Knowing your load capacity and how to load your RV

[Doubletrouble]

 Came across this article and it demonstrates how important it is to know your trucks load capacity and how to distribute the weight .

 

https://www.thedrive.com/news/broken-ram-3500-dually-shows-a-camper-can-still-overload-a-big-truck

 

 According to the article the camper was 5000lbs dry weight. Plus gear and such they estimated total payload at around 6500lbs. That's a lot of weight in the bed. Plus while looking at the pics, a lot of that weight seems to be behind the rear axle.

 It's terrible what happened to this guy's truck, mopar is refusing to cover it under warranty (a $17,000 repair). Can't say I blame them though. 

 Know how to load tour truck properly. Use the scales at a truck stop and be safe!

[JAG1]

 His center of gravity should have been more in front of the rear axle, if that was the cause . It's a heavy looking camper in the rear and with a motorcycle or a fat tire ebike extended out the rear and crew cab extended frame adding more dynamic leverage.

 

I don't trust the newer hydroformed frames as I would rather have the plated steel frame like my first get D250 had. Don't know about the second gen frames. Hoping it's okay.

 

I'm weighing at the scales +/- 9800 lbs when fully loaded with my camper. Camper is 2675 dry weight on a camper special 2002 for about 87,000 miles now. I wonder if I should stop doing it but, everyone says that I am not over the axle weight rating so it's okay! 

 

What a bad experience for that truck owner!

Edited January 1, 2023 by JAG1

[Doubletrouble]

 I will be hitting the scale with my 5th wheel come spring just as a precaution.  I believe I'm well within the limits but just for piece if mind. At least my 5th wheel hitch rests just ahead if the rear axle per installation instructions from e-trailer.

 That guy had some serious leverage going on there, plus it is a short bed which would shorten the back half of the frame exaggerating the issue.

[Mopar1973Man]

Even though I've got a bumper pull I weigh it out at least once a year fully loaded to see my net weight to find if my RV needs a diet. Last year I unloaded at least a few hundred pounds of unused junk. If you haven't used these items at least in the last two years it is time to clean out the RV. 

[JAG1]

8 hours ago, Doubletrouble said:

 

 That guy had some serious leverage going on there, plus it is a short bed which would shorten the back half of the frame exaggerating the issue.

you are correct it is a shortbed and the camper is for a long bed so the center of gravity is radically in the wrong position and placed undue stress on the frame.

[AH64ID]

10 hours ago, JAG1 said:

you are correct it is a shortbed and the camper is for a long bed so the center of gravity is radically in the wrong position and placed undue stress on the frame.

Thats a long bed truck. 

[Doubletrouble]

@AH64ID, I guess your right, it is a long bed. Looking at it now on my laptop I see it. Didn't notice it on my phone. My fault.

 Still, after looking at it on a larger screen, I dont think the camper itself is very well balanced plus the motorcycle on the rear adds weight way behind the axle.  I also believe the frame may be partly at fault, I would expect it to be a little better built.

[IBMobile]

A YouTube video about this. 

 

 (293) RAM 3500 Frame Cracked In Half By Camper Fail: This Is What Happens When You Assume... - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHD_R8NUCa8

[Mopar1973Man]

Thank you @IBMobile that video is spot on...

 

This is why I weighed my 31 foot Jayco before rolling to Cally to go camping with you boys and girls. With my RV fully load and myself in the truck my truck weight is right at 8,800 pounds. Then my RV comes in at 8,020 pounds. This is a total of 16,820 pounds total. I'm registered for 26,000 pound on my plates but I still check to make sure the truck or trailer doesn't exceed its ratings too. 

 

2500 Ram - 8,800 pounds GVWR scaled 8,800 pound 100% loaded no more!

Jayco Eagle - 8,500 pounds GVWR scaled at 8.020 pounds 94% loaded tight but got wiggle room just a little. 

[Doubletrouble]

 That was a good video. I think it's very important for safety sake and for not breaking your truck in half to load things correctly.