Does something seem askew here?
I have a 320G. Literature numbers below.
UVW: 12,400 lbs
Hitch: 2,300 lbs
GVWR: 16,800 lbs
My sticker:
UVW 13,180lbs which is 780 lbs heavier. That makes sense since I have generator (300 lbs) 3rd AC (100 lbs), Awnings (200), Stereo (50) 3 Season door (100), HD ramp (50)
In theory, I should have ~10,580 lbs on my trailer axles and ~2600 lbs on hitch. Generator is sitting up front and all the other options are in the rear. I went and weighed and these are my numbers
Unloaded, ready for camping (no toys, no water)
By these numbers, I was pretty accurate on the hitch. However, the axle weight has me confused. Total weight over sticker= 1580 lbs. This, to me, seems like a lot. We don't have that much stuff in the camper aside from the usual tools/wood/chocks/linens/plasticware/. I think I had the 30 gallon fuel cell full (240 lbs).
The numbers look OK, but this is where things get wonky. I weighed again with my 900lb cycle and 80 gallons of water ~1500 lbs. Here's what it did to the numbers
Loaded, ready for camping (900lb bike, 80 gallons water= approx 1500 lbs)
Axles are rated 7K lbs so those are overloaded. Under GVWR by 540 lbs, over on axles and pin is too light imo. The result was adding 1500 lbs removed almost 500 lbs from the pin and put it all (2000 lbs) squarely on the trailer axles. I rearranged stuff, grill/spare tire to the front. Took some stuff out, removed the OEM tables, etc. Below are my new numbers
Loaded, ready for camping (900lb bike, 80 gallons water= approx 1500 lbs)
I am a little confused how I can be so far under GVW but axles are maxed out. From what I can tell, the balance is way off on this thing. IF the hitch was closer to 20% like a 5th wheel should be (3200 lbs) that would lighten up the trailer axles allowing me to max out GVW and be under/right at axle limit. Axles would have roughly 13,000 lbs or less as it sits. I could add in the 600 lbs the garage and be right under 14,000 lbs on the axles and not have to drain all the water.
Instead I am pulling everything we don't need out of the camper or putting it under the front bunk to shift as much weight to the hitch as possible. There's nothing left to move. Is this a huge design error on GD part? Did someone mix my fresh water and grey water tanks up? I have (2) 700lb ATVs and I'm not sure I'll be able to travel with them and any water at this point, unless I upgrade the axles to 8000 lb units. And at that point, I am afraid that the hitch will be extremely too light. I estimate those 2 ATVs and 3/4 tank of fresh water to put approximately 700 lbs on the trailer axles and remove 200 from the hitch.
Estimated Loaded, ready for camping (2 x 700lb ATVs, 80 gallons water)
What's everyone's thoughts on this? Is this toy hauler not designed to haul toys? Should I upgrade the axles and pray it tows ok? Sell it for a better balanced trailer?
I have a 320G. Literature numbers below.
Hitch: 2,300 lbs
GVWR: 16,800 lbs
My sticker:
UVW 13,180lbs which is 780 lbs heavier. That makes sense since I have generator (300 lbs) 3rd AC (100 lbs), Awnings (200), Stereo (50) 3 Season door (100), HD ramp (50)
In theory, I should have ~10,580 lbs on my trailer axles and ~2600 lbs on hitch. Generator is sitting up front and all the other options are in the rear. I went and weighed and these are my numbers
Unloaded, ready for camping (no toys, no water)
- Hitch: 2,620 lbs (17.75%)
- Axles: 12,120 lbs
- Total: 14,760 lbs.
By these numbers, I was pretty accurate on the hitch. However, the axle weight has me confused. Total weight over sticker= 1580 lbs. This, to me, seems like a lot. We don't have that much stuff in the camper aside from the usual tools/wood/chocks/linens/plasticware/. I think I had the 30 gallon fuel cell full (240 lbs).
The numbers look OK, but this is where things get wonky. I weighed again with my 900lb cycle and 80 gallons of water ~1500 lbs. Here's what it did to the numbers
Loaded, ready for camping (900lb bike, 80 gallons water= approx 1500 lbs)
- Hitch: 2,140 lbs (13.16%)
- Axles: 14,120 lbs
- Total: 16,260 lbs.
Axles are rated 7K lbs so those are overloaded. Under GVWR by 540 lbs, over on axles and pin is too light imo. The result was adding 1500 lbs removed almost 500 lbs from the pin and put it all (2000 lbs) squarely on the trailer axles. I rearranged stuff, grill/spare tire to the front. Took some stuff out, removed the OEM tables, etc. Below are my new numbers
Loaded, ready for camping (900lb bike, 80 gallons water= approx 1500 lbs)
- Hitch: 2,400 lbs (14.80%)
- Axles: 13,800 lbs
- Total: 16,200 lbs.
I am a little confused how I can be so far under GVW but axles are maxed out. From what I can tell, the balance is way off on this thing. IF the hitch was closer to 20% like a 5th wheel should be (3200 lbs) that would lighten up the trailer axles allowing me to max out GVW and be under/right at axle limit. Axles would have roughly 13,000 lbs or less as it sits. I could add in the 600 lbs the garage and be right under 14,000 lbs on the axles and not have to drain all the water.
Instead I am pulling everything we don't need out of the camper or putting it under the front bunk to shift as much weight to the hitch as possible. There's nothing left to move. Is this a huge design error on GD part? Did someone mix my fresh water and grey water tanks up? I have (2) 700lb ATVs and I'm not sure I'll be able to travel with them and any water at this point, unless I upgrade the axles to 8000 lb units. And at that point, I am afraid that the hitch will be extremely too light. I estimate those 2 ATVs and 3/4 tank of fresh water to put approximately 700 lbs on the trailer axles and remove 200 from the hitch.
Estimated Loaded, ready for camping (2 x 700lb ATVs, 80 gallons water)
- Hitch: 2,200 lbs (13.17%)
- Axles: 14,500 lbs
- Total: 16,700 lbs.
What's everyone's thoughts on this? Is this toy hauler not designed to haul toys? Should I upgrade the axles and pray it tows ok? Sell it for a better balanced trailer?
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