Dry weight published vs real weight

I always look at gross weight and compute hitch weight against my payload sticker. I don't look at tow ratings at all. Exceed payload and its swaying at 45mph.

I don't think the big giant legal post has anything to do with "brochure" weight specs. I doubt there is anything that limits what the manufacturer can say or not say in a brochure. That's just marketing jibber jabber and most brochures have a disclaimer in them stating that basically none of the information contained in the brochure is reliable.

I also doubt the federal weight police spend much time at the local RV dealer weighing the optional stereo or television either.

I think the OP was trying to point out the difference between the BROCHURE WEIGHT and the ACTUAL WEIGHT (YELLOW STICKER WEIGHT) and recommended using the GVWR when determining suitability of tow vehicle. This is something I have tried to point out to warn people if weights were close to look at actual weights and stickers to get true carrying capacity. MY TT weighs about 200 pounds more than brochure weight, which means I have 200 lbs less carrying capacity, and if I fill it with water then I am at 1000 lbs less than what the brochure suggests. Some lightweight units only have 1000 to 1200 lbs of carrying capacity, so an extra 200 lbs of accessories could mean not carrying water or not carrying something else. Thank goodness I have about 2000 lbs carrying capacity, so can carry 800 lbs of fresh water if I need/choose to.

The yellow sticker on my 35' 5th wheel is 9040#. Loaded up with no water I'm at about 10,500#. Can get as high as 11,000# with water and a week's supply of beer :)

My previous trailers have been close to the same increase between yellow sticker and loaded. When shopping and sizing to a vehicle I've always assumed about 2000# as a good ballpark number over the yellow sticker (NOT brochure "dry" weight - those are pretty much useless IMO).

Once again, none of what was posted applies to the end user. All these threats of enforceable this and that and threatened monetary(check your spelling) threats do not apply to the RV owners out there. Try posting something useable for the RV community.

Keith

rbpru wrote:
Cal and Lin

I have a 1990's vintage PUP that has this information. I believe all recently manufactured TT have this information on the yellow tag on the door. Also the manufacturer is not liable if the dealer decides to add options.

Let's face it, the manufacturer is perfectly willing to tell you what the TT's max cargo capacity is and warn of the weight of water capacity. They do not have the faintest idea nor any control over how much stuff you want to drag along.

If the manufacturers posts the max weight limit on the door his job is done.

S10.5.2 Corrected load carrying capacity weight values or the weight amount the load carrying capacity is reduced, must reflect the total weight added between final vehicle certification and first retail sale.

That's not me just talking, it's an enforceable federal regulation with recall power and monitory penalties.

Final vehicle certification is how it left the factory.

Cal and Lin

I have a 1990's vintage PUP that has this information. I believe all recently manufactured TT have this information on the yellow tag on the door. Also the manufacturer is not liable if the dealer decides to add options.

Let's face it, the manufacturer is perfectly willing to tell you what the TT's max cargo capacity is and warn of the weight of water capacity. They do not have the faintest idea nor any control over how much stuff you want to drag along.

If the manufacturers posts the max weight limit on the door his job is done.

All that in the above post applies to the manufacturer and first time selling dealer. It has essentially nothing to do with the private ownership of the RV. There is no rules and regulations police out there. If you modify a RV and make it unsafe, the only thing you have to worry about is that lawyer suing you after an accident.

Keith

Maybe if I print it someone will read it.

It's a safety violation for the vehicle manufacturer to falsely misrepresent anything in this regulation. Any violation is recallable.

This regulation has been in effect since 2007.

S10.4 Each motor home and RV trailer single stage or final stage manufacturer must affix either a motor home occupant and cargo carrying capacity (OCCC) label (Figure 1) or a RV trailer cargo carrying capacity (CCC) label (Figure 2) to its vehicles that meets the following criteria:

S10.4.1 The RV load carrying capacity labels (Figures 1 and 2) must be legible, visible, moisture resistant, presented in the English language, have a minimum print size of 2.4 millimeters (3/32 inches) high and be printed in black print on a yellow background.

S10.4.2 The weight value for load carrying capacity on the RV load carrying capacity labels (Figures 1 and 2) must be displayed to the nearest kilogram with conversion to the nearest pound and must be such that the vehicle's weight does not exceed its GVWR when loaded with the stated load carrying capacity. The UVW and the GVWR used to determine the RV's load carrying capacity must reflect the weights and design of the motor home or RV trailer as configured for delivery to the dealer/service facility. If applicable, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the RV's UVW and the weight of on-board potable water must be treated as cargo.

