Sunline Camper Actual Loaded Tongue/Pin Weights

**JohnB** · 01-01-2010, 02:26 PM

Hi Fellow Sunliners

To help someone thinking about a certain Sunline model and how it will work with their Tow Vehicle, I put this tongue weight chart together for comparisons.

These are actual “Loaded” camper tongue weights as measured on a Sherline tongue scale. I picked up most of these from the Sunline Meet and Greets. Everyone has different amounts of “stuff” however these are real camping weights. Your particular floor plan and where you can load cargo and how much of, will drive the loaded tongue weight both up and down in amount.

The back of your truck, (the receiver, the WD hitch and the rear axle/suspension/tires,) has to accommodate these weights. Often times on the lighter tow vehicles and even heavier ones, tongue weights can be over looked or not realized until later down the road. Hopefully this chart will help folks in the future get a closer understanding of where their camper loaded tongue weight may end up.

As I collect more Sunline tongue weights I will update the chart. If someone knows their loaded tongue weight and I myself did not get it, we welcome you to post it here along with year and model to add to the list. There are also about 2 of you out there where I did not record the actual weight, I’ll PM you and see if you remember.

Hope this helps

John

Edited 1-1-2010 to add additional tongue weights

Steve Collins · 01-01-2010, 03:42 PM

John,

When you weighed the tongue on our '99 T-2453, it was somewhere around 820, if I remember correctly.

The trailer is 5,500 GVWR, catalog says 4150 dry, sticker say 4199 dry, and dry tongue weight of 538.

**JohnB** · 01-01-2010, 06:35 PM

Steve,

Thanks, you where 1 of the 2 I needed to get in touch with. I updated the list.

John

Honda03842 · 01-02-2010, 08:00 AM

Year 1982
Model 15.5SB
Trailer GVWR 2630
Catalog Dry Axle Weight 1615
Catalog DryTonge Weight 150
Catalog Dry% Axle Weight 9.29
Camper Load Tongue Weight 160
Camper Loaded Weight 2309

These are the figures for my trailer. Note the dry percentage tongue weight for this trailer is very low per factory specs. As well we have no air conditioner.

The tongue weight is lower since I added two solar panels adding 40 pounds to the roof of the rear of the trailer. This reduced my tongue % tongue weight to 7%.

Before this modification my loaded tongue weight was around 200 lbs.

**JohnB** · 01-02-2010, 09:07 AM

Thanks Norm, I'll update my sheet with your info. Yours is unique to the older models even in the dry state. Your note also jogs my memory to finish the 10% tongue weight post... Maybe this weekend as it is 17 F out right now...brrr

John

doken3 · 07-09-2010, 04:52 AM

To John B, read your excellant thread on tongue weights and your diagram of the 2499. We are looking at several used mods. namely 2362 and 2499 in the 2006, 2007 yr. range. Dry weights at 4200 and 4785. If we add 1000lbs of stuff at 10% hitch weight that would be 520 and 578 on the hitch.
We plan on towing with our 2005 Nissan Frontier crew cab with trailer towing package. This is rated at 6000 lbs tow capacity with a 600 lb hitch weight. I realize we're close to max here but with an equalizer hitch couldn't some of that weight be transfered to the trailer? Only two of us traveling no pets or kids, RETIRED! We realize it is important where you load stuff and I do have some experience doing this as I owned a 21' Sunline back in the late 70's. We are planning a trip cross country, National Parks, and I keep shying away from the 2499 because of weight. Of course my lovely wife likes the floorplan of the 2499 better.
Thoughts or recs? Don Keneagy

Poqprince · 07-09-2010, 06:51 AM

My weights were a little higher when we returned last January. I took the unit directly to the scale on the way home hoping to capture a typical weight. The scale weight on my 2363 was 5550. The tongue weight was 800. I have two 6 volts and twin 30s.

