Carrying Capacity And Load Distribution; How To Weigh Your Loaded Motor Home Without A Trailer Or Other Towed Load - Fleetwood Tioga Walkbout 1995 Manual

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You must consider other important weight factors if you
expect to pull a trailer, tow dolly, or another vehicle
behind your motor home. These factors have limitations
just like the weight factors above. These factors are:
GCWR-Gross Combined Weight Rating
GTW-Gross Towed Weight
MTW-Maximum Tongue Weight
GAWR-Rear-Gross Axle Weight Rating-Rear
axles or axles (if equipped with tag axles)
The ratings for these factors are all listed on the ward-
robe door tag.
If you expect to pull a vehicle with your motor home,
there are additional guidelines that you must follow:
•
•
•
Do not use a load equalizing hitch. It could
cause structural damage to the motor home
frame components.
Limit the tongue weight of the trailer or towing
device to the MTW as listed on the ratings tag.
Heavier tongue weights can damage your
motor home frame and body, cause unstable
driving and handling characteristics, and will
restrict your coverage under the Ownercare
warranty.
Do not tow a vehicle weighing more than the
GTW listed on the wardrobe door tag. Heavier
towed loads can cause braking problems,
damage the motor home structure or drive
train, cause unstable driving or handling char-
acteristics, and restrict your coverage under
the Ownercare warranty. Changing the trailer
hitch will not increase the tow capacity of the
motor home.
The way your motor home handles will be affected by
the way the towed unit is loaded. If the tongue weight is
too light in relation to the GTW, handling problems can
result. Careful load planning and safe experimentation
with different loading patterns can help improve motor
home handling stability and make your driving and
towing experience more enjoyable.
WARNING
DO NOT EXCEED THE RATED LOAD OFTHE
MOTOR HOME, OR THE RATED LOAD OF
ANY AXLE. EXCEEDING THE GVWR, GAWR
OR GCWR OF YOUR MOTOR HOME WILL
REDUCE YOUR WARRANTY PROTECTION,
CAN CAUSE UNDESIRABLE HANDLING
CHARACTERISTICS AND MAY CREATE A
SAFETY HAZARD.
Carrying Capacity and Load Distribution
The allowable carrying capacity of the motor home is
the difference between the GVWR and the weight of the
empty motor home. When the motor home is being
designed, the number and size of storage compart-
ments, the liquid tank capacities and number of belted
seating positions are maximized for value and conve-
nience.lf you
fill
all liquid tanks to capacity, fill all storage
compartments and cupboards to maximum volume and
fill all available seating pOSitions with passengers; the
motor home will be overloaded. The number of passen-
gers and placement of cargo will affect the amount of
water and cargo that you can carry (See "Loading
Tips").
In addition to knowing the overall weight that can be
safely loaded in or attached to the motor home, you
must know how to distribute the weight so that correct
amounts of weight are placed on the axles. When the
load is properly distributed, your motor home will handle
better, and you as the driver will be more confident and
comfortable;
If your motor home is improperly loaded, driving will be
more uncomfortable and much of your driving attention
. will be given to correcting vehicle wandering, drift, pull
and sudden directional changes caused by wind blasts.
If the front axle load is below 80-85% of the front axle
capacity, these handling discomforts will be more no-
ticeable. Always aim to load your motor home so that
the front axle is loaded to at least 80-85% of the front
GAWR.
Note: Carrying capacities of your motor home
are specified on a label affixed to the inside of
a wardrobe door. The label includes all factory
installed options. If other equipment such as
leveling jacks, awnings, roof pods, etc., are
installed after the motor home leaves the fac-
tory, the weight of these items must be sub-
tracted from the total of the passenger and
cargo carrying capacities.
How to Weigh Your Loaded Motor Home
Without a Trailer or Other Towed Load
Refer to your local telephone directory to find a public
weigh station. The following procedures will help you
determine whether your loaded motor home (complete
with cargo, fluids, passengers,and driver) is within
GAWR, GVWR, and GCWR limits. When you arrive at
a weigh station, the attendant will guide you through the
correct positioning of the motor home on the scales.
1. Center the front wheels on the scale platform
and take a reading. This is the front Gross Axle
Weight (Reading 1).