SECTION 3
GETTING TO KNOW YOUR MOTOR HOME
3-8
LOADING THE VEHICLE
NOTE: Your motor home’s load capacity is des-
ignated by weight, not by volume, so you
cannot necessarily use all available
space when loading your motor home.
•
Store or secure all loose items inside the
motor home before traveling. Possible over-
looked items such as canned goods or small
appliances on the countertop, cooking pans
on the range, or free-standing furniture items
can become dangerous projectiles during a
sudden stop or evasive maneuver.
•
Be aware of GVWR, GAWR and individual
load limit on each tire or set of duals.
When loading the vehicle, distribute the cargo
load equally so that you do not exceed either the
Front or Rear Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) or the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR). The Gross Axle Weight Rating
(GAWR) means the weight value specified by
the chassis manufacturer as the load carrying ca-
pacity of a single axle system as measured at the
tire-to-ground interfaces. This is the total weight
a given axle is capable of carrying. Each axle has
its own rating.
Have your vehicle weighed to determine the
proper load distribution for your vehicle. Also
distribute cargo side-to-side so the weight on
each tire or dual set does not exceed one half of
the GAWR for either axle.
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.
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