The Durango was way over with the tongue weight at that level. While I had replaced the OEM tires with Grabber LTs I still could not justify the GVWR of the Durango. We made the decision that to safely maintain our lifestyle, kayaking, backpacking, fishing, etc. on a four month journey we needed to make a change. We replaced the TV with a 2500 truck moved gear from the unit to the bed and now can absorb the tongue weight and keep the unit at a lower gross.

luvrque · 07-09-2010, 09:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by doken3

To John B, read your excellant thread on tongue weights and your diagram of the 2499. We are looking at several used mods. namely 2362 and 2499 in the 2006, 2007 yr. range. Dry weights at 4200 and 4785. If we add 1000lbs of stuff at 10% hitch weight that would be 520 and 578 on the hitch.
We plan on towing with our 2005 Nissan Frontier crew cab with trailer towing package. This is rated at 6000 lbs tow capacity with a 600 lb hitch weight. I realize we're close to max here but with an equalizer hitch couldn't some of that weight be transfered to the trailer? Only two of us traveling no pets or kids, RETIRED! We realize it is important where you load stuff and I do have some experience doing this as I owned a 21' Sunline back in the late 70's. We are planning a trip cross country, National Parks, and I keep shying away from the 2499 because of weight. Of course my lovely wife likes the floorplan of the 2499 better.
Thoughts or recs? Don Keneagy

Don,
Welcome to the club. We have lots of very knowledgeable people here willing to answer all your questions...

I know John & others will give you thier expert opion.
My non expert opion is forget the 2499.
I did the cross country trip to most of the parks out west, you will have a lot of mountains to climb and I think the 2362 is even a bit much for your TV...........JMHO

What is the size of the engine in your TV ? ..I am guessing it is a V6 4L 265hp ?

I know I don't have the average setup, I like a lot of leeway.

doken3 · 07-09-2010, 01:03 PM

to luvrque, Thx for your quick reply,We just put an offer in on a 2006, 1950 which is immaculate. GVWR of 5500, UVW 3940 so I think I'll be ok with hitch weight. My 2005 Nissan has a 4.0 V6 with the factory trailer package. Final gear 3.357.
This trailer had been towed without an equalizer hitch but I won't.
I am amazed at all the knowledge on this sight and makes us like Sunlines even more. We are looking forward to our trip out West next year.
Dee and Don

**JohnB** · 07-09-2010, 07:21 PM

Hi Don

Well I see you helped yourself by the time I was able to post back. And you came to a much better conclusion. The T2499 is a very nice camper, I use to have one, but it needs the right sized TV to line up with it. When I sold mine the tongue weight was 800# sitting in my yard, full propane, battery and the parts of a Reese DC hitch on the A frame. That is before 1 stitch of camping gear was added. That floor plan loads to the tongue as that beautiful rocking chair staring out the back window does not offer much counter balance. This kind of weights will be an issue on your truck.

The T1950 is a lot better at least in the tongue weights area. However you listed a 4.0 V6 with a 3.357 rear axle ratio. She will be working. Take it easy for sure. And see if you have an auxiliary transmission cooler. They can be added if not there. Another good idea is to look into a temp gage kit to be add to the transmission “pan temperature” to keep an eye on it.

The wind drag of a TT eats up towing capacity which is really different then hauling a sail boat or even cargo trailer. You will feel the front area of the TT once you start going over 40 MPH. Sunline helped by keeping the camper low to the ground and tapering the top front of the camper.

Good luck with your new camper. You have a good one there for sure. And welcome to the Sunline Owners Club. Ask away any anything, we always try to help. And we want to hear about the good times camping adventures too.

John

**Sunline Fan** · 02-24-2012, 01:07 PM

Giving this very important thread a bump. A good read for anyone who hasn't.

Skyraider50 · 02-24-2012, 06:59 PM

Dear John...........hmmmm, that sounds familiar.
I am quite sure (and much to my disappointment) you omitted my 2000' Advancer Ultra lite T25R from your tongue weight model. This Black Sheep stigma is a heavy burden.
But seriously, how would one go about getting an accurate tongue weight? I imagine I can sell it to the Scale Commodore down at the City dump to let me weigh my beloved Advancer on the dumps scales. Is it sufficient to put the trailer on the scale with the truck "off" for an accurate trailer weight?
I need to unhook from the truck?
Can I park the trailer off the scale and drop the foot on the scale (disconnected from the truck) to measure the tongue weight?

