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Weighting

Yahoo Message Number: 70449
What is the reason to weight all four corners. Tire pressure is very hard to regulate?? Vic 6253

Re: Weighting

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70452
Because we all load coaches differently. You may be very safe at one corner with weight while one corner you may be at or above the limit for the weight capacity of the tire. You need to know what the air pressure vs weight limits are for your particular brand and model tire. Search the internet and get a list for YOUR tires. Then get the corners weighed in your normal travel condition. Full fuel, water tank full or part full, all the STUFF and GEAR you carry, etc. Yo may find that you are over the limit on a corner and need to shift some of the GEAR and STUFF in your bays.
On our Prevost many years ago when I did get all corner weighed I determined the weight in the passenger seat corner was overweight by 100 pounds so I had to determine to either travel without my wife in the passenger seat (not gonna happen) or shift some of the stuff I had in the right front bay to other locations. Well, STUFF and GEAR got shifted.
Tire pressure is not hard to regulate. Measure pressure when tires are COLD and adjust accordingly. Best suggestion is to keep same pressure at each axle the same from right to left using the higher pressure you need based upon the manufacturers tire pressure sheet.
BTW, the difference between STUFF and GEAR as explained many years ago at a rally: women carry STUFF and men carry GEAR in their motorhomes.

bill n barb, poconos of pa, 1998 cc prevost 40' xl #30365

Re: Weighting

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70459
If you own a single slide CC the weight difference between the left front and right front can approach 1000 lbs. Which means if you just weigh the total weight of the front to determine your inflation pressures the left front will be under inflated. If you have an early 40' Intrigue or Allure with the 275 R 70 tires, with the or double slide its very easy to over load the left front even though the total weight for the front axle just squeaks under the limit. It wasn't until IFS and 12 R tires became standard that there was some margin. The 45' 2006 and earlier 07 Intrigues only had a 2800 lb load capacity and could easily be overloaded. Some early 42' Allures also are marginal. The earlier Affinities and Magnas have 24000 lb rated rear axle, but Uncle Sam says 20,000 lbs is the max on Federal highways, so you should weigh your coach when you make changes to your load.
TWI 2004 Intrigue 11731
 

Re: Weighting

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 70461
The reason for weighing each axle is to be sure the actual weight as you are loading it is within the design limitations for the coach and to give you a starting point as to how you can shift your loading to fall within those limitations and achieve a more or less equal side to side distribution of the axle loads. It can also be used with your tire manufacturer's tire pressure recommendation tables to adjust your tire pressures ( usually lower) since the coach manufacturers' recommendations are usually the pressures recommended for the maximum allowable coach weights for a given tire size and wheel type. In either case the tire pressures from side to side and between both tires in a dual pair should be essentially equal. It's not a good idea to exceed the coach manufacturer's recommended cold pressures when checking the pressures in the AM and you don't want to be letting air out during your driving day as the tires warm up.
I, personally, use the placard recommended cold pressure pressures but don't get too excited if I'm a couple #'s low since I know based on weighing that our coach is relatively light and the pressures are well within the tire manufacturer's tables. I do pay attention if I note any changes in my pressure monitor (SmartTire) that might indicate a leak and/or change in the relative pressures between corresponding tires.

Jim M

'02 Intrigue #11410 ISL 400