2014 281BHS Swift Weight

[Subaru297]

Hello everyone,

New member here and I just wanted to share the numbers I got on our new trailer as I couldn't find any good numbers for it while shopping.

We just got a 2014 Swift 281BHS

Brochure Specs
4900lbs UVW
565lbs dry hitch weight
7000lbs GVW
30'11" length

The as delivered weight on the door sticker was 5500lbs

My very first trip was to the weigh scale which happened to be only 10 minutes down the highway. My TV is a 2013 Ford F150 with 7500lbs tow rating and "1500"lbs payload. 7350 GVW 3.55 rear end

Truck and trailer weights with just me (180lbs) and 3/4 tank of gas...

3483 front axle (3900lbs GAWR)
3262 rear axle (3850lbs GAWR)

GVW of 6745 (7350lbs GVWR)

4806 trailer axles

11551lbs Combined weight

Just the empty truck with hitch on and bars in the box.

3417 front
2734 rear

6151 GVW leaving me with only 1200lbs payload!

So 11551-6151=5400lbs trailer weight

The one thing I forgot though was to get the trailer weight without the WDH engaged. Tongue weight with the WDH engaged is 594 lbs. Any guesses as to what it is without the WDH on? 700lbs??

On our next trip out at the end of May I will hit the scales again to see the weight loaded and ready to camp with the family in the truck too.

I am hoping the loaded weight is around 6500lbs or less with ~ 800lbs tongue weight ready to camp. This will leave me with about 200lbs of payload after the family is loaded.

Until then I am researching new WDH's as the one I have is old and only has 600lbs bars.

I hope someone finds this useful!

Cheers

[Rustic Eagle]

Welcome to JOF

Great information and will be very useful to those considering the 281BHS. It still amazes me how much difference there is between the Jayco published UVW's and "from the factory" ship UVW's on some TT's ..., in the case of the 281BHS 600lbs!!

Wouldn't want to guess on your tongue weight at this point, but when you visit the CAT scale under loaded TV/TT conditions please report back on your findings.

For those wanting to weight their TV/TT combinations: http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3871

Thanks again for taking the time to post your CAT scale results!

Note: Depending on the brand/model of WDH you have now, in many cases you only have to change out the spring bars thus utilizing the existing ball mount/draw bar.

Bob

[Subaru297]

Well we got out for our maiden voyage with our new trailer and I have been through the scales a couple times since I posted the empty trailer weights.

A trip through the scales with a 1/2 loaded trailer (all permanent stuff) showed me the tongue weight was pretty high already. ~ 950lbs with only a 6000lbs trailer! Most of the storage is in front of the axles. Especially all the heavy kitchen storage.

When we finally got the trailer fully packed and were heading out on our first trip we went to the scales again. Fully packed trailer with my wife and two daughters. Two mountain bikes and a bike chariot in the box of the truck. This added about 300 lbs to the truck empty weight from above.

The trailer was packed with a lot of stuff loaded in the back of the trailer. We added about 300lbs of non permanent luggage and food and brought our tongue weight down to 725lbs with WD engaged. So most likely just under 800lbs disengaged.

The loaded weights are......

3373 lbs front axle
3813 lbs rear axle
5489 trailer axles

Truck = 7186lbs
Trailer = 6214lbs

Combined 12675lbs of my 13500lbs limit. And I am under all axle limits and GVWR currently. Although I would most likely be over on the rear axle without the WD engaged as I am only 37lbs under.

This is using the Anderson hitch which I just purchased. And I was well aware of its limited WD capability beforehand but I still wanted to try it out.

Everything towed really well and I had no problems or discomfort on the highway. The hitch is great except for the weight distribution. My truck states that I need 50% front axle weight returned so I really need to weigh the loaded scenario again with the WD disengaged. That is hard when you have two sleeping girls less than 2 years old and you want them to stay sleeping!

[Subaru297]

Have had two trips out now with the new trailer and the TV combo. Still happy with the trailer but not so much with the tow vehicle.

The last trip out was pretty windy and the truck and trailer were getting blown around pretty good. Wind is very common here and we are heading to the Rockies in a month....

So we are looking at 3/4 tons now! My wife's idea actually as she drove a fair bit on the last trip and was not comfortable.

Cheers

[Nighthawk 96]

You are going to have a tough time in the mountains with a 3:55 rear axle and a 5 litre engine.

[Subaru297]

Should be fine with a 6.2 litre and 3.73 or 4.30 rear end! hopefully we can find a 3/4 ton and close the deal before then.

The 5.0 does surprisingly well although it sucks fuel like crazy running high rpm's in 3rd gear.

Towing we usually get between 10 to 11 MPG or 22l/100kms in flat to hilly terrain. We were getting around 7 mpg and hunting between 3 and 4th gear with a good head wind on the last trip. I was amazed at the drop in fuel economy. I am sure the mountains would be similar.

But hopefully we don't have to see how the 5.0 does in the mountains. 22 days to get our new truck and get a few kms on it so I can tow with it.

Test driving tomorrow!

[LiftedAWDAstro]

Don't expect any better mileage with any gas engine. 7-10 mpg is the norm no matter what. If mileage is an issue, diesel is the only option.

[Subaru297]

Got the new truck and had it out for a weekend trip already. Truck did very well other than the fuel consumption! I will just have to get used to that. I didn't realize how well the 5.0 did in that regard.

http://www.jaycoowners.com/forums/sh...7&postcount=35

[Subaru297]

I finally did a proper scale trip and my tongue weight is 837lbs and the trailer was 6282lbs. This wasn't quite full and ready to camp. We were missing luggage and food...probably about 300-400lbs.

Cheers

[Rustic Eagle]

Thanks for the follow-up, sounds like you have a good handle on addressing your TV/TT towing requirements

Bob