Onthe Road; Motor Home Loading; Responsibility For Proper Loading; A Few Definitions First - Fleetwood Tioga Montara 1995 Manual

MOTOR HOME LOADING
Responsibility for Proper Loading
As the operator of this motor home, you bear the sale
responsibility for proper, safe loading. This section will
guide you through the steps necessary to properly and
safely load your vehicle.
Your motor home chassis is designed to carry a specific
maximum weight. This weight includes everything: the
weight of the empty motor home itself, all occupants and
their belongings, fuel, fresh water, waste water and any-
thing else that may be in or attached to the motor home.
A Few Definitions First
Before discussing loading and weighing, we need to
explain some common weight terms. We'll use abbre-
viations in our discussion. These terms are:
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating): This is
the maximum allowable load that this motor
home was designed to carry. Modifications to
your motor home, such as installing bigger
tires or changing spring load capacities, will
not in any way increase this weight rating. The
GVWR is shown on the Federal certification
tag posted on the left Interior sidewall of the
driver's compartment.
GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating): This is the
maximum allowable weight a specific axle is
designed to carry. Each axle has its own
GAWR. When you add the GAWRs, they will
not necessarily add up to the GVWR. The
GAWR is also shown on the Federal certifica-
tion tag posted on the left interior sidewall of
the driver's compartment.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating): This
is the maximum allowable combined weight of
the fully equipped and loaded motor home
(including passengers, all cargo, fluids, etc.)
plus the weight of any fully loaded towed load
(such as a trailer, boat, or automobile). The
Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) is
listed on the wardrobe door tag. Exceeding
the GCWR will cause damage to your motor
home drivetrain or chassis, unstable driving
and handling characteristics, and will reduce
your warranty protection.
5
ONTHE ROAD
GTW (Gross Towed Weight): This is the maxi-
mum allowable loaded weight that this motor
home has been designed to tow. This cannot
be increased by changing the trailer hitch. The
GTW is listed on the wardrobe door tag.
MTW (Maximum Tongue Weight): means the
maximum vertical load that the towed load
applies to the hitch of the motor home. The
MTW is listed on the wardrobe door tag.
UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight): This is the
calculated weight of the motor home, as built
at the factory with full fuel, engine oil (and
other engine/drivetrain fluids) and LP gas.
The UVW does not include cargo, fresh water,
passengers, or accessories installed by the
dealer. The UVW is listed on the wardrobe
door tag.
TOWING A VEHICLE OR TRAILER
("TOWED LOAD")
Note: Some states and provinces require brakes
and safety chains on towed vehicles. Consult
the proper authorities in the states or provinces
through which you will be traveling.
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
Towe~
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.