Just what is included in a factory dry weight number?

I used to have a link to the new (2009) NHTSA regulation but I can't find it. Would be interesting to read it now and see how well it is complied with.

For dealer added items, are they really revising the factory labeled weight? When a dealer adds two 30 lb LP tanks, do they include for the contents? Two full tanks of LP will add about 240 lbs right there (4 lbs per gal.). I have a feeling dealers are either not complying or this is a loophole.

This website says that UVW numbers could possibly be a manufacturers average or estimate. Scroll down to Dry Weight and UVW. Changing Gears

The next time we ever get a new TT, I am going to drive it straight to a CAT Scale before I even take it home. If numbers are far enough off what the factory says they should be (on website or sticker inside) I will be talking to the dealer and/or manufacturer.

Now, if tow vehicle manufacturers could just put on an actual payload sticker on each vehicle as it left the plant, that'd be great...

One BIG problem in what manufacturers list for a dry weight is that a buyer has NO idea how much options weigh and how much your unit will weigh when you get it. A dealer can't even tell you.

Some RV manufacturers list a "dry" weight while others list a "shipping" weight. Very confusing. How can a manufacturer list a shipping weight if you haven't chosen options yet?

There seems to be a real problem with the definition and interpretation of weight terms from manufacturer to owner.

If there is a regulation out there requiring manufacturers to weigh each unit it leaves the plant, is it really happening?? On our current TT, the factory listed tongue wt. is 518 lbs. Sticker inside TT says 580 lbs. Actual tongue wt. (from scale) 960 lbs. Factory listed UVW is 5237 lbs. Sticker inside says "UVW 5480 lbs" Actual TT wt. is 6600 lbs and GVWR is 6800 lbs. Sticker on side of TT says max. CCC is 1320 lbs against factory 1563 lbs. We added many options. The elec. stab. jacks alone are 200 lbs. The numbers don't make sense. We only have 200 lbs of CCC available and we've only loaded in some very ordinary camping gear and supplies that will not weigh anywhere near 1100 lbs. If we towed with a full tank of fresh water, we'd be overloaded. To me, the factory numbers are way off actuality.