Weighing Your RV

Overloaded RVs are dangerous. With so many common amenities like washers and dryers, slide out rooms, and large holding tanks, it’s easy to overload your RV without even knowing it. Overloading not only puts you in danger, it puts those on the road around you in danger as well.

At Gilbert RV Insurance, we’re serious about insuring your fun™, which is why we want you to travel safely. If you’ve ever thought weighing your RV is a hassle, take a look at our seven reasons why weighing your RV is an absolutely vital part of RV life.

The Law Says So – Firstly, overloading your RV is not only unsafe; it’s illegal.

Safety – Overloaded RVs and motorhomes are the leading cause of accidents among RVers. As mentioned in our article about RV tire inflation, the load-bearing capacity is only accurate when your tires are inflated. On top of making sure your tires are properly inflated, don’t overload.

Tire Pressure – Neglecting to check and maintain your tire pressure may have serious consequences. Even if you are fortunate enough to stay out of harm’s way when driving with low tire pressure, the tread on your tires will still wear more quickly and potentially unevenly. While you may find yourself replacing your tires more often, you could be exposing yourself to potential tire failure.

Expensive Repairs – Overloaded RVs often experience worn out brakes, tire failure and overheated transmission systems. These breakdowns rarely occur at a good time, and the result can be a costly bill to fix it while traveling. Weighing your RV helps prevent costly breakdowns caused by overloading.

Braking and Suspension Difficulties – An RV that is over load capacity puts tremendous stress on the RV’s suspension system. Components, like the springs, shock absorbers and brakes, may eventually fail. Your stopping distance when braking will also be increased. When these conditions go on for a prolonged period of time, you may experience brake failure.

Weight Ratings – RV manufacturers place different load capacities on different components of an RV. The Gross Vehicle Weight refers is a vital safety factor and addresses the maximum weight of the entire vehicle when loaded. Additionally, the tires, wheels, axles, and brakes all have weight raitins.

Weight Distribution – As mentioned above, poor weight distribution can affect tires individually and may cause uneven wear. Weighing your RV can help you determine which tire has been overloaded, helping you prevent excess wear or, worse, tire failure.

Do yourself and your fellow travelers a favor – take the extra time at the scales to accurately weigh your RV before hitting the road.