
6
You
mustconsider otherimportantweightfactors ifyou
expect
to
pull a trailer, tow dolly,
or
another vehicle
behindyourmotorhome.Thesefactors have limitations
just like the weight factors above. These factors are:
GCWR-Gross
Combined Weight Rating
GTW-Gross
Towed Weight
MTW-Maximum
Tongue Weight
GAWR-Rear-Gross
AxleWeightRating-Rear
axles
or
axles (if equipped with tag axles)
The ratings for these factors are all listed on the ward-
robe
door
tag.
If you expect to pull a vehicle with your motor home,
there are additional guidelines that you must follow:
•
•
•
Do
not use a load equalizing hitch. It could
cause structural damage to the motor home
frame components.
Limitthe tongue weight
of
the trailer
or
towing
device to the
MTW
as
listedon theratings tag.
Heavier tongue weights can damage
your
motor
home frame
and
body, cause unstable
driving
and
handling characteristics,
and
will
restrict
your
coverage under the Ownercare
warranty.
Do
not
towa vehicle weighing more than the
GTW
listedon the wardrobe
door
tag.
Heavier
towed loads can cause braking problems,
damage the
motor
home structure
or
drive
train, causeunstabledriving
or
handlingchar-
acteristics,
and
restrict your coverage under
the Ownercare warranty. Changing the trailer
hitch willnotincrease the towcapacity
of
the
motor
home.
The way your motor home handles will be affected by
the waythe towed unitis loaded. Ifthe 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.
WARNING
DO NOTEXCEEDTHE RATED LOAD OFTHE
MOTOR HOME, OR THE RATED LOAD OF
ANY
AXLE.EXCEEDINGTHE GVWR,GAWR
OR GCWR OF YOUR MOTOR HOME WILL
REDUCE YOUR WARRANTY PROTECTION,
CAN
CAUSE UNDESIRABLE HANDLING
CHARACTERISTICS AND MAY CREATE A
SAFETY HAZARD.
Carrying
Capacity and
Load
Distribution
The allowable carrying capacity
of
the motor home is
thedifferencebetweentheGVWR
and
theweightofthe
empty motor home. When the
motor
home is being
designed, the number and size of storage compart-
ments, the liquid tank capacities and
number
of
belted
seating positions are maximized for value and conve-
nience.lfyoufill allliquidtankstocapacity, fill allstorage
compartmentsandcupboards
to
maximumvolumeand
fill all available seating pOSitions with passengers; the
motorhomewill beoverloaded.The
number
of
passen-
gers 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
loadisproperlydistributed, your
motor
homewillhandle
better, and you asthe driverwill be moreconfident and
comfortable;
Ifyourmotorhome is improperlyloaded, driving will be
more uncomfortableand much
of
your
drivingattention
. will be given to correcting vehicle wandering, drift, pull
andsuddendirectionalchangescausedbywindblasts.
If
the front axle load is below 80-85% of the front axle
capacity, these handling discomforts will be more no-
ticeable. Always aim to load your
motor
home
so
that
the front axle is loaded to at least
80-85%
of
the front
GAWR.
Note: Carrying capacities
of
your
motor
home
are specified on a labelaffixed to the inside
of
a wardrobe door. The labelincludes
all
factory
installed options.
If
other equipment such
as
leveling jacks, awnings, roof pods, etc., are
installed afterthe motorhome leaves the fac-
tory,
the weight
of
these items
must
be sub-
tracted from the total
of
the
passenger
and
cargo carrying capacities.
How
to
WeighYour
Loaded
Motor
Home
Without
aTrailer
or
Other
Towed
Load
Refer to your local telephone directory
to
find a public
weigh station. The following procedures will help you
determine whetheryourloaded motorhome(complete
with cargo, fluids,
passengers,and
driver)
is
within
GAWR, GVWR, and GCWR limits. When you arrive at
aweighstation,theattendantwill guideyouthroughthe
correct positioning of the motor home on the scales.
1.
Centerthe front wheels on the scale platform
andtake areading.ThisisthefrontGrossAxle
Weight (Reading 1).