| SERRO SCOTTY CAMPER ENTHUSIASTS |
BEFORE YOUR TRIP
Remember to observe the common principles of safety:
Obey the speed limit
Buckle your seat belt
Know your rig height before you go
Install a deadbolt door lock on your RV
Inspect all belts and hoses for cracking, especially
radiator hoses. Replace as needed.
Check headlights, tires (air and tread) and turn signals.
Check any hitch or towing equipment
Verify your insurance coverage
Check your fire extinguisher and smoke alarms
Clean your cooking vent hood to avoid grease fires
Leave your itinerary with relatives or friends in case of
emergency
Tools to keep handy
Flashlight
Jumper Cables
Flat Repair Spray
Road Flares
Adjustable Wrench
Screwdrivers
Pliers
Duct Tape (for temporary repairs to ruptured radiator
hoses)
Park in a sheltered area
Avoid trees or power lines that could fall on your
vehicle. The safest place during lightning is inside your
RV. If you're in the path of a tornado, you are safest
in a tornado shelter. Avoid parking in low areas that
are prone to flash flooding.
Remember to observe the common principles of safety:
Obey the speed limit
Buckle your seat belt
Know your rig height before you go
Install a deadbolt door lock on your RV
Inspect all belts and hoses for cracking, especially
radiator hoses. Replace as needed.
Check headlights, tires (air and tread) and turn signals.
Check any hitch or towing equipment
Verify your insurance coverage
Check your fire extinguisher and smoke alarms
Clean your cooking vent hood to avoