Weighing Your RV – Need to Lose Some Weight?

Do you think about the weight of your RV? Ever wonder if your RV might be too heavy for the load it was actually designed for? Well, according to many RV experts and insurance company statistics, towing or driving an overloaded RV is the leading cause of RV accidents. That’s why weighing your RV is so important to keeping it safe while traveling.

Even if you’re a little overweight, or if you’re heavier on one side than the other, it can cause braking and steering problems, increase the chance of tire failure, and increase the amount of fuel you’ll use. Weighing your RV will help prevent premature wear on your RV’s tires, wheels, bearings, brakes, suspension, and other parts. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of RVs on the road travel with at least one of their load ratings beyond specification.

When weighing your RV, how do you know what values ​​to look for? RV manufacturers place a label on each RV that shows the empty weight of the vehicle and the maximum dry and wet weights. They will also include a cargo 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 proper cold tire pressure can be established at the beginning of a trip.

If you’ve been in your RV for a while, you may have accumulated things that are hidden away in cabinets and storage bays that aren’t often used. RVs often have more storage areas than the weight ratings to haul everything when those areas are packed to capacity. You don’t want to just guess if you’re overweight or not. Weighing your RV is the only way to know if your RV needs to go on a diet, or if you need to redistribute the load to even out the weight and create equal values ​​on your curb and road tires.

Ok, so weighing your RV is something you now know to do. But where can you do that? You can go to public weigh stations and have your RV weighed for a small fee. A search for public scales in the yellow pages will reveal the closest location to your home. Truck stops also offer scales, but they don’t usually give you independent axis values. You can also find other locations while you’re on the go. There are also private companies that offer these services. They can measure the weight under each axle and, if you are towing, the engaged and unengaged weights to determine pin or tongue loads. These are all important values ​​to keep in mind when weighing your RV.

Okay, weighing your RV found that you have too much stuff. Now what? It’s time to go through everything and see what you haven’t worn in a long time. Every six months I go through my platform and get rid of items I don’t use. Over the last four years, we have lost many pounds simply by getting rid of things we have but never use. As full-time RVers, it’s easy to quickly become overloaded, as carrying all of life’s necessities can add up.

Once you determine what you need and what can go, you can recharge your RV. Keep your heavy items lower on the shelf and lighter items higher up. Loading this way will reduce road sway. As for the load distribution on each side, you can make a quick determination by measuring the road clearances on both sides of the RV. If it’s an inch lower on one side than the other, you have a good idea you need to move things. You should go and re-weigh your rig to see if you achieved your goal.

Weighing your RV is one of the most important things you can do before you hit the road this RV season! By performing this necessary maintenance item, you will have a properly weighted and balanced RV that will get you to your destination safely. We wish you a safe journey this season!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *