| One of the main causes of RV accidents is having an | | | | the rest of the vehicle. If you're still uncertain about |
| overloaded vehicle. Improper load distribution affects | | | | weight, try taking your loaded rig to a public scale |
| your steering and your braking capacity. Additionally, it | | | | where you can weigh it for a small sum. Make certain |
| will affect the amount of gas it requires to pull your toy | | | | you weigh from front to back, and from side to side. |
| hauler. It can slow the reaction time of the driver due | | | | What can you do to lighten the load? |
| to the stressful driving condition. John Anderson, | | | | It's amazing how much stuff you can accumulate over |
| Founder of RV Safety & Education Foundation, | | | | a long period of time. Go through your toy hauler and |
| wrote, "After weighing more than 30,000 RVs during a | | | | honestly answer the question, "Do I really need ALL of |
| thirteen-year span, I can tell you with confidence that a | | | | this?" Take three large trash bags to help you |
| significant number of motorhomers are traveling down | | | | downsize. One bag is for things to go to the dumpster, |
| the road on overloaded tires that could fail at any time, | | | | one is for the bare necessities that you need on the |
| with potentially catastrophic results." | | | | road, and one is to go to your garage sale-or to give |
| How do you know if your RV is overloaded? | | | | away. |
| Begin by checking your owner's manual for weight | | | | When you are ready to put things back in order, keep |
| limitations. The GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) is | | | | a list of what you have and where you have it stored. |
| the most weight you can carry safely. Then you | | | | Do your best to balance the weight of your things in |
| should weigh your RV, check the weight on each tire, | | | | the trailer. Make sure everything is battened down for |
| and include a check on the tire ratings. Bear in mind | | | | safety. Any time that you add to or remove from your |
| that higher rated tires will not prevent undue stress on | | | | toy hauler, strive to balance the load. |