REAR AXEL OVER LOADED

Thanks everybody:::  After pulling a 5th wheel 9 weeks from WV to the Montana then thru the provinces to Alaska and back. I had 3 tire problems  on the 5th wheel,so i went the way of class B. So overloading a axel is Big to me. I know moving weight around does change things,but if the rear axel is over by 600# with no clothes and food
i don'tl like to start this way. So i will empty the water tank first. Still no word from Kermit. Also no yellow sticker on the cabnets.   I will  check again at the weight station
  17.5 wheels and load range F or G plus one leaf spring  $4,500 ouch  Jim

Just found my yellow sticker on the door frame of the passenger cab door.  It is a small strip sticker, easy to miss.

Just found my yellow sticker on the door frame of the passenger cab door.  It is a small strip sticker, easy to miss.

Ann, any idea what yours weighs loaded for a trip? With that 450 chassis, you should have at least 2k lbs of cargo capacity I would think.....

Bob, according to my sticker I should have 4041 lbs CCC, but like Tom said, that is based on an estimate from the factory.  I won't really know until I get weighed at a scale, and I haven't had an opportunity to do that yet.  The E450 chassis has 14500 lbs total capacity, and the factory estimates my rig weighs just over 10,000 lbs empty.  My best estimate of my cargo weight, plus full fuel/water/LP, is about 1500 lbs, so I'm pretty confident that I'm within capacity.

Hello all: Returned to the scales today. Removed all equipment from the 2910T just like it left the factory,full of fuel and LP.
No water. Got out stood off the scale. Front axel 4260 lbs (5000#max) Rear axel 9440 lbs  (9500# max) for a total of
13,700# (14,500 max) Only 800# for driver,food clothes,wife,water and equ. Only 60# for the rear axel. Most will go to the front
axel.  My son and I got in and reweighted. 400#total 300#went to the front axel and 100# went to the rear axel.Now front axel 4560 and rear 9540. rear axel over loaded 40# total 14,100 LBS. The CCC sticker on the cab door list 2,012 for cargo???
Will call Earl and Kermit Monday.   JAS

JAS,
That is not good news, let us know what the factory says.
Bob

This thread is an eye opener for me with Phoenix.  It is well known that cut-away chassis rigs in general, have issues with weight in the longer lengths.  This is the first time I heard any PC having this problem.  But it really should not be surprising when considering the length plus 3 slide-outs of model 2910T.  It has me wondering the actual loaded up weight of a 2910D and 3100.  How much more weight do their slide outs add?  The tiny slide out option offered for our 2007 2350 added 400 pounds back in the day.

Regardless, it does seem the solution (under the circumstances here) to your problem is bigger tires with a higher weight rating.  As far as extra springs, I feel that if the rig is not sagging when loaded up, you wouldn't need them.  More springs will make for a rougher ride.  Who really knows about the actual limits of the rear axle assembly.

I hope you conclude with a satisfactory resolution.

My 3100S fully loaded including two adults, one dog and full tanks (not sewer tanks) came in at 4,460 lbs front (540 lbs under max.); rear was 9,140 lbs, (360 lbs under max) for a total of 13,600 lbs (900 lbs under max).  I run the tires at the inflation rate as determined from the Michelin tables at  70 lbs front and 74 lbs rear.  Not sure what the actual calculated tongue weight is for my new Jeep Cherokee but I would guess I am still under max GVW and OK from the CGVW since the jeep's weight is 4250 lbs.   I  guess those three slides are sure heavy on the 29's?  I wonder how other brands put larger boxes on the 450 chassis and offer three slides as well, they must be way over weight coming out of the gate?   Hope this helps, thanks, Ron

My 3100S fully loaded including two adults, one dog and full tanks (not sewer tanks) came in at 4,460 lbs front (540 lbs under max.); rear was 9,140 lbs, (360 lbs under max) for a total of 13,600 lbs (900 lbs under max).  I run the tires at the inflation rate as determined from the Michelin tables at  70 lbs front and 74 lbs rear.  Not sure what the actual calculated tongue weight is for my new Jeep Cherokee but I would guess I am still under max GVW and OK from the CGVW since the jeep's weight is 4250 lbs.   I  guess those three slides are sure heavy on the 29's?  I wonder how other brands put larger boxes on the 450 chassis and offer three slides as well, they must be way over weight coming out of the gate?   Hope this helps, thanks, Ron

So if you travelled with two or three additional people and heir belongings as the sleeping accommodations dictate, you would be right close to the limit, not over it.    That scenario is an "extreme" condition of which few would practice, but good to know it can be done.

You are right Ron; that is unless I put the dog and my wife in the Jeep then I could pick up a few extra individuals!  As coaches (class C's) get larger and offer more extras I think you are going to see those GVW's being maxed out.  I spoke with Kermit about the F-550 chassis and he said he had no intention at this time to use that chassis at PC. 

Got a quote Rickson Truck Wheels 7 wheels 17.5,7 Michelin xze2 215/75r17.5 tires,1 set stainless steel simulators, balanceing,
shipping for a total of $5,560.65. Not what I wanted, But??  Tires 3,750# single and 3,530 dual. This should do the job. Real axel would
go from 9,600# to 14,120# front axel 5,000# to 7,500# Not that I would load to this weight but over the 5,000 and 9,600 lbs.
Tires would not be the problem.  JAS

I have a question?  How would changing tires change the actual load rating of the axle itself?  Can you exceed the weight limit of a 9600# rated axle  by changing tires?  Isn't an axle a component that has a weight limit just like springs or tires that have their own weight maximums?

Sue

Yes Sue you are right changing the tires will not change the axel. Ford uses a Dana 70-267 10.75 HD. 9600# is because that is
what the tires is good for on a dual axel. Dana says Dana 70 is good for 10,000# plus a safety factor of ???, but would not say.
With the 17.5 tires the rear axel loaded at 11,000# should be ok  JAS

I need to ask why Ford did not put the larger tires on coming out of the factory?  I would think the manufacturer would want the largest possible GVW for any given chassis... I would worry that perhaps Ford knows for sure how much weight the frame rails, etc can handle and by going to a larger tire you may be asking for trouble?  Just M2C's.   Thanks

There is an article in the July 2014 Family Motor Coach that states "as a last resort, the owner could consult with the chassis manufacturer and ask whether the tires could be replaced with larger tires or tires that have a higher load rating". The title of the article is Weighing your RV.

George