Maintenance Tips

Knowing the load/weight of your RV is critical to understanding the proper tire inflation to carry those loads. In order to know the load, an RV owner must weigh their RV.

WEIGHING YOUR RV

• Your RV must be weighed fully loaded
  - Fully loaded includes, food, clothing, water, fuel, supplies and any towed vehicles
• RV must be level on the scale
• If possible, weigh by individual wheel positions.
  If not, weigh by individual axle positions
• A difference in weight from side to side may indicate that redistribution of the load is necessary
• Inflation pressure should be adjusted to handle the maximum load
• All tires on the axle should carry the same inflation pressure
• Some examples of scales are:
  - Platform scale and Segmented scale
  - Portable scale: most desirable, it weighs each wheel position and the true load of the tire

WEIGHING YOUR TRAVEL TRAILER

• Weigh the trailer fully loaded
  - Fully loaded includes, food, clothing, water, fuel, supplies and any towed vehicles
• First weigh the trailer unhitched from thetow vehicle
  - The total weight must be less than or equal to the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for safe operation – otherwise, contents must be removed
• Weigh the trailer by wheel position (preferred) while hitched to the tow vehicle
• While hitched, the tow vehicle should be weighed
• Proper hitch height is required for a level trailer
• Even distribution of weight between the front and rear axles is required
• Inflation pressure should be adjusted to handle the maximum load

Read more from our complete section on 'Weighing Your RV'