Help! Anyone have serious issues with cargo cap limits

[Grammy&Grandad]

The CCC issue is exactly why we got the 8k axle option on our 380FL. Still at only 2675 lbs. The CCC with 7k axles is under 1700. Not cool on such a big and spacious rig. We love this floor plan, but we are constantly evaluating what we keep on board. I personally think 8k axles should be standard on the longer floor plans.

 

[Steven@147]

When we started looking for our full time rig and the Solitudes back in 2018, there were options that we wanted and some that we did not want. We landed on the 2019 3350RL S Class Solitude, which they don't make anymore. At almost 37 feet, It has a CCC of 4,478#, a huge amount over the regular Solitudes. That is with 7K axles, on a 16.8K GVWR.
After we went full time our weigh out was 5900# on the front axle, 6050# on the rear axle and a pin weight of 3550#, total of 15.500# on a 16.8K GVWR. That was with everything loaded and 1/3 full fresh water which is how we normally run.

Now granted if you were to add in the full Solitude line DoDads, hydraulic leveling, bigger fridge, better dressed out cabinets, better frameless windows etc, etc, our CCC would have been much lower. We don't miss those additional options. (except for double pane windows)
At some GD rally's right after we got our rig, we ran into a lot of full Solitude owners that were very unhappy with their CCC, some down into the 1500-1700# range. It made me wonder if some people had ever looked at the weight plaque listing the CCC on the left front side of the rig before they bought it.
Some people we know/met, and some on this forum picked the S Class Solitudes just because of the better CCC. It wasn't too much later (maybe 2020?) that they came out with the 8K axle option so they could up the CCC of the full solitude line.

 

[fmartinmn]

[MENTION=8842]Steven@147[/MENTION], I thought the "S" in S-Class meant superior CCC. Loving it.

 

[Steven@147]

[MENTION=8842]Steven@147[/MENTION], I thought the "S" in S-Class meant superior CCC. Loving it.

Hey Frank! LOL's. I remember we spoke through the forums personal messaging back when you first decided to buy your rig. How are you liking your 3350RL?
By the way looked at your sig line. We just received a recall on our Ram for the lug nuts.

 

[fmartinmn]

Hey Frank! LOL's. I remember we spoke through the forums personal messaging back when you first decided to buy your rig. How are you liking your 3350RL?
By the way looked at your sig line. We just received a recall on our Ram for the lug nuts.

Loving the trailer! I just received two 206A SOK batteries, have an appointment in Apr for a 12V fridge and am now shopping for an inverter. Last winter in TX taught me a lot. As for the RAM, I just got the fuel pump recall advance notice. Have not heard about lug nuts, I'll have to check that out.

 

[Pacsteel]

Very educational thread...
Just yesterday we ordered a 2022 351MS.
Upgraded the axles to 8k axles
Upgraded the tires to Cooper H rated tires with 17.5" rims

Standard UVW = 14,700 #
GVW = 16,800 #
Which left only 2,100# cargo capacity, which is why we upgraded the above.

Supposedly the upgrades give us an additional 1200 # only, so we will still need to budget weight.

 

[Schoolbus]

We just started living in our 2022 Solitude 390RK and we were quite surprised when we first scaled it locally (total weight only) and came out at 26,220. My truck scaled at 8600 with only me in it which means the trailer weighed 17,620!

We do full-time in one place since I am military. When we travel, we go on a on a weight reduction plan and off-load unnecessary items into suit cases, tubs, and boxes. The front baggage compartment was mostly empty with tools, misc items, 5 gal propane tank, gas firepit, and a few empty boxes to keep items from shifting around. In the rear it was also limited in items stored with only two mountain bikes on the roller tray, blackwater tub, hoses, trlr surge protector, power cable, empty cooler, and portable grill.

On the last trip we got down to 25,300 with truck weight at 8,900 (which included all occupants) so the trailer weight was 16,400. This put us at the numerical limits in the three critical areas, GVWR (truck + trailer), RAWR (truck), cargo (truck), and trailer sticker weight. Unfortunately we did not order our trailer and got the 7k axles. We fully intend to upgrade (on our own dime) to 8k axles or 8k IS. Once I finally submit my appendix J (2-5 years), we are also making the plunge to a dually as well so we can carry more while we travel full-time as opposed to our current arrangement.

 

[Hoopy Frood]

Yeah, the Grand Design 5th wheels are heavy, and IMO, should come standard with 8,000 lb. axles. Ours has a GVWR of 16,800 lbs. like yours and we run about 17,500 loaded on the road. But it is what it is, and we haul what we need.

 

[Second Chance]

... We fully intend to upgrade (on our own dime) to 8k axles or 8k IS...

