Need carrying capacity explaned

Here you go..... Understanding RV weights

To get the very best answer to your question, you should request that the coach be weighed. The best is to weigh each wheel position but getting each axle weight will be good enough.

The '07 Navigator has the following gross axle weight ratings:

Steer axle 15,160
Drive axle 23,000
Tag axle. 12,000

If you have the coach weighed by axle then you will know how much cargo each axle can support.

Navigator with a tag will give you plenty of Carry Capacity.

A lot will disagree with me but I want to be able to legally carry:
a) full water tank
b) full fuel tank
c) full gray tank
d) full black tank
e) full propane tank
f) tool box
g) refrigerator full of food
h) clothes in the closets and drawers
i) both me and the wife
j) computer and printer
k) supply of drinks(wine and beer)
l) junk food or comfort food as my DW calls it
and anything else you need to make your travels comfortable. All of these make up your carrying capacity and as long as you don't go over your maximum GVW on any one wheel you are good to go.

"OCCC (Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity) (for Motorized RVs only): This figure states the maximum allowable weight of all occupants (including the driver), plus the weight of all food, tools, full fresh water tanks, full LP-Gas tanks and personal belongings. The maximum allowable weight of passengers is based on the number of seat belted positions in the motorized RV. The regulation also states that the “tongue weight of towed trailer counts as cargo."

"Load Carrying Capacity Reduced: The regulation also requires dealers to state on an amended or additional label the total amount (in pounds and kg) that additional options or changes to the RV have decreased the OCCC or CCC. The amount stated is limited to the total weight of all additions or changes made by the dealer ‘prior to the first sale’ that are the ‘lesser of 1.5% of the GVWR or 100 pounds’."

But as steveownby points out, the most important thing is doing the math between the empty weight of the coach and the gross axle weight ratings. How much does the coach weight full of fuel and fresh water before you buy it and subtract that from the gross weight that the coach is allow to carry.

Gadget Guy wrote:
A lot will disagree with me but I want to be able to legally carry:
a) full water tank
c) full gray tank
d) full black tank

Why do you want a full gray tank, a full black tank, and a full fresh water tank??? I want a full water tank and both black and gray tanks to be empty. And as the fresh water goes down, the black and grey water go up. When you add fresh water, you empty your waste black and grey water tanks. The load balances out much better that way! AND if you fresh water tank is full, and the waste water tanks are full, I can't use my fresh water!!! What good is that??

To properly answer your question, we must first explore the various terms relating to the weight of your coach. You will find this info on a sticker, usually on the wall behind and next to, the drivers seat. You may also find it on a sticker in the cabinet that houses your breakers, which is where Monaco put many of them. If you have none of these, call Monaco with the last six digits of your VIN or your coach number and they will look it up for you. This sticker will give you the following:

GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating
UVW = Unloaded Vehicle Weight
SCWR = Sleeping Capacity Weight Rating
CCC = Cargo Carrying Capacity
GCWR = Gross Combined Weight Rating

Now that we've identified the various identifiers, let's see what they mean:

GVWR is the maximum permissible weight of the motorhome fully loaded.
UVW is the weight of the motorhome from the factory with full fuel, engine oil and coolants.
SCWR is the manufacturer's designated number of sleeping positions multiplied by 154 pounds.
CCC is the GVWR minus each of the following: UVW, fresh water weight @ 8#/gal, full LP weight and SCWR.
GCWR is the maximum allowable combined weight of the motor home and towable product.

To assist you in your computation, the ratings and computation on my coach are as follows, yours may be different...Dennis

GVWR 47,600 pounds
minus UVW 40,001 pounds
minus fresh water 100#@8.3 per gal 830 pounds
minus LP gas 30 gals@4.2 per gal 126 pounds
minus SCWR of 2 @ 154 pounds 308 pounds
Leaves a CCC of 6,335 pounds

Once you get all you figures written down, go weigh your rig, preferable each wheel position. If that is not possible, then weigh each axle. Make sure each axle is on separate scales including the tag if it has one. Set up on the scale with the coach in NEUTRAL and the PARKING BRAKE OFF! Setting the parking brake could skew the weight numbers. Make sure your rig is loaded as you would when you are ready to go camping. I usually weigh my rig after fueling at a Flying J. We are already in travel mode, fill up and jump on the scale. I weigh about every two months....Good luck..

If you have any other questions, let us know...Dennis

The overall Carrying Capacity is the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) minus the total actual weight of the vehicle. The resulting difference is what you have left for driver, passengers, fuel, propane, tank contents and all your other traveling stuff.
The problem relying on the Mfg spec sheet version of CC is that its based on avg assumptions and does not include for any fluids or options. So, as suggested above, getting the units actual weight is the only accurate method.
Once you're sure you're under the total GVWR, then you make sure you're also under each axle capacity. that result can be adjusted to some extent by how your overall load is distributed side to side and front to rear.
If you load too many heavy items in front, or if your holding & fuel tanks are all toward the front, you could overload the front axle, while still being under the overall GVWR.

Since that MH has about a 48,000 lb GVWR, you have a lot to work with.
But step 1 is get it weighed.

each tire has a max load capacity, each axle has a max load capacity and the overall vehicle has a gross weight capacity. you must not exceed any of them, individually or collectively

S-n-L wrote:

Could someone explain all of the various carrying capacities regarding a motorhome. I want to make sure I do not buy a motorhome with too limited a carrying capacity.

I am looking at a 2007 Holiday Rambler Navigator.

How could setting the parking brake possibly skew the numbers?????

Rollnhome wrote:
How could setting the parking brake possibly skew the numbers?????

I can't really explain it accurately, but if this ole John Deere tractor mechanic can understand it, it ain't that hard to believe.
It would't make any difference with all wheels on the scale, but if your 4 corner weighing the MH it will/can tweek the pull on the scale between wheels on the ground and wheels on the scale.