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Topic: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze. (Read 1363 times) previous topic - next topic
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Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #25 –
Quote from: Joan  - 
Although never quite running beyond its capabilities (14500 pounds)....
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Your 2003 has a GVWR of 14050 pounds, not 14500; dump the rocks, girl!  ;)

That was a typo Joan!  You are indeed correct: 2003 RB GVWR is indeed 14050.  And, even with rocks, mine usually weights between 13200 and 13,800.
2003 RB
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #26 –
Hmmmm....I think one way to solve the weight issue is to go with the 27' king/twin.  Time will tell.  Need to look at a few.  Really though...there are no other class c's out there that appeal to me.  Country Coach's 32' is the only other RV I would consider...
April
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #27 –
Quote from: aprilssong  - 
Hmmmm....I think one way to solve the weight issue is to go with the 27' king/twin.  Time will tell.  Need to look at a few.  Really though...there are no other class c's out there that appeal to me.  Country Coach's 32' is the only other RV I would consider...

Have you considered towing a small trailer behind your LD (whichever size)?

I fulltime in a 27 ft MB and tow a Jeep (some have called it my trailer) which also carries some of the larger items I can't or don't want to fit in the LD.
My wheels:
2003 MB
2012 Jeep Liberty
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #28 –
"Country Coach's 32' is the only other RV I would consider..."
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I know that Winnebago bought the 'Country Coach' brand (and originally planned to produce whatever RV they attached the CC name to in Junction City, OR), but I didn't see any RV in any class, gas or diesel, labeled 'Country Coach' on the Winnebago website; did I miss a CC-badged model currently in production?



2003 TK has a new home
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #29 –
"I think one way to solve the weight issue is to go with the 27' king/twin."

You may be thinking of the 27' midbath model. There's a 23' twin/king, but no 27' king/twin. "Models and floorplans" in the Lazy Daze Pocket Guide is a handy reference.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #30 –
Got it Andy...I met the midbath/kingtwin...not midbath/rear kitchen.

Joan Country Coach went under sometime after 2006.  Their class A motorhomes were some of the best ever built.  The only ones on the market are used. They made a 32' with no slide...but are hard to find. 
April
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #31 –
Quote from: aprilssong  - 

Joan Country Coach went under sometime after 2006.  Their class A motorhomes were some of the best ever built.

Country Coach brand post 2004-ish was owned by National and those coaches aren't in the same league as the ones built when Bob Lee was associated with the company.
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #32 –
Re: Country Coach ...

Country Coach
2003 TK has a new home
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #33 –
Really good points on four corner weighing. I never thought of that. Most scales at closed weigh stations are still running and a person might be able to maneuver around enough at one of them to weigh their corners if no facility is readily available to do that.
On overall weight though I personally wouldn't get real excited about being right to the pound under weight limits. As in most things I have to believe there is a wide margin of error built in and your rig isn't going to fold like a house of cards if you are a bit overweight. Being seriously overweight though and getting into an accident as a result could have legal ramifications so that should definitely be avoided.
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #34 –
"As in most things I have to believe there is a wide margin of error built in and your rig isn't going to fold like a house of cards if you are a bit overweight."
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I don't think that many RVers are privy to the weight and stress calculations of Ford's frame and chassis engineers, and while I don't believe that a 'heavy' rig is necessarily going to squat in the middle of the road and refuse to move like an overloaded burro, (IMO) assuming that it's OK to load over the GVWR because there is a built-in 'pad' in the permissible weight limits is a poor decision. 

GVWR is specced and set for plenty of reasons past a manufacturer's 'CYA disclaimer'. Overweight conditions cause a great deal of stress on every component and system in and on the RV; the frame, axles, driveline, engine, brakes, transmission, tires, everything. Stressed components wear prematurely and require more frequent (expensive) repair or replacement. An overloaded rig handles poorly, and it is definitely more difficult to maneuver, control, and stop in an emergency situation.  (And, for those who calculate mileage down to a gnat's eyelash, a 'fat' rig sucks more fuel.)

JMO, understanding weights, knowing what one's rig weighs, and adhering to the engineered limits will reduce maintenance, repair, and component replacement costs and offer improved handling and control.

As always, YMMV.


2003 TK has a new home
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #35 –
"while I don't believe that a 'heavy' rig is necessarily going to squat in the middle of the road and refuse to move like an overloaded burro..."

Been there, done that. At one point early in my full-timing career, over time poor Gertie had become so overloaded with my stuff that she was unable to climb a hill at Villanueva State Park--one that I had driven her up previously. I stepped on the gas and the engine revved, but nothing happened--Gertie just sat there. Realizing that I was liable to "cook" my torque converter, I quickly gave up. I had to back down very slowly and carefully. Good thing there wasn't anybody behind me!

