Carrying Capacity And Load Distribution; Carrying Capacity Tag - Fleetwood bounder 1998 Owner's Manual

ON ThE
ROAd
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 differ-
ent 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 maxi-
mized 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 cOlTecting vehicle wandering, drift, pull and sud-
den directional changes caused by wind blasts. If the front
axle load is below 80-85% of the front axle capacity, these
handling discomforts will be more noticeable. Always aim to
load your motor home so that the front axle is loaded to at
least 80-85% of the front GAWR.
CARRYING CAPACITY
AND LOAD DISTRIBUTION
v'1
NOTE
Carrying capacities 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.
BouNdm - CopYRiq/1T 1997, FlEETWood ENfmpRisES, INC.
All
Riq/ITS REsmvEd.