RV Weighing & Tire Safety Program

Knowing the load and the weight of your RV is critical to understanding the proper tire inflation to carry those loads. Tire pressure is what enables your RV tire to support loads. Overloading your tires resulting from carrying too much weight in your RV can have serious consequences for passengers and your RV.

Too much weight can cause stress on your RV's suspension system, brake failure, shock absorber damage, handling and steering problems, irregular tire wear and possible tire failure. Excessive loads as well as underinflation can lead to an excessive amount of heat and tire failure. In order to know the load, an RV owner must weigh their RV. To accurately weigh your RV, the following criteria should be followed:

1. Your RV must be weighed fully loaded, and "fully loaded" means everything that is carried in the RV. If the RV is a motorhome this includes the weight of the vehicle that is being towed behind the motorhome. If the RV is a trailer (5th wheel or travel trailer) this includes the weight of the tow vehicle.

Again, the term "fully loaded" means everything that will be carried in your RV, literally means everything; including food, clothing, water, fuel and all supplies plus the people (and pets) that normally travel in the RV.

2. Your RV must be level on the scale. Some places where you can weigh your RV:

• RVSEF RV Weight & Safety Program: A service offered at many RV rallies and shows.
• CAT Scales: Located in all lower 48 states plus Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario in Canada.
• Truck stops
• Farm Co-Ops and/or Feed Mills
• Some sand and gravel yards

3. Weigh by individual wheel positions, if possible. If it is not possible, then weigh by individual axle positions. It is important to weigh your RV at a location that can provide axle-end specific weights. All tires on the axle should carry the same inflation pressure. Some examples of scales are:

• Platform scale and Segmented scale
• Portable scale - this is the most desirable type of scale for weighing an RV as it weighs each wheel position and the true load of the tire

4. Upon weighing the RV, if it is determined that there is a difference in weight from side to side this may indicate that redistribution of the load is necessary, however you should not expect to measure equal loads at both ends of the same axle, because floor plans and component locations vary significantly. To maximize your safety and tire wear, you should always strive to distribute the load to obtain the best balance possible such that one side is not disproportionately heavier than the other.

5. Inflation pressure should be adjusted to handle the maximum tire load, and all tires on the axle should carry the same inflation pressure. Determine the heaviest end of each axle and use that load to select the inflation pressure for all tires on that axle. Refer to the appropriate tire manufacturer Load and Inflation Table and select the inflation pressure for the load that is nearest to, but not less than, the load you measured, by moving up the table to the pressure line. Note that load and inflation tables include separate information for single and dual applications. For single applications, you can use the measured information directly, while for dual applications, you will need to divide the wheel position load you measured by two, then enter the table.

Current Load and Inflation Tables are available online from each RV tire manufacturer. To access Load and Inflation Tables from some specific tire manufacturers, click on the link(s) below:

Goodyear Tires

Goodyear Load Inflation PDF

Michelin Tires

Michelin Load Inflation PDF

Continental Tires

Continental Load Inflation PDF

Warning! The maintenance recommendations on this page are meant as general guidelines only. Always consult with a professional RV mechanic, your owner's manual, and/or your authorized RV dealer BEFORE performing any maintenance procedures or safety inspections. See 'Legal Disclaimer' below.

RV Safety & Education Foundation (RVSEF) Website:

www.rvsafety.com

www.rvsafety.org

Walter Cannon, Executive Director

Phone: (321) 453 7673

Fax: (321) 453 3853

Dial Type Tire Gauges at Camping World:

Deluxe Pistol Grip Tire Gauge

Long-Reach Tire Pressure Gauge

Dial Type Tire Gauges at Amazon.com:

Accutire MS-5010 Heavy Duty Dial Tire Gauge

Digital Readout Tire Gauges at Amazon.com:

Accutire MS-4720 Digital Truck Tire Gauge

Legal Disclaimer & Caution: Before using any advice, and/or performing any maintenance procedures recommended on this website you should consult with your RV dealer, and/or a professional Motorhome or RV mechanic. The recommendations and advice given on this website are intended as general guidelines ONLY, and may not pertain to your particular make and/or model of RV or Motorhome. Use these suggestions, repair tips, and/or maintenance advice AT YOUR OWN RISK. Under no circumstances will this website, or any of its officers or employees be liable for any consequential, incidental, special or exemplary damages even if appraised of the likelihood of such damages occurring. The owners of this website do not warrant the information against errors, omissions or deficiencies of any kind.

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