SECTION 3
DRIVING YOUR MOTOR HOME
3-14
Loading
Load your vehicle completely as if you were
going on a long trip, with everything you would
carry, including food, clothing, bedding, lawn
chairs, etc., a full fuel tank, full LP tank, and a
partial tank of fresh water - but empty holding
tanks.
Finding a Scale
In urban areas, the most common places to
find a public access scale are commercial truck
stops. In rural areas, most grain storage elevators
have scales available. Most scales charge a
nominal fee for weighing a vehicle.
Weighing
There is typically a scale operator to direct
you but the basic routine is to take three separate
weights - front axle, whole vehicle, and rear axle.
You will first drive only your front wheels onto
the scale pad, then drive ahead so that the whole
vehicle is on the scale, then finally pull off until
just the rear wheels are on the pad.
Front Axle Only
Both Front and Rear Axles
Rear Axle Only
You will receive a weight ‘ticket’ that states
your current Front Axle Weight, Rear Axle
Weight and Vehicle Weight. You can compare
these weights to the weight ratings listed on your
Vehicle Certification Label to use as a guideline
for future loading limits and weight distribution.
The gross weight of the vehicle must not
exceed the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
(GVWR) specified on the Vehicle Certification
Label. The front and rear axle weight also must
not exceed the corresponding Axle Weight
Rating specified on the Vehicle Certification
Label.
Corner Weighing (Side-to-Side)
Weighing each corner of the coach separately
(single L/R front wheels or L/R rear dual sets) is
an accurate method to determine how to
distribute your cargo to avoid overloading,
especially on tires.
To determine the weight distribution on each
tire or dual set, you will need to find a scale
capable of weighing side-to-side, or all four
‘corners’ of the vehicle, separately. A truck scale
may be used if the ground is level with the scale
surface and the scale has clearance to drive one
side of the coach onto the scale as shown below.
Drive the coach on the level area next to the
scale and straddle the scale so that only one side
of the coach will be on the scale pad. Pull only the
front wheel onto the pad as shown.
When the front wheel has been weighed, pull
the coach straight ahead until only the rear wheel/
dual set is on the scale pad as shown.
Weighing Left Front ‘Corner’