I've driven an overweight rig. I don't recommend it.
Andy Baird
2021 Ford Ranger towing 2019 Airstream 19CB
Previously: 1985 LD Twin/King "Gertie"; 2003 LD Midbath "Skylark"
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #36 –
Weight management in an RV is really a very interesting subject that needs to be approached from all angles. In GVWR I think people have to operate inside their personal comfort zone to some extent. IMO being one pound under that or one hundred pounds over is inconsequential and at that point you are just running heavy and your rig will handle that way. MPG will be effected, hill climbing will suffer and you will put additional stress on all components and wear tires out faster. Safety would not be an issue and people that would be uncomfortable slightly heavy probably also set their cruise control exactly at the posted speed limit and not one mph over so it's a personality issue as much as anything.
Then there's four corner weighing. I don't know the figures here and maybe somebody who does could chime in on this. I would assume you'd want two thirds of the weight on the dually rear end with only one third on the single steer tires and I also would assume the design of the vehicle is going to achieve that balance on its own. Correct me if I'm wrong.
Next up would be equalizing weight on the rear end and this does indeed require some planning in what you load where.
Last but definitely not least is loading the heavy stuff as low as possible and even in the kitchen I try to get my wife to load canned goods in the bottom cabinets and dry goods in the upper ones. Great care is given to loading semi trucks in this regard and it's relevant in just about everything. An extreme example would be all the ships we lost to bad weather in WW2 due to old ships being updated with hardened decks, new radar technology and heavier guns. Our fleet was battle ready but not sea worthy and most of them lost their built in ability to recover from a 70 degree roll which is the maratime standard.
A related side issue would be when traveling with a full fresh water tank and at least half full waste tanks would be beneficial. Mpg and power suffer but if you are heading into a stretch of interstate with a forecast of high side winds you are better off running heavy and will withstand the wind better and greatly reduce being blown sideways. In times like that you will see trucks with light loads waiting it out in truck stops while trucks loaded to the max barrel on through. In a broad sided RV the same rule would apply.
Fun subject to kick around.
Discuss anything with anyone and disagree agreeably. Always be polite and respectful.
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #37 –
An awesome discussion!  And very, very helpful. 
April
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #38 –
Chiming in on the weight issue...

As Andy pointed out, going overweight is rough on a vehicle, but there are also safety and legal considerations that you should be aware of. 
1) The brakes on a vehicle are designed for effective braking up to that vehicle's maximum weight.  Go significantly beyond that limit, and the brakes will not be able to stop you in as short a distance as if you are within design limits. 
2) Hitting a bump at speed can cause loss of control in any vehicle, but with an overweight vehicle it will be harder to regain control.
3) With damage to the suspension system (shocks, springs, stabilizers) from being overweight, normal control is reduced, impairing the safe operation of the vehicle.

Now - the legal stuff...
1) If you are stopped for a random safety check and are found to be overweight, you are subject to fines, and may be kept from proceeding until you are in compliance with your vehicle's weight limits.
2) If you are in a serious accident and are found to be driving an overweight vehicle, arrest, fines and even jail time are possible.
3) If you are in a serious accident and your vehicle is found to be overweight, your insurance company may decide not to cover you for any damages, injuries or liability.

What are my qualifications for the above claims?  I was a Licensed Professional Civil Engineer specializing in highway design and safety.  I achieved the highest level, Fellow, in the Institute of Transportation Engineers, and I held an international certification as a Professional Traffic Operations Engineer.  I spent the last 25 years of my practice doing impact analyses, accident analysis, accident reconstruction, and providing expert testimony.  Bottom line, if you find yourself a few pounds over while you are carrying or towing something unusual, a short trip is unlikely to damage your vehicle, but try to limit that to minimum miles and lower speeds.  Driving an overweight vehicle on a regular basis is a very risky thing to do.

Ken F in NM
'08 MB
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #39 –
April,
If you haven't already, I suggest going to a nearby gathering of LDs to check out different models.  Being in them can be very different than looking at the floorplans even if you are one of those people that see spaces well from just drawings/ideas.  You can pay attention to storage (inside & out) and maybe meet up with some full timers that will say how they manage. 

There is Morro Bay in March that you mentioned and also Quartzsite in Jan - both have a large number of LDs.  Also often there are people nearby willing to have  you come look, but it can be easier to compare them side by side.

If you like lots of stuff with you, you will have difficulty in a LD (and most other RVs).
I have run into people in large class A RVs (solo travelers) who want different wardrobes for different seasons, several extra blankets, something for every discomfort they might feel including boredom.  They want to HAVE everything they had in their sticks and bricks home and don't want to be "camping" (said disdainfully).  That type of traveler would have trouble with any of the LDs and need a very large rig.

Fulltiming works great if you are not attached to things or are tired of owning things - it forces you to make choices of what you really want to keep vs what you can let go.  I love my tools, but most are overkill for an RV so most have disappeared and different tools more useful for an RV have been bought.  It forces you to think of items that can be used for more than one thing. 
There are couples who fulltime in a 23' LD as well as people full timing in every other size.

Many people say there is often more room than weight available (before exceeding max) but it does depend on what you are carrying.

Finding special items you want can be more difficult (e.g. special pet foods or items you use regularly), but places that will mail things to you can help with that.

While downsizing is a huge chore (though much welcomed for us), we are finding we really don't want much stuff and many things are done differently (e.g. books on computers/devices, more time to cook so don't need as many gadgets, etc.).  I used to travel for work a lot, always last minute notice and no idea how long the trip would take (few days up to a month) - it quickly became second nature to pack clothes for 4-5 days and maybe one warm coat and I could last forever.  A little different with hotel cleaning clothes and being in civilization to grab anything I ran out of, but the general idea is the same - pack things you can rotate over time and that work together and have multiple uses.

Jane
Jane & Scott
Currently have a 1989 TK  LD we did a lot of upgrades on.
Bigfoot 25RQ Twin on order with early summer 2024 ETA

Our smartphone autocorrects into very poor English.
 We disclaim the illusion of ignorance this creates as we have enough ignorance we rightly claim.
 
Re: Will be going full time in a Lazy Daze.
Reply #40 –
Let me add one more topic that full time generally get push on the back burner -- health care.
Health care as in both cost and application.  
When I was young I was under no illusion that I would be replacing a mortgage  payment with a health insurance payment.    We all are moving to more expensive health care cost just because we are getting old.  Sadly its the nature of us humans -- we wear out.
Getting sick on the road is at best an inconvenience at worst a disaster. 
We all have some sort of bad health habit.  Key is to work to get back to a healthy life style and enjoy life to the max.

glen



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2014 Twin King