Tiffin Motorhomes 2011 Phaeton, Owner'S Manual

Page: 14 / 173

G E N E R A L I N F O R M A T I O N
1-7
can be taken to any drive-on scales or individual-wheel scales to determine that the final weight is within
specified limits for the motor home. The procedure which can be used is as follows:
First, drive the motor home onto the scales so that all wheels are on the scales; this provides the gross vehicle
weight (GVW) of the vehicle and can be recorded as such. The GVW should not exceed the GVWR specified
for the vehicle. Second, drive the motor home so that the front wheels are off the scales and only the rear
wheels remain on the scales; this provides the total weight of the vehicle, save for the front axle. This weight
should not exceed the total rating of the axles remaining on the scales. The front axle weight is determined by
subtracting the weight from the GVW that was obtained in the first step which was performed earlier. The
result should not exceed the listed front-axle weight rating. Chapter 14 contains more specific axle-weight
determinations.
Weight Distribution Throughout the Motor Home
To assure the maximum stability of the motor home under static (i.e., parked) and dynamic (i.e., moving)
conditions, the distribution of the items to be carried and stored within the motor home and in the storage bays
underneath the motor home should be performed in such a manner to strive for reasonably even side-to-side
and front-to-rear dispersion of the weight of the stored items. This process will assure that the motor home is
not “lop-sided” in weight distribution (i.e., all the stored weight on one side and/or mainly towards the front or
the rear)—keeping a center of mass of the motor home essentially centered on a front-to-rear and side-to-side
basis will also provide better control of the motor home when it is in motion.