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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.
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 compartments, the liquid tank
capacities and number of belted seating positions are
maximized for value and convenience. If 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 passengers 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,
CopyniqllT 1997, FlEETWood ENTERpnisES, INC. All niq/ITS nESERVEd.
WARNING
Do not exceed the rated
load of the motor home,
or the rated load of any
axle.
Exceeding
the
GVWR, GAWR, GCWR
or GTW of your motor
home will reduce your
warranty protection, can
cause undesirable han-
dling characteristics and
may create
a safety
hazard.
til
CARRYING
CAPACITY
AND LOAD
DISTRIBUTION
NOTE
Net carrying capacities
(NCC) 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 level-
ing jacks, awnings, roof
pods, etc., are installed
after the motor home
leaves the factory, the
weight of these items
must be subtracted from
the total of the passenger
and
cargo
carrying
capacities.
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