Axle Weight Limits

[Jon Wehrenberg]

I have posted along these line on both sites many time previously, but a recent thread shows there are coaches out there that have issues.

Regardless of whether you have owned your coach for a while or are considering the purchase of a specific coach it is important for you, as an owner, to know the axle weights of the coach full loaded with all your stuff, plus full fuel, plus full water.

At the very least it will help you understand what tire pressures you need to run. It may help you avoid the purchase of a coach that has weight and balance issues. And it may keep you from having an accident because your tires, or brakes, or air springs or bearings or axles failed because they were overstressed.

When you are buying a coach part of your due diligence probably includes having DD and Allison pulling the codes. Add to your list a visit to the scales.

[dalej]

I have always wanted to scale our bus but was always afraid to since I have no clue how you go about it. I have fueled at flying j's where the scale was right there, but didn't know the in or outs of it. Can you
let me know what is the procedure for weighing, e.g. go to the office first, call from the scale like fuel, get someone to do it.

For 9 years I have wanted to know the weights of the different axles and gross weight. I have always felt intimidated since all the truckers are working and we are usually just enjoying our time.

[Ray Davis]

Here's what I did ....

1. Went in office.
2. Told girl I wanted to weigh (turns out this wasn't necessary)
3. Drove to scale
4. Position each axle on a different scale (there were 3 or 4)
5. Pushed intercom to tell them I was on scale.
6. They will ask question about trailer number. Answer "private vehicle"
7. Drive back to front, go to fuel desk and pay. It was about $8.00

When I was in Kerrville for the Motosat rally, I "won" a drawing for a free weight check, where they come to your site and measure it there (I think). I'll try to see if I can find my "coupon". Perhaps you can get weighed in Kerrville, if you don't have a chance to try it above.

It was really easy. You get a nice printout with weights on each axle. Perhaps not as good as each wheel independently, but better than not weighing!!

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Fear not Dale.

Without knowing the weights you are only guessing at the correct tire pressures.

I weighed mine as soon as we put all of our stuff in it and filled the water supply and the fuel. I did it at a Pilot and as luck would have it every axle hit a different scale so I did not even have to do the math.

I weighed the other coach at a steel scrap yard and had to weigh the entire coach, and then we jockeyed the bus around to get the axle weights. As an alternative to a truck stop scale you can get weighed at a scrap yard, a feed mill, or any other location that has in ground scales.

[dalej]

Thanks guys, I'm going to weigh on the way down to Kerrville. Just go ahead and ask me my weight at the rally.

[Petervs]

Here is another way to weigh.....pun intended.

In Oregon and Washington, many of the truck scales run by the state along the highways are sometimes not open for business. Especially sundays and evenings. When that is the case, they often leave the scale turned on and a big giant digital readout is on so you can just do it yourself, take your time, have all the fun you want, wheel by wheel axle by axle, with or without the wife, etc.

And it is FREE!

[Joe Cannarozzi]

We should be close.
If your full of fuel and water, loaded with gear when you do it, 12000 steer 29000 rear. Mabye slightly less.

I weighed ours with zero water less than 1/4 tank fuel, the day I bought it and it was 38660.

11220 steer 27440 rear. Ours has that deck.

I think we might be 48000-CGVW including 7000 on the hitch, loaded up, headed out of town.

[Coloradobus]

With full water and fuel ours look like this:


Steer 17,100 tire psi per Michelin Chart is 120-122
Drivers 21,500 , hear they say 85, but I put in 105
Tag 12,960 , hear they say 85 as well, but that seems too low so I put 95.

The tires are wearing very well and evenly. :)

[garyde]

Jon. Are you saying the Weight Tag Libety put inside my Coach can not be believed. i thought that is what Liberty did(Weigh the Coach Loaded) before they placed the weight tag inside the Coach. Isn't that the reason for the Posting on each Coach. Gary

[dale farley]

I weighed my 93 Marathon Saturday so I could adjust my tire pressures. I filled my fresh, black and gray water tanks, loaded the bus for travel and filled the fuel tank. I followed the exact procedure as Ray said he did when he weighed his. My printout was:

14,200 Steer
19,040 Drive
8,760 Tag
42,000 Total

I had too much air in my drive and tag tires and not enough in my steers, so I adjusted according to the Michelin chart. I am now running 85 pounds in all rear tires which gives me at least a 5-10 pound margin to play with. I have 115 in my steers.

