Jayco 2009 Melbourne, Owner'S Manual, Page: 29 / 102

SECTION 3
PRE-TRAVEL INFORMATION
25
Fig. 3.6 Generic motorhome diagram
1. PLATFORM - This scale is long enough
to weigh the complete vehicle. The
following steps are suggested:
a. Pull onto the scale so that only the
front axle is on the platform (with the
end of the scale midway between the
front and rear axles) and record the
scaled weight.
b. Pull forward until the full unit is on the
scale and record the scaled weight.
c. Pull forward so that only the rear axle
is on the scale (again with the edge of
the scale midway between the front
and drive axles) and record the scaled
weight.
d. If a boat, trailer or other vehicle is
being towed, it should be weighed and
combined with the towing vehicle’s
GVWR to ensure the total weight does
not exceed the GCWR.
2. SEGMENTED PLATFORM - Platform
scales with segmented sections can
provide individual axle weights and total
vehicle weights simultaneously, when the
vehicle is positioned properly.
a. Position the vehicle on the scales so
that each axle is centered as much as
possible on separate segments, and
record the weight.
b. Reposition the vehicle so that only one
side is on the scale, again centered on
the segment as much as possible.
c. Subtract the weighed wheel positions
from the total axle weights to
determine the un-weighed wheel
positions' weights.
3. SINGLE AXLE - This scale weighs one
axle at a time.
a. Drive your front axle onto the scale
and stop long enough for the weight to
be recorded.
b. Pull vehicle forward until the rear axle
is on the scale.
c. To obtain the gross vehicle weight,
add the two axle loads together.
d. To obtain the individual wheel position
weights, repeat this process with only
one side of the recreation vehicle on
the scale.
Even though the weight of the total axle may
be within the axle's rating, it may be
overloaded on one side. This causes one
wheel position to be overloaded. Therefore,
side-to-side weighing should also be done.
To determine the wheel position weights
a. To determine individual wheel position
weights, it is necessary to repeat the
previous three steps (1a, 1b, and 1c), but
this time, use only one side of the scale.
b. To calculate the opposite side of the
vehicle wheel position weight, subtract
this side's weights from the weights
recorded in steps 1a, 1b, and 1c.
Your recreation vehicle must remain as level
as possible on the scale (even though an axle
or side is not physically on the scale).
Obviously, to obtain the side-to-side weights,
there must be enough space on either side of
the scale to accommodate the recreation
vehicle being partially off the scale.
If there is a difference in the weights on one
side of the vehicle as compared to weights on
the other side, components (tires, wheels,
brakes, springs, etc.) on the heavier side
could be overloaded, even though the total
axle load is within the GAWR. It is important
to redistribute the load to avoid component
failure, improve the handling characteristics of
the motorhome and not void the
Motorized
Limited Warranty .
With these actual weights, it is now possible
to compare them against the Motorhome
Weight Information label weight ratings to
ensure you are below the posted minimum
ratings.