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RE: Much better handling thanks to this forum.
This isn't my statistic, and I hope I have not passed on bum data. Ford's recommedation for weight distribution to the front axle is 32% not 23% as noted above. Pretty sure about that. When I first read 32% I wondered why can't they just say "One-Third or more" and not "at least 32%?"
That 32% is a guideline. I wouldn't sweat over 30% but would try not to make it any lower. If the front axle is only carrying 23% then I'd suspect it was leading to handling problems.
TANKS can work for or against you. The 55-gl gas tank is behind the axle. On our unit, the Fresh tank is just about over the axle, so adding or subtracting water there isn't going to do much. Our Black tank is just behind a tire and runs fore and aft, so it'd unload the front axle if full. Gray tank is even worse, mounted behind the gas tank and running aft, all the way to the hitch. I make it a point to run with both waste tanks empty.
The only significant items we have forward are generator on one side and LPG tank on the other. We don't have slides, but thinking about it, a SuperSlide of living room and mid-kitchen, would actually help weight distribution.
All this is really ironic. The big diesel pushers, even with their heavy rear-end power plants, tend to be overloaded on the FRONT axle.
That said, given I'm right and the target is 32% or 33% or more, I wouldn't sweat 30%. 23% with a 32% spec and I'd worry.
Typo on my part for the 23%. Thanks for correcting that.
My grey and black are in the rear as well. My freshwater tank is right on the midline. I too run with the black and grey empty. I usually have a few gallons in the fresh. I do not have any slide outs. One thing for sure is by paying more attention to where I loaded items and really trying to get close to that 30ish% on the front axle has made a huge improvement in handling. Also getting the tire PSI dialed in I think was key as well. As always....your results may vary. This is what worked for me.
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axg1040
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08/08/12 10:23am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Much better handling thanks to this forum.
Just curious but how did you secure all that weight in the overhead? I have an E350 chassis that seems like it wanders but I rarely put any weight in the overhead as something is always falling out of there and I assumed it was probably the weakest part of the RV. I would think the engine and coach would make up 30% of the overall weight just by itself but what do I know.
One thing that is unique is that not all rigs are set up the same. You really have to weigh it to see where you are at. One thing I did was put a small piece of tape on the frame at the mid way point between the front axle and rear axle. This way I know when I load up where I am putting my gear. Another thing I did was move some heavier items into the forward outside storage lockers. As for the overhead storage my wife bought a few large tote bags with a grippy type bottom. My overhead bed has a flip over section when not in use and the flipped over section does not go all the way to the side walls. If we load those bags with items and put them on either side of the bed they stay put as the items are "locked in"...even on the crappy PA turnpike. When unloaded my rig only had about 25% of the total weight over the front axle. Also my overhead sleeps 2 so it is rated to handle plenty of weight. If I had to guess how much I put up there it was maybe 100 lbs or so. Granted on the way back we did have 2 cases of 1000 islands winery wine up there.....
I think the combo of changing the outside storage and using the overhead got me to the 30ish%.
Again...keep in mind your rig may differ. I have a rear bath model so I not only have the bathroom but the kitchen over the rear axle.
Hope this helps.
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axg1040
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08/08/12 06:19am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Much better handling thanks to this forum.
Did you go with the Vehicle Manufacturers suggest tire pressure for front and rear or the tire Manufacturers pressure recommendations?
My LD owners manual matched the the Michelin LTX M/S tire chart exactly.
I will also add I put new tires on last year and stuck with the same Michelin LTX M/S tires that were on it from the factory.
I did not get a four corner weigh. I went to a CAT scale and got front axle, rear axle and toad weights.
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axg1040
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08/07/12 11:38am |
Class C Motorhomes
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Much better handling thanks to this forum.
We have owned a 2006 27' Lazy Daze Class C for about a year now. Over the past year and a few trips I have been working on getting it to handle better. It is on an E450 chassis. From the factory it had the Bilstein HD shocks and the previous owners put on a Safe-t-plus steering stabilizer. Once we got it home we got it aligned (cams added) and had the ball joints replaced as they were worn out. I added a rear trac bar a few months later based on members feedback. The ride was better but still seemed to cause some white knuckle moments. I then took it to get weighed empty and then loaded up for a trip to dial in the tire pressure. For some reason I went about 10 PSI high....just in case. I found out from a few members that Ford advises that a minimum of 32% of the weight should be on the front axle. I also noticed last month during our trip that the draw bar and drop had a lot of slop for the toad tow bar.