After weighing, I drained all my black and gray water and reduced my fresh water by 25%, so I immediately lost several hunderd pounds. I installed the valve caps that are supposed to blink if I lose 4 lbs of air, so I will see how that goes.

The main things I gained are a smoother ride, because I didn't need 105 in my rear tires, and more importantly, I have the peace of mind of actually knowing my actual maximum weight. It was the best $8 that I've spent on the bus so far.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Gary,

I know of no weight card installed by Liberty.

What you should have is a Prevost placard that lists the axle and gross vehicle weight limits for your coach. Typically the total weights listed for the axles will exceed the gross weight allowable.

Liberty cannot put a weight card in any coach because they don't know what you will put in your coach.

[truk4u]

Dale,

We have a Q-T with scales near where I live and they have enough room on each side so I could weigh each side of the bus independently. I had to go in and tell them what I wanted to do, no problem. Is was good to know the side to side weights where real close. I had a plastic 2004 40' CC that was 1300 lbs heavier right out of the factory on a drive axle as shown on their weight sheet. CC's take was that was normal with many of their coaches and within acceptable limits. I then moved heavy stuff around to try to compensate for the weight.

All Marathon owners should weigh their buses, my understanding is some are over loaded on the steer. Mine is not, with full fuel, water and junk.

[dale farley]

Tom,

I agree with your statement about the Steer axle weight of the Marathons. Mine is within the limits, but when fully loaded, it is close. It just lets me know that I don't want to put anything heavy in the drawers above my house batteries. Maybe I'll have Paulette (my wife) ride in the bedroom!

[truk4u]

Now you've done it Roadrunner, I think you be in deep doo doo!:D

[dalej]

I thought all wifes rode in the bedroom......isn't that in the manual! Our's is a country coach so she has to serve me coffee and pastries.

[dale farley]

I thought that since I threw that statement on the end that no one would notice it. Now I can just hope that none of the women see it.

[rfoster]

Dale:
We are just the kind of folks to help you out.
Waaay Out!
:cool:
Paulette uh, ok

I think I might be able to get my bus washed.

Its good your comments are safe with me -- so far.

[dale farley]

Yes, I have noticed that "Technical" help is not necessarily the only help that some of you guys/gals provide. Maybe at Kerrville, I can determine who to watch out for.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

At Kerrville you want to watch out for everybody.

Individually these are all probably fine folks, but when these clowns all get together there is no telling what they will do.

At Polk City we had signs stuck to our coaches. In SF we had lights stuck to our coaches. These dingbats give out awards that are meant to embarass you. You will find yourself in grease up to your elbows working on someone else's coach.

Come to Kerrville at your own peril.

[dale farley]

Since I am somehwhat "reserved", maybe I will ask them to move my parking spot to a far-away-corner. Actually, I can tolerate most things for one week, so maybe I will learn to be as rowdy as the rest of the group by the end of the week.

[Jon Wehrenberg]

Free advice: If you can arrange it, park outside the fence. That remark about having your wife ride in the bedroom has probably sealed your fate, and with this crowd all it takes is one simple mistake, and you are toast.

Change your name, act like you showed up by accident, pretend you don't know what POG is, and maybe your wife will never hear of your remarks.

[rmboies]

[=Roadrunner;12829]I thought that since I threw that statement on the end that no one would notice it. Now I can just hope that none of the women see it.[]

TOO LATE:eek: So, where will you be parked at POGIII so that I can find Paulette, I want to make sure I have the right bedroom:D

[JIM CHALOUPKA]

Dale, Being the reserved man you say you are you probably were comfortable in making your remark, but I would offer that it would probably be in your best interest to edit your post, before you know who, sees it.;)
That you have a stable is probably a good thing. You can make a bed in the hay and be close to your bus.:D

[JIM KELLER]

You guys are giong to scare Dale to death ! He is actually a great guy. He invited my wife and I to stop at their farm on the first night of our trip to Kerrville. They are in a perfect place for us to stop right off I 10. We are looking forward to meeting them. BTW Dale, we have four other Buses following us and all of our "Black Water Tanks" will be full !

[dale farley]

Bob,

Being the great guy that I am, I will tell you that I will be in spot # 23 in the bright orange bus. Dale