Actual Weights as measured

We recently returned from a 2 week trip with our 179.  Before we left, I went to our local county dump and recycle center and weighed our rig.

We have a 2012 Ford Expedion EL tow vehicle with a full tank of gas, 2 people, a canoe on the roof   and "stuff".  the Rpod is a 2015 179 and stocked with normal food, clothes and gear as usual for a 2 week trip. The tongue has a single full propane tank, 2 GC-2 batteries, the spare tire and a manual tongue jack. There are 2 bikes on a bike rack (total of 86 #) at the rear of the pod and 15 gallons (120#) in the fresh water tank at the front of the pod.

Here are the actual weights:

 1-Truck with 179 RPod attached, weight distribution engaged but Rpod not on scales(so I think this includes the actual tongue weight as well as the truck weight)    7340#

2-truck and RPod on scales together w/ WD engaged     10820#

3-truck only (we disconnected the RPod and left it on street) includes wd hitch weight   6800#

4- tongue weight (#1-#3)    540#

5- Trailer weight  (#2-#3)   4020#

6- trailer axle weight  (#5-#4)     3480#

 per factory sticker affixed to RPod             

RPod weight 2785#

RPod carrying capacity  983#

Total maximum weight    3768#

 

So, obviously I am overweight in the RPod by 4020-3768=252#

I can easily leave the 120# water out, but still 130# overweight.

I also realize that we have a 3000# axle, so I am also overweight on the axle by 480#

 

This is interesting and I would like to hear how other podders interpret these actual weights. Perhaps I am wrong.  Does this seem right?  I did not think to weigh the rig without wd engaged, but I’m not really sure how that would affect the weights.

 Thanks for your insights and thoughts.

Vann

 

 

 

Originally posted by Pod People We recently returned from a 2 week trip with our 179.  Before we left, I went to our local county dump and recycle center and weighed our rig. We have a 2012 Ford Expedion EL tow vehicle with a full tank of gas, 2 people, a canoe on the roof   and "stuff".  the Rpod is a 2015 179 and stocked with normal food, clothes and gear as usual for a 2 week trip. The tongue has a single full propane tank, 2 GC-2 batteries, the spare tire and a manual tongue jack. There are 2 bikes on a bike rack (total of 86 #) at the rear of the pod and 15 gallons (120#) in the fresh water tank at the front of the pod. Here are the actual weights:  1-Truck with 179 RPod attached, weight distribution engaged but Rpod not on scales(so I think this includes the actual tongue weight as well as the truck weight)    7340# 2-truck and RPod on scales together w/ WD engaged     10820# 3-truck only (we disconnected the RPod and left it on street) includes wd hitch weight   6800# 4- tongue weight (#1-#3)    540# 5- Trailer weight  (#2-#3)   4020# 6- trailer axle weight  (#5-#4)     3480#  per factory sticker affixed to RPod              RPod weight 2785# RPod carrying capacity  983# Total maximum weight    3768#   So, obviously I am overweight in the RPod by 4020-3768=252# I can easily leave the 120# water out, but still 130# overweight. I also realize that we have a 3000# axle, so I am also overweight on the axle by 480#   This is interesting and I would like to hear how other podders interpret these actual weights. Perhaps I am wrong.  Does this seem right?  I did not think to weigh the rig without wd engaged, but I’m not really sure how that would affect the weights.  Thanks for your insights and thoughts. Vann

 1-Truck with 179 RPod attached, weight distribution engaged but Rpod not on scales(so I think this includes the actual tongue weight as well as the truck weight)    7340#

I caught this as well. Dis-engage the WDH, you have additional distributed weigh read.

4- tongue weight (#1-#3)    540#

So that makes this number also high. 

I'm 3200#'s on my axle and 385#'s on my tongue. Puts me at 3350#'s (aprox IIRC) with WDH on the axle. I carry only a few gallons of fresh and empty black/gray when traveling to keep the weight down.

What year is your trailer? I didn't know any had a 3000# axle..

[/QUOTE] I have the same year 179 as Pod People and it has a 3500 lb rated axle, as do all the heavier rPods. The lighter ones have axles rated at 3000 lb, but it appears to me that this is because FR has had  3500 lbs axles derated to 3000 lbs on those so that they can claim a lower gross trailer weight for the lighter pods. As near as I can tell they are physically the same 3500lb axles. [/QUOTE]

Originally posted by Happy Tripping If I understand the issue, and I am not an expert, the 3500# and 3000# axles are indeed physically the same. The difference is in the rubber gizmos that connect the axles to the frame, do the actual work, and that therefore define the rating, the result - the 3000# limit being indeed lighter.

I’m right at the upper limit for tongue weight on my TV, so a wdh is for me pretty much essential. I’m looking forward to removing the dual lead acid batteries and placing a lithium battery further aft, thereby reducing tongue weight. After your frame issues, I’m also thinking about frame reinforcement as well. I think an rpod with a 2x4 tube in the axle area, plus a 5200 lb rated axle, and some additional frame reinforcement under the A frame extending from in front of the wdh attachment to a couple of feet aft of the front of the trailer box would make for a pretty robust boondocking trailer at a relatively low cost. The area around the wdh attachment and the front of the box also theoretically gets some high frame loads.