Coach Weight

[batpilot7300]

We recently bought coach # 476, 98DS45L, I plan on having it weighed asap, in the meantime can anyone give me the app. axel weights please.
Lee Brown
98DS45L

[Richard and Rhonda]

Lee,

Mine is a 42.5, no slide. With full diesel and water, I run 13,700 on the front, and 27,400 on the back. I do not have side to side or drive / tag individual weights.

[batpilot7300]

thanks richard

[tuga]

Lee,

My coach weighs: 1,3, & 5 are passenger side and 2,4, & 6 drivers
1. 8320#
2. 8410#
3. 11760#
4. 11450#
5. 4660#
6. 5310#
Total 49910#

It is a 1999 45' w/2 slides. Front axle actual weight is 16,730#
Rear axle actual weight is 23,210#
Tag axle actual weight is 9,970#

I had it weighed at Newell last year, hope this helps you.

Call me if you have any questions, 985 381 6613

[fulltiming]

Tuga's coach is a bath and a half so it is heavier in the rear and a little lighter on the front axle than many of the double slide coaches. Almost all of Tuga's weight carrying capacity is on the front while almost all of Richard's (and mine) is on the rear.

Your coach should have the same GVWR and GAWR as Tuga's: 17,640# front, 24,000# drive, 10,000# tag, GVWR of 50,640#.

[batpilot7300]

thanks all, I have bridge to cross here in our complex that has a limit of 28,000lbs per axel, didn,t want to end up in the lake.
Lee Brown
98DS45L

[GORDON HUMMEL]

I finally had the chance to get my coach weighed & was quite surprised. The steer axle is over capacity & the tag is way under utilized! Coach was full of fuel & propane, but no water.

-------------AXLE..............NEWELL...........RIDEWELL AXLE
------------WEIGHT...........PLATE@PSI........ASSY RATING
STEER--------13520...........13200@120........18000
DRIVE---------22100...........22000@110........25000
TAG-----------5560...........10000@100........14000
TOTAL--------41180...........45200

My coach as purchased has G load range 11R24.5 rated @ 6610 single & 6005 dual capacity @105 PSI. H rated tires have higher capacities 7160 @ 120 PSI, yet the Newell rating of 13200 for the steer, must be for G load rating, but I don't understand the 120 PSI listed.
20 years ago, when the coach was built, maybe there were different ratings?

When I went to Newell for a windshield, the first thing they did was put 110 PSI in the steer tires. I pointed out that the sidewall stated 105 max, they said it was a directive from above?

Guess it's time for some H rated steer tires!

[fulltiming]

Gordon, your Newell should have come with H rated tires. It is important that you run H rated tires at least on the steer axle. As you found, you are overloaded on the drive and the steer. You can drop the weight on the drive axle significantly by increasing the pressure on the tag axle up to 8-9k. The only problem is, you will also increase the weight on the steering axle. You mentioned that you had no water on board. Both the water and the waste tanks are very close to the rear axle so they will contribute very little to the steering axle weight. Increasing the pressure on the tag axle will lift the rear up enough to redistribute 2-3k pounds from the drive to the tag (that's a good thing since it should drop you below 20k (much less the 22k plate rating) but will add about 300 pounds to the front axle which without H rated tires you will be exceeding noticeably. At Newell's suggestion, I changed by front tires out to 305/750R24.5. They are very pricey but they do carry a higher load. You may not need the higher rating but I was well overweight even for H rated 11R24.5.

[GORDON HUMMEL]

Michael,

Thanks again for your input. I do agree that my coach SHOULD have come with H rated steer tires, but the rating plate CAPACITY does not support that. The PSI does however. My question is why would they rate an axle under it's actual weigh? H rated tires on the front would give a rating of 14,320 @ 120 PSI. Same problem with the drive, especially if it was full of water ! Why is the drive axle not rated @ 24,000; the tire limitations of G rated @ 105 PSI max? The tires would still be the limiting factor as the suspension, axle & brakes are all rated above 24000, unless the chassis is the limiting factor?

Not sure there is a real answer to my questions, as there may have been political issues that encourged the stated ratings !!!!!!!!!

Had planned on adding weight to the tag as soon as I get the new front tires.

[encantotom]

Hi Gordon,

here is the data of my vin plate.

tom

40,760 Gross
14,320 Front 11r24.5 at 115 psi
26,440 Rear 11r24.5 at 120 psi

i have no tag

tom

[GORDON HUMMEL]

Tom,

Thanks for your input. Your plate makes a lot more sense than mine, H rated tires @ rated capacity @ 120 PSI ! However, the steer rating is @115 PSI ? I haven't found a listing for that capacity @ 115 PSI as your plate reads.

Thanks again

[encantotom]

the 7160 rating should be at 120psi. at least according to continental, which is the tires that i have.

tom

[GORDON HUMMEL]

That's exactly my point !!!!

[Richard and Rhonda]

I think the one factor that may be influencing the rating is the rating of the Alcoa wheel. Newell could not legally rate an axle over what the axle, wheel, or tire limitation was at the time of the build. I am not sure if the Alcoa ratings changed over time or not.

[GORDON HUMMEL]

Richard

I just checked 2 of my rear rims & they are rated @ 7200 @120 PSI, which would support a steer axle rating of 14320 like Tom's, assuming all my rims are the same.

What got me started on this thread, is that many of the racing team transporters are being stopped in many states for inspections. This is probably somewhat being driven by the economy, but fines are being leivied. Most of the problems are with the haulers, registered as motorhomes, being over lenght. If there is any advertising on the trailers, they are assumed to be for profit operations & require a CDL.

While I haven't heard on any problems on motorhome, I suspect it will only be a matter of time, long I hope, before we fall into a catagory that may require inspection.

The rating plate will be gospel, regardless of what tires or pressure one is running.

Just my 2 cents

[fulltiming]

My discussions with Newell have confirmed Richard's comments. It was typically the tires that have been the limiting factor in weight ratings. They emphasize that it is very important to run the H rated f11R24.5 on the front. It may be that you coach was built just as the H tires came out. That is just a guess as mine started life just like Tom's at 14,320.

[fulltiming]

Gordon, talk to Newell. They may be willing to make you a new VIN plate at 14,320 for the steer based on the use of H rated tires.