Do you think about the weight of your RV? Ever wonder if your RV might be too heavy for what it was actually designed to load? Well, according to many RV experts and insurance company statistics, towing or driving an overloaded RV is the leading cause of RV accidents. That’s why weighing your RV is so important for staying safe while you travel.

Even if you’re a little overweight, or if you weigh more on one side than the other, it can cause braking and steering problems, increase the chances of tire failure, and increase the amount of fuel you’ll use. Weighing your RV will help prevent premature wear on your RV’s tires, wheels, bearings, brakes, suspension, and other parts. It is estimated that nearly two-thirds of recreational vehicles on the road are traveling with at least one of their load ratings beyond specifications.

When weighing your RV, how do you know what values ​​to look for? RV manufacturers place a label on each RV that shows the vehicle’s empty weight and maximum dry and wet weights. They will also include a carrying capacity value so you can determine how many things you can safely fit in your RV. It is also important to note the weight rating of your tires based on the expected load so proper cold tire pressure can be established at the start of a trip.

If you’ve been in your RV for a while, you may have accumulated things that are hidden in cabinets and storage bays that aren’t often used. RVs typically have more storage areas than the weight ratings to carry everything when those areas are packed with capacity. You don’t want to just guess whether or not you are overweight. Weighing your RV is the only way to know if your RV needs to go on a diet, or if you need to redistribute the load to equalize the weight and create equal values ​​on your curb and road tires.

Okay, so weighing your RV is something you now know you need to do. But where can you do that? You can go to public weigh stations and have your RV weighed for a small fee. A search for public scales in the yellow pages will reveal the location closest to your home. Truck stops also offer scales, but they don’t usually give you separate axis values. You can also find other locations while you’re on the road. There are also private companies that offer these services. They can measure the weight under each axle and, if towing, the hitched and unhitched weights to determine pin or tongue loads. These are all important values ​​to consider when weighing your RV.

Okay, so when you weighed your RV, you discovered that you have too much stuff. Now what? It’s time to go through everything and see what you haven’t used in a long time. Every six months I go through my platform and get rid of the items I don’t use. Over the past four years, we’ve lost a lot of pounds just by getting rid of things we have but never use. As full-time RVers, it’s easy to become overloaded quickly, as carrying all of life’s necessities can add up.

Once you determine what you need and what can go, you can recharge your RV. Keep your heavy items lower on the platform and your lighter items higher up. Loading this way will reduce road sway. As for the distribution of the load to each side, you can make a quick determination by measuring the road clearances on both sides of the RV. If it’s an inch lower on one side than the other, you have a good idea you need to move things around. You should go and re-weigh your platform to see if you achieved your goal.

Weighing your RV is one of the most important things you can do before you hit the road this RV season! By performing this required maintenance item, you will have a properly weighted and balanced RV that will get you to your destination safely! We wish you a safe journey this season!