Thinking about RV weight? Have you ever wondered if your heavy RV might be too heavy based on the load it is actually designed to carry? Well, according to many RV experts and insurance company statistics, towing or driving an overloaded RV is the leading cause of RV accidents. This is why the weight of an RV is so important in order to maintain safety while traveling.
Even if you are slightly overweight, or heavier on one side, it can cause braking and steering problems, increase the chances of tire failure, and increase the amount of fuel you will use. Weighing your RV will help prevent premature wear of your RV’s tires, wheels, bearings, brakes, suspension, and other parts. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of recreational vehicles on the road travel with at least one of their load ratings out of specification.
When weighing an RV, how do you know what values to look for? RV manufacturers place a sticker on every RV that shows the vehicle’s curb weight, maximum dry and wet weights. It will also include a carrying capacity value so you can determine how much stuff you can safely fit in your RV. It is also important to consider the weight rating of your tires based on the expected load so that the proper cold tire pressure can be set at the start of the ride.
If you’ve been out in your RV for a while, you may find that you have stuff piling up stashed in not-often-used closets and storage bays. RVs usually have storage spaces that are greater than the weight ratings to carry everything when those areas are filled to capacity. You don’t want to just second guess whether or not you’re overweight. Measuring your RV’s weight is the only way to know if your RV needs to be dieted, or if you need to redistribute the load to equalize the weight to create equal values on both the curb and roadside tires.
Okay, so weighing your RV is something you now know you have to do. But where can you do that? You can go to public weigh stations and weigh your RV for a small fee. A search for public scales in the Yellow Pages will reveal the location closest to your home. Truck stops also provide scales but they don’t usually give you independent axle values. You can also find other locations while you’re on the road. There are private companies that provide these services as well. They can measure the weight under each axle, and if you pull weights, hitch or loosen, determine screw or tongue loads. These are all important values to consider when weighing an RV.
Well, when you weigh your RV, you discover that you have a lot of stuff. What now? Time to go through everything and see what you haven’t used in a while. Every six months I go through my rig and get rid of unused items. Over the past 4 years we have lost tons of pounds getting rid of things we have but never use. As full temporary RVers, it’s easy to become overloaded quickly as carrying all of life’s necessities can add up!
Once you’ve determined what you need and what you can do, you can reload your RV. Keep heavy items lower on the rig and lighter items higher. Loading in this way will reduce sway while on the road. As far as load distribution on both sides, you can quickly determine by measuring the road clearance on both sides of your RV. If you are an inch lower on one side than the other, you have a good idea that you need to move things around. You should go and re-weigh your rig to see if you accomplished your goal.
Weighing your RV is one of the most important things you can do before hitting the road this RV season! If you perform the necessary maintenance item, you will have a properly weighted and balanced RV that will get you to your destination safely! We hope you travel safely this season!
