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RE: Loading the Pop-Up/TV (long)

Started by Michicampers, Jan 12, 2003, 02:58 PM

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greyhounds4me

Sep 28, 2003, 07:05 PM
 [font=" Comic Sans MS" ]We ve camped in our pop-up three times now.  Each time we go, I find myself putting a few more things in the camper as opposed to the Jeep.  The camper stays packed with pots and pans, linens, folding chairs, folding table, and other misc. stuff that probably doesn t weigh all that much.  All we take with us in addition to what stays packed is two plastic drawers containing clothes, a 13 inch TV, a milk crate packed with food, a large cooler and sleeping bags/comforters when it s cold.  The dog takes up the entire back of the Jeep and lays on his bed which lays on top of the aforementioned sleeping bags/comfortors.  What I m trying to determine is if we have a couple of other people going camping with us, can everything go in the camper so that they can ride in the backseat?  Keep in mind that I don t have a clue where to go to get my trailer weighed.  It s says on the side that the GVWR is 2460 and the GAWR Front is 2210.  I m not exactly sure what that means.  I have no idea about tongue weight either.  My Jeep is supposed to be okay up to 5000 pounds.  I ve noticed a tiny bit of sway when we re on the highway so I m thinking about getting a sway bar installed.
 
 1) How much of this stuff can I pack in the camper and where should it be positioned?
 
 2) If I want to bring our bikes, can I use my regular bike rack that hangs on the back of my jeep?
 
 Sorry this is so long.  I really, really appreciate any suggestions/guidance.  Thanks.[/font]
 
 

Michicampers

#1
Jan 12, 2003, 02:58 PM
 greyhounds4meAs far as the weight issue goes, tim5055 has the most informative website I have seen: http://www.title-3.com/hitch.htm And try looking in the yellow pages under " Scales-Public" .

jaycocamprs

#2
Jan 12, 2003, 03:41 PM
 greyhounds4meGVRW is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. This is the max weight that the whole trailer can weigh. GAWR is that portion of the weight that is carried by the trailer tires. The difference is what is carried on the tongue.
      If you are getting any sway with your Jayco look to see if you have any heavy items in the back of the trailer that can be move to the front. You should have close to 60% of the total weight in front of the axle. This is most often measured as tongue weight, and 15% is a good amount of the total weight to be carried on the ball. If your Jayco has hydraulic brakes you can not use a standard friction swaybar.
      The best way to tell about the bike rack, is to put it on with bikes and go to somewhere that you can turn around in. have someone watch as you turn. I would not use it if it hits going forward with the steering wheel at full lock.
      You may have to have your friends drive their car to the campground.

mike4947

#3
Jan 12, 2003, 03:57 PM
 greyhounds4meWell with a couple of my TV s I was sure there wouldn t be a problem bringing others along. We didn t have any droop or sag with the PU hooked up.The book weighs all said there wouldn t be a problem and my weighs said the same thing;but add a couple of people in the back seat and GOD what a difference.  IMHO the only real way even after getting everything weighed is to try out what you want to do. It s a lot more embarrassing to find out when you re ready to go that you re guests make it imposible to tow.
 
 Besides when you weigh everything you might find (as a lot of people including me with one of my PU s) that you re already over the gross limit and have to " slim"  down.

Poconohound

#4
Jan 12, 2003, 04:16 PM
 greyhounds4meHave to agree w/ everyone else...a whole lotta little can add up to alot. We towed a 10  Palomino w/97 Jeep Cherokee. With just the Mrs., boy, and bassett, everything was great; when we brought 2 Grandmas towed like a different vehicle. Definitely look into the sway bar, for a few bucks worth the piece of mind.

greyhounds4me

#5
Jan 13, 2003, 06:32 AM
 greyhounds4me[font=" Comic Sans MS" ]Okay, I checked out Tim s site and as usual, it was very informative.  I realized that I ve been packing the trailer incorrectly.  I though the bulk of the stuff was supposed to be over the wheels or near the back so I ve been pushing everything towards the rear.   We have a short trip this weekend, only 20 minutes away so I m going to test out a few things.  I m still confused about GVRW though.  Is this the gross weight the trailer can weigh without anything added or the max it should way once it s packed?  
 
