Weighing The Motorhome - Holiday Navigator 2003 Owner's Manual

Driving & Safety
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WEIGHING THE
MOTORHOME
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Improperly inflated tires or suspension that is incorrectly loaded can result
in poor fuel economy, poor handling and over-stressed chassis components.
Vehicle loading affects tire inflation pressure and the load carried by each axle.
Motorhome axle configuration and floor plan styles will require different
weighing procedures.
WARNING: Improperly inflated or overloaded tires can cause a
blowout. An overloaded axle can cause a component failure of the
suspension system. Tire blowouts or broken suspension components
can lead to loss of vehicle control resulting in property damage,
personal injury or death.
CAUTION: If actual weight carried by any tire is below the tire
chart weight specification a minimum tire pressure of at least 75 psi
must be maintained. Tire pressure below 75 psi can overheat and
damage the tire casing leading to premature tire failure or blowout.
Slide-out Tire Pressure:
A motorhome equipped with slide-out room(s) will weigh slightly heavier
on the roadside. The tire inflation pressure of the roadside tires determines the
inflation pressure for all tire(s) on that axle. This is due to the weight transfer
that occurs when cornering. Approximately the same weight load will be
transferred to the curbside around left-hand corners.
NOTE: When weighing a motorhome equipped with a slide-out
room, each tire on any axle must be inflated to the same pressure.
The wheel position carrying the most weight will determine the tire
inflation pressure for each tire of that particular axle.
Tag Axle Motorhome (Roadmaster Chassis):
A motorhome equipped with a tag axle will require adjustment to the air
pressure regulator for the tag axle. Adjustment of the regulator helps maintain
proper axle weight distribution ratios. The adjustable regulator and gauge
package is located in the engine compartment on the driver side. The regulator
controls the amount of air pressure in the tag axle air bags. Increasing the
regulator air pressure gauge reading increases the amount of air pressure in the
tag axle air bags, which increases the downward force of the tag axle.
Applying more downward force to the tag axle increases the weight carried by
the tag axle. Increasing the weight carried by the tag axle decreases the weight
carried by the drive axle and slightly increases the weight transferred to the
front steering axle.
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