During the design and development of your motor home, the number and size of storage compartments, the liquid tank capacities and number of belted seating position are maximized for value and convenience.

If you fill all liquid tanks to capacity, fill all storage compartments and cupboards to maximum volume and fill all available seating positions with passengers, the motor home will be overloaded.  According to National 

Highway Traffic Safety Administration figures, a vehicle occupant weighs 150 pounds. Additionally, each gallon of fuel weighs over six pounds (6.0 lbs.) and each gallon of water weighs over eight pounds (8.3 lbs.).

You are responsible for analyzing the conditions under which the motor home will be used for each trip. The number of passengers and placement of cargo will affect the amount of water and cargo that you can carry (See "Loading Tips"). For convenience, the passenger capacity for camping use and the passenger capacity for day use are shown on a permanent label in the driver's area or adjacent to the main entry door. The passenger capacity for camping provides reasonable cargo capacity for trips taking more than one day. The passenger capacity for day use provides less cargo capacity for trips or activities not involving overnight stays. For example, it may be necessary to reduce the amount of water carried and unload some cargo items normally carried for camping in order to provide carrying capacity for the additional day use passengers.

The number of seat belt locations may be greater than the number of passengers permitted by the label. These extra locations, if provided, are to permit a choice of seats while traveling. It is not safe to exceed the labeled passenger capacity unless the axle loadings and total weight are checked against their ratings on a public scale. (See "Determining And Distributing Your Load").

Thoughtful consideration of the weight placed in the motor home can yield important benefits:

• Greater choice of seating and storage
• Safe operation, including improved handling characteristics and ride comfort.
• Better fuel mileage and reduced tire wear

NOTE. Carrying capacities of your motor home are specified on a label affixed to the inside of a wardrobe door The label includes all factory installed options. If other equipment such as leveling jacks, awnings, roof pods, etc., are installed after the motor home leaves the factory, the weight of these items must be subtracted from the total of the passenger and cargo carrying capacities. If you tow a trailer, the tongue weight of the trailer must be subtracted from the total of the passenger and cargo carrying capacities.

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1. Do not load heavy items in upper cabinets.
2. Secure and brace items so they won't move during travel, thereby shifting the load.
3. Do not load heavy items near either end of the motor home or on the rear bumper.
4. Adjust cargo storage to keep the side to side wheel loads as equal a possible.
5. Carry only as much water as needed for travel use or to balance the load.
6. Whenever possible, empty the holding tanks before traveling.

Make a loading diagram of your properly loaded motor home. It will help you locate where specific items are stored, and will help speed the loading process. Store emergency items in a readily accessible location. Include a fire extinguisher, tools, first aid kit, rain gear, flashlight, highway warning devices, and an electric cord with light.

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If the loaded weight of your motor home exceeds the GVWR, you will have to remove items to bring the weight down to or below the GVWR. If the loaded axle weight on any axle exceeds the GAWR, you will have to redistribute cargo to bring the weight down to or below the GAWR.

Please read our International Travel Terms page for abbreviations.

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1. Center the front wheels on the scale platform and take a reading. This is the front Gross Axle Weight (Reading 1).

2. Center the entire vehicle (all axles) on the scale and take a reading. This is the Gross Vehicle Weight (Reading 2).

3. Center the rear wheels on the platform and take a reading. This reading is the rear Gross Axle Weight (Reading 3).

4. Compare Reading 2 with the GVWR of your vehicle. If the reading exceeds the GVWR rating, you will have to reduce the total vehicle load.

5. If Reading 2 is less than the GVWR of your vehicle, check Readings 1 and 3 to verify that each is less than its respective GAWR. If either exceeds the GAWR, redistribute the load and reweigh.

6. For a tag axle, center both rear axles on the scale platform and take a reading. Compare with the sum of both the rear (tag) and the intermediate (drive) GAWRs.

Periodically reweigh your motor home. Loading and weight patterns will change according to use.

Please read our Weight page for more information.

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NOTE: This online manual  is a work in progress and is subject to change at any given time. It is also a generic peace of work and is meant only as a general guide. Each Caravan/RV is distinct and individual in it's own right, do not take anything written here literally as it may or may not apply to the exact Caravan/RV you will be using.