You realize this won't change the "legal" trailer GVWR on the sticker, don't you?

Rob

 

[Canald]

Second Chance, You are exactly correct. Doesn't matter if we try to make the trailer or truck safer. The only thing that counts is the stupid sticker. GD manufacturer and dealer have "hamstrung" its customers by allowing the UVW to increase because of the upgrades. For me and my families safety, I will ensure the 5th wheel and truck are brought up to weight standards. The label be damned.
Unless GD wants to help us out.
So for, I have at least 5 owners that have the same problem with their 390RK.

Signed not help with GD right now.
Dan

 

[Canald]

we have a 2022 390RK. I have my tires at max PSI 125. We have the coopers.

 

[Schoolbus]

You realize this won't change the "legal" trailer GVWR on the sticker, don't you?

Rob

Rob,

I am well aware this does nothing for the sticker on the side of the of the trailer. I am also well aware that when 390RKs ship from the factory with 8k axles they get a sticker that says 18,000 GVWR on the same frame. That does mean there are potential legal liabilities with putting 8k axles under it and towing more than 16,800, but the trailer is safe to operate and tow at the increased weight with the higher capacity axles. Heck I may even take it up with GD to try and get a new sticker with the additional weight capacity.

In 2022, Grand Design put "Lippert Rhino" frames under these trailers so be aware for anyone looking to swap out their pin boxes! I figured this out because I tried to put a Reese Goosebox on it and only four of the bolt holes would line up. It does not have the 1621 pin box frames of the previous years.

I seriously doubt this trailer weighed the "14,414 UVW" that is annotated on my sticker when it was empty. When we traveled we were very minimal in our packing and still barely made it under the trailer's GVWR.

Scott

 

[Canald]

Scott,
Do you have disc brakes? We ordered ours with 7k w disk brakes. Like you, if we had known, we would have ordered the 8k w/ disks.
Do you already know the axle p/n yet? Does it come with springs and disk brakes?
I've been looking around and can't find a kit.
Thanks
Dan

 

[huntindog]

Hi. We have a 2016 Solitude 379FL. We have had three blowouts with our last two 5th wheels, one of those in the Solitude with Westlake tires. Depending on who you ask, you will hear that you should always start out with the pressure set to the maximum recommended or to start out with slightly less pressure than maximum. Let me say from experience it doesn't matter. The blowout in the Solitude started out at exactly the max cold 80 PSI and 90 minutes later we were on the side of the road with shrapnel falling off our rig! I checked he remaining tires ad found them near 100 PSI. I let air out of them before continuing. On our previous RV we had load range "C" tires which I changed to "E" after two blowouts starting at lower than max pressure.

The moral of my story is this: I asked my tire dealer about my problem and was told that Carlisle had 16 in, load range "G" trailer 14-ply trailer-only tires rated at 4400 Lbs at 110 PSI (the maximum PSI for my rims as well). They cost less than the tires on my Taurus. I then bought an EZ-Tire Monitor kit for all four trailer tires and the six on my truck. I ended up getting the "repeater" unit also because the Solitude is so long it kept dropping the signal, but has never dropped it since. What I found out on the very first trip was that the trailer tires GAINED 20 TO 30 LBS WHILE DRIVING!!! At the recommendation of my tire guy I started that trip at 95 PSI. An hour of freeway later I had to stop and let air out of all four tires as they were already at the 110 PSI maximum! We left Friday, May 23 (yesterday) for a 2.5 hour trip on all 2-lane roads to a campground. At departure, all four tires were at 87-88 PSI. 45 minutes later at 60 Mph the alarm went off that two of those same tires were already at 110 Psi! We had to stop to let air out again. This is becoming normal thing. The tires on the sun-side run about 5 PSI higher than the shade-side.

So, what I can attest to is that now that I know that the tires were gaining air pressure while driving I can mitigate the problem by starting at a lower pressure and then the EZ-Tire monitor will keep me from blowing any more tires. Conversely, when coming back from Florida this Easter we started the trip at 86 PSI and 85 degrees outside. When we finally stopped for the night in northern Kentucky, it was 35 degrees outside (we were wearing shorts!). The tires dropped into the 70's by morning and I had to add air to silence the alarms on the EX-Tire monitor.

I will never again pull my RV a single mile without a working tire monitor kit. There are a few different brands of tire monitors out there, but get one! All of them are much cheaper than the $500 deductible on the $1750 insurance claim due to the blowout!

WRONG WRONG WRONG. Tire pressures are set COLD!!!! Never let air out as it heats up. You are running UNDER INFLATED!!

