FunSaver 19' tongue weight 600 lbs!!! - Hi-Lo camper travel trailer forum

MooseMan · 06-08-2011, 11:52 PM

So I've finally got things figured out in our '86 Funsaver. Picked it up on the cheap... obviously it isn't perfect - there are small holes in the roof that need to be patched but no interior water damage and no smell, etc. Everything works.

BUT... It is flattening out the rear suspension on both our Honda Ridgeline and our Ford Expedition. I got a few scales together and am coming up with a 600 lb tongue weight! This is the top weight for our hitch.

What really scares me is that the manual says our Factory weight should be 2975 lbs, and tongue weight 285 lbs.

Help?! I can't see how the axles can be relocated, all the molding on the sides seem to indicate that is where they belong. The propane tanks weight in about 60 lbs each.

Not sure what to do. Trade for a Dodge Diesel 2500 (kidding... sort of)? Weight distribution hitch?

Right now the only things in front of the axle are a small radio and spare tire, and there is no water in the tank which is also located towards the front.

MooseMan · 06-08-2011, 11:54 PM

For what it's worth here's a picture of "Bertha"

campthewestcoast · 06-09-2011, 02:48 AM

MooseMan,

Have you measured the length of the trailer? It looks larger than 19ft to me. I didn't think the 19 ft trailers had a double axel.

HiLo measures their trailers from the front of the hitch to the back of the bumper. Our 21ft actually has a living space of around 17 feet.

PopRichie77 · 06-09-2011, 06:20 AM

That definitely does not look like a 19 ft trailer, also if those are 60 lb each tanks they are not standard Hi-Lo s came with either 20 or 30 lb tanks, so you have an extra 60 lbs. there.
Understanding the weights that the factory listed is a problem, it is for a fully stripped trailer with no options and even then may not be right and if you are looking at the weight for a 19 ft trailer it is defiantly wrong. You need to get the trailer weighted to find the actual weight.
You should also use a weight distribution hitch.

PopRichie77 · 06-09-2011, 07:14 AM

This is a guess based on a 22 ft Classic trailer, if it is a ft or two more then it will be heavier, but I would say that trailer weights around 4,000 lb. Tongue weight should be 10 to 15 percent of the total trailer weight for safe towing. At 12% of 4,000 equals 480 lbs tongue weight.
Some members have weighted there trailers and found that they weight more than they should.

RCREYES · 06-09-2011, 12:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MooseMan

So I've finally got things figured out in our '86 Funsaver. Picked it up on the cheap... obviously it isn't perfect - there are small holes in the roof that need to be patched but no interior water damage and no smell, etc. Everything works.

BUT... It is flattening out the rear suspension on both our Honda Ridgeline and our Ford Expedition. I got a few scales together and am coming up with a 600 lb tongue weight! This is the top weight for our hitch.

What really scares me is that the manual says our Factory weight should be 2975 lbs, and tongue weight 285 lbs.

Help?! I can't see how the axles can be relocated, all the molding on the sides seem to indicate that is where they belong. The propane tanks weight in about 60 lbs each.

Not sure what to do. Trade for a Dodge Diesel 2500 (kidding... sort of)? Weight distribution hitch?

Right now the only things in front of the axle are a small radio and spare tire, and there is no water in the tank which is also located towards the front.

It does look larger. Anything larger than 17' should use a WDH. You might want to get it on solid ground as well to weigh it.
Tips on How To Tow a Trailer | etrailer.com

robobd · 06-13-2011, 11:30 AM

my 88 22l weighes 3590 lbs stripped down. it also has a awning and about 300 lbs of pots,pans bedding,a/c,etc. and by the looks of your hi-lo, it is at least a 22 or 24 foot. do you have the weight tag on the front curb side body just above the frame? I just looked at your photos again, it is definitly a 24 or 25 footer and you have the big propane tanks on her.

MooseMan · 07-13-2011, 09:01 AM

Update on this thread - thanks everyone for your help. The trailer length appears to measure in at 21', so the body of the camper is around 19'. The 2 propane tanks on the front don't help. The solution was a WDH, which is amazing. It fixed the Expedition up nicely and even gets 2" of rear suspension back out of the Ridgeline. The Ridgeline actually moves and brakes the camper pretty nicely, but I can just feel it jostling quite a bit with the hitch. I'm guessing it's moving the forces around and the unibody construction is transferring it more into the drivers seat.

Thanks for the tips!

JackandJanet · 07-13-2011, 10:44 AM

For what it's worth, I doubt you really need those huge gas tanks. Our two 20 pound tanks have lasted two weeks powering the cooktop, refrigerator, hot water heater, and furnace in the mornings (to take the "chill" off). After that trip, one tank was empty and the other was still nearly full.

We have one of those automatic changeover valves that switch tanks automatically when one is empty but tells you a tank is empty with a red flag. This lets you take the empty tank in for refilling if needed while you still have plenty in the second tank.

- Jack

RichR · 07-13-2011, 02:50 PM

I agree with the automatic changeover valve. They are most appreciated when you have a tank go empty in the middle of a cold rainy night and the furnace quits heating.

Jobob307 · 09-13-2011, 09:01 PM

My 31ft has torsion axles. with his type of axle you can really adjust the weight on your hitch by raising or lowering your hitch. If you want less tongue weight lower the ball height.

MooseMan · 09-14-2011, 07:55 AM

The WDH really made a huge difference. Next target is the propane tanks but I think that'll be about it - still very heavy on the tongue but from what I've been reading it doesn't seem unusual.

RichR · 09-14-2011, 08:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobob307

My 31ft has torsion axles. with his type of axle you can really adjust the weight on your hitch by raising or lowering your hitch. If you want less tongue weight lower the ball height.

By doing that you are adding unbalanced weight loads on the axles. The trailer needs to be level. Or am I missing something here.

JIM L · 09-14-2011, 09:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jobob307

My 31ft has torsion axles. with his type of axle you can really adjust the weight on your hitch by raising or lowering your hitch. If you want less tongue weight lower the ball height.

I don't know where you came up with this theory. When you lower the hitch from a level position you transfer a lot of weight to the front axle and tires on that axle. Many of the blowouts are caused by this condition as you have overloaded the tire and the temp of the tire goes way up. The proper way to adjust the hitch is to adjust the ball height to the same height as the level trailer hitch when unhitched. After hitching up you adjust the weight distribution hitch to bring the RV and tow vehicle back to level. This gives you equal weight on your RV and TV tires. Look up the owners manuals online for any of the WD hitches to verify this.

bluewindsue · 09-14-2011, 09:52 AM

i know the battery i bought for mine i can't even pick up
i too had some roof leaks
but no smell ever....love that

i pull mine with a 90 crown vic wagon 5.0=302 with normal suspension
without the WDH that came with it ...surely the back end would rub on the wheels lol
plus putting heavier gear in the back of the wagon over the wheels
before i apply the the WDH TO LEVEL IT
i get better mileage and pull long grades easier

i have standard 20 lbs tanks which i love because you can exchange then anywhere...bigger tanks have to have different inspections in different states to be filled....and your limited to fill stations

just my two cents
love my Hilo
susie in fenton mo