More Cargo Weight Questions - Montana Owners Club

Cat320 · 08-06-2006, 10:49 AM

Don't want to beat this to death, but it seems several of us with 3400s have "the weight of cargo cannot exceed 1517 pounds" on the sticker on the left front of the rigs. I've been crunching some numbers, and if we have all the tanks full (fresh, gray and black) using the weight of water, that equals about 1445 lbs.

That leaves 72 lbs for the rest of our stuff.

Surely this is not right. Unless tankage is computed into cargo ratings. In other words is the 1517 of available cargo assuming full tanks? If so, if we keep the tanks mostly empty (say 300 lbs for the tanks) we'd have at an extra 1217 lbs of cargo capability.

???

rickety · 08-06-2006, 11:10 AM

Czt, would seem to me that you wouldn't want to travel with your black grey or gallye tanks full, and maybe only with 1/3 fresh water unless boondocking. I will not travel with fluids in any tanks, except for a small amount of fresh water.

Just seems to makes sense not oto travel with tanks full. JMHO

[IMG] http://tinypic.com/j8lbg9
.jpg[/IMG]

Rick and Phyllis Trent,
2004 Chevrolet 2500HD/Duramax/Allison,exhaust brake.
2004 Monty 3280RL/slide toppers,sleep comfort bed. Full Timers since January 2006!
Gizmo the dog who thinks he's a Great Dane

sreigle · 08-06-2006, 11:11 AM

The sticker on the cabinet door on our 2003 3295RK says that it has already deducted for a full freshwater tank. It does not mention the other tanks. It also has subtracted out 60 lbs for LP.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

Glenn and Lorraine · 08-06-2006, 11:26 AM

Cat, I believe they are but even if the Gray and Blacks aren't computed into the numbers why would anyone be hauling up to 114 gallons of sewage. At 8#+ per gallon that would be over 900 pounds of raw sewage. I don't carry freshwater and I surely wouldn't want to carry sewage as I want the best fuel mileage available.

richfaa · 08-06-2006, 12:18 PM

Your numbers are correct but you would not travel with full tanks,1/3 fresh maybe.Perhaps we are not understanding what you are saying, However i agree..I think...

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Cat320 · 08-06-2006, 12:46 PM

I know, and agree, that we do not want to travel with the tanks full, and most of the time we won't. What I'm saying (I think) is that theoretically, you could travel with the tanks full. Understand we don't, but that's not the point. How is tank weight, when being used, figured into the weight equation?

Example...say you are boondocking at a campground that has water available, but no dump facilities. Your gray and black tanks are nearly full, and you have a long drive so you add half a tank of fresh water. How does that affect weight? Back to my original question, how is weight figured into the cargo capability available? Is part of the 1517 counted for what's in the holding tanks? If not how do we account for what's there?

I need and adult beverage.

8.1al · 08-06-2006, 01:21 PM

I'm with Steve, I believe the cargo capacity is after filling lp and fresh water tank. Whatever you add after that, be it cargo or more water, it comes off your 1517 lbs.

"No matter where you go there you are"

Charlie & Nila
Fulltiming,formerly Hadley,MI
"presently in Hadley "
"2004" 3575RL
"2001" 2500HD, 8.1

richfaa · 08-06-2006, 01:37 PM

There is a sticker inside the cabinet door all the way to the right of the island in the rear of the. e island that has the numbers one it. I believe your assumptions are correct..Anothet good reason NOt to boon dock..I will add it to my list..

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Wrenchtraveller · 08-06-2006, 03:20 PM

I think they mean you have 1500 pounds of cargo on top of the fresh water. The holding tanks fill as the freshwater empties so that weight does not change that much if you were boondocking and had no dumps. The only thing, when the fresh water empties into the front holding tanks your pin weight increases and that is another reason to have a TV that can take some weight.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

CountryGuy · 08-06-2006, 03:47 PM

When looking for build dates the other afternoon, I noted, as Steve R. points out, that our inside sticker states the fresh water AND full LP gas bottles are already figured into the numbers, in other words, if your carrying capacity was 1200 pounds, or 2200 pounds or 3200 pounds, no matter, Keystone assumes you have full fresh water and two full 30 pound propane tanks, then you get your 1200 or 2200 or 3200 pounds of other "stuff".

I did not realize those numbers were already accounted for by the manufacturer. Not sure why they did not figure in a battery too, as it seems pretty hard to do anything much with a rig without the battery

Carol

Al & Carol Stevens Tipton, Mi.
Retired - Traveling with 4 Yorkies
Our Camping Rig History
Montana Improvements and Travel Reports
Our take on RV ownership, "Ya better be handy with your hands and handy with your cash."
2004 3295RK
2003 GMC 3500 Allison/8.1
PullRite 15.5K Super 5th
Line-X
JackRabbit tonneau cover
Bilstein shocks
Isolator Pin Box

Every day spent on earth is a blessing, every day spent in our Montana is a day blessed twice.

Parrothead · 08-06-2006, 03:56 PM

Cat320
Most campgrounds have a dump station near the exit if sewer connections are not at each site. Stop and dump before you start home then you won't have to worry about weight.
Happy trails......................