 Going to truck scales is such an intimidating prospect to me.  Maybe if I get my Dad to go with me. [/font]

Ab Diver

#6
Jan 13, 2003, 09:55 AM
 greyhounds4me
 
QuoteORIGINAL:  greyhounds4me
 
   I m still confused about GVRW though.  Is this the gross weight the trailer can weigh without anything added or the max it should way once it s packed?  
 
 Going to truck scales is such an intimidating prospect to me.  Maybe if I get my Dad to go with me.
 

 Lori, it s the most the trailer can weigh when it s loaded for camping. In other words, you can add stuff until it reaches the GVWR, but after that, you shouldn t add anything else to the trailer. If you have the water tank and water heater full of water when you weigh the trailer, and you are close to the trailer s GVWR, draining them can give you more room to play with.
 
 Don t be intimidated by going to a truck scale. Just be nice when you explain to them what you want to do. Like most things in life, you get what you give.
 
 One more thing... does your trailer have surge brakes or electric brakes? I may be wrong, but I don t think you can use a sway bar on a trailer with surge brakes. Check your manual or call Jayco to be sure.
 

Michicampers

#7
Jan 13, 2003, 10:26 AM
 greyhounds4meLori-
 Don t worry about the guys at the truck scale. Once you pay, they ll probably leave you alone unless you have questions. The closest one we found was at a rock & gravel supply. They charged us $10 for 1 printout, but let us weigh it as many different ways as we wanted to. Print out Tim s page that shows the diagram and take it with you. You can do it, girl!

greyhounds4me

#8
Jan 13, 2003, 10:28 AM
 greyhounds4me[font=" Comic Sans MS" ]Thanks for the clairification ab diver.  I thought that s what it meant but just wanted to be sure.  I don t have a water heater and never plan on putting water in the tank so I don t have to worry about that.  I have surge breaks so you may be right that I can t use a sway bar.   I guess the only way to really know for sure what it weighs is to have it weighed. [/font]

jaycocamprs

#9
Jan 13, 2003, 04:28 PM
 greyhounds4me
QuoteORIGINAL:  greyhounds4me
 
 [font=" Comic Sans MS" ]Okay, I checked out Tim s site and as usual, it was very informative.  I realized that I ve been packing the trailer incorrectly.  I though the bulk of the stuff was supposed to be over the wheels or near the back so I ve been pushing everything towards the rear.   We have a short trip this weekend, only 20 minutes away so I m going to test out a few things.  I m still confused about GVRW though.  Is this the gross weight the trailer can weigh without anything added or the max it should way once it s packed?  
 
 Going to truck scales is such an intimidating prospect to me.  Maybe if I get my Dad to go with me. [/font]
 

 Just try to put light bulky stuff toward the rear and the heavier stuff up front. We put our blue tank & port-a-pottie all the way to the rear. Then we have sleeping bags and chairs just behind the axle. Our clothes, food, cooler, spare power cords & water hoses are all up front. Just try and look at how you store stuff and how you load in what you take in and out every trip. Most of what we take out every trip are things that are heavy. Our fridge is across from the door (our door is the same place as yours), the dried and canned foods are pushed forward of the door with the cooler sitting just inside. This keeps most of the heavier stuff up front, where it is easy to put in and take out.

greyhounds4me

#10
Jan 13, 2003, 04:51 PM
 greyhounds4me
QuoteJust try to put light bulky stuff toward the rear and the heavier stuff up front.

 [font=" Comic Sans MS" ]That makes perfect sense!  I was definately doing it backwards.  I don t know where I got it in my head that the heavy stuff goes in the back.  Thank you so much![:D][/font]

tlhdoc

#11
Jan 13, 2003, 07:22 PM
 greyhounds4meHere is a link for Cat Scales.
 
 http://www.catscale.com
 
 They have a locator, a section on how to weigh and a section on frequently asked questions.[:)]
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