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Old 07-12-2006, 01:14 PM   #1
snfexpress
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More on weights - need confirmation

Okay, I need a little help, here. I searched the posts but...

I weighed the 3400 today. Here is what I got:

Trip #1 with 2006 GMC only (me, all our stuffs in the truck, etc.)

Steer axle 4340 (all in pounds)
Drive axle 3080

Gross weight of TV: 7420

Trip #2 with Montana in tow:

Steer axle 4380
Drive axle 5760
Trailer axle 10660

Gross weight 20800

Now, my truck has a GVWR of 9900 pounds and a max towing capacity of 15800.

Are my following calculations correct?

Weight of Montana is 20800-7420 = 13380
Pin weight is 5760-3080 = 2680

GVWR of truck is exceeded by 4380+5760 = 10140 minus 9900 = 240

Thanks and sorry for being stupid on this subject.
 
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Old 07-12-2006, 03:22 PM   #2
rickety
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Mike, I don't think any question is stupid. The only stupid one is the one you don't ask. Having said that, I don't undestand the wieght thing either! All I know is that my Monty tows real well, The truck doesn't squat, I have no problem keeping up with traffic, and real good tow mpg (12-13).
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Old 07-12-2006, 03:35 PM   #3
pud2
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Mike i think your gcvwr is around 22000-23000 but i could be thinking of the new fords. If these #'s are correct then you are fine on your gcvwr but yes you are 240lbs over your cvwr.
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Old 07-12-2006, 03:49 PM   #4
OntMont
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Your numbers seem correct and similar to mine. (I think you may need to add Kathy's weight to the equation though).
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Old 07-12-2006, 04:29 PM   #5
Montana Sky
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Michael,
Sounds right to me. Very similar to mine except my kingpin weight is 2,180 lbs. What I have noticed, is I am putting things back into the coach lately. My bet, the kingpin weight is back over 2,300 lbs which would put me over the GVWR of the truck. Still in within the 22,000 CGVWR and the GVWR of the coach.
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Old 07-12-2006, 06:27 PM   #6
snfexpress
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Thanks, everyone. I thought I might have to stop driving (and going) and just let my wife and dog go. I'm thinking that with the dog at approx 80 pounds and my wife at 134, then I'm (if I'm allowed to go), 454 pounds over the truck's capacity. I guess I'll have to stay on my diet (I'm 275). Oh well....
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Old 07-12-2006, 07:28 PM   #7
Wrenchtraveller
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Yes, GVW adds up fast and I don't believe 500 pounds over is a big deal but if you need to have certain things with you, you can end up being real heavy. In my case my little 2955RL ends up with a 2600 pound pin weight and puts my 05 F350 4x4 CC LB SRW at 11080 GVW and that is OK because my truck has an 11200 GVWR . Now if my truck was an 04 F350 SRW with the 9900 pound GVWR................that is a little different and when we start getting 1000 or more pounds over our weight ratings, I believe we are starting to push the envelope. Because I travel with tools , two big dogs, and a lot of other stuff I could never own a 3400 unless I had a dually. I am surprized to see a lot of you guys travel light enough to haul a 3400 with SRW pickups.

Remember a few years ago Ford was selling loaded up F150s that you could overload with an empty box if your two fattest aunts were in the back seat.
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Old 07-13-2006, 09:36 AM   #8
Montana Sky
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Don,
There is 2 reason I am able to to keep the kingpin lite on my 3400RL. 1- I am single, only have the coach packed for one. 2- I use the fresh water tank in the rear to help offset some of the kingpin weight. LOL =)
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Old 07-13-2006, 11:47 AM   #9
snfexpress
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Great idea, Dave - I think I'll try it when we get back to Reno. We're headed for Salem, right now.
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Old 07-13-2006, 12:42 PM   #10
Cat320
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22000 is the GCWR of all GM srw 3500s, it goes to 23500 with the dually. As previously noted on the forum, towing capacity is not the problem...these diesels will tow any Montana made. The problem is carrying the pw and staying within GVWR for the truck. When researching new trucks, I ruled out the GM srw 1 ton because you only get about an extra 350 lbs cargo capacity over a 2500 (which is nearly always over GVWR) due to it being a heavier vehicle and not coming in a short bed.
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Old 07-13-2006, 05:07 PM   #11
sreigle
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Michael, your pinweight is 2720. The 40 lbs you missed went on the front axle. Not all pinweight goes on the rear axle. If pin center is slightly behind the rear axle, as mine apparently is, then drop the pin on the truck and the front axle is actually lighter. If ahead of the axle, some of the weight goes on the front axle.

Confirm this by subracting total truck weight, hitched and not. If you added nothing else or subtracted nothing else then the only thing added is pinweight.
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Old 07-15-2006, 07:04 AM   #12
rickfox
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Michael,

Also don't forget that paying attention to how things are loaded can make a big difference in pin weight. For example, anything loaded into the front bedroom closet adds weight essentially pound for pound onto the pin weight. Don't load heavy things into this closet.

Place heavier items closer to the trailer axles, and lighter items closer to the pin. Don't put your 100 pounds of tools etc. in the front basement compartment. Put bulkier, but lighter items up there.

It's fairly easy to lighten the pin weight by 2 or 3 hundred pounds by improving the weight distribution of your load! And like Montana Sky mentioned, carry some fresh water to help counter the added weight of your other cargo.

My Chevy has a 9200# GVWR, and that's about where I'm at. I'd think I was in hog heaven with a 9900# limit!
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Old 07-15-2006, 10:23 AM   #13
Wrenchtraveller
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And remember, to get all the benefits of Fifth wheel handling, the pin must be over the centre of the axle or slightly forward.
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