New RV Weight Label Coming

[Route 66]

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVDA) is reminding its members that a new federal regulation concerning tire and weight safety goes into effect June 2 that for the first time has specific obligations for RV retailers.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule requires dealers to update tire- and weight-label information on travel trailers, fifth-wheels and motorhomes whenever weight is added by a dealership before the unit is first sold.

In general, the weight threshold is 100 lbs. of weight before RV dealer obligations come into play. However, for RVs weighing less than 6,700 lbs., the weight trigger is 1.5% of the GVWR.

NHTSA listened to the RV industry's concerns, and made pro-RV dealer modifications during its routine rule-drafting process. Despite the beneficial changes, RVDA submitted a petition for reconsideration earlier this year, and met face-to-face with NHTSA officials to address a few additional requests, according to a release. Currently, RVDA does not know whether NHTSA intends to redraft the rule to incorporate RVDA's suggestions.

Here is what RVDA advised dealers:

"¢ The rule will lead to the voluntary discontinuation of the current RVIA weight label, and NHTSA will replace it with similar, but different, mandated weight labels.

"¢ There is no current NHTSA requirement for listing the Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) of an RV. However, dealers needing that information may be able to do an inexact estimate by taking the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and subtracting the RV manufacturer's listed cargo carrying capacity (CCC).

"¢ RV dealers are obligated by NHTSA to update the CCC on any RV they modify prior to its first retail sale.

"¢ The NHTSA label will differ slightly according to whether it is a travel trailer or motorhome.

To update the RV manufacturer's CCC label, dealers may choose one of three options: replace the RV manufacturer's NHTSA label; modify the RV manufacturer's NHTSA label; or use a unique label placed next to the RV manufacturer's NHTSA label indicating how much weight the dealer added.

RVDA advised dealers to ask their RV manufacturers to provide the necessary labels or to contact Dec-O-Art at (800) 225-6897, which is currently selling compliant labels. Detailed guidance is available on the RVDA members-only website (www.rvda.com) in the government relations section.

[Route 66]

The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVDA) is reminding its members that a new federal regulation concerning tire and weight safety goes into effect June 2 that for the first time has specific obligations for RV retailers.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) rule requires dealers to update tire- and weight-label information on travel trailers, fifth-wheels and motorhomes whenever weight is added by a dealership before the unit is first sold.

In general, the weight threshold is 100 lbs. of weight before RV dealer obligations come into play. However, for RVs weighing less than 6,700 lbs., the weight trigger is 1.5% of the GVWR.

NHTSA listened to the RV industry's concerns, and made pro-RV dealer modifications during its routine rule-drafting process. Despite the beneficial changes, RVDA submitted a petition for reconsideration earlier this year, and met face-to-face with NHTSA officials to address a few additional requests, according to a release. Currently, RVDA does not know whether NHTSA intends to redraft the rule to incorporate RVDA's suggestions.

Here is what RVDA advised dealers:

"¢ The rule will lead to the voluntary discontinuation of the current RVIA weight label, and NHTSA will replace it with similar, but different, mandated weight labels.

"¢ There is no current NHTSA requirement for listing the Unloaded Vehicle Weight (UVW) of an RV. However, dealers needing that information may be able to do an inexact estimate by taking the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) and subtracting the RV manufacturer's listed cargo carrying capacity (CCC).

"¢ RV dealers are obligated by NHTSA to update the CCC on any RV they modify prior to its first retail sale.

"¢ The NHTSA label will differ slightly according to whether it is a travel trailer or motorhome.

To update the RV manufacturer's CCC label, dealers may choose one of three options: replace the RV manufacturer's NHTSA label; modify the RV manufacturer's NHTSA label; or use a unique label placed next to the RV manufacturer's NHTSA label indicating how much weight the dealer added.

RVDA advised dealers to ask their RV manufacturers to provide the necessary labels or to contact Dec-O-Art at (800) 225-6897, which is currently selling compliant labels. Detailed guidance is available on the RVDA members-only website (www.rvda.com) in the government relations section.

[rebelsbeach]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVDA) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not real good at spellin' but shouldn't that be the RVIA?

[Route 66]

Looks like they need to proof read their own press releases.

I think they meant for it to read rvda.org for the dealers association.

[Ice-Man]

Hi All

All I seem to get from this press release is 'blah blah blah blah'

Was someone having a boring day?

Iceyin Blighty

[paz]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by rebelsbeach:
<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">The Recreation Vehicle Industry Association (RVDA) </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

I'm not real good at spellin' but shouldn't that be the RVIA? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
RVIA = RV Industry Association (Manufacturers)

RVDA - RV Dealers Association (Sellers)

RVDA, RVIA, NHTSA, CCC, GVWR, UVW (they forgot to use GCVWR and GAWR) - no wonder they're confused.

[BryanL]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">All I seem to get from this press release is 'blah blah blah blah' </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
I see a few things that might provide some ammunition for the forum weight fanatics (aka 'police').

One is that the weight labels on an RV are changing from an association standard to a regulatory standard.

Another is that the label rating for weight you can add (CCC) must be updated so it considers any late equipment additions of significance.

The label won't tell you the total actual empty weight.

Are these the main points in the PSA or did I miss something?

[rvservicemike]

what a total joke.

if a customer wants a second ac and a satelitte dish as a dealer i havce to make a new weight rating.


they really need to hold the manufact. responsible.

not the dealers. if weight were right the customer would know what is weighed with a couple acces.

[Ice-Man]

It does seem to me that someone arrived in work in 'Government House' got into trouble from their boss for being under-productive and needed to find something to justify their salary.
Bingo - lets mess about with the weight rating on rv's and give the mfr and dealer something else to do! Its not brocken and there isnt anything to fix - but what the heck, I can so I will.

Yay I can take my salary cheque now with a clear concience......or am I just synical?

Icey
in Blighty

[Gary RVRoamer]

It's a fact that many RVs are overloaded. It's a good idea to do something about it.

But it's not clear to me this new procedure will accomplish anything except aggravation for all concerned.

I'm not sympathetic with the RV dealers complaints about having to do some extra work, but I suspect this measure will be extra work that does little to help consumers. Or anybody else. Just makes the bureaucrats feel good.

[historyljc]

Your government at work.

God Bless America

[Ray,IN]

That information makes it doubly important to only use the trailer GVW in calculations to safely match a tow vehicle to the trailer.
Subtracting the CCC from the GVW is meaningless. One must know the actual dry weight before loading personal gear or you will never know how much actual weight you can carry.

[RedneckExpress]

Considering how far off most weight ratings and dry weight tags are on your average new truck camper, I don't see this as being a bad thing....