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Topic: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450 (Read 7 times) previous topic - next topic
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Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Yahoo Message Number: 143302
When Larry weighs in, he knows what he is talking about.
 Following this thread, I am amazed at how little weight potential LDers and even many actual LDers give to the subject of weight.
 Have a wreck with that E450 and see how fast your insurance company asks how much your LD weighed.... And, they will not take your word for it--they will just want to know if you know. They will weigh your wrecked LD and also estimate the weight of any cargo that was salvaged and/or claimed. If an RV is deemed to have been overweight, thereby likely adversely affecting your control, you might kiss your insurance goodbye.

You also could have an insurance issue if you were pulling a toad that is not recommended for your E450 RV with the 2-inch hitch, that is, something over 4000 pounds. Of note, I was told by a professional installer that the 27RB is not made for the larger 4-inch apparatus that would be necessary under the back of the RV, so I do not tow my Honda Pilot.

With class C RVs today, manufacturers have gotten creative with the cargo carrying capacity--CCC. In reality, you would be lucky to have 1500 pounds and that could be without taking into account slides and options, e.g., hydraulic jacks, extra awnings, electric steps, extra batteries, etc., and without your own tiny or perhaps significant bodies, pets, clothes, camping and recreational gear and groceries.
 Near our house is another-brand 2013 class C. It is much longer in back than our 27RB and has two slides and hydraulic jacks, among other stuff. It is on the same E450 chassis. When asked, the owner did not know how much it weighs or his CCC...
 Slides can be a good thing if you have the proper platform/vehicle and you know how to handle them even when they fail.

Slides are not a good thing on an E450 chassis.

s/Terry Apple
Terry Apple
2013 RB 27 Baby Blue Bentley
Re: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 143303
"Have a wreck with that E450 and see how fast your insurance company asks how much your LD weighed"

The insurance companies are wise to most  RVers lack of concern about not exceeding within their vehicle's GVW.  If they have any doubt, as Terry said, they will insist on weighing the carcass. They will also insist on knowing what towing brake system your toad has.
Considering how much damage an  RV can cause in an accident, a consciousnesses RVer is going to actively keep his rig's weight in check. If you have got to have slides, other things will need to be left home...you can't have it all and remain safe.
 Well, you can almost have it all with a big pusher bus...at the cost of several LDs.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 143304
No kidding. More like twenty 31-footers. Let me see, where could I park 20 of them? :-)
 But I agree with most everything that has been said. Slides don't belong on Class C motorhomes. If I could afford an Allegro Bus or Prevost conversion, I would have several slides. They make a huge difference in inside space, although you wouldn't think so when viewing a slide from the outside. You could have a square dance in some I have seen.

Dick
Re: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 143307
Reference the comments on insurance weights and towing. I worked in the property casualty insurance field and specifically in claims before retiring. Obviously, I can't speak for every company but I can say that policies don't have any language in them that addresses weight or what you tow with a motorhome. I have also never heard of an insurer weighing a rig after an accident and my company never did. If you are in an accident they are going to handle the damages that result.

While claims departments can evaluate damages they are not experts on the ins and outs of every RV.

Of course, who might be interested in weights and what you were towing would be a personal injury attorney. You can rest assured, if you are at fault they are going to look at those things when they decide to sue you or not. In that case, if you are lucky your rig will already be repaired or totaled before it gets that far.

Jim C
Re: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 143308
"I worked in the property casualty insurance field and specifically in  claims before retiring. Obviously, I can't speak for every company but I  can say that policies don't have any language in them that addresses  weight or what you tow with a motorhome."

Jim

An insurance policy may not have such specifications but Ford does, in the owners manual.
 Insurance policies normally state that the owner will operate the vehicle responsibly and I would assume that includes following the instructions and limits set by the manufacturer and listed in the owner's manual.

Larry
Larry
2003 23.5' Front Lounge, since new.  Previously 1983 22' Front Lounge.
Tow vehicles  2020 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, 2001 Jeep Cherokee
Photo Collection: Lazy Daze
Re: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 143309
An insurance policy may not have such specifications but Ford does, in the owners manual.
 Insurance policies normally state that the owner will operate the vehicle responsibly and I would assume that includes following the instructions and limits set by the manufacturer and listed in the owner's manual.

Larry
 Larry, I wasn't suggesting that it is OK to overload your rig, nor was I discussing what Ford thinks. I was trying to relate my experience regards insurance and your rig.
 I hope I was clear that if you are involved in an accident there could be an issue regarding damages and injuries that you are at fault for. However, I have not heard of an insurer who denied a claim for damages to either the insured rig or injured third parties because an RV was overloaded.
 We had a saying, "we insure stupidity". I would hate to think what would happen if they could deny claims for that reason. If that was the case they would almost never pay a claim when a vehicle was operated by a teenager.:)
 Consider accidents where the insured party is under the influence and causes an accident. Never heard of that being denied. Might you get dropped? Maybe, it depends on the insurer and the risk category you are in.

Jim C
 
Re: Thoughts on slides and weight for an E450
Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 143310
Potential insurance penalties and/or legal liabilities aside, an overweight (and/or poorly designed, engineered and balanced) RV almost certainly means a shortened lifespan of the chassis, the engine, and *all* the systems components.
 An overloaded RV can, and very often does, have significant handling issues that no amount/number of aftermarket bandaids can fix; the gvwr of a vehicle is what it is, and there is no add-on magic bullet which will increase it.
 Overweight conditions (and underinflation) are tire killers; the tires' sidewalls are under a lot of stress in ideal conditions; with an overloaded rig, one should not ask *if* a blowout will occur, but when.
 And, an overloaded RV is difficult to control, maneuver, and STOP in "emergency" situations.
 Like others, I'm often dismayed by the apparent lack of knowledge and interest exhibited by potential (and current) RVers about weights and associated safety concerns; IMO, a dismissive, blasé attitude toward the critical issues of weight and balance is a prime example of "head placement" - in the sand or otherwise. Several times, I have heard people state (apparently with complete sincerity and unshakable faith) that they didn't know anything about RV weights and didn't much care; manufacturers wouldn't build an RV that wasn't "safe" and within weight limitations when packed to the max, would they?!
 If one doesn't understand RV weight calculations and terminology, these links (two of several available) may help to clarify some of the "letters and numbers" to assist a potential RV owner in making a smart buying decision:
 http://www.your-rv-lifestyle.com/vehicle-weight.html

http://rvsafety.com/2011/09/understanding-motorhome-weights/

As ever, YMMV.

Joan
2003 TK has a new home