large capacity total weight, do we know what the accuracy is for much smaller weights? The law requires them to be within 0.1% of full scale, which can be about 200 lbs or so...

I presume you used the CAT app to weigh the total rig and then drop the trailer for just the tow rig weights, using the inexpensive 're-weigh' feature, right? The image implies that only the trailer was on the scale with no tow vehicle present -- if so how did you do that?

Also, the GS factory information I posted above has the statement that the actual weights would be on a label in your rig, can you post a picture of that label??

Chuck

 

[JeffroH]

ok, so your 4200 number has me confused. I thought the 3800 pound total allowable weight included the tongue weight? When I weighed the camper on the Cat scale, I put the single rear axle on the rear plate, and the tongue on the front. Adding them together = total trailer weight correct?

 

[Chuck v]

The confusion begins with my erroneous inclusion of the hitch weight an additional time in what should have been the real GVWR, as GVWR would be only the dry weight plus net carry capacity (2996 + 854) which is shown on the GS website as a target sum of 3850. The notes on your sticker state the GVWR INCLUDES the tongue weight...

Is this trailer new to you? What year model is it?? The weight you observed on the CAT scale is more than should be expected for this little trailer. In fact the observed tongue weight is 31% higher than the listed tongue weight , and the scale value for the 'dry' weight of 3420 is about 15% higher than expected -- which again makes the accuracy for the 300,000 pound rated CAT scale at small readings a potential factor. While this a possible source at least some of the discrepancy, more likely the added pounds are real. Were all tanks completely dry, for instance (the fresh water tank alone would be more than 75% of the allowed net carry weight...)

But it is also known that RVs are notoriously heavier in actual use than their ratings, so check any added options/accessories your trailer has that were not factored into the "as manufactured, factory weight"