MOTOR
HOME
LOADING
A motot home chassis (springs, wheels, tires, axles,
and frame) is designed to carry a certain maximum
load. This load includes everything; the
weight
of
the
empty
motor
home itself, your belongings, fuel, fresh
water, waste
water
and anything else
that
may
be
in
or
attached
to
the
motor
home. The maximum load
for
which
the
motor
home is designed is called the
GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING (GVWR).
Another
critical
weight
factor
is
the
GROSS AXLE
WEIGHT RATING (GAWR). This is the maximum
weight
a specific axle is designed
to
carry and each
axle has
its
own
GAWR. The GAWR's do
not
necessarily add· up
to
the GVWR.
Be
careful, neither
the axle loads
nor
the vehicle loads
must
ever exceed
their
respective
weight
ratings.
In
addition
to
knowing
the
overall
weight
that
can
be
safely loaded in
or
attached to the
motor
home,
you
must
know
how
to
distribute
the
weight
so
that
correct
amounts
of
weight
are placed on the axles.
The allowable carrying
capacity
of
the
motor
home
is found by weighing the
motor
home empty, and
subtracting this
weight
from
the
GVWR.
CARRYING CAPACITY
During
the
design and development
of
our
motor
homes, the number and size
of
storage compartments,
the liquid tank capacities and number
of
belted seating
positions are maximized
for
value and convenience.
If
the
motor
home operator fills all liquid tanks
to
capacity, fills all storage compartments and cupboards
to
maximum volume and fills all available seating
positions
with
passengers,
the
motor
home
will
probably be overloaded. According
to
National High-
way
Traffic Safety Administration figures, an average
vehicle occupant weighs
150 pounds, each gallon
of
gasoline weighs six pounds (6.0 Ibs.) and each gallon
of
water
weighs over
eight
pounds (8.3 Ibs.).
The operator is responsible
for
analyzing the
conditions in
which
the
motor
home
will
be
utilized
for
each trip. The number
of
passengers and place-
ment
of
cargo
will
affect
the
amount
of
water
and
cargo
that
you can carry (See Loading Tips).
For
con-
venience, the passenger capacity for camping use and
the
passenger
capacity
for
day use are
shown
on a
permanent table in the driver's area or adjacent
to
the
main
entry
door. The smaller passenger
capacity
for
camping provides reasonable cargo capacity
for
trips
taking more
than
one day. The larger passenger
capacity
for day use provides less cargo
capacity
for
trips or activities
not
involving overnight stays.
It
may
be necessary
to
reduce the
amount
of
water
carried
and unload some cargo items normally carried for
camping in order
to
provide carrying capacity
for
the
additional day use passengers.
4
The number
of
safety belted seating locations may
be
greater than the number
of
passengers permitted
by the
label. These extra seating locations,
if
provided,
are
to
permit
a choice
of
seats
while
traveling.
It
is
not
safe
to
exceed
the
labeled passenger
capacity
unless the axle loadings and total
weight
are checked
against their ratings on a
public scale.
Thoughtful
consideration
of
the
weight
placed in
the
motor
home can yield
important
benefits:
• maximum flexibility in
the
use
of
the
seating and
liberal storage facilities provided
in
the
motor
home;
• operation
without
unsafe loading;
• improved handling characteristics and ride comfort;
• better fuel mileage and reduced tire wear.
NOTE:
CARRYING
CAPACITIES
OF
YOUR
MOTOR
HOME
ARE
SPECIFIED
ON
A LABEL AFFIXED
TO
THE
INSIDE
OF
A
WARDROBE
DOOR.
THE
LABEL
INCLUDES
ALL
FACTORY
INSTALLED
OPTIONS.
IF
OTHER
EQUIPMENT
SUCH
AS
LEVELING
JACKS,
AWNINGS,
ROOF
PODS,
ETC
..
ARE
INSTALLED
AFTER
THE
MOTOR
HOME
LEAVES
THE
FACTORY,
THE
WEIGHT
OF
THESE
ITEMS MUST
BE
SUB-
TRACTED
FROM
THE
TOTAL
OF
THE
PASSENGER
AND
CARGO
CARRYING
CAPACITIES.
IF
YOU
TOW
A TRAILER,
THE
TONGUE
WEIGHT
OF
THE
TRAILER
MUST
BE
SUBTRACTED
FROM
THE
TOTAL
OF
THE
PASSENGER
AND
CARGO
CARRY-
.
ING
CAPACITIES.
DETERMINING
AND
DISTRIBUTING
YOUR
MOTOR HOME LOAD
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and the
Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR)
for
your
motor
home
are
shown
on
the
certification
tag posted on
the driver's door
or
in the driver's compartment.
Remember, these ratings are
for
a fully loaded vehicle.
You
must
compare the GVWR
to
the
loaded
weight
of
your
motor
home.
If
the loaded
weight
of
your
motor
home exceeds the GVWR,
the
motor
home is
overloaded and you'll have
to
remove items
to
bring
the weight
down
to
or below the GVWR.
If
the loaded
axle
weight
on any axle exceeds
the
GAWR, the axle
is overloaded and you'll have
to
redistribute cargo
to
bring the
weight
down
to
or
below
the GAWR.
Weighing
Your
Loaded
Motor
Home
1.
Drive the
front
wheels
onto
the scale
platform
and take a reading. This is
the
front
Gross Axle
Weight. (Reading
1).
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