Do you think about the weight of your RV? Ever wonder if your RV might be too heavy based on the load it was designed for? Well, according to statistics from many RV experts and insurance companies, towing or driving an overloaded RV is the leading cause of RV accidents. This is why weighing your RV is so important to staying safe while traveling.
Even if you’re a little overweight or heavier on one side than the other, it can cause braking and steering problems, increase the chances of tire failure, and increase the amount of fuel you’ll use. Weighing your RV will help prevent premature wear to 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 payload capacities beyond specification.
When weighing your RV, how do you know what values to look for? Recreational vehicle manufacturers place a label on each recreational vehicle that shows the vehicle’s empty weight and maximum wet and dry weights. They will also include a cargo capacity value so you can determine how many things you can safely put in your RV. It’s also important to consider the weight rating of your tires based on the expected load so that you can establish proper cold tire pressure at the start of a trip.
If you have been in your RV for a while, you may find that you have accumulated things that are hidden in cabinets and storage compartments that are not often used. RVs typically have more storage areas than carry-all weight ratings when those areas are full of capacity. You don’t want to guess if you are 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 balance the weight and create equal values on the curb and road tires.
Okay, so weighing your RV is something you now know what to do. But where can you do that? You can go to public weigh stations and weigh your RV for a small fee. A Public Scales search in the yellow pages will reveal the closest location to your home. Truck stops also offer scales, but these generally do not give you independent axle values. You can also find other locations while traveling. There are also private companies that offer these services. They can measure the weight under each axle and, if you are towing, the hitched and uncoupled weights to determine the loads on the pins or tabs. These are all important values to consider when weighing your RV.
Well, weighing your RV you discovered that you have too much stuff. Now what? It’s time to go over everything and see what it is that you haven’t used in a while. Every six months I check my equipment and dispose of unused items. Over the past four years, we have lost a lot of pounds simply by getting rid of the 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 work, you can recharge your RV. Keep your heavy items lower on the platform and lighter items higher up. Charging in this manner will reduce sway while on the road. When it comes to load distribution on both sides, you can make a quick determination by measuring the road clearances on either side of the RV. If you’re an inch lower on one side than the other, you have a good idea that you need to move things. You should re-weigh your equipment to see if it achieved its goal.
Weighing your RV is one of the most important things you can do before hitting the road this RV season! By performing this necessary maintenance item, you will have a properly weighted and balanced RV to get you safely to your destination. We wish you a safe trip this season!
