Loading Tips; Trailer Hitches And Towing - Fleetwood Pace Arrow 1988 User Manual

3. Drive forward until only the rear axle and the
tag axle are on the platform and take a reading.
This reading is the total rear Gross Axle Weight
(Reading 3).
4. Drive forward until only the tag axle is on the
scale platform and take a reading. This is the
tag axle weight (Reading 4).
5. Subtract the tag axle weight from Reading 3.
This is Reading 5.
6. Compare Reading 2 with the GVWR (Gross
Vehicle Weight Rating) of your vehicle. If the
weight exceeds the GVWR rating, you will have
to reduce the total vehicle load.
7. If Reading 2 is less than the GVWR of your
vehicle, check Readings 1, 4, and 5 to verify
that each is less than the GAWRs on the cer-
tification tag. If any of these exceeds the GAWR
for that axle, redistribute enough of the load
to ensure that loads on the front, rear and tag
axles are within the required limit.
8. The motor home should also be weighed from
side to side. This will require positioning both
wheels on each side down the center of the
scale platform and taking a reading for each
side. The attendant will help you with proper
positioning.
Periodically re-weigh your motor home. Different
traveling configurations may change your loading and
weight pattern.
WARNING: DO NOT EXCEED THE RATED LOAD
OF THE MOTOR HOME, OR THE RATED LOAD
OF ANY AXLE.
NOTE: THE PASSENGER AND CARGO CARRY-
ING CAPACITIES OF YOUR MOTOR HOME ARE
SPECIFIED ON A LABEL AFFIXED TO THE IN-
SIDE OF A WARDROBE DOOR. THE LABEL IN-
CLUDES ALL FACTORY INSTALLED OPTIONS.
IF OTHER EQUIPMENT SUCH AS LEVELING
JACKS, AWININGS, ROOF PODS, ETC., ARE IN-
STALLED AFTER THE MOTOR HOME LEAVES
THE FACTORY, THE WEIGHT OF THESE ITEMS
MUST BE SUBTRACTED FROM THE TOTAL OF
THE PASSENGER AND CARGO CARYING
CAPACITIES.
Loading Tips
After you have determined how much weight you
can safely carry and selected those items to make
up that weight, make a list and keep it for future
reference. Load the motor home and distribute the
load so that you get proper weight on the axles. Don't
load heavy items in upper cabinets. Secure and brace
items so they won't move during travel, thereby shif-
ting motor home load. Do not load heavy items near
either end of the motor home or on the rear bumper.
Adjust cargo storage to keep the side to side wheel
loads as equal as possible. Carry only as much water
10
as needed for travel use or to balance the load.
Whenever possible, empty the holding tanks before
traveling.
WARNING: MODIFICATION OF YOUR VEHICLE
BY ADDITION OF RACKS NOT SPECIFIED BY
THE MANUFACTURER TO CARRY ADDITIONAL
EQUIPMENT OR VEHICLES IS NOT RECOM-
MENDED.
Make a loading diagram of your properly loaded
motor home. It will help you locate where specific
items are stored, and will help speed the loading pro-
cess. Store emergency items in a readily accessible
location. Include a fire extinguisher, tools, jack, first-
aid kit, rain gear, flashlight, highway warning devices,
and an electric cord with light.
WARNING: DO NOT STORE OR CARRY LP GAS
CONTAINERS, GASOLINE, OR OTHER FLAM-
MABLE LIQUIDS INSIDE YOUR MOTOR HOME.
TRAILER HITCHES AND TOWING
If you expect to pull a trailer with your motor home,
please use these guidelines when choosing a hitch
and trailer:
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Hitch classification: Class II
Limit the vertical hitch load (tongue weight of
trailer) to a maximum of 250 pounds. Heavier
vertical hitch loads can cause damage to your
motor home rear frame and body, cause
unstable driving and handling characteristics,
and may restrict your rights uncier the Owner-
care warranty.
Do not tow a trailer weighing more than 3500
pounds, or more than recommended by the
chassis manufacturer (as described below),
whichever is less. Heavier trailers can cause
damage to the motor home structure or drive
train, cause unstable driving or handling
characteristics, or restrict your rights under the
Wwnercare warranty.
Check the following chart to determince the
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of the
motor home chassis. The GCWR is the total
weight of the motor home and trailer.
Chassis Axle
Manufacturer Engine Ratio GCWR
•
Chevrolet 7.4L (454) V8 Gas 3.73 14,000
Chevrolet " 4.10 16,000
Chevrolet 4.56 18,000
Chevrolet 4.88 18,000
John Deere (460) V8 Gas 4.56 20,000
Alternate gear ratios may be retrofitted for
special towing needs. Contact your local
chassis manufacturer dealer for recommenda-
tions. Exceeding these GCWR's may cause
damage to your motor home drive train or
chassis, unstable driving and handling
characteristics, and may void your warranty.
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