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Picked up my camper from storage for the weekend to do some small storage mods and also re-did my WDH setup. I only did a single pass across the scale due to a line and time limitations but I think I might have it right. Both the truck and trailer are perfectly level and it towed beautifully. Truck only had myself and one of my kids but was otherwise empty and the camper only has the setup equipment inside which includes the blocks, hoses, cables and our camp chairs.
For reference the yellow sticker on the camper indicated a factory weight of 4890 which includes full propane tanks.
So your trailer weight is 4,860 and the tongue weight is 380 pounds. Odd that the steering axle weight did not change even though you are using a WDH and the tongue weight is below 10%.
1) Truck full of gas, people and stuff, with hitch installed.
2) Truck as above, hooked to trailer, with bars not attached.
3) #2 with bars properly adjusted.
The difference between #2 and #3 shows the weight being transferred from the truck's rear axle to the truck's front axle and the camper's axle(s).
Your numbers in fact show that the weight on the rear axle increases with the camper attached and the bars tightened, and the front axle remains unchanged. You could be pulling too much weight off the rear axle.
Let's look at it another way. By comparing the two weights, your trailer weighs 4,860 pounds. That's UNDER the sticker you mentioned, so your propane tanks must be not full, and the stuff in the trailer weighs near nothing?
With a trailer weight of 4,860 pounds, you should have a tongue weight of 632 pounds or so. You're only putting 380 of that on the rear axle. If that weight is correct, you're removing 40% of the tongue weight. That doesn't seem correct.
Originally Posted by MadViking
So your trailer weight is 4,860 and the tongue weight is 380 pounds. Odd that the steering axle weight did not change even though you are using a WDH and the tongue weight is below 10%.
No, that's the weight on the rear axle after tightening the bars, not the tongue weight.
1) Truck full of gas, people and stuff, with hitch installed.
2) Truck as above, hooked to trailer, with bars not attached.
3) #2 with bars properly adjusted.
The difference between #2 and #3 shows the weight being transferred from the truck's rear axle to the truck's front axle and the camper's axle(s).
Your numbers in fact show that the weight on the rear axle increases with the camper attached and the bars tightened, and the front axle remains unchanged. You could be pulling too much weight off the rear axle.
Let's look at it another way. By comparing the two weights, your trailer weighs 4,860 pounds. That's UNDER the sticker you mentioned, so your propane tanks must be not full, and the stuff in the trailer weighs near nothing?
With a trailer weight of 4,860 pounds, you should have a tongue weight of 632 pounds or so. You're only putting 380 of that on the rear axle. If that weight is correct, you're removing 40% of the tongue weight. That doesn't seem correct.
No, that's the weight on the rear axle after tightening the bars, not the tongue weight.
I do know one of propane tanks isn't currently full since we did camp a month ago and used the furnace over both nights we were there. Not sure how empty it is but the other tank is still full since I have it on bypass but that shouldn't be the difference. I guess its also possible that either the CAT scale or the sticker weight is incorrect. Only way for me to really tell is weigh without the WDH bars attached.
I was a bit suspicious about possibly having the bars too tight since the front axle is completely unchanged between being hitched and not and the hitch is quite a bit louder than before I adjusted it. I may end up having to remove one washer after getting it loaded up for travel but regardless it definitely "feels" better towing than before I adjusted the hitch.
I don't have any real long distance trips planned until April so I have plenty of time to get it sorted properly. Honestly at this point I'm really just messing around with the setup and seeing what works best.
I do know one of propane tanks isn't currently full since we did camp a month ago and used the furnace over both nights we were there. Not sure how empty it is but the other tank is still full since I have it on bypass but that shouldn't be the difference. I guess its also possible that either the CAT scale or the sticker weight is incorrect. Only way for me to really tell is weigh without the WDH bars attached.
I was a bit suspicious about possibly having the bars too tight since the front axle is completely unchanged between being hitched and not and the hitch is quite a bit louder than before I adjusted it. I may end up having to remove one washer after getting it loaded up for travel but regardless it definitely "feels" better towing than before I adjusted the hitch.
I don't have any real long distance trips planned until April so I have plenty of time to get it sorted properly. Honestly at this point I'm really just messing around with the setup and seeing what works best.
Congratulations. You're now in the small minority of people that tow that a) want to be safe and within specs and b) actually spend the time to get it right.
Congratulations. You're now in the small minority of people that tow that a) want to be safe and within specs and b) actually spend the time to get it right.
LOL! Thats sadly true.
I did look at the specs on the Jayco website and according to them the base model trailer has a dry weight of 4690 and a hitch weight of 475. Mine does have the optional outside fridge and solar panel which certainly does add some weight but I don't think its more than an extra 100lbs. I'm definitely on the outside of the desired 10-13% tongue weight but I guess I'm uncertain how to make an adjustment since both the truck and trailer are currently setup level and I followed the Equalizer setup instructions to the letter. Think removing a single washer on the hitch angle setting is enough?
You apparently return all the weight to the front axle when using the WDH.
If you set up the WDH per it’s manual, the truck & trailer are level, it tows well, and doesn’t appear to be overloaded anywhere, all the rest is just nice to know. The only thing you don’t have is true tongue weight or axle weights without the WDH spring bars engaged that allows you to determine how the WDH levers the tongue weight to the front and trailer axles compared to with the WDH spring bars engaged.
Yet another CAT Scale thread
