Community Forums

csdavis62 · 03-24-2011, 07:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by frankdamp

Scott:

Are you in Europe someplace or US/Canada? European weight limits for towing with automobiles are much more lenient than they are in the US. As an example, my Kia Sedona minivan is limited to 3300 pounds in the US. The identical vehilce in the UK is rated for 3000 Kg.

I don't have a feel for whether US RV manufacturers have different ratings for Europe. Before we sttled on our signature rig, we looked at a couple of E450-based 31' Class C's. In both cases, the rear axle weight rating was exceeded just By filling the gas tank!

Be very cautious - the weight police and the lawyers will eat you alive if you have an accident and they find you're rig is overweight. Also, if you have component failures during the warranty period, the manufacturer will deny coverage if the rig can be shown to have been overloaded.

We live in TN. Not sure that is the case with our coach it is made from aluminum framed walls with Azdel Superlite vs wood. It only weighs 12,316 lbs with a GAWR rear of 9,500 lbs. Now I know that there is more weight on the rear vs the front but I doubt I am so close that fuel will put me close to or over the limit. I guess the only way to tell for sure is fill it up and go have it weighed which I will do just for peace of mind....

Thanks for the input it amazes me how at times the RV industry has apparently produced products that are so poorly designed. Can you imagine the auto or commercial truck industry engineering products that are basically dangerous the day they are built?

rough road · 03-26-2011, 05:34 AM

Bryan, I have gotten more than my share of overweight citations and I was invovled in one very serious accident, not at fault-yes the vehicle was different BUT what the suits were looking for was not any different than what the investigation would be centering on for a serious accident in motorhome and that is what the chasis is rated for, or what the LIMIT is, no difference, and how the operator had it loaded.

Please tell me where the 'wiggle' rating is on the coach plate-would you go to jail for being a couple pounds over, no-but I can assure everyone that proving the extra pounds were NOT a factor would be expensive indeed.

Legality and exposure risk aside-just why would anyone put big dollars into a coach that was 100% maxed out when being used as anyone would expect-its not going to last long being operated this way.

CbtEngr · 03-26-2011, 04:42 PM

I read somewhere recent the the CCC took into account each seat belt position x 154lbs. So I'm under the impression that the CCC excludes persons? I'll need to find that again.

I just found this:

Quote:

The final rule addressed motor homes and RV trailers. The agency believed that many owners of these vehicles are unaware of their vehicle's cargo carrying capacity until a problem becomes apparent. State laws do not require motor homes and travel trailers to use roadside weighing stations as they do for heavy commercial vehicles. NHTSA believed that consumer information in the form of a required label will inform consumers of a motor home or travel trailer's cargo carrying capacity and will result in reduced overloading of the vehicles.

THe above was found at at http://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2010/04/29/2010-9981/federal-motor-vehicle-safety-standards-cargo-carrying-capacity#p-30

tmh462 · 03-26-2011, 07:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ValHaus

if you're gonna keep that new rig's water tank full at 75 gal be prepared for crappy gas mileage! I always keep mine at half while on the road or en route to a campground, so my gas mileage doesn't suffer. once I'm at a campsite, THEN I fill it.

The extra weight is that of roughly two full grown people, or 400 pounds. On most RV chassis, That is roughly .02% of the loaded weight of the coach. How much fuel do you really think you would save by not carrying that around? I find it better to have the water if needed, rather than need it and not have it because I was worried about fuel consumption.

BryanL · 03-27-2011, 02:35 PM

re: "what is the difference in being 'nominally negligent' and negligent?," - the difference is that between reasonable argument and debate and those folks who use logical fallacies such as 'reduce to the absurd' and whatnot.

re: "do you seriously maintain that the weight limits noted on the manufacurers label on rv's are merely guidelines, and if so; by what amount is one entitled to exceed the limits by??"

I note that they are not called "limits" but rather ratings. A rating is an entirely different thing than a limit. I also keep in mind basic engineering principle, what one encounters on the road and what that does to running gear, and matters of wear and tear.

It should also be noted that weight ratings often have a lot to do with things other than safety or capability. The GVWR for minivans, for instance, has more to do with pollution class than it does their capabilities. On MoHo's it may well relate more to driver's license requirements than it does capabilities.

Then there are those who try to insist LEO's and lawyers are all over anyone 1 lb over some weight rating -- but can't find any example that stands scrutiny.

Reasonableness is always one of those things that goes with common sense in fighting FUD mongering but there are times I wonder just who is winning that fight.

rough road · 03-28-2011, 04:59 AM

Bryan, get your insurance policy and carefully read it.

BryanL · 03-28-2011, 08:03 AM

I always take note of when things get personal .... ;-(

But the advice is good. Read your insurance policy. I have. It says nothing about weight ratings. Matter of fact I haven't seen one that does.

This does get into the interesting issue of insurance coverage and how it doesn't leave you stranded even when doing things illegal, even to the extent of driving drunk.