My cousin is planning to borrow a motorhome (that I am familiar with) and load 6 adults, 5 kids, and a dog into it and drive from New York to Minnesota.
The unit is a 1999 Damon Daybreak, 31’(plan 3130) This chassis grosses 14,800. Do any of you have an idea what the CCC is for this chassis? How about approx corner weights? Tire sizes or load ratings?
I am a little concerned because both he and the owner really know almost nothing about the weight issues these things have. I think since it looks big, he figures it’s fine. The owner takes very good care of everything he owns, but I see the weight getting out of hand here fast.
Maybe on the kitchen cabinet door (inside) there is a sticker with the weights you need to know. If it has a driver's door, there might be a sticker when you open the door. I had a 99 Georgetown, 31' and the best I can remember, had about 2,500 ccc. I am paranoid on weight issues and IMO there is going to be quite an overload with that many people, etc. Maybe the owner has the weights?
Suggest he not go over 55 and the tires get aired up to like maybe 85+ PSI.
Huge is going to be balancing the overload. Some of them will have to be in the bedroom (over/behind rear axle) I expect but since they will not have seat belts for everyone they will be punting anyway. If four adults were sitting at the dining area that could be huge for that side.
You are concerned because you can see the dangers but people do get away with this MOST of the time. I think max tire pressure and keeping the people from roaming is about the best you can hope they will do.
I've got a similar sized Daybreak on a 15,700# chassis.
Fully loaded for a trip with 2 adults, clothes and food for 2 weeks, full water, propane and gas tanks and all the extras we may have thought we would need, we weighed in at 15,400#.
In my opinion if you just take the people without luggage, water, food you will be ok figuring on hauling average sized people. I would also heed Gale's suggestion of weight disbursement throughout the mh.
* This post was
edited 07/20/08 09:06pm by Admiral *
2004 Damon Daybreak 2960F
05 Honda Element LX
In a democracy two wolves and a sheep can vote on what to have for dinner.
50, teach your cousin to have the mind set of LIGHT! I was taught that when I first starting RVing. It doesn't matter if your buying dishes for your coach or your cousin loading up your coach. If you know your going to be close to your weight limits have your cousin load the coach as even as possible and don't bring anything that you won't use. Drive the speed limit or just under if your near the weight limits this will provide the driver with better handling of the coach. John
5?? children, I'm sure they don't have enough seatbelts. Friend of mine got up to go to the loo, hubby had to brake hard. She broke her leg. A child would be a missle.
I've warned him extensively about the weight, and told him to weigh the thing before he heads out. There are plenty of agricultural and quarry operations near him.
I told him if nothing else, hit the first CAT scale you see. Get corner weights, and start moving stuff around to make it even.
I am not so concerned about overloading in my rig, because it sure seems to be grossly underrated for the components. But some of these newer rigs seem to be about as stout as a one-ton van that got widened 2 feet and stretched 20 feet. That's what concerns me. Especially when I saw the GVW was 14,800.
Damon has all their sales literature available online, but nothing specific about tires, and obviously no corner weights.
As far as seatbelts - that's a tough one. We don't use 'em with our kids either. I think if you wreck your screwed no matter what you did. We minimize our up time and try to remain seated. based on seating arrangements and a lack of other restraints I can see where some seat belts will likely add to your injuries.
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