Sue and Ed Rowe
Hemet California

2005 3400RL

2006 GMC 3500 Dually, D/A, Crew Cab, Long Bed

sreigle · 08-07-2006, 12:14 PM

We normally travel with 1/3 freshwater for those times the park's water is out, for having our own rest area on the road, and for those overnight stays where I don't want to bother connecting to water or it's not available. It's nice to have in those situations.

I normally dump the gray tanks before we depart, but not always. I usually do NOT dump the black tank unless at least half full. It will "puree" on the road and do a more thorough job of dumping when it gets full enough. That does add weight. If in mountainous areas I may dump it at less than 1/2 and flush it out real good.

See another Montana or Mountaineer on the road? Flash lights twice, it might be one of us!
Steve Reigle (pronounced Regal)
Fulltiming since 3/21/03
'03 3295RK
'05 Ford F250 SD Lariat CC SB 6.0L PSD/TS FX4 4x4

Our RV Travels (now Firefox-compatible)

David and Jo-Anna · 08-07-2006, 01:53 PM

The inside label showing the 1517# is based on the criteria established by the RVIA which requires that the manufacturer subtract the weight of full fresh water tanks and full propane tanks from the purported unloaded or dry weight of the RV. Agreed, we will not typically be hauling a full tank of fresh water--but we will be doing so on those occasions when we plan to boon dock. On those occasions, it doesn't matter how much you move from fresh water to grey or black tanks while you are boondocking--it's the same 600# of water assuming you dumped your grey and black water tanks at the same time that you filled your fresh water tanks before heading off to boon dock. And you probably won't be able to dump the grey and black tanks when you move from the dry camping site, so plan on hauling that 600#. Also keep in mind that the 1517# figure does not include the heavier options you may choose to add to the 3400--like hi gloss gelcoat, dual pane windows, 2d AC, or washer dryer. All those eat into your 1517# cargo carrying capacity.

FYI, at the Life on Wheels conference we attended this last weekend, the instructor from RV Saftey and Education Foundation, which has weighed over 30,000 RVs in the last decade, reported that the average weight of cargo of fulltimers was 3000# or more, while snowbirds averaged 2000# or more. So if you plan to snowbird or full time, you better avoid heavy options and pack light.

David and Jo-Anna Kikel

Montana Sky · 08-07-2006, 02:01 PM

Wow,
3000 lbs for the average "fulltimers"!!! That rules out almost all the Montana's.

2004 Chevy Silverado LT 2500HD CrewCab Duramax
2004 Montana 3400RL

David and Jo-Anna · 08-07-2006, 02:13 PM

What struck me about the RVSEF numbers was that these were actual average weights, not estimates of what fulltimers or snowbirds might load into their RVs. So if you are planning to snowbird or fulltime, keep in mind the weight that others actually put into their rigs.

David and Jo-Anna Kikel

Cat320 · 08-07-2006, 03:01 PM

If you spent a long time at a campsite with full hook ups, you could very easily add lots of gray/black water and not transfer any from your fresh water tank. Just be taking on weight.

richfaa · 08-07-2006, 03:22 PM

I have always said that if you can't load 1500lbs of stuff in your camper you are not trying so the 2000lbs for snowbirds does not surprise me.The 3000lbs for full timers does but of course we have never full timed. I did not get into these weight numbers as deeply as David K has but was in deep enough to suspect that something was very wrong with the Manufactures numbers and not just keystone.One of the reasons we do not have High Gloss gel coat , dual pane windows, also minus 1 recliner, end table and lamp..I figure we picked up @500lbs or more of cargo capacity. Now add W/D 165lbs, Small freezer 82lbs, 1 bird, one lbs and cage @ 15 lbs.. we are being very frugal with cargo onboard..We may come in at the 2000lb mark..or under.. The manufactures and salesmen are trying to sell you as many high dollar options as they can..they care nothing about weight or the safety factor. Just for drill..ask the dealer or salesman what the option weighs.....

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

Wrenchtraveller · 08-07-2006, 03:25 PM

I am not surprized by the figures that instructer quoted. I worked with a full timer a couple of years back that weighed his Fiver and found out it was 18000 pounds. These turbo diesels haul it, but can the truck stop it? One has to be pretty diligent to keep his weight light so I would never be happy with a marginal TV.

Don & Donna
Vancouver Island
2005 Ford F350 V10 Lariat CC 4x4 LB SRW 11200 GVWR
2006 Montana 2955RL

click on the little pic to see a big pic

David and Jo-Anna · 08-07-2006, 03:26 PM

Rich--the bird only weighs one pound? Guess it won't help you deal with weight problems by dumping the bird then. LOL!!!!!

David and Jo-Anna Kikel

richfaa · 08-08-2006, 02:02 AM

And if we can keep it in flight while traveling it will add no weight....right///// A side note..about 4 years ago we weighted our TT,,GVWR 7500lbs.. 1/2 ton Chevy Tv 7500lbs.. the camper weighed in at 8250.. It pulled fine and we never had a problem (I love those statements) but boy did we downsize in a hurry.

Rich& Helen N.Ridgeville,Ohio.

F-350SD, Lariat, V-10,4:30 Diff, tow command Long bed, Crew Cab Dually, 06 3400RL
Mor-Ryde Pin Box

You may also like: