I finally got my coach weighed yesterday. Here are the original factory numbers and the current fully loaded live-a-board weights. Next adjust tire pressure accordingly.
Current fully loaded:
Steer - 17520 lbs (365 tires)
Drive - 23840 lbs (11R24.5)
Tag - 9980 lbs (11R24.5)
Total 51340 lbs
According to sign on wall at Newell, I should run
Steer - 105 psi
Drive - 105 psi
Tag - 80 psi
Anyone have real life experience to not go with recommendations?
Mike & Jeannie Ginn
2000 Newell #555 - sold July 2020
2019 Leisure Travel Van FX model
Congratulations for getting tires weights by axle. That is more information than most get. However, I doubt that the weight is evenly balanced side to side for each axle. On my coach, which is admittedly lighter than yours, Newell recommended 120 psi front, 110 psi drives, 100 psi tags with 11R24.5 tires. Mine also has a GAWR of 23,000 for the drive and 10,000 for the tag. I have had mine weighed by tire position both by Newell on several occasions and by an individual in Kerrville that came to my site with 6 scales and both found side to side variances ranging from 1,100 to 1,400 pounds on the drivers and 100 to 350 pounds on the tag. The drivers side is the heavier side on my non-slide coach, likely because the washer/dryer, refrigerator, pantry and kitchen are all on the drivers side of the coach.
It is recommended to try to get weights by tire position and then set all the tires on an axle for the heaviest weight. In my case that would be 120 psi front, 110 psi drive (115 for one weighing), and 70 psi on the tag. By habit, I still run Newells recommended 120, 110, 100 although I may drop the tag tire pressure down to 85 or 90 to see if it makes any difference in the ride.
Based on the numbers you presented, I would add a safety factor of at least 5 psi per tire to compensate for side to side weight imbalance but that is just me.
If you can get the Escapees guy to weigh your coach he has portable units and does each wheel individually. He moves around but is generally at big rallies or Escapees parks.
Go to the Michelin website and download the truck tire data book. Around page 19 you should find the inflation tables. Knowing your weights, and factoring in how much side to side variation that may be present, will tell you what they recommend. Of course you will need to make sure you know the load range rating on the tire.
Just had mine weighed last week, full fuel and water. 365 on steer and tag, 315 on drive:
steer left 9180
steer right 9350
total 18530, delta +170
drive left 11950
drive right 12370
total 24320, delta +420
tag left 7300
tag right 7230
total 14530, delta -70
total left 28430
total right 28950
delta +520
Based on Michelin's tables, I can run 110/95/80psi. I will bump the front at least a couple psi since we were not sitting up there when measured and a minimum of cargo was on board.
Thank you for that information. Your weights are very well balanced. I don't know how much cargo you carry but I carry a number of tools and a well stocked pantry and cabinets. My without cargo and with cargo weights showed an increase of about 3800 pounds, excluding people when we were full-timing and about 3000 pounds now that we are only using it for 3-4 week long trips.
(03-06-2018, 05:17 PM)Fulltiming Wrote: Thank you for that information. Your weights are very well balanced. I don't know how much cargo you carry but I carry a number of tools and a well stocked pantry and cabinets. My without cargo and with cargo weights showed an increase of about 3800 pounds, excluding people when we were full-timing and about 3000 pounds now that we are only using it for 3-4 week long trips.
You're right for sure: I suspect we will add at least another 3k. I cheated a little: I had both the fresh and waste tanks almost full on this weigh, and I had an extra 400lb of batteries and inverters up front in the cargo bay. So there were about 1,500 extra pounds, or a good portion of what I expect the cargo to be.
This is the corrct way to establish COLD inflation for ANY tires on a coach.
Weigh the coach. Four , or Six corner weight is the best, but single axle weights will be OK too. Fuel and water full. Black and grey tanks empty with your stuff on board. CAT scales at many truck stops. Tell the clerk you want to weigh a coach. There is an intercom at the scale so you can communicate with the clerk. There will be 3 platforms for 3 axles. Steer axle on the first, Drive on the second, and if applicable, Tag on the third. Get the print out from the clerk. IF you have a tag axle, you may have to adjust your DOWN pressure to move weight as needed, and after adjusting your down pressure on the tag, REWEIGH the coach. Now go to YOUR tire Mfg. inflation charts for the correct COLD inflation.
Tire Inflation Tables
rvsafety.com
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