Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
 
Old 06-14-2010, 01:04 PM   #1
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 449
Weight math

Hi All,


Just curious, my stock 2006 Ford E350 RB 2WD weighs about 5900lbs (at least that's what the specs say). Its a passenger version not the cargo version so it has a finished interior with 3 rows of bench seats. I'm scheduled to have a PH top installed next month. A manual PH top weighs (I think) about 320lbs.

I've been noticing that 4WD versions with the usual/popular exterior goodies, larger wheels & tires, a top, a rack, a fully outfitted SMB interior and diesel motor weigh 9000 to 10000lbs.

Is my weight math correct in that all these aforementioned items all contribute to add about 3000+lbs? 3000+lbs is the weight of a small car.

Thanks,
Ray + my lovely wife + my 3 kids

my3kids is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 01:23 PM   #2
Senior Member
 
surfgeek33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Posts: 985
Send a message via AIM to surfgeek33
Re: Weight math

You've got to factor in the weight of the 4x4 components, cabinets, ref, micro, food, and other accessories. Also most of the 10,000# club SMB's are EB's, usually means extra space = extra gear.
__________________
???

"I do, cellularSTEVE" :o)
surfgeek33 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 03:04 PM   #3
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Seattle
Posts: 173
Re: Weight math

I have a 2005 SMB 6.0 4x4 RB 50 with the PH top. With me, a full tank of fuel (46 gallons), full tank of propane (8 gallons?) full tank of fresh water (? gallons) food for a week, 6 bottles of wine (that's why I can only be gone a week) several fly rods, books, and whatever else, The Van tips the scales at 9,230 lbs. It's pretty heavy, and something to consider when you need to stop in a hurry, or change direction quickly.

Tom
__________________
2005 SMB RB 50 4X4 w/ a 6.0 PSD
flyfisher is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 03:52 PM   #4
Senior Member
 
Ford_6L_E350's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2007
Location: Washington - Ridgefield
Posts: 4,728
Re: Weight math

You need to weigh your van, Ford specs are for an empty, dry van with no options. Yours probably weighs more than you think.

Mike
__________________
Alaska to Key West, Labrador and more
Prostate cancer survivor. See Thread Prostate cancer and Sportsmobiles
2015 VW GTI 2020 Fiat 124 Spider
2012 E250 Hitop camper
Ford_6L_E350 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 04:57 PM   #5
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Pasadena, CA
Posts: 785
Re: Weight math

With a few kids and a reasonable amount of gear, many SMBs are going to be at or above 10k rolling down the highway. Never been weighted, but with a full load of family, gas, water and camping gear I'm probably close to 11k. That is why I went with the dynatrac full float rear axle and always E rated tires. Even then, it is a bit sketchy and I drive very cautiously.
R
__________________
2006 SMB 4x4, EB-51, 6.0psd
EMrider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-14-2010, 08:46 PM   #6
Senior Member
 
yvrr's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Newark, CA
Posts: 795
Re: Weight math

This might be a good time to repost information I posted to the Yahoo groups a long time ago. I have a friend who was the tech editor for a couple of RV and trailer magazines. I e-mailed him back in 2003 after weighing our van. It was fully loaded with gas, water, LP, etc. Since we were headed out for a trip, the refrigerator was loaded and we had some clothes, fly fishing gear, etc. However, I was completely surprised to find that, without people, it came in at 9760 lbs. My post to him stated:


"If you add two people, that puts it at about 10,060 lbs, compared to a GVWR of only 9400 lbs., 600 lbs. overweight. This surprised me since I figured that we were well under the GVWR. When we picked up our van, Sportsmobile included a form in which they filled in the GVWR, subtracted the weight of gasoline, LP, 4 passengers, water, and the van itself to get the CCC or cargo carrying capacity which was about 1100 lbs. We figured that, even with lots of things (lounge chairs, warm clothes, etc.), we wouldn't have that much stuff. However, I now suspect that the van weight listed in the form was the weight of the stripped van and not the completed conversion. I can't see how we can eliminate 600 lbs of stuff from the van and, in fact, suspect that the van, with the winch, custom bumpers, cabinets, water heater, etc., etc., etc., was very close or maybe even over the GVWR when we picked it up even without the clothes and food and things that we packed when we got it home.

My question then, is, what is the consequence of exceeding the GVWR? I have larger, BGF tires and recognize that the van takes a mile or so to brake from 60 mph to 0 (<g>). I also realize that additional strain is put on the frame when going off-road. Anything else to worry about?"

His answer was:

"This is the kind of question we hear all the time. In your case, you aren't overloaded enough to seriously worry. This isn't a Monty Python movie where one pound over GVWR gets added to a rig and it bursts into flames. You're right about how Sportsmobile calculates its weights, in that no matter how responsible the manufacturer is, they all tend to fudge when it comes to the weight question.

Truck manufacturers don't add in a "safety factor" per se, in that they establish a gvwr and figure people will exceed it by XX amount, so they cut it back for safety's sake. The GVWR is based on all the load or power-bearing capacities of the parts, including brakes, steering, bearings, transmission, engine cooling ability, springs -- all these details -- and it's usually the weak link in the chain that establishes the GVWR. In many cases, the GVWR is based on adding up both front and rear axle GAWRs (gross axle weight rating), and the GAWR is based on tire capacity. A typical E range tire is rated at 3,042 lbs capacity at XX pressure, so two tires equals 6,084 lbs capacity, and that's a very common axle rating on 3/4 and 1-ton vehicles. Check your doorjamb sticker for your GAWR figures.

GVWR is also established based on durability, or service life, and warranty work. For example, Ford could give it a higher GVWR, but that could mean 10% more warranty work in the first three years and that's a big $$$$$ for Ford. They strike a balance between usability, competition with the other brands, and cost.

As long as your replacement tires are rated as high or higher than the tires you removed, you have no worries in the tire-rating area. Compare your total tire carrying capacity to your weight figure."

As for the rest of the rig, the potential long-term problems would be accelerated wear and tear on the parts listed above, or possible overheating. Again, your setup is only overloaded a little bit, relatively speaking, so you shouldn't see any real-world effects for a very long time. For example, the engine and tranny you have are the same ones used in the much-larger F-series pickups rated to tow huge trailers, so powertrain durability isn't an issue. My suspicion is that you're a far more savvy driver than the average user, so you can probably "get away with more" than the average guy."



Food for thought...
__________________
Jack
'01 Ford EB50p Quigley 4WD
yvrr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-17-2010, 06:56 AM   #7
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Helena, Montana
Posts: 613
Re: Weight math

Jack, thanks for reposting this. It has been one of the most useful descriptions of our heavy vehicles that I have ever read.
__________________
2006 Baja Tan SMB 4X4 EB50 PH 6LPSD
Mohawk Royalex Solo 14 foot canoe (light white-water)
Mad River Kevlar Explorer 17 foot canoe (flat water)
Dagger Royalex Legend 16 foot canoe (white-water)
Maravia New Wave 13.5 foot raft (fishing and white-water)
Ed in Montana is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off

» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Sportsmobile SIP or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:00 AM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 4
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.