Lance Truck Camper, Owner'S Manual

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RV’s become overloaded when people put too many
things into them. There is no easy way to determine
the weight you’ve loaded, so there’s a temptation to
keep loading until every available space if filled.
People are loading by volume, but weight is far more
important. Unfortunately, you may have exceeded the
load-carrying capacity of the tires before everything is
on board. The only way to tell if your truck/camper is
overloaded is to weigh it fully loaded.
The most critical point about weighing a vehicle is that
it must be weighed with everything on board that will
be there while you’re traveling. That means you must
weigh the truck/camper with passengers, supplies,
food, water, propane and the truck full of fuel. Bear in
mind that water weighs 8.3 lbs per gallon and propane
weighs 4.2 lbs per gallon. These two items alone can
add over 400 lbs alone. Limiting your on-board water
until you arrive at your destination will lower your total
weight. You must know the actual load on the axles
and wheels, and there’s no other way to do it other
than on a commercial scale.
In addition to knowing the total weight, it is crucial to
know the weight on each end of each axle. That’s the
only way you can find out if the load is both within the
tire capacity, as well as whether or not the load is
properly distributed.
You should be able to find certified scales by looking
in your Yellow Pages for moving and storage
companies, farm suppliers, gravel pits, recycling
companies or commercial truck stops. Be sure to call
in advance to determine whether the facility offers
public weighing services, their hours of operation and
any fees that might be involved.
WARNING Failure to properly match camper and
truck can result in undesirable handling characteristics
and create a safety hazard.
Do not load your vehicle beyond its gross vehicle
weight rating (GVWR) and/or gross axle weight
ratings (GAWR). Both of these ratings are given on an
identification label normally located at the driver’s
doorpost area.
In addition to knowing the overall weight that can be
safely loaded in or attached to the truck, you should
know how to distribute the weight in the camper so
that correct amounts of weight are placed on each
truck axle. Proper weight distribution is required for
driving stability and will assure that the truck/camper
is not rear, front or side heavy. Heavy weights placed
at the rear end of the truck/camper may cause
undesirable handling characteristics
When loading the camper, store heavy gear first,
keeping it on or close to the camper floor. Place heavy
things far enough forward to keep the loaded
camper’s center of gravity within the zone
recommended by the truck manufacturer. Store only
light objects on high shelves. Distribute weight to
obtain even side-to-side balance of the loaded vehicle.
Secure loose items to prevent weight shifts that could
affect the balance of your vehicle.
TIRES
Tires are available in a variety of load ratings and
sizes, and if the tires you currently have cannot handle
the load, it maybe possible to replace your tires with
tires of higher pound capacity. Bear in mind, that the
ultimate capacity of the truck is determined by the
weakest link in the system. This could be the tires,
wheels, suspension or brakes.
The maximum ratings are molded into the side of the
tire. The sidewall of the tire shows maximum and
minimum inflation pressure for that load.
Be sure you also know the load and inflation pressure
ratings for your wheels as well. Often, these are
stamped on the inside of the wheels, but if not, your
dealer can help you find out what they are. Never
exceed the maximum load or inflation pressure of your
wheels.
Driving on under-inflated tires can cause the tires to
overheat, which leads to the breakdown of the tire’s
internal structure. Improper inflation also can reduce
your ability to control your vehicle. Tire blowouts occur
more during summer months than any other time of
the year. Properly inflated tires last longer, run quieter,
grip better, increase fuel mileage and safely support
and control your vehicle.
Check your tire pressure once a month and each time
before you take a trip with your truck and camper. Use
a quality air pressure gauge to check the pressure. Do
not under-inflate or over-inflate your tires. Inspect your
tires for uneven or excessive wear. Look for bulges,
cuts, blisters on the sidewalls.
When you’re traveling, do as professional commercial
drivers do: inspect your tires regularly and check and
adjust cold inflation pressure every day that you travel.
CAUTION Individual wheel position weights must not
exceed the maximum tire load capacity. Maximum tire
load capacity can only be achieved utilizing the
maximum allowable psi as listed on the sidewall of the
tire.
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