I recently purchased a 2011 Allegro 34TGA on the F53 chassis. After researching the pro's and con's both technical and financial we decided on this gas powered coach. Within a few days of our purchase I headed to the scales with half water and half fuel aboard. I was disappointed to discover that the 8000 lb rated front axle was loaded at 7774lbs. with only myself aboard. The rear was at 13000 of its 15000 capacity. Is this a normal loading scenario for motorhomes of this size and chassis? :-\
Front Axle near max load
- Thread starter VanQver
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Gary RV_Wizard
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Front seems a trifle heavy, but I'd say that is within typical range for a front engine coach. Hope your wife & dog together weigh less than 200 lbs!
Depending on tank locations, adding more water or fuel might actually reduce the front load while increasing the rear.
Depending on tank locations, adding more water or fuel might actually reduce the front load while increasing the rear.
DeWat
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Jeff said:
I fully agree with this, but it would scare me even a little more. I wonder where the OP's fresh water tank is? He mentioned half tank of water, so if the fresh water tank is behind the rear axle, his front end is going to be even heavier! Again, I don't know where the tank is or its capacity on the Tiffin, but on my Vista, it's 93 gallons (~800 pounds) behind the rear axle.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
No, if the water tank were behind the rear axle, his front end would get lighter, not heavier. Teeter-totter effect, with the rear axle as the pivot point.
Typically, though, on a gas chassis the fuel tank is behind the axle and the water tank just in front of the axle. More water would add at least something to the front axle, while more fuel would reduce it somewhat.
carson
Well-known member
I guess that depends a bit on the RV. On my 32' Winnie Class A the water tank was well aft of the rear axle, as well as the gas tank of course. Let's take a poll.. Your theory is perfect, though.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
Since I have a rear engine, both my water and fuel tanks are forward of the rear axle. Only those with front engines should respond to Carson's poll.
DeWat
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Gary RV Roamer said:
We're on the same page, I just wasn't clear (as usual). What I meant by my comment was that if the OP's water tank were behind the rear axle, the front end would be even heavier/closer to capacity "naturally". His adding a half tank of water actually relieved some of the weight. While I generally... and personally of course... like to travel with 1/2 to a full tank of water for traveling convenience, I would hate to have to travel that way. Again, we're on the same page and sorry for the confusteration.
EDIT: I just realized and confirmed by looking at the Ford F53 chassis manual that the gas tank is in fact behind the rear wheels also. So 80 gallons (75 gallons on the older F53s) at 6.25 lbs per gallon is adding a 500 lb counterweight to relieve some of that weight on the front axle, ... BUT..., as the fuel gets used, so does the counterweight.
DeWat
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carson said:
For the poll... as mentioned on previous posts... 2013 Winnebago Vista 35B, 80 gallon fuel tank behind the rear wheels (80 x 6.25 lbs per gallon), 500 lbs, 93 gallon fresh water tank behind the rear wheels (93 gallons x 8.35 lbs per gallon), 776.55 lbs. Total liquid weight behind rear wheels: 1,276.55 pounds... and this is NOT taking the rear set of black (41 gallon) and grey (51 gallon) tanks into consideration since they would be more of a "transfer" from the fresh water tank.
First time posting and the response makes me glad I signed up. 
I'm an aircraft mechanic by trade and therefore worry about all things technical. I can certainly benefit from RV veterans. My fresh water is just ahead of the right rear wheel and as stated fuel behind the rear axle. With the fresh water located on one side of the coach, I will have to look but I assume there is some counter storage/weight on the opposite. I will check this out as well.
I've moved gradually up in size over the past 20 years, with this being our largest investment yet. Retirement in three months, I'll be on here from time to time I expect.
Thanks!
I'm an aircraft mechanic by trade and therefore worry about all things technical. I can certainly benefit from RV veterans. My fresh water is just ahead of the right rear wheel and as stated fuel behind the rear axle. With the fresh water located on one side of the coach, I will have to look but I assume there is some counter storage/weight on the opposite. I will check this out as well. I've moved gradually up in size over the past 20 years, with this being our largest investment yet. Retirement in three months, I'll be on here from time to time I expect.
Thanks!
Jim Godward
Well-known member
Get the vehicle weighed so you have the weight on each wheel separately. Then you will really know the weight and balance issues. Sounds like there may be some.
B
bucks2
Guest
And to get back to one of the original questions, Yes, you are close to your maximum weight and it doesn't sound like you've loaded the rig yet. By my math you have 2226 pounds of capacity before you're over the design weight. You're going to add a few hundred pounds when you top off the gas tank, and if you travel with a full water tank you need to add that weight. And with a few long retirement trips (congratulations) you'll put some clothes, shoes, a case of beer, a jug of wine, a couple tools just in case, some spare oil and coolant, some chairs and a table, maybe a rug for outside, some food, cooking utensils and pretty soon you're going down the road at maximum weight. Even if you can magically balance everything front to back and side to side, you're at maximum weight.
You'll be in good company. Many rigs are overweight. They simply aren't designed with enough capacity. Anything used at maximum capacity will not last as long as something loaded to 75 or 80 percent. Not that you have much choice in the matter now, but it is something to think about when you load your rig for travel.
Ken
You'll be in good company. Many rigs are overweight. They simply aren't designed with enough capacity. Anything used at maximum capacity will not last as long as something loaded to 75 or 80 percent. Not that you have much choice in the matter now, but it is something to think about when you load your rig for travel.
Ken
Again, appreciate the input. I am experienced when it comes to load and travel. We moved our previous 29 footer's gear directly across into this one and save for my inflatable boat and of course Beer, have close to travel weight on board now. I usually travel with only enough water for overnights on the road. So while I realize the short comings of a gas coach vs. diesel, I guess I will continue to have to manage the loading. During the move from one unit to the other I did manage to convince my wife that six months supply of canned goods isn't necessary :-\
Realizing that air bags don't increase load capacity, I still plan to install at all corners. My previous coaches were better for having them.
Q
Realizing that air bags don't increase load capacity, I still plan to install at all corners. My previous coaches were better for having them.
Q
DeWat
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Jeff said:
Fully agreed! While the difference may be small, it does still relieve some of the weight up front when all of the tanks are behind the rear axle.
B
bucks2
Guest
That sounds a lot better then if you're already loaded. It'll just be a matter of distributing it so you have a good balance then. It seems like a lot of us don't remember that there are grocery stores in almost every town and carrying too much costs more in the long run.
Ken
Ken
