Tires - Part Two

Weighing your Motorhome

• The RV must be level on the scale
• Inflation Pressure should be Adjusted to Handle the Maximum Load
• All Tires on the Same Axle Should Carry the Same Inflation Pressure
• REMEMBER: If Possible, Weigh by Individual Wheel Positions. If Not, Weigh by Individual Axle Position.
• REMEMBER: Make sure Weigh is taken with load already added.

Taking the weigh and then adding the load will not accurately show the final

load weigh .

This includes Passengers, Food, Clothing, Water, Fuel, Supplies AND any

Towed Vehicle.

• A Difference in Weigh From Side to Side May Indicate That Redistribution of the Load is Necessary.

Weighing Your Travel Trailer

• Weigh the Trailer Fully Loaded
• First Weigh the Trailer Unhitched from the Tow Vehicle. The Total Weigh must be Less than or Equal to the GVWR for Safe Operation – Otherwise Contents must be Removed
• Then Weigh the Trailer by Wheel Position (Preferred) while Hitched to the Tow Vehicle.
• While hitched, the Tow Vehicle should also be weighed
• Proper Hitch Height is Required for a Level Trailer and even Distribution of weigh between the Front and Rear axles.
• Inflation pressure should be adjusted to Handle the Maximum Load, and all tires on the same axle should carry the same inflation pressure.

Where to Weigh my RV?

The Only way to determine tire loads is to weigh the RV!

• Storage Company Lots
• Grain Elevators, Gravel Pits, Recycling Companies and Commercial Truck Stops
• DOT Roadside Scales
• RVSEF – At many RV Rallies & Events

-Visit RVSEF web-site for Rally

Weighing Schedule: www.rvsafety.org

Where to find Proper Inflation

If you Have Not weighed your RV

Use pressure shown on manufacturer's placard

-Coach – Located near left side of driver's door

-Towables – Located near outside left front of trailer

If you Have weighed your RV

Use tire company load/inflation tables

-Provided by vehicle manufacturer's

-Published by tire Manufacturer's
-Web site – www.goodyear.com/rv

Inflation Pressure Control—Best Practices

• Make regular tire inflation pressure checks once per month in storage, before each trip and each morning during trips
• Inflation should be checked when tires are cold
• Do NOT bleed air from hot tires
• Use proper sealing metal valve caps or quality flow through valve caps
• Check inside duals as well as outside tires
• Use an accurate gauge
• Tires that have lost more than 20% of their Recommended pressure (Cold) should be considered flat
• Flat tires should be professionally inspected and repaired
• If one wheel position on an axle carries a heavier load, inflate both tires to pressure adequate to carry the heavier load
• Equal pressures maximize the drivers ability to control the coach and will accommodate shifting of loads from side to side.

Air pressure carries the load, not the tire!

The Up's and Down's of Inflation

1. A 10 degree Fahrenheit air temperature change will change inflation pressure 2% in the same direction. That's an increase of 2 psi on a 100 psi tire when the temperature increases 10degrees.
2. “Working Inflation” increases 5-15 psi when a tire warms up.
3. Atmospheric pressure changes .48 psi for every 1000 feet change in altitude. If a tire has 100 psi at sea level your gauge will read .5 psi higher for every 1000 foot increase in altitude.

I attended a seminar at Camping World last weekend and this is the information I received from them.