How much does your vehicle weigh?

[gjackson]

So in my case there are 3 primary modes:
Sportsmobile with myself and 1 disabled person for an outing : 11,000 lbs (GVW 9500)
Sportsmobile with myself, disabled person and event/display gear: 12,000
Sportsmobile with family (total 4 people) : 11,500

All share the same issue...almost 2K over GVW.

Lance, keep in mind that the published GVW on your truck has little to do with how much the truck can carry, and more to do with licensing issues. There are SMBs that weigh north of 15k loaded, so I think you are probably running pretty well.

cheers

 

[Wheelingnoob]

Unloaded 4800lbs I have not weighed it loaded yet (off the road for work and additions). GVRW is 5300lbs I will be close once I get the rear bumper and sliders on it.

 

[1leglance]

I think every one of us should make it a point to hit a truck stop scale with our fully loaded rigs.
I am amazed by how often guys who want to know everything to the smallest details, who rebuild every bolt on their rig, and will argue tire tread patterns won't pay $7 to hit a truck stop scale.

So next trip as you are rolling down the highway just pull around back after fueling up and hit the scale, a few minutes of time and a wealth of knowledge.

Oh and Graham after thinking about what you say I would agree that Sportsmobile does a great job of building their rigs..
Dynatrac Pro Rock 60 axle
ARB Custom Springs
and overall high quality parts used all around.

I think with a spring upgrade to give me more arch/travel, maybe some active bumpstops and possible shock upgrades..
and then freq checks on axles seals & bearings, brake pads and tires should keep me in the clear.

 

[The Adam Blaster]

All share the same issue...almost 2K over GVW.

I'm curious Lance - do the modifications that Sportsmobile made to the suspension improve or decrease the GVW?
And that 9500 that you've quoted, is that from he van manufacturer or Sportsmobile?

 

[1leglance]

They increase GVW...
the 9500 is from Sportsmobile
and there are alot of factors that go into GVW and it is not an absolute
plus there are some legal issues as I understand it if you spec something as a manufacturer that is above 10k lb GVW

 

[elcoyote]

I'm surprised at how heavy your truck is, and how far over the GVWR you are. What is the empty curb weight? Have you done anything to the axles? I'd be concerned about the wheel bearings in addition to the brakes, but I guess you've owned the truck for a long time so you'd know if they were having problems.

The factory original curb weight was 3675 lbs. The rear Dana 35 was swapped out for a Dana 44 many years ago. I am still running the original Dana 30 high pinion on the front. 354, 037 miles today.

 

[wild1]

truck weights

My 2001 Superduty gas extended cab with a service body and an eight foot alaskan camper with full tanks, two people, and gear for two months including a 200 tw yamaha on the rear weights right at 11,000 pounds. Right at 7000 of that is on the rear axle with the front around 4000. With extra springs, great shocks,and air bags the truck handles the load fine. The rear end is rated by the manufacturer for a much heavier load, the problem lies in the tires. Unless you are running 19.5 tires on your single rear wheel one ton you run out of rear end tire capacity at about 7500 pounds with the best available tires on the market. In my mind rear axle tire capacity is the number one limiting issue in building full size expedition vehicles.

 

[Ron B]

I beg your pardon....she's not "over weight"......just thick framed :sombrero:!

 

[chasespeed]

Curb for mine w/o cap and winch etc, should be about 7400. I have been wanting to weigh it for a long while. I will wait until I have it in "ready to roll" condition....

Chase

 

[charlieaarons]

Fully loaded:
Front axle 9600 lb GAWR 15900
Rear axle 18700 lb GAWR 18700
Total weight 28300 lb GVW 33000

I encourage people with expedition rigs to weigh it, weigh it, weigh it! When I picked up the truck at Unicat, with empty tanks and no front winch and no tools/parts/recovery gear/personal gear, it was 8400 lb front, 12600 lb rear.
They recommended 46 psi front, 67 rear. I now run 54 psi front, 95 psi rear. Except if i fill my jerrycans on the roof (unlikely), I'll go up to 100 psi rear (tires go up to 120 psi).

Charlie

 

[Outback]

I too am amazed at how much some of these vehicles tip the scales at. Im even more amazed at where some people put that weight! 10 fuel cans and a rather thick roof mounted tent on the roof of a Series III land rover plus the roof rack would make for a very unstable and unsafe trail rig! My current personal vehicle is a 08 Dodge 3500 4x4 diesel. Ive started to build her up for my families expedition Land Yacht. Its a full size 4 door rig. But I can carry allot more weight than all but the biggest expeditions rigs out there. For me its the right size for my family. I also wouldnt mind a J8 jeep for the shorter trips in tighter areas.

As far as loading a vehicle. It should never exceed GVWR or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. Also check your tire ratings. I purchased a set of Cooper MTs for my work truck after my Goodyears MT/Rs wore out. After they were installed (chevy 3500) I showed the guy there were D rated and not the E rated I asked for. Not a good idea for a truck that sees allot of towing with a fully loaded 9,835 lbs 20' trailer with about a million dollars worth of seismic gear. Make sure your tire shop gets you the correct rated tires for what you need. You can also stop at any Pilot or other truck stop and get your fully loaded rig weighed. I do it once a month when I pick up the trailer to make sure im not over limit. It runs from $6 to $10 bucks. Pretty cheap if you ask me.

 

[adventureduo]

Our 80 series..

The SMB we had..

Never weighted the trailer or the TJ. They're not heavy enough

 

[upcruiser]

I had the Disco on the scales last week, no gear, half tank of fuel and my wife and I came to 5,450 lbs. I wouldn't have guessed it was so high. Makes me wonder what it is loaded and better yet what my 80 is at since it feels substantially heavier.

 

[elcoyote]

Last weight in: 4699 lbs. Original: 3200 lbs.

Considering the front to rear ratio, does the steering feel light? How much difference in tire pressure?

 

[elcoyote]

There have been some very interesting posts here. Since part of the discussion has revolved around tire ratings, I would like to add that part of my build up was to switch from 15" rims and C rated 33's to 16" rims and E rated 285/75R16 to improve load handling.

It is very important to note so that no one causes a safety problem for themselves, GVWR is not the front and rear GAWR combined.