 

[huntindog]

Second Chance, You are exactly correct. Doesn't matter if we try to make the trailer or truck safer. The only thing that counts is the stupid sticker. GD manufacturer and dealer have "hamstrung" its customers by allowing the UVW to increase because of the upgrades. For me and my families safety, I will ensure the 5th wheel and truck are brought up to weight standards. The label be damned.
Unless GD wants to help us out.
So for, I have at least 5 owners that have the same problem with their 390RK.

Signed not help with GD right now.
Dan

Do you care about the sticker. or what is real? GD raises the GVWR when they install 8K axles at the factory. That gets a sticker stating so. You cannot get the sticker, but you CAN raise the physical GVWR, by installing 8K axles and matching tires.
That is what I would do.

On a side note: 8K axles will also get you stronger brakes, even more so if you go with discs (which I highly recommend)

 

[Schoolbus]

Scott,
Do you have disc brakes? We ordered ours with 7k w disk brakes. Like you, if we had known, we would have ordered the 8k w/ disks.
Do you already know the axle p/n yet? Does it come with springs and disk brakes?
I've been looking around and can't find a kit.
Thanks
Dan

Dan,
I found a company that will sell the whole kit and caboodle (brakes, axles, springs, etc) and that will probably be the direction we go.

I called Morryde about doing the 8k IS upgrade, but it is about $3,000 more and you have to drive to Indiana to get the best install. The advantage is that it is set to your tow rig and is a much better setup than the old straight axle. We will likely be upgrading our tow rig to a DRW setup so unless I have that truck, I wouldn’t do IS (budget pending of course).

https://performancetrailerbraking.com/disc-brakes

That is the place I found and most customers are pretty happy with them. I will do all of the work myself (if this is the route we go). Like any upgrade, if you look hard enough you will find someone that says it sucks.

As far as brakes, I run a stout setup on the truck. I have EBC orange stuff pads, Stoptech slotted rotors front and rear, and Lucas DOT 4 brake fluid. The trailer brakes are drum and setup aggressive with heavy electric and 6.5 gain. The trailer brakes are a little grabby, but it feels confident.

Good luck with it. Next month we are driving from San Diego, CA to Denver, to Colorado Springs, to Wyoming, to the Black Hills, to Denver and back to San Diego. I will make a better report after that with the current combination.

To get some headway in our limits, the truck just got 4.10 gears installed and I am putting Raceline wheels rated for 4,000lbs and Michelin LTX 295/70r18 that are rated to 4080lbs. The AAM 11.5 axle housing is rated to 10,000lbs so I am not so worried if I wind up a few hundred pounds heavier from our last trip.

 

[notlostatall]

I've WAY overloaded our Solitude. But it has upgraded axles. Tires have been no problem, but we got expensive ones. Never any problems whatsoever.

 

[Captcolour]

Dan,
I found a company that will sell the whole kit and caboodle (brakes, axles, springs, etc) and that will probably be the direction we go.

I called Morryde about doing the 8k IS upgrade, but it is about $3,000 more and you have to drive to Indiana to get the best install. The advantage is that it is set to your tow rig and is a much better setup than the old straight axle. We will likely be upgrading our tow rig to a DRW setup so unless I have that truck, I wouldn’t do IS (budget pending of course).

https://performancetrailerbraking.com/disc-brakes

That is the place I found and most customers are pretty happy with them. I will do all of the work myself (if this is the route we go). Like any upgrade, if you look hard enough you will find someone that says it sucks.

As far as brakes, I run a stout setup on the truck. I have EBC orange stuff pads, Stoptech slotted rotors front and rear, and Lucas DOT 4 brake fluid. The trailer brakes are drum and setup aggressive with heavy electric and 6.5 gain. The trailer brakes are a little grabby, but it feels confident.

Good luck with it. Next month we are driving from San Diego, CA to Denver, to Colorado Springs, to Wyoming, to the Black Hills, to Denver and back to San Diego. I will make a better report after that with the current combination.

To get some headway in our limits, the truck just got 4.10 gears installed and I am putting Raceline wheels rated for 4,000lbs and Michelin LTX 295/70r18 that are rated to 4080lbs. The AAM 11.5 axle housing is rated to 10,000lbs so I am not so worried if I wind up a few hundred pounds heavier from our last trip.

PTB are great to work with. I strongly recommend if you do the 8K axles, also do the disc brakes and the 17.5" wheels/H rated Cooper tires. PTB will send you everything you need except the wheels and tires. You can buy those already mounted from e-trailer and sell your old ones to recoup some money. You can also sell your old axles too. I had PTB come to me for the install. Took them about 6 hrs total and was well worth it to have them do the work. If you take your rig to a GD rally that they are at, they will do the conversion at the rally with a discount. That has to be scheduled pretty far in advance. If you do the 8K axles without the disc brakes and H rated tires, you will regret it!