• If you currently own, previously owned or want to own an Avalanche, we welcome you to become a member today. Membership is FREE, register now!

My official CAT scale weight

Y

yatch

Full Member
Joined
May 19, 2003
Messages
14
Location
Ypsilanti, MI
I stopped at a CAT scale/truck stop today to find out how much room I have for towing a travel trailer. I filled up the tank at the same location. I weigh about 200 pounds, was alone with nothing else in the truck. My 03 is loaded with every available option except DVD. (have sunroof) I tipped the scale at 6140 pounds.
This allows 860 pounds available for loading. Not very much. My wife weighs 120 lbs, my dog weighs about 80 lbs, and another small dog weighs 10 lbs. Two kennels in the back weigh another 20 pounds combined. This comes to 230 lbs. Now we are down to 630 pounds for loading. Add the trailer I JUST PUT A DEPOSIT ON, and we have 600 pounds loaded tung weight. Add the weight of the reese straight line hitch and I can't put ANYTHING in the truck. Even if I decided on a trailer that weighed 1000 lbs lighter, I only save 10% tung weight, a hole 100 lbs. At this point, I'm not sure what I will do. The trailer I put a deposit on is a 25 ' 2004 Coleman Caravan. Also the heaviest in its class at 4890 dry. It does not allow more than 1110 lbs for my things. Subtract all options and propane, I'm left with about 840 available pounds. I think I will be ok, at the limit but ok, what do you think?
Lastly, I hope the CAT scale weight helps some of you with your future decisions.
 
I have the exact same tow combo. My AV is an 02 1500 Z71 w/4.1. My TT is an 03 Coleman Caravan 25QB. I use an Eqalizer Hitch and a prodigy controller. My AV and I weighed in at the CAT scale at 6,060. I am only 150, however. But I do have a wife and two teenagers. Although we are on the light side. Even the dog is only 7#s! But, we cannot carry anything in the back of the AV when towing. Well, we are not supposed to. I do anyway. Maybe 100 #s or so.

I have added a tranny cooler and air springs in the back. They really help with the rear sqaut.

The Caravan is the MOST I will tow with the AV, but it is a very workable combo. Have you ever checked out the Yahoo Caravan Group? I haope you did end up getting the Caravan. It is a great TT and the support is wonderful.
 
Check out the thread on "Tongue Weight?". A weight distributing hitch could be the solution (another discussion). Just remember to stay legal by keeping under the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight (GCVW) per the manual.
 
Well, I did end up buying a 04 Coleman Caravan 25SBW. Also had a Reese straight line hitch and prodigy brake controller installed. Great combo, we LOVE it! Also towed very well. I towed it a couple hours north to my parents house and stayed in it overnight to kind of get the hang of things. We will go camping for a few days starting tomorrow. Next month we will take our two week vacation and boondock in the western U.P. We can't wait! And yes, I did join the yahoo caravan group. Loads on info there.
 
I too have Coleman Caravan 25 ft. with a dinette slide out.. An absolute must to have equalizer bars, sway control and a brake contoller too. I load more than 100 lbs in the bacl of the Av. I think the max weight on the Cavavan is 5500 lbs. including water and whatever you put in it. The key is not to exceed the total combination weight of about 13,000 lbs. There have been other posts on that too.

I try and load as much stuff in the back of the Av because I think it's easier on the truck rather than trying to pull a bunch of extra weight behind the truck. Just my opinion and never read on that one way or the other. :B:

I never heard of the Yahoo camping group. Do they have a site just us folks that own Coleman Caravans??? A caravan to someone in Gr. Britain is any kind of a travel trailer. Would appreciate any info on that. Thanx
 
Yes, the Yahoo Caravan group is just that, dedicated to the Coleman Caravans. So, it is a very specific group.

Yes, I do know that in other parts of the world, a caravan is simply a travel trailer. But, off course, in this context, it is a brand name.

In my opinion, I believe that it is MUCH easier to tow the weight than to carry it. I can easily pull a hand truck with a refrigerator, but I cannot pick one up. Just as an illustration. That is why your Av only has about a 1,000 #z of payload, but can pul a whole heck more.

Chris.
02 Avalanche
03 Coleman Caravan 25QB
 
http://autos.groups.yahoo.com/group/Coleman_Caravan

Here you go! Hope to catch yo over there!

Chris
 
I once met a girl who gave me her official CAT scale weight - man did I run :)
 
This is my load plus wife, and two small dogs,
misc. traveling crap in back. equalizing hitch is a must
I also have air shocks but would not reccomend them.
8.1 mpg at 65-70 mph.
dry weight of trlr. about 6300lb, 26' coachmen.
1500 ,71,4.10gears

I dont think my pic attached , i will try again
 

Attachments

  • try_this.JPG
    try_this.JPG
    63.9 KB · Views: 22
You have a simlar set up as mine. Curious, why would you not recommend the air shocks? I love mine. They work in tandem with the Eq hitch.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top