mpierce wrote: just bought voltage 3600. 5000# payload, rear 1/2 bath, with full bath up front, 12cu ft 4 door frig, largest tanks I could find. epic package is great.
I suspect VERY STRONGLY that when you get actual weights, you DO NOT have 5000# payload.
I agree that higher GVWR is really nice, to bad that WW decided to lie about it's actual empty weight, and was reading about the A-frame breaking up on your Weekend Warrior, and wondering . . .
What speed did it break up at?
I hope it happened at home, (or rather was discovered while the RV was parked) yet it is possible it might have happened at freeway speeds and that would not be so funny.
I discovered the failing welds in NC at my campsite. I couldn't find a dealer to do the warranty repairs in NC, so I scheduled to have it done in OR. I thought about fixing it myself, but didn't want to jeopardize the lifetime structural warranty.
The frame broke going about 60 MPH. Had the towing company rigged the trailer properly, I could have re-welded it on the side of the highway. But because the trailer was blocking a major interstate, they did a quick and dirty recovery job (rightfully so), which resulted in the body pulling away from the frame, making it a total loss.
Bryan
2000 Ford E350 DRW Wagon (14-pass all captains chairs)
V10 w/ Banks PowerPack, Diablo Predator, 4.56 LS, ~350,000 miles
New Desert Fox in the works!
MadMav wrote: I have 21,000lbs of total axle rating and a loaded pin wieght of 3250lbs for around 24,000lbs of capacity. Combine that with dual 12" I-beams and I don't worry about the 19,500lbs I am loaded at when heading out. It weighed in at 14,500lbs before I put all my stuff in it.
Mav
Well, that was kinda my attitude before. The factory convinced my that only axle weights mattered. I actually did voice my concern at delivery, but since it had a "lifetime" frame warranty, I figured they could just fix anything that came up. But see above pic....
In the end, it turned out for the better (for me.... my apologies to anyone who's trip was delayed), because just a couple weeks later WW announced their frame recalls for the tow-behind trailers, which quickly resulted in their bankruptcy.
I don't really question the main frame rails on those things.... But why is the GVWR lower than axle + pin ratings? The only weak point left at that point is the frame, isn't it? Are the front stepped-up sections as strong as the rest of the frame rails?
fly-boy wrote: All good points but for 1-2 week long trips where you put a lot of miles on the rig (and do all this very regularly) you need something a lot beefier than a recreational rv.
IMO- A pusher with a high end trailer will stand up to the abuse a lot better than a toy hauler. Better yet- go look at a few high end horse trailers with living quarters- what you give up in total volume is more than offset by the quality and strength of the units.
Well, I haven't ruled out a cargo trailer conversion. A Class-A motorhome (or really any motorhome) isn't really practical to me. I used my trailer as more of a home-base, with daily trips or shuttles to the stuff I really want to see/ride/float. A class A motorhome isn't very trail-ready.
mpierce wrote: just bought voltage 3600. 5000# payload, rear 1/2 bath, with full bath up front, 12cu ft 4 door frig, largest tanks I could find. epic package is great.
Thank for the tip. I like the Voltage 3950. I had not looked into those yet. The 3600 is nice except for the short garage (really about 9' usable it looks). The 3800 could be a contender too, but there's not specs for it yet. But it looks like the Voltage line must have a 20,000 GVWR on the larger units?
I can't truthfully answer that question, but going from some of the research I have done/read and dealing with Keystone directly when building my new toy hauler this is what I got. The 18k GVWR Fuzions were designed for the 21k that the axles are rated at. They were rated at the 18k max due to legal limits and brake capability(read below). I'm not going to say everyone can load theirs above the recommended GVWR, but I feel comfortable doing it in my case. My brakes are rated at axle limit(7k each) although some 7k rated Dexter axles came equipped with only 6k rated brakes, also providing for the 18k limit. Found this out through my job, we are designing and building a few trailers for the government and have to deal with Dexter directly.
Mav
"A fifth wheel trailer is a bi-level towable mobile home."
mpierce wrote: just bought voltage 3600. 5000# payload, rear 1/2 bath, with full bath up front, 12cu ft 4 door frig, largest tanks I could find. epic package is great.
I suspect VERY STRONGLY that when you get actual weights, you DO NOT have 5000# payload.
As used, I agree. That is a starting point. From that, all options, load etc. need to be subtracted.
As owner of a trucking company, I am well aware of loads, axle weights, etc.
I am picking it up the end of next week. There is a truck scale about 1/2 mile from the dealer. I am going to take it over there, and weigh it as it comes off the lot empty. Also weigh the pickup. I will then have all the weights.
I also weigh each axle seperately, to see if each axle is carrying about the same weight. If not, I need to adjust the hitch up or down to get them close.
I will post results here when I get them.
It seems like everyone wants a trailer that can be full of water, full of toys, carrying all your gear, still be under limit, and be inexpensive, all at the same time.
Cannot be done. At least, not at a price most are willing to pay. Just as in the trucking business, you need to work with your load.
Try to keep your water and waste load as low as possible. If boondocking, maybe fill tanks close to your camp spot. etc.
fly-boy wrote: All good points but for 1-2 week long trips where you put a lot of miles on the rig (and do all this very regularly) you need something a lot beefier than a recreational rv.
IMO- A pusher with a high end trailer will stand up to the abuse a lot better than a toy hauler. Better yet- go look at a few high end horse trailers with living quarters- what you give up in total volume is more than offset by the quality and strength of the units.
Well, I haven't ruled out a cargo trailer conversion. A Class-A motorhome (or really any motorhome) isn't really practical to me. I used my trailer as more of a home-base, with daily trips or shuttles to the stuff I really want to see/ride/float. A class A motorhome isn't very trail-ready.
A number of my buddies have gone to pushers with a stacker- They haul a Rubicon in the stacker along with whatever else they need/want for a given trip. This gives them a great deal of flexibility.
Another option is a Renegade or Kingsley/Cowboy Coach with a big stacker/trailer.
* This post was
edited 02/15/12 08:37am by fly-boy *
2012 GMC 3500 Denali Duramax 4x4
2009 WW HKD with a big garage
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