Tiffin Motorhomes 2017 Allegro Breeze Owner's Manual page 121

For motorhomes, the water and propane also need to be considered. The weight of fully filled pro-
pane containers is considered part of the weight of the RV before it is loaded with people or cargo
and is not considered part of the disposable cargo load. Water, however, is a cargo weight and is
treated as such. If there If there is a fresh water storage tank of 50 gallons, this tank when filled would
weigh about 400 pounds. If more cargo or people are being transported, water can be off-loaded
to keep the total amount of cargo added to the vehicle within the limits of the GVWR so as not to
overload the vehicle.
Understanding this flexibility will allow you to make choices that fit your travel and camping needs.
When loading your cargo, be sure it is distributed evenly to prevent overloading front to back and
side to side. Heavy items should be placed low and as close to the axle positions as reasonable. Too
many items on one side may overload a tire.
The best way to know the actual weight of the vehicle is to weigh it at a certified public scale. Talk to
your RV dealer to discuss the weighing methods needed to determine the various weights related to
the RV. This would include weights for the following: axles, wheels, hitch and total weight.
How Overloading Affects Your RV and Tires
The results of overloading can have serious consequences for passenger safety. Too much weight
on your vehicle's suspension system can cause spring, shock absorber, or brake failure, handling or
steering problems, irregular tire wear, tire failure or other damage.
An overloaded vehicle is hard to drive and hard to stop. In cases of serious overloading, brakes can
fail completely, particularly on steep hills. The load a tire will safely carry is a combination of the size
of tire, its load range, and corresponding inflation pressure.
Excessive loads and/or under-inflation cause tire overloading and, as a result, abnormal tire flexing
occurs. This situation can generate an excessive amount of heat within the tire. Excessive heat may
lead to tire wear and eventually tire failure.
It is the air pressure that enables a tire to support the load, so proper inflation is critical. Since RVs
can be configured and loaded in many ways, air pressures must be determined from actual loads
(determined by weighing) and taken from the load and inflation tables provided by the tire manu-
facturer. These air pressures may differ from those found on the certification label. However, they
should never exceed the tire limitation for load or air pressure.
Tire Safety Tips
Preventing Tire Damage
• Slow down if you have to go over a pothole or other object in the road.
• Do not run over curbs or other foreign objects in the roadway, and try not to strike the curb
ROUTINE MAINTENANCE
114