SECTION 3
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR MOTOR HOME
3-10
For example, if the Front GAWR is 6,000 lbs.,
there should be no more than 3,000 lbs. on each
tire. (If the left side weighs 3,100 lbs. and the
right side weighs 2,700 lbs., at least 100 lbs. of
the load should be shifted from the left side to the
right side.) The GVWR is listed on the Vehicle
Certification Label. (See sample in Introduction
Section).
The GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rat-
ing) means the maximum allowable loaded
weight of this motor home and any towed trailer
or towed vehicle. If trailer towing is not recom-
mended, the GCWR will equal the GVWR.
NOTE: We recommend that you dump all hold-
ing tanks before traveling to avoid car-
rying unnecessary weight.
Weighing Your Loaded Vehicle
To check the weight of your fully loaded
coach, locate a commercial weighing scale that
is capable of weighing large trucks.
Loading:
Load your vehicle completely as if
you were going on a long trip, with everything
you would carry, including food, clothing, bed-
ding, lawn chairs, etc., a full fuel tank, full LP
tank, and a partial tank of fresh water - but
empty holding tanks.
Finding a Scale:
In urban areas, the most
common places to find a public access scale are
commercial truck stops. In rural areas, most
grain storage elevators have scales available. If
you don’t know of a truck scale in your area,
look in the Yellow Pages for entries such as
Grain Elevators, Scales-Public, Truck Stops,
Weigh Stations, etc. If you cannot locate a scale
in your area, call your state DOT and ask for rec-
ommendations. Most scales charge a nominal
fee for weighing a vehicle.
Weighing:
There is typically a scale opera-
tor to direct you but the basic routine is to take
three separate weights - front axle, whole vehi-
cle, and rear axle. You will first drive only your
front wheels onto the scale pad, then drive ahead
so that the whole vehicle is on the scale, then
finally pull off until just the rear wheels are on
the pad.
You will receive a weight ‘ticket’ that states
your current Front Gross Axle Weight, Rear
Gross Axle Weight and Gross Vehicle Weight.
You can compare these weights to the weight
ratings listed on your Vehicle Certification Label
to use as a guideline for future loading limits and
weight distribution.
The gross weight of the vehicle should not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) specified on the Vehicle Certification
Label. (see section 2). The front and rear axle
weight also should not exceed the corresponding
Axle Weight Rating specified on the Vehicle
The weight of the loaded vehicle
(including options, attachments, pas-
sengers, water, fuel, luggage and all
other cargo) must not exceed the
GVWR or GAWR of either axle.
CAUTION
Front GAWR (Front Axle Only)
GVWR (Both Front and Rear Axles)
Rear GAWR (Rear Axle Only)
