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20 08 CONTESSA
DRIVING & SAFETY — 2
WARNING:
Improperly inflated or overloaded tires
can cause a blowout. An overloaded
axle can cause a component failure of
the suspension system. Tire blowout
or broken suspension components can
lead to loss of vehicle control resulting
in property damage, personal injury or
death.
CAUTION:
If actual weight carried by any tire is
below the tire chart weight specification
minimum tire pressure, the minimum
inflation pressure must be maintained.
Tire pressure below the minimum
inflation pressure can overheat and
damage the tire casing leading to
premature tire failure or blowout.
Cargo Carrying Capacity:
When weighing the motorhome it is important
to understand that each motorhome, even of
the same model year, oor plan and length will
weigh different due to options and accessories.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR),
Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR)
and/or Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
must not be exceeded.
GVWR limits the weight of the entire load
combination, regardless of the water, propane,
passengers and cargo weight.
It is important to understand that the weighing
process is performed in two phases. First, by
determining the Cargo Carrying Capacity
(CCC); and second, to ensure the GVWR is not
exceeded when adjusting tire pressures.
The weighing process should start by
recording the GVWR from the Federal Weight
Label, then weighing the motorhome unloaded,
without passengers and with a full fuel tank.
Engine and transmission uid levels must be
full. This is known as the Unloaded Vehicle
Weight (UVW). Once this weight has been
recorded it can be subtracted from the GVWR.
GVWR 35,000 - UVW 20,000 = A 15,000
Next, begin to calculate the Cargo Carrying
Capacity (CCC). Fresh water weight and
propane weight can now be subtracted from the
remaining total line A.
Water weight is the number of gallons
multiplied by 8.3.
Propane weight is the number of gallons
multiplied by 4.2.
A 10 gallon water heater with a 40 gallon
fresh tank totals 50 gallons times 8.3, or 415 lbs.
A 30 gallon propane tank has 24 gallons of
propane due to the 80% valve. This is 24 gallons
multiplied by 4.2, or 100.8 lbs.
A 15,000 - 415 = B 14,585
B 14,585 - 100.8 = C 14,484.2
Next, calculate the Sleep Capacity Weight
Rating (SCWR) the manufacturer’s designated
number of sleeping positions for the motorhome
multiplied by 154 lbs.
The 154 lbs. (70kg) is the average weight
established by the US Federal Government
and Transport Canada, and is used to arrive at
Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC). However,
actual sleep capacity weight may be greater.
The SCWR is not intended to limit the sleeping
capacity to a specied weight.
Example: If the manufacturer has designated
the motorhome sleeping position at 4 (616 lbs.)
and there are four people who weigh 200, 200,
178 and 138 lbs., totaling 716 lbs., that does not
mean the sleeping capacity is reduced to three
individuals, but rather the CCC is reduced by
100 lbs. due to the actual passenger weight.
C 14,484.2 - SCWR 716 = CCC 13,768.2
Cargo Carrying Capacity (CCC) is how
much cargo the motorhome can carry. However,
tongue weight of a towed vehicle will further
reduce this amount.
Now the motorhome can be fully loaded and
weighed to ensure GVWR is not exceeded.
Once the motorhome is fully loaded it is ready
to be weighed to obtain an accurate scale
reading and determine the proper tire pressure.
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