Fast forward to last week to our trip from VA to the 1000 islands area of NY. I paid more attention to where I put items in the rig. I utilized the overhead for more storage vs leaving it empty. I also bought 2 anti-rattle hitch clamps for the draw bar and drop hitch. I took it to get weighed all loaded up with all passengers aboard. I put the PSI for all tires right at the reccomended pressure(not 10psi higher as I did before). Per the scales I had 30% of my weight over the front axle.
The handling was night and day. I actually drove the PA turnpike (I476 and I81) with one hand on the wheel.
Thank you to all those members who provided feedback and previous posts about Class C handling.
About the only thing I may add in the future is a HD rear sway bar....but that is about it.
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axg1040
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08/07/12 10:35am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Handling issue.
Had the ball joints replaced last year with Moog ball joints.
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axg1040
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06/17/12 04:32pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Handling issue.
Thanks for the info. I will look into either changing out the bushings or putting on new heavier duty sway bars.
Per my weight and the tire chart I should have been running 70 psi in the rear and 50 PSI in the front. I was running 70 in the rears but put 63 in the fronts.
Per the CAT scale I was at 3780 for the front and 8620 for the rear.
Would the difference between 63 PSI and 50 PSI make that much difference?
I did shift some of my heavier items in the outside storage to the forward compartments. I took a measurement from the front axle to the rear axle and put a small piece of tape on the frame so I know where the mid point is. I will need to get it back to the scale to see if I am more balanced.
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axg1040
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06/17/12 01:23pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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Handling issue.
Just got back from a trip to Fl from VA and back. I weighed it at a CAT scale on the trip down.
One thing I noticed is I do not have the Ford recommended 32% of the total weight on the front axle. I have about 30% and should have another 248 lbs on the front axle. Would that make a big difference in handling? It was super windy (15 - 20 mph) going south and coming back north and I was having to wrestle the steering more than normal. I know the wind had something to do with it but the handling seemed off regardless.
I do have a trac bar, bilsteins and dialed in the tire pressures about 5psi higher than the chart. Any thoughts?
I did notice that my bushings (top and bottom) on my rear sway bar end links where it meets the bar are squished down to maybe a 1/4 in towards the rear and normal at the front edge. Sort of like stepping on the edge of a balloon and some air stays under your foot and the rest is forced out where you are not stepping on it. I will try and get a photo.
I have been thinking about upgrading the front and rear sway bars. I am wondering if those squished bushings are causing too much play?
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axg1040
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06/17/12 06:26am |
Class C Motorhomes
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RE: Got weighed today...
As the original poster I wanted to post an update.
We took a trip from VA to Fl this past week.
Had the rig fully loaded for a week of camping.
Also had some extra stuff to bring down to family in Fl.
Had a full tank of fuel, 10 gallons of fresh water, 2 gallons in the black and an empty grey tank. It was just me and my wife.
Got it weighed at a Flying J CAT scale.
Steer axle 3780
Drive axle 8620
Toad 2900 (2003 VW Golf GL)
Gross weight 15300 with toad. Without toad 12400
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axg1040
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06/17/12 05:58am |
Class C Motorhomes
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Got weighed today...
Had a chance to take our rig to the scales today. Found a local moving company with a scale. Was not able to get a four corner weigh due to their scale set up. It had raised rails from one ramp to the other.
I had a full tank of gas, 5 gallons on fresh, full water heater, 2 gallons in the black and another 2 gallons in the grey. I had about 80% of the items we take camping in the rig less food and clothes.
We have a 2006 Lazy Daze 26.5' rear bath model on a E450 chassis. I was not in the rig when it was on the scales.
Front axle: 3580
Rear axle: 8380
Total: 11930
GAWR Front 4600
GAWR Rear 9450
GVWR 14050
Looks like I am ok. Of course things will change once we add our food, clothes and passengers.
After reading about how many rigs are overweight or close right out of the box I was worried. If I am not looking at this right please comment. Thanks
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axg1040
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06/01/12 05:09pm |
Class C Motorhomes
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