Need carrying capacity explaned

S-n-L wrote:
Hello everyone,

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.

Thanks

over the years the issue of RV weights has gotten very unnecessarily complicated. when we started to RV back in '86 there was empty weight and payload. empty weight was defined as the way the RV came off of the assembly line plus dealer installed options and full tanks of fuel (assuming a MH) and propane. the difference between the GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and the empty weight is your payload...the total amount of people, food, water, supplies, pets, clothing and other "stuff" you can add. IMHO that still works although I recommend looking at your weights by individual axle at a minimum. it is possible to load up a MH and weigh less than the GVWR but still have one axle overweight...I know because it happened to us.

in the case of a MH the wise owner will ignore the factory placed weight stickers in the closet when buying new or the information provided by the previous owner when buying used and instead take the MH to a certified scale and have it weighed...empty as defined above. obtain individual axle weights and compare to the published GAWR (gross axle weight ratings) and then load the RV as you would for travel and then add food, water and so on...don't forget people...and re-weigh it by axle. compare the new weights to the published GAWRs and make adjustments as necessary.

it is far, far better to know your weight than to guess at it.