S10.4.3 The RV load carrying capacity labels (Figures 1 and 2) must be:

(a) Permanently affixed and must be visibly located on the interior of the forward-most exterior passenger door on the right side of the vehicle; or

(b) If a permanent RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) is affixed in the location specified at S5.3(b), a temporary version of the RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) may be visibly located on the interior of the forward-most exterior passenger door on the right side of the vehicle.

S10.4.4 Permanent and temporary motor home OCCC labels must contain the following information in accordance with Figure 1:

(a) The statement: “MOTOR HOME OCCUPANT AND CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY” in block letters.

(b) The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).

(c) The statement “THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF OCCUPANTS AND CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED: XXX kg or XXX lbs” in block letters with appropriate values included.

(d) The statement “Safety belt equipped seating capacity: XXX” with the appropriate value included. This is the total number of safety belt equipped seating positions.

(e) The statement: “CAUTION: A full load of water equals XXX kg or XXX lbs of cargo @ 1 kg/L (8.3 lb/gal) and the tongue weight of a towed trailer counts as cargo” with appropriate values included.

S10.4.5 Permanent and temporary RV trailer CCC labels must contain the following information in accordance with Figure 2:(a) The statement: “RECREATION VEHICLE TRAILER CARGO CARRYING CAPACITY” in block letters.(b) The Vehicle Identification Number (VIN).(c) The statement: “THE WEIGHT OF CARGO SHOULD NEVER EXCEED: XXX kg or XXX lbs” in block letters with appropriate values included.(d) The statement: “CAUTION: A full load of water equals XXX kg or XXX lbs of cargo @ 1 kg/L (8.3 lb/gal)” with appropriate values included.

S10.5 Weight added to motor homes and RV trailers between final vehicle certification and first retail sale of the vehicle.

S10.5.1 If weight exceeding 45.4 kg (100 pounds) is added to a motor home or RV trailer between final vehicle certification and first retail sale of the vehicle, the load carrying capacity values on the RV load carrying capacity labels (Figures 1 and 2) required by S10.4 must be corrected using one or a combination of the following methods:

(a) Permanently affix the load carrying capacity modification label (Figure 3) which displays the amount the load carrying capacity is reduced to the nearest kilogram with conversion to the nearest pound, within 25 millimeters of the original, permanent RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2). The load carrying capacity modification label must be legible, visible, permanent, moisture resistant, presented in the English language, have a minimum print size of 2.4 millimeters (3/32 inches) high and be printed in black print on a yellow background. If the manufacturer selects S10.4.3

(b), apply a temporary version of the load carrying capacity modification label (Figure 3) within 25 millimeters of the original, temporary RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) on the interior of the forward-most exterior passenger door on the right side of the vehicle. Both temporary and permanent versions of the load carrying capacity modification label (Figure 3) may be printed without values and values may be legibly applied to the label with a black, fine point, indelible marker. The label must contain the statements “CAUTION—LOAD CARRYING CAPACITY REDUCED” in block letters and “Modifications to this vehicle have reduced the original load carrying capacity by XXX kg or XXX lbs” in accordance with Figure 3 with appropriate values in place of XXX. If two load carrying capacity modification labels are required (one permanent and one temporary), the weight values on each must agree, or

(b) Modify the original permanent RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) with correct load carrying capacity weight values. If the manufacturer selects S10.4.3(b), the temporary RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) must also be modified with correct load carrying capacity weight values. Modification of labels requires a machine printed overlay with printed corrected values or blanks for corrected values that may be entered with a black, fine-point, indelible marker. Crossing out old values and entering corrected values on the original label is not permissible, or

(c) Replace the original, permanent RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) with the same label containing correct load carrying capacity weight values. If the manufacturer selects S10.4.3(b), the temporary RV load carrying capacity label (Figure 1 or 2) must also be replaced with the same label containing correct load carrying capacity weight values.

S10.5.2Corrected load carrying capacity weight values or the weight amount the load carrying capacity is reduced, must reflect the total weight added between final vehicle certification and first retail

I'm sure Huntingdog can speak for himself but I could see how just outfitting for a short trip with the Missus could be very different than carrying dogs, food, and water for a show, There are also other items, I'm sure, like kennels and such that add into his weight.