Airstream Caravanner 1977 Owner's Manual page 32

A scale
which
has
a lower
weight
limit
than your tongue
load,
such as a bath¬
room scale, may be used to check the
tongue weight by using the following
method (see illustration):
Place a piece of wood of approximately the
same thickness as the bathroom scales on
the ground in line with the trailer hitch jack
as shown. It should be so spaced that a
short piece of pipe or other round piece will
lay exactly one foot from the center line of
the jack extension. Place the scales so that
another round piece can be exactly two
feet from the center line of the jack exten¬
sion in the other direction. Place a 4 x 4 on
the two round pieces and screw the jack
extension down on the top of the 4 x 4 until
the tongue of the trailer is supported by it.
Multiply the scale reading by three. This will
be the tongue weight of your trailer. If you
exceed the capacity of the bathroom scales,
increase the two foot dimension to three or
four or more feet but always multiply the
scale reading by the total number of feet
between the wood and scales.
Caution: Be sure trailer is level when you
read scales.
An alternate method for determining the
weight of your trailer, without the use of
scales, is by using the following information
and form.
Before you fill in the blank form that per¬
tains to your trailer, please read the sample
form, page 24, to see what type of informa¬
tion will be needed.
First enter the model length, type of beds,
and type of bathroom of your trailer on the
first line (i.e. 31 Ft. Twin Rear Bath)
Column A
Column A represents the Total Maximum
Personal Cargo weight that can be added
to your trailer. Personal Cargo includes food
supplies, clothing, other personal items, etc.
Find the Factory Weight of your trailer, Chart
A, page 26 and enter it across from ITEM 1
Column A (Factory Weight = weight without
options and variable weights (i.e. 5040 lbs).
Next fill in the total weights of the options
and variable weights with which your trailer
is equipped. This information is on Charts
B, C, or D, pages 27, 28, 29. Add all of the
weights together and this total becomes
ITEM 2, Column A (i.e. 761 lbs). Next
add ITEM 1 and ITEM 2. This becomes
ITEM 4, Column A (i.e. 5801 lbs) This is the
sum total of your trailer's Factory Weight
plus the Options and Variable Weights.
Next enter in ITEM 5, Column A (i.e. 7100
lbs), your trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (G.V.W.R.). This information is on the
placard located on the front road side area
of your trailer which corresponds to infor¬
mation on Chart A, page 26. The Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating is the maximum the
trailer can weigh when it is being towed.
Next subtract ITEM 4, Column A from
ITEM 5 Column A; this amount indicates
the Total Maximum Personal Cargo that can
be added to your trailer (i.e. 1299 lbs).
Under no circumstances shall the G.V.W.R.
be exceeded.
Bathroom Scale Wood
Tongue Weight
Column 8
Column B represents the Recommended
Personal Cargo that can be added to your
trailer's tongue. Find the Factory Tongue
Weight of your trailer and enter it in ITEM 1
Column B (Factory Tongue = weight
without options and variable weights, (i.e.
630 lbs) This information is on Chart A
Page 26. Column B has + weight and
— weight. Due to the location of optional
items within the trailer, their weight will
either have a + weight or - weight effect
on the tongue. If the option is behind the
axle system, or rear of trailer, it will tend to
have a - weight, or lifting effect on the
tongue; if the option is forward of the axle
system, or the front of the trailer, it will have
a + weight or loading effect on the tongue.
Next till in + weights or - weights of the
options and variable weights with which
your trailer is equipped, indicated in the
22