Very low cargo capacity

Excerpt from a NHTSA Q&A PDF.

Overloaded Recreational Vehicle (RV).

"The FMVSS have requirements for the manufacturer to use proper tires and rims for the gross axle weight rating (GAWR) and the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). The manufacturer may determine the GVWR by adding cargo capacity (if any) to the curb weight of the vehicle as manufactured. The wise consumer, before purchase, will determine if the vehicle has sufficient cargo capacity to carry the weight of water, additional equipment (such as televisions, and microwave ovens), and luggage. The manufacturer’s certification label must show the GVWR. The GVWR must not be exceeded by overloading the vehicle. There is little the government can do to assist a consumer who has purchased a vehicle that has insufficient cargo capacity for its intended use."

Last fall I faced a similar issue with my 2015 Lance 2295 and 2009 Ram 1500. The Ram had a payload capacity of 1360 lbs and my tongue weight of the trailer with a WDH was 900-1000 lbs. Plus the Ram had a 200 lb topper with a lot of fishing and camping gear in the back. There was no need to go to a scale because there was no doubt I was over the payload capacity.

Although I had put air bags on the Ram and it towed the trailer fine I knew a 2500 Ram was really needed for the load. Another thing that I rarely read about is what happens if I am in an accident with an over-loaded truck? I have read that an estimated 47% of RV tow vehicles are overloaded in one respect or another. How long do we really think insurance companies are going to continue paying claims for overloaded tow vehicles? I don't have an answer but do not want to find out by being the test case. Then there is the plain and simple safety issue...what is your life, or your families, or other individuals on the road life worth?

In September I upgraded to a Ram 2500 and it indeed tows better, handles better, and provides more safety than the 1500. Plus I feel much more comfortable when towing!

myredracer wrote:
Well, with our ultra-lite make & model TT, all loaded up for camping with just your ordinary stuff you'd have like sewer stuff, BBQ, kitchen dishes & utensils (including some food), clothing & bedding, etc., etc., we are about 200 lbs away from the GVWR. And that's with empty holding tanks and one battery.

The manufacturer's brochure says the NCC is 1563 lbs. Weighed the TT immediately after picking it up new from the dealer and then after doing some mods and after fully loading it up for camping and the additional weight after picking it up from the dealer was 674 lbs. The NCC is waay less than the manufacturer's figure - by 889 lbs. We did order a bunch of options and that *could* account for some of that, but the sticker on the outside still says 1563 lbs for NCC. If we travelled with just one full holding tank, we'd be over the GVWR. I wouldn't trust any factory CCC numbers.

Although some manufactures still list an NCC number, especially in brochures, it is an outdated number that was dropped by RVIA in 2000. It was replaced by a CCC number that members were suppose to display. However there was no real enforcement.

There are real "teeth" in the labeling requirements currently in effect.

The RVIA's CCC value has been replaced by a different calculation defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). A manufacture is required to permanently affix a label to all RV's that gives the OCCC value for motorized RVs and CCC value for trailers. If your rig does not have such a label, i would report the manufacturer to NHTSA.

In addition, if the modifications done to your trailer was done as part of the purchase and those modification weight more than 100 lbs, then a second label is required that tells you how much the modification weigh. If that wasn't done, I would report the dealer to NHTSA.

I weighed our current rig before we loaded anything. We had in excess of 400 lbs more OCCC than the label indicated. The discrepancy could be accounted for by the fact that the fuel tank was less than half full.

Tom

myredracer wrote:
Well, with our ultra-lite make & model TT, all loaded up for camping with just your ordinary stuff you'd have like sewer stuff, BBQ, kitchen dishes & utensils (including some food), clothing & bedding, etc., etc., we are about 200 lbs away from the GVWR. And that's with empty holding tanks and one battery.

The manufacturer's brochure says the NCC is 1563 lbs. Weighed the TT immediately after picking it up new from the dealer and then after doing some mods and after fully loading it up for camping and the additional weight after picking it up from the dealer was 674 lbs. The NCC is waay less than the manufacturer's figure - by 889 lbs. We did order a bunch of options and that *could* account for some of that, but the sticker on the outside still says 1563 lbs for NCC. If we travelled with just one full holding tank, we'd be over the GVWR. I wouldn't trust any factory CCC numbers.

That's the point. Your net NCC was actually less than the 1563 stated.
Imagine if the TT stated 1200# there would be even less.
A 1200 CCC on a bunkhouse trailer would be an instant deal breaker for me

bid_time wrote:
1200 lbs is a lot of stuff. My luggage doesn't weigh more then 100 lbs. total for three of us. Were the heck is the other 1100 lbs.

Beer, beer coozies, beer cooler... Ice for beer cooler.... Chair in which to sit under awning and drink said beer.

Well, with our ultra-lite make & model TT, all loaded up for camping with just your ordinary stuff you'd have like sewer stuff, BBQ, kitchen dishes & utensils (including some food), clothing & bedding, etc., etc., we are about 200 lbs away from the GVWR. And that's with empty holding tanks and one battery.

The manufacturer's brochure says the NCC is 1563 lbs. Weighed the TT immediately after picking it up new from the dealer and then after doing some mods and after fully loading it up for camping and the additional weight after picking it up from the dealer was 674 lbs. The NCC is waay less than the manufacturer's figure - by 889 lbs. We did order a bunch of options and that *could* account for some of that, but the sticker on the outside still says 1563 lbs for NCC. If we travelled with just one full holding tank, we'd be over the GVWR. I wouldn't trust any factory CCC numbers.

The real CCC on some TT's is less than 1k when you do some real math.

...

Yes, 1200lbs isn't much. My Cherokee Is 32ft and has a very large 4100lb CCC! I only use about 2k lbs of that. I have 2 kids, I can't imagine how little you would have to pack to keep it under 1200lbs. And besides, I don't think i'de want to push the limits of a trailer! THey are already questionable as is!

" Do you think the CCC on these lite units are being exceeded or are families with kids traveling very lite?"

I don't know about the specifications of different campers. I know where mine is and that's about all.

BUT .... if you go camping and just sit back and watch families (especially young families), and notice all the "stuff" they pull out of their campers and spread out all over the place, it makes you wonder how it all fits inside when they pack up?

I've seen some whoppers too! My best guess is, the CCC is exceeded. If their vehicle can pull it, even if it's blowing smoke and chugging on life-support, that's all that matters to some, it moves the camper and the camper tires don't go --- BOOM!!!