**JohnB** · 02-25-2012, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Skyraider50

Dear John...........hmmmm, that sounds familiar. I am quite sure (and much to my disappointment) you omitted my 2000' Advancer Ultra lite T25R from your tongue weight model. This Black Sheep stigma is a heavy burden.

Hi Sky,

I did not omit the Advancer T25R, the opportunity did not come up...

The list above was created when I travel to M & G's and offer folks a tongue weight reading if they would like one. Many take me up on the offer and from the TT's measured they get on the list. Or some one weighs theirs, tells me and we add it.

Having the list of actual loaded campers really helps when you are trying to buy the right WD hitch and know if your TV can hold up the TT. While everyone has different "stuff" using a loaded tongue weight from someone who camps beats any dry catalog weight for being closer to your possible loaded tongue weight.

Now how can you get a tongue weight? Well if you stop over you can one get for free here....LOL OK maybe a little bit too long of a trip...

There are a few ways. Since you are going to the scale with the truck you can get the truck weights too and see if your WD hitch is setup correct and how your axle weights line up to your TV and TT. We call this a towing weight check up.

You need these 3 sets of weights all by axle. Load the truck and camper as you go camping. If you have a 3 segment truck scale this gets easier but can be done on a 1 segment scale too.

Need front TV axle, rear TV axle and both TT axles weights for each of these setups. The 3 segment scale does them all at once. The 1 segment scale you have to pull forward to get an axle weight set one at a time.

1. TV and TT hitched on scale with WD hitch engaged. Take a weight set.

2. TV and TT hitched on scale with "no" WD bars engaged. Take a weight set. You can stand still from set 1 and just unhook the WD bar chains.

3. Drive off, unhook TT. Drive TV on scale and get front and rear axle. Take a weight set.

From those 3 wet sets and a little math you can determine:

Front TV axle weight in relation to front GAWR and if the WD hitch is set right.
Rear TV axle weight in relation to rear GAWR.
TV GVW in relation to the GVWR of the truck.
TV GCW in relation to the GCWR of the truck.
TT GVW in relation to the GVWR of the TT.
TT axle weights in relation to the TT GAWR.
TT tongue weight.
Determine TW percent to TT GVW for proper TT balance.

I can help with the math once you get the numbers if you need what to do with what number.

If you only want tongue weight. Need 2 weights.

1. Pull the TT axles on the scale, unhook the WD bars, have the truck off the scale, have the truck still hold the tongue. Take a weight. This gets both TT axles weights only with no WD engaged.

2. Then back up and have the entire camper on the scale, unhook the TT, tongue jack on the same scale as the TT axles, drive truck off the scale. Take a weight of the entire camper.

Then subtract the entire weight of the camper, (weight 2) from just the axle weights. (weight 1). The differnece is the tongue weight at the tow ball.

If you just put the tongue jack on the scale is it off by the distance from the jack foot to the tow ball. If that is the only reading you get,(jack weight) at the jack foot, then give me the distance from the tow ball to the front TT axle center and the distance from the tow ball center to the jack foot center and I will calculate the true tongue weight at the tow ball.

Hope this helps

John

Skyraider50 · 02-26-2012, 07:51 PM

THIS is awesome stuff John! I'll embark on a diplomatic.....sortie to the Landfill commissioner and report the results.

icecreaman · 09-21-2013, 04:03 AM

Hi,
I am a confused owner here. I just bought a used 1994 24' Solaris t-2370 travel trailer. The gross vehicle weight on the sticker along side the trailer says 5,500 lbs, but the book says 7,000 lbs. Does anyone know which one is correct? I have a 1995 GMC Jimmy with a v6 4.3 litre engine and was wondering if I should pull the trailer with it? The Jimmy is rated at 4,300 lbs. The salesman said if I install weight distribution bars that it should be able to pull it.

luvrque · 09-21-2013, 05:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecreaman

Hi,
I am a confused owner here. I just bought a used 1994 24' Solaris t-2370 travel trailer. The gross vehicle weight on the sticker along side the trailer says 5,500 lbs, but the book says 7,000 lbs. Does anyone know which one is correct? I have a 1995 GMC Jimmy with a v6 4.3 litre engine and was wondering if I should pull the trailer with it? The Jimmy is rated at 4,300 lbs. The salesman said if I install weight distribution bars that it should be able to pull it.

