went to cat scale

[PonyExpress]

Ok all you cat scale number crunchers.

went to get weighed today at my local Loves truck stop w/ cat scale.

heres what we have.

2014 F150 super crew cab, regular 6cyl (not eco boost) no towing package

door stickers: front axle gawr 3450# rear axle gawr 3800#
GVWR 6800# combined weight of occupants and cargo not to exceed 1618#

TT sticker GVWR 6500 empty weight w/ full propane 4700#
cargo not to exceed 1800#

so here's scale tickets

weigh 1, truck with TT and WDH hooked up
steer axle 2660#
Drive axle 3180#
Trailer axle 5080#
Gross 10920#

weigh 2, truck with TT connected but WDH disconnected
steer axle 2620#
drive axle 3260#
trailer axle 5080#
Gross 10960#

weigh 3, travel trailer by itself
tounge 600#
axle 4960#
gross 5560#

weigh 4 truck only
steer axle 2820#
drive axle 2540#
gross 5360#


looks like im 160#s light on the front axle. ?

[ROC-REQS]

Looks like your well within your TV and TT weight capacities.

From your weighing info:
TV GVWR = 6,800 #
TV Loaded Weigh 1 = 2660# + 3180# = 5,840#
So your under your TV GVWR by 960#

TV RearAxle GWR = 3800#
TV Rear Axle Loaded Weigh 1 = 3180#
So your under TV RearAxle GWR by 680#

TT GVWR = 6500#
TT Loaded Weigh 3 = 5560#
So your under TT GVWR by 940#

You didn't state what your TV's GCWR was.
You can compare the TV's GCWR against weigh 1 Gross 10920#
to make sure your under the TV's GCWR, but I'm sure you are.

IMO, those are the critical weights to be concerned with and you're in excellent shape on all of them.

Good job!

Other info you can gather from your weights:

480# of your 600# of tongue weight is being loaded on the TV by your WD Hitch.
Calculated from TV Loaded Weigh 1 = 2660# + 3180# = 5,840# - weigh 4 truck only gross 5360#

120# of your 600# of tongue weight is being loaded on the trailer axles by your WD Hitch.
Calculated from weigh 1 Trailer axle 5080# - weigh 3, travel trailer axle 4960#.

With regard to your front end weight, I would take measurements from the ground to the wheel fender at the center of the wheel of both TV's front and rear tires with TV only and then with TT hooked up with WD hitch setup.

If your TV front measurement is not less with the WD hitch setup or worse if the measurement is more with the WD hitch setup then you need to increase your WD bars or your hitch ball angle to get more weight distributed to the TVs front end.

You'll get more drop in the rear, but you still should get some drop in the front with the WD hitch setup.

Hope this helps some.

[PonyExpress]

Roc, I did post gvwr, its 6800#

also when measuring fender, the front is 1/2 inch higher when tt and wdh are all on.

[Rustic Eagle]

Great job at the scales!

Based on your CAT results I agree on your front suspension's result of 160lbs is on the light side compared "TV" only weights. CAT scale's have a 40lb plus/minus tolerance.

(2,820 - 2,620) = 200lbs

(2,660 - 2,620) = 40lbs

You have only returned 40lbs of the 200lbs initially removed, additional WDH adjustment is required. IMO returning an "additional" 80lbs would be the target "minimum".

Also, your results say that your TT tongue weight is 520lbs, which is 9.35% of your TT's gross weight of 5,560lbs. Tongue weight: (2,620lbs + 3,260lbs) - 5,360lbs = 520lbs

For a 29ft TT a loaded tongue weight in the 12% to 15% range (of gross weight) would be ideal for enhanced TV handling..., especially in less then ideal towing conditions.

Question, was your CAT scale visit based on typical loaded conditions including passengers, full fuel, and cargo?

The TT's tongue weight placed on the TV's hitch ball for the most part remains constant, the weight that gets distributed comes off the TV's rear axle...., the WDH's main function is distributing rear axle weight. Yes, a by-product of the WDH adjustment is some nominal weight is distributed off the TV's rear axle to the TT axles.

Bob

[Rustic Eagle]

Originally Posted by PonyExpress

snip..... also when measuring fender, the front is 1/2 inch higher when tt and wdh are all on.

Check your owners manual, I believe on some Ford vehicles they state when using a WDH the front fender height recommendation is return to at least 50% (25% ?) of the vehicle's unhitched fender height. But, depending on one's TV/TT combination 50% fender height doesn't necessarily equal 50% weight.

The fender height method gets one in the ball park, the CAT scale provides accurate results as you have experienced.

Ideally, returning a TV's front suspension as close as possible to it's original state maintains the TV's initial steering and braking characteristics.

Bob

[Doug]

Agree with you an Bob. 160 lbs light on front axle.
Should be able to get within 20-40 lbs.

Best regards,
Doug