Exterior
WEIGHING YOUR TRAVEL TRAILER
OR TOWED VEHICLE
Since a trailer or towed vehicle adds to the load on your RV’s tires, it is crucial to properly weigh towed vehicles. A travel trailer should first be weighed with the tongue, while detached from the pulling vehicle. The actual weight of the trailer must be less than or equal to the GVWR for safe operation, otherwise contents must be removed until the weight is within maximum GVWR limitations. The weight of the complete,
D attached trailer, excluding the towing vehicle, must also be taken. Each wheel should be weighed while still attached to the towing vehicle, and the individual wheel positions on the towing vehicle should be weighed and checked for overload as well.
If you determine that the loading of your vehicle’s tires are uneven, the actual weight of the trailer on each tire must be less than or equal to its maximum load capacity for safe operation, otherwise contents must be removed until the weight is within maximum load limitations.
TIRE CARE
Tires are a very precisely engineered product designed for specific applications and use. The tire functions as the sole contact between the vehicle and the road. Therefore, it must provide several different functions in order for your recreational vehicle to handle properly. Most important are traction while moving, grip when
steering or stopping, and a comfortable ride for you and your passengers. The Tires on your recreational vehicle are designed for highway use and must be properly maintained in order to maximize tire life, as well to provide a safe mode of transportation. Always keep your tires clean and properly inflated.
Correct tire inflation is a key component in tire care. The recommended inflation pressures for your tires are indicated on the certification label or in your owner’s manual. Since RVs can be loaded with many different configurations, the load on each tire will vary. For this reason, air pressure should be checked based on the load on
each individual tire. Cold Inflation Pressure should be adjusted to handle the maximum tire load, and all tires on the axle should carry the same inflation pressure. than a few miles or before rising ambient temperatures or the sun’s radiant heat affects it.
Tips on Tire Care
Any tire, no matter how well constructed, may fail in use as a result of punctures, impact damage, improper inflation or other conditions resulting from use. Tire failures may create a risk of property damage or personal injury. To reduce the risk of tire failure we strongly recommend the following:
1.Check the pressure in your tires, including your spare, at least monthly when the tires are cool (after the vehicle has stopped three hours and then driven less than one mile.) Do not reduce pressure when tires are hot. Use a tire gauge to check pressure and maintain it at the recommended level.
2.Never overload your tires. The maximum load carrying capability of your tires is molded on the sidewall of the tire.
3.Check your tires frequently for scrapes, bulges, separations, cuts or snags resulting from use. See your tire dealer immediately if any such condition is discovered.
4.Never operate your vehicle in excess of lawful speeds or the maximum speeds justified by driving conditions, or in excess of speeds recommended for the tire you are using.
5.Make every effort to avoid running over objects that may damage the tire through impact or cutting, such as chuckholes, glass, metal, etc.
6.Never drive on smooth tires. Tires should be removed when 2/32nds inch of tread depth remains. In most states it is illegal to drive with less than 2/32nds inch remaining tread depth.
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