| I don't believe there is an RV-related subject that | | | | had no clue how to truly help. Of the dealers that |
| causes more arguments than RV weight, unless | | | | either weren't properly knowledgeable or those that |
| maybe it's the argument over trailer vs. 5th wheel vs. | | | | were downright dishonest, most tried to convince us |
| motor coach. Between the cryptic way that RV | | | | that the only weight that mattered was the UVW |
| weights are reported by the manufacturers, the lack | | | | and whether or not that was at or below our tow |
| of clear standards by the DOT and the often | | | | vehicle's max towing capacity. In addition, I don't |
| deliberate misinformation spread by RV dealers; RV | | | | know how many dealers tried to convince us that |
| weights are confusing at best. We recently | | | | these weight ratings have a little "fudge factor" |
| purchased a new RV - a process that finally | | | | engineered into them. |
| prompted me to attempt to fully understand this | | | | One of the smartest things we did was speak to our |
| subject. The following is what I learned, and in my | | | | attorney before making a purchase. He informed us |
| humble opinion, an authoritative explanation of what | | | | that exceeding any of the weight ratings of the RV |
| the truth really is. | | | | or the tow vehicle was nothing more than a |
| Let's start with the 2 stickers that are required by | | | | negligence lawsuit waiting to happen. If it's proven |
| law on every RV sold in America. The RV | | | | that you exceeded the manufacturer's ratings in any |
| manufacturer is required to include a Weight Sticker | | | | way, it can easily be argued that constitutes |
| on the RV that details all the important weight ratings | | | | negligence on your part in the event of an accident. |
| and maximums. This sticker is usually located on the | | | | That can lead to problems ranging from very large |
| inside of one of the kitchen cabinet doors. The other | | | | settlement amounts to even the possibility of your |
| sticker required by law is a tire capacities sticker. This | | | | insurance company refusing to pay the claim due to |
| is usually outside the RV, somewhere near the hitch | | | | the negligence on your part. Simply put, don't exceed |
| on towable RV's. It can be on the inside door frame, | | | | these weights under any circumstances. |
| near the engine compartment or on the inside of the | | | | The best way to look at it is to take each and every |
| service door for motor coaches. In addition to these | | | | maximum rating and make sure you are under every |
| 2 stickers on the RV, you'll also need the ratings | | | | one of them. Especially after you are loaded, fueled |
| from your tow vehicle if working with a towable. | | | | and ready to get on the road. Often, the only way |
| The Weight Stickers | | | | to do this is to load up your rig and head for the |
| The RV's weight sticker displays all of the most | | | | nearest truck stop with a scale. Weighing your rig |
| important weights as they apply for your RV. The | | | | and understanding the weights you get are key to a |
| information on this sticker has changes over the | | | | safe outcome. |
| years, but it should contain at least some combination | | | | Weighing Your Rig |
| of the following: | | | | Weighing your rig is easy and costs very little |
| - GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating). The maximum | | | | compared to the alternatives. Load your rig with |
| gross weight that the axles will carry. This is | | | | everything your think is necessary, fill it with fuel and |
| independent of the weight rating of the tires. | | | | drive to your nearest truck stop with a scale. In |
| - GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The | | | | order to get enough information to calculate all the |
| maximum weight that the axles and/or the tires will | | | | primary weights, you'll need to get to weighings. |
| carry. It is the lesser of the axle carrying capacity or | | | | First, weigh the entire rig as being towed, or in the |
| the tire carrying capacity | | | | case of a coach with chase car attached. Just make |
| - UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight). The total weight | | | | sure both your TV (Tow Vehicle) axles and the TT |
| of an RV as it was delivered to the dealer. It does | | | | (Travel Trailer/5th Wheel) axle(s) are on 3 separate |
| not include any dealer installed accessories. | | | | weighing pads. That will give you weights for your |
| - NCC (Net Carrying Capacity). This is the actual | | | | steer axle, your drive axle and your TT or chase car |
| amount of cargo allowed. It is in simplest terms, | | | | axle(s). Next, take the TT or chase car and "drop" it |
| GVWR - UVW = NCC. This is sometimes listed as | | | | in the parking area so you can come back and weigh |
| CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity). | | | | just the TV or coach; again making sure the steer |
| - GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). This is the | | | | axle and drive axle are on different pads to get 2 |
| maximum weight of this RV plus any towed vehicle | | | | separate weights. From these 2 weighings you can |
| combined. This is listed on the RV for motor coaches, | | | | calculate all the weights you need. |
| but not towables. For towables you can get this | | | | GCVW (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight) is the total |
| rating from the sticker on your tow vehicle. | | | | weight of the first weighing. It is important that you |
| - Hitch Weight. The maximum weight the hitch can | | | | do not exceed your TV's rating or your coach rating |
| support. In the case of a towable this is the | | | | on this. If you do, you could be find yourself facing |
| maximum weight the RV's hitch can support and has | | | | that law suit for negligence I mentioned earlier, not |
| nothing to do with the hitch rating of the tow vehicle. | | | | to mention that fact that it's unsafe. You coach or |
| In the case of a motor coach this is the hitch rating | | | | TV are only engineered to handle that much weight |
