weighed our new poopup

[12stepper]

Well not new, but a 1999 Fleetwood/Coleman Mesa.  Our first ever popup, we want to try something different from tenting.  Bought it used in pretty good shape, but since we're towing w/ a 2005 Toyota Sienna, I wanted to double check the weight.  (Sienna rated at 3500, Mesa rated at 2950 empty, 3250 max).  I've only towed it about 50 miles.  Seems stable, but the Sienna is working hard.

Went to a local moving/storage place, seemed like a pretty busy trucking operation, they had a scale and for $10 you can get weighed.  Sienna + Mesa = 7000lbs, Sienna alone (full tank of gas, no passengers) = 4300 lbs, so Mesa weighs 2700 lbs.  And it has an air conditioner!

Anyway, just an fyi, either the scale is off or the trailer is conservatively rated.  I am getting a $400 light-duty WDH installed in any event, as the trailer is heavy relative to the weight of the van.  The electric brakes are 'grabby' but I'm playing w/ the controller to see if I can control that.

Can't wait to go camp.  Maybe next year I'll get a more potent tow vehicle (will keep the van, but replace the other family car).   Then the towing will be that much easier.  By the way, the Mesa was mostly garage kept, was definitely used by the owners, and has the ABS roof, which is in immaculate shape.

[coach]

The 1999 Colema brochure list the Mesa as 2262 lbs 'base' with 988 lb cargo capacity for a total of 3250 lbs.

You're one of the few that actually has weighed their PU!

Happy camping.

[tlhdoc]

I have weighed my camper several times.  Each time I weighed it I took "toys" out of it.  Now that I have cut back on what I take, I am in the proper weight zone.

[wavery]

We just got back from our vacation. We stopped at a CAT scale and had the rig weighed. When we got home, I unhooked the trailer and weighed the tongue weight. Here's our results:

Front axle..........................3080#
Rear axle (incl tongue wt.)....3920#
Trailer Axle.........................3440#
Total rig...........................10,440#
Trailer tongue weight..............490#

Total trailer weight...............3930# Fully loaded (no water, 2-full propane tanks, 2-29 series Btrys))




Scale weight x2= tongue wt (minus 14# 7' long 2x12)

[haroldPE]

Well, a ccc of only 300 lbs is odd, so it makes sense for your axle to weigh 2700.    You would need to add in the tongue weight, as well, to arrive at trailer weight.

[wavery]

Well not new, but a 1999 Fleetwood/Coleman Mesa.  Our first ever popup, we want to try something different from tenting.  Bought it used in pretty good shape, but since we're towing w/ a 2005 Toyota Sienna, I wanted to double check the weight.  (Sienna rated at 3500, Mesa rated at 2950 empty, 3250 max).  I've only towed it about 50 miles.  Seems stable, but the Sienna is working hard.

Went to a local moving/storage place, seemed like a pretty busy trucking operation, they had a scale and for $10 you can get weighed.  Sienna + Mesa = 7000lbs, Sienna alone (full tank of gas, no passengers) = 4300 lbs, so Mesa weighs 2700 lbs.  And it has an air conditioner!

Anyway, just an fyi, either the scale is off or the trailer is conservatively rated.  I am getting a $400 light-duty WDH installed in any event, as the trailer is heavy relative to the weight of the van.  The electric brakes are 'grabby' but I'm playing w/ the controller to see if I can control that.

Can't wait to go camp.  Maybe next year I'll get a more potent tow vehicle (will keep the van, but replace the other family car).   Then the towing will be that much easier.  By the way, the Mesa was mostly garage kept, was definitely used by the owners, and has the ABS roof, which is in immaculate shape.

I'm not saying that a WDH hitch is a bad idea but you need to be aware that the WDH adds weight to the trailer axle and adds shock-loading to your trailer tires from the weight that is distributed from the rear of the TV when going over bumpy roads. It distributes a portion of the tongue weight to the front of the TV (which places stress of the TV uni-body construction) and a portion to the trailer axle.

A WDH may be good on your rig (refer to your Owner's Manuals). You just need to be aware that there may be issues that you need to be aware of. A WDH is not a magic bullet in all cases. If you are real close to max on your axle weight, you may want to consider upgrading your trailer tires to avoid over-stressing them.

[AustinBoston]

The electric brakes are 'grabby' but I'm playing w/ the controller to see if I can control that.

What controller do you have?

Also, I agree with Wayne on the WDH.  Although I use one and often urge others to, they don't always play nice with unibody vehicles.

Austin

[wavery]

Also, [COLOR="Red"]I agree with Wayne [/COLOR]on the WDH.  
Austin

Can someone please sticky this thread.......

[coach]

See your owner's manual
TW- weight carry limited to 350 lbs, WDH - 525 lbs.
Sway controll required trailers over 2000 lb.
Brakes required - 1000 lbs

it's all there!

[AustinBoston]

Can someone please sticky this thread.......

Don't get too excited.  There's a first time for everything...and a last time as well! :p

Austin

[flyfisherman]

If you are real close to max on your axle weight, you may want to consider upgrading your trailer tires to avoid over-stressing them.

Now, I'm not going to be as sweet as ole A.B. ... after all, he is from the north!

Upgrading the tires without considering the trailer's suspension capacity (axle & springs) could be disastrous. Nothing like tooling down the x-way and having a spring failure ... I know!


Fly

[wavery]

Now, I'm not going to be as sweet as ole A.B. ... after all, he is from the north!

Upgrading the tires without considering the trailer's suspension capacity (axle & springs) could be disastrous. Nothing like tooling down the x-way and having a spring failure ... I know!


Fly

Oh Fly..........you can't fool us.......we all know how "Sweet" you are....:p