Front Axle Weight too high

P

peer oliver schmidt

New member
Feb 10, 2014
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I had my 23' weighted and it came in too heavy up front. Total weight is still way within the limits, but front should be at 4000lbs and is at around
4122lbs without a driver. Total weight was 9400lbs.

A previous owner added tiles to the house part, could that be the reason why it is soo top heavy? The tiles are not in the cockpit area itself, but on
the step as well as all the way to the end of the bath module.

There are two batteries up front, but only fairly light weight.

Inquisitive minds would like to know, why is there such a high load on the front, and what can be done to fix it.
--
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22

'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
 
Im purely speculating, but does rear height distribute weight forward if
aired up too high?

On Thu, Aug 9, 2018 at 10:45 AM Peer Oliver Schmidt
wrote:

> I had my 23' weighted and it came in too heavy up front. Total weight is
> still way within the limits, but front should be at 4000lbs and is at around
> 4122lbs without a driver. Total weight was 9400lbs.
>
> A previous owner added tiles to the house part, could that be the reason
> why it is soo top heavy? The tiles are not in the cockpit area itself, but
> on
> the step as well as all the way to the end of the bath module.
>
> There are two batteries up front, but only fairly light weight.
>
> Inquisitive minds would like to know, why is there such a high load on the
> front, and what can be done to fix it.
> --
> Best regards
>
> Peer Oliver Schmidt
> PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22
>
> '76a Eleganza II, VA
> '73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
>
 
In that it isn't overloading the tires or axle, if it's fairly close side to side I'd leave it be - it greatly helps the (really poor) traction to add
some weight to the drive wheels.

--johnny

--
76 26' Eleganza(?) with beaucoup mods and add - ons.
Braselton, Ga.
"I forgive them all, save those who hurt the dogs. They must answer to me in hell" - ol Andy, paraphrased
 
Peer,
I eased the weight on the right front of mine by putting the Onan back in it's place in the left rear. Check out what you have behind the rear wheels,
and that extra battery up front constitutes most of the extra weight up there.
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
I have the Onan in the back, I have my 200Ah LiFePo4 house battery in the middle of the coach, the only thing that has been removed is the LPG tank in
the back.
--
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22

'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
 
The tiles and underlayment for them probably does not weigh more than an average person, and that really shouldn't make a big difference in loading on
a vehicle this size, like it does in a 23 foot boat, but the loading is there (as a boat would show), and with the extra tiles on the right side to
the doorway and the extra battery up front and any other "extras" added you could probably come up with that 122 lb "list" to the right front.

Like Johnny said, if it isn't noticeable in the ride, handling, or tire wear, I'd go on down the road happy. Maybe throw your throwabout luggage in
the left rear
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
How much does that house battery weigh?
--
Terry Kelpien

ASE Master Technician

73 Glacier 260

Smithfield, Va.
 
Oliver
What kind of captain chairs do you have. Some aftermarket chairs are pretty heavy.

--
Tom McManus
1977 Royale

Chesapeake VA
 
> I have the Onan in the back, I have my 200Ah LiFePo4 house battery in the middle of the coach, the only thing that has been removed is the LPG
> tank in the back.

That is why he front is as light as it is.
The only place to put a house bank in a stock coach is that right (stbd) forward corner. A pair of GC2s is 140 That is why my coach front is real
close to 4200.

I would love to go to a LiFePo4 battery, when they are cost competitive, I probably will. I doubt that will happen. The GC2s I am about to replace
lasted 9 years.

Matt

--
Matt & Mary Colie - '73 Glacier 23 - Members GMCMI, GMCGL, GMCES
Electronically Controlled Quiet Engine Cooling Fan
OE Rear Drum Brakes with Applied Control Arms
SE Michigan - Twixt A2 and Detroit
 
My LiFePo4 batteries are behind the dinette. Up front is just a 2nd starter battery that used to be used as the house battery, but has been
decommissioned, but not yet taken out. It is very light, I'd say less than 20lbs.

I have the original chairs and love the passenger side one. The driver's side has some issues in the upper area causing me to hunch forward, still
very nice to sit in. Thanks again to Mark for going that extra step.

To sum it all up, I'll remove the extraneous battery, make sure the rear height is okay, and do another weight testing.

Thanks all.

PS: The weight of 200Ah LiFePo4 battery is around 32kg ie. 70lbs.
--
Best regards

Peer Oliver Schmidt
PGP Key ID: 0x18a9 3a1f 4196 bf22

'76a Eleganza II, VA
'73 Sequoia, SH, Germany
 
Have you checked the ride height? If the rear is too high you'll put a lot more weight up front. I'd sure check the front and rear. Hal
--
1977 Royale 101348,

1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,

1975 Eleganza II, 101230,

1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,

Rio Rancho, NM
 
I am curious as to how much the rear ride height affects The weight up front? Maybe next time you are on the scale you could record the full down versus the full up height weight? I am guessing not much difference.

Sent from my iPad
Nelson Wright
Belle Isle Fl.
78 Royal rear Bath

>
> Have you checked the ride height? If the rear is too high you'll put a lot more weight up front. I'd sure check the front and rear. Hal
> --
> 1977 Royale 101348,
>
> 1977 Royale 101586, Diesel powered,
>
> 1975 Eleganza II, 101230,
>
> 1974 Eagle Bus 45',w/slideout,
>
> Rio Rancho, NM
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
> http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
 
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