Weights And Loads; Loading; Weighing Your Trailer - Airstream (nest) 2019 Owner's Manual

Weights and Loads

Loading

When towing a trailer, you are subject to new and different
challenges on the highway than you may have previously
encountered. Balancing the load and preparing the trailer and
tow vehicle are critical to safe handling.
One of the most critical aspects of safe towing is knowing the
weights involved and where they are placed. The first thing to
determine is how much is being towed and con- firming that it is
within the capacities of the equipment being used.
To know what your trailer weighs when loaded—including water,
propane, etc — take it to a public scale. Refer to your axle
weight and tire limits to see if you are within a safe range. Always
ensure that your loaded trailer is below the Gross Vehicle Weight
Rating (GVWR).
Make sure your load is balanced — front to back, side to side.
Determining where the load is placed is critical to the way your
rig will handle on the road. Step back and look at your trailer,
making sure that there is not too much weight on the hitch, or on
the rear of the trailer.
A Cargo Carrying Capacity tag like this can be found on the
inside of the entry door on your trailer.
RECREATIONAL VEHICLE TRAILER CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY
VIN #################
THE WEIGHT OF CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED
XXX kg or XXX lbs
A full load of water equals XXX kg or XXX lbs of cargo @ 1 kg/L (8.3 lb/gal)
The total weight of all cargo, including dealer modifications or
additions, water and propane should never exceed the number
listed. Your safety depends on not overloading the trailer,
trailer axles, and tires. Refer to Section 4 — Floor Plan and
Specifications for rating list.
As cargo is added, removed, or shifts in location, the weight on
the axle and hitch will change. Also, the hitch and axle weights
will change as a consequence of the weight of the LP tank
diminishing from use of propane, and/or the transfer of weight as
a consequence of water in the fresh water tank being used and
transferred to the waste water holding tank. When the LP tank is
empty and fresh water has been transferred to the waste water
tank, the reduction in hitch weight may be significant. For this
reason, we recommend that the waste water tank be emptied
before traveling.
CAUTION
CAUTION
It is recommended that you empty your waste
water holding tank before traveling.
New trailer users often carry more food and other supplies than
really needed. Remember that every item you take along is one
more thing to stow and adds weight to the total load you must
pull. Consolidate items in shelves, lockers, and in the refrigerator.
Special care must be taken not to overload the front and rear
ends of the trailer.
CAUTION
If camping or traveling gear must be placed on the
floor of your Nest, be sure to distribute and secure
the load evenly from front to back. Overloading
the rear inside the entry door could contribute to
unstable towing/handling.

Weighing Your Trailer

1. Trailer's weight on axle
(cannot exceed GAWR)
To determine that the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is not
exceeded, it is necessary to load all of your allow- able personal
cargo and other variable weights. Then hitch the trailer to the tow
vehicle with load equalizing hitch properly adjusted.
Chock wheels and place the trailer on a scale with the wheel/
axle assembly only on the scale (1). If the weight on the axle
exceeds the GAWR, then some of the personal cargo must be
redistributed forward in order to place some of this weight on the
tongue.
The tongue weight should be 10 to 15% of the trailer's total
weight and must not exceed the tow vehicle's or the hitches
maximum weight rating. To determine tongue load, unhitch
tow vehicle and place the tongue hitch post on a scale (see
illustration 2). The trailer must be properly loaded as determined
above with your allowable personal cargo and variable weights.
2. Weight on trailer tongue
(tongue or hitch rate)
7-3