| of the hitch used for towing a chase vehicle. | | | | and you could face brake failure, tire failure of other |
| - GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight). See GVWR | | | | issues if this weight is exceeded. |
| - CCC (Cargo Carrying Capacity). See NCC | | | | TV GVW (Tow Vehicle's Gross Vehicle Weight) is |
| - Gross Dry Weight. See UVW | | | | the total of the second weighing. Like the GCVW, it |
| - Dry Axle Weight. The weight of the trailer when | | | | is important to not exceed your TV or coach's max |
| the RV is on the hitch. This can be calculated as | | | | rating. |
| UVW - Hitch Weight = Dry Axle Weight. All of these | | | | Axle weights. Each of your TV's axles have a max |
| may not be on your sticker since some only apply to | | | | rating, as does your TT. From the individual weights |
| certain RV classifications. In addition, there may be | | | | of the axles in both weighings you can tell if you're |
| other weights listed. In addition to the RV's sticker, | | | | exceeding any of the max ratings for your axles. Pay |
| you'll need to understand the weight rating of your | | | | particular attention to your TV's drive axle from the |
| tires. For towables you'll also need to get the ratings | | | | first weighing. It will be heavier than it is in the |
| from your tow vehicle. This sticker is usually found | | | | second weighing because of the tongue weight of |
| on the door frame of the driver door, or can be | | | | the TT or chase car. |
| located in your owner's manual. It contains many of | | | | TT GVW (Trailer's Gross Vehicle Weight). For this |
| the same ratings as they apply to the tow vehicle | | | | one you need to do a bit of math, but it's not |
| only. | | | | difficult. |
| By this point I was already beginning to feel the | | | | TT GVW = GCVW - TV GVW |
| effects of information overload. Did I really need to | | | | Both your TT and your hitch have a max rating for |
| fully understand all of these numbers as well as the | | | | this. This weight must not exceed either the GVWR |
| mathematics involved? Was it possible to reduce this | | | | of the TT as found on the sticker, or the Max |
| down to a manageable level and make intelligent, | | | | Towing Capacity of your TV. Hitches also have 2 |
| informed decisions? I finally worked it out to a few | | | | max ratings, one for the max towing weight (this |
| basic formulas that allowed me to fully comprehend | | | | weight) and one for the weight of the trailer tongue. |
| all the important information. With that in hand, we | | | | Tongue Weight. For this one you need to do a bit of |
| were able to make an informed purchase for our | | | | math as well: |
| new RV. | | | | Tongue Weight = GCVW - TV GVW - TT Axle |
| Gross Weights | | | | Weight |
| Let's start with the gross weights since these are | | | | This needs to be within the max tongue weight |
| ratings that are difficult to modify. It's easy to adjust | | | | rating of your particular hitch. |
| the amount of cargo you're carrying, or reduce the | | | | Tires |
| amount of fresh water in the tank. The gross | | | | One last thing ... your tires on both your TV and TT. |
| weights are fixed however, and short of making | | | | Many people overlook their tire load rating. The load |
| major modifications to the RV, are absolute barriers. | | | | rating is found on the tires sticker and written on the |
| In our case we had already decided on a large travel | | | | side of your tires and should not be exceeded. |
| trailer for our new RV. I don't intend this article to be | | | | Personally, I want plenty of safety margin here. If |
| a debate in the age-old travel trailer vs. 5th wheel vs. | | | | you run your tires very close to their max load rating |
| coach argument. Suffice it to say we have very | | | | it will wear the tires prematurely. More importantly, if |
| good reasons for choosing a travel trailer over the | | | | you experience a blowout of 1 tire on a tandem axle, |
| other classifications. With this is mind, let's look at the | | | | the other tires are now carrying considerably more |
| all-important gross weights. | | | | weight than they are rated to carry; especially the |
| The most important weight to us were the: | | | | ones on the same side as the blow out. It is possible |
| - GVWR of the trailer, the | | | | to damage multiple tires in a situation like this before |
| - GAWR of the trailer, the | | | | you can even get the rig stopped. |
| - Hitch Weight of the trailer, the | | | | Conclusion |
| - Hitch Rating of the tow vehicle, the | | | | If you pay the most attention to your gross weight |
| - Load Ratings of all our tires and the | | | | ratings, the rest of the capacities seem to take care |
| - GCWR of the entire rig as noted on our tow | | | | of themselves. Not that the others aren't important, |
| vehicle's sticker. These are the ratings we couldn't | | | | it just seemed easier for me to deal with the gross |
| exceed regardless of how we configured the RV or | | | | ratings and let the other level out as needed. Since |
| what we carried as cargo. There are very good | | | | we're full-timers that travel a lot, I weigh often. It will |
| engineering and legal reasons for not exceeding these | | | | surprise you how much "cargo" you accumulate as |
| ratings, no matter how you slice them. In my opinion, | | | | time goes by. |
| these are the most important ratings to consider | | | | It's easy to weigh at commercial truck stops and the |
| when buying a new RV, regardless of what the RV | | | | cost is usually reasonable. Most truck stops will only |
| dealer may try to convince you of. | | | | charge you full price for the first weighing, then a |
| The Dealer Dilemma | | | | small additional price for the second weighing. The last |
| In our search we ran across both honest dealers and | | | | time I weighed at a CAT scale at a Love's truck |
| those that were not so honest about RV weight | | | | stop, they charges me $7.00 for the initial weighing |
| ratings. The majority of the time however, the | | | | and only $1.00 for the second one. A small price to |
| dealers were neither. They simply didn't understand | | | | pay for peace of mind. |
| these weight ratings and were either misinformed or | | | | |