Hi welcome to the club.
I would NOT, even if it was 5,500 lbs.

Gene · 09-21-2013, 06:36 PM

I agree. The V6 would struggle with even 5500#.

**JohnB** · 09-21-2013, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecreaman

Hi,
I am a confused owner here. I just bought a used 1994 24' Solaris t-2370 travel trailer. The gross vehicle weight on the sticker along side the trailer says 5,500 lbs, but the book says 7,000 lbs. Does anyone know which one is correct? I have a 1995 GMC Jimmy with a v6 4.3 litre engine and was wondering if I should pull the trailer with it? The Jimmy is rated at 4,300 lbs. The salesman said if I install weight distribution bars that it should be able to pull it.

Hi Icecreaman,

Welcome to Sunline Owners Club and congrats on your new camper!

The 2 numbers you are listing are for different ratings. The Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) on the sticker of 5,500# is the camper empty the day it left Sunline. That number is most likely also with full propane and full fresh water. There are several numbers on that inside weight sticker so you can figure out what the camper weighed empty when it left Sunline.

The brochure lists Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). That 7,000# means the max the camper can weigh with all the camping gear inside.

That 5,500# sounds high for that camper, any chance you can post a pic of the sticker and the words they are using surrounding it? We can help you understand the wording better.

Now to the towing part, your S15 Jimmy is a great little truck. Just not for pulling a camper of this size. I had an 89 Jimmy (son now has it) and he has a 96 also. We want to help you here understand this and not criticize so you have a safe towing experience with your Sunline.

If I understood your note right, the actual dealer you bought this camper from told you after the sale that just put a WD hitch on the truck and you will be fine? If they did that, they did you no justice or they are clueless about the truck and the camper. Don't feel alone in this as it has happend to many here in the club and all over in buying a camper. Not all dealers are like this, but some are.

Sunline knew pretty good on how to balance out the campers so they tow well and do not sway. The T2370 is a rear kitchen camper and that floor plan starts with an approx 560# dry tongue weight (TW). Meaning the weight at the tow ball of the camper with no LP in the tanks, battery or camping gear in the camper. They need a high dry tongue weight with a rear kitchen camper to balance the weight of cabinet gear and fridge food etc on the back wall. Once you load the camper the TW will and should rise and can appraoch 800#, possible up to 1,000# if you ever filled it all the way to the 7,000#.

Regardless none of those tongue weights will work camping with gear inside the camper and your S15 Jimmy. Using a WD hitch will help the sagging back end of the truck but it will not help an overloaded rear axle, springs and tires. Not to mention the tranny in those trucks are prone to issue at around 150K miles. If you try and start towing heavy now, the tranny and or rear axle will give you heartburn in the not too distance future.

We are glad to help here, just ask and don't be afraid to ask any questions about towing the camper.

Hope this helps and good luck. Again let us know if you need more help on this.

John

icecreaman · 09-22-2013, 04:34 AM

I like to thank everyone for replying to my inquiry. Now to further complicate things. I checked on NADA and they said the weight is 3835. I am really wondering what the correct weight is. Would NADA be a correct source on the weight? If so, do you think my Jimmy would be able to pull it? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

luvrque · 09-22-2013, 06:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by icecreaman

I like to thank everyone for replying to my inquiry. Now to further complicate things. I checked on NADA and they said the weight is 3835. I am really wondering what the correct weight is. Would NADA be a correct source on the weight? If so, do you think my Jimmy would be able to pull it? Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Tom

NADA is not a correct source for weight! You came to the best source The Sunline Owners Club.

John is one of our best persons here for detailed help.
PLEASE Read his answer again !

If you are just looking to find someone to say your Jimmy would be OK, you did your SALESMAN

..and he is wrong.