bayoubelle wrote:
...We will be towing with a small Class C, we haven't even bought that yet, so we wanted to keep the weight down, since we are trying to keep the RV under 30"
since you haven't purchased yet may I give you a bit of advice? be very careful when purchasing a MH. understand the weight of the MH as well as it's weight
ratings before you start shopping. some of the weight ratings you need to understand are:
- GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating): the maximum weight the chassis can support including itself.
- GCWR (gross combination weight rating): the maximum weight the vehicle can propel including itself.
- GAWR (gross axle weight rating): the maximum weight each axle can support. each axle will have a different GAWR. in a motorhome the sum of the GAWRs will usually, but not always, equal the GVWR.
- GVW (gross vehicle weight): the total weight of the MH as you have loaded it for travel. includes food, fuel, fresh water, clothing, supplies,
people, pets and stuff.
- GAW (gross axle weight): the total weight of the above loaded MH on each axle. please note that the GAW on a particular axle should not exceed that axle's GAWR.
- Empty Weight: the weight of the MH with full fuel and LP tanks but which is otherwise empty of food, fresh water, clothing, supplies,
people, pets and stuff.
- Payload: the difference between the GVWR and the Empty Weight and represents how much additional weight can be added.
Empty Weight and Payload are older terms that have fallen out of favor with the industry but they are still very relevant.
in general, the
maximum amount of weight you can safely tow (diesel or gas) will be the lesser of the following:
• the GCWR (gross combination weight rating) of the MH minus the actual weight of the MH as it is loaded for travel (includes fuel, fresh water, food, clothing, people, pets, supplies, etc.)
• the weight rating of your tow bar
• the weight rating of your hitch
this is why it's vital to know what your MH weighs...by axle...as it is loaded and configure for travel before choosing a toad.
load the MH as you would for a trip including fuel, water, food, clothing, pets, supplies and people. get individual axle weights and compare them to the GAWR for that axle. if either axle is overweight then either move weight to the other axle or eliminate the weight altogether. you need to check individual axle weights because it is possible to be under the GVWR of the MH even if one axle is overweight. I know 'cuz it happened to us.
good luck to you and please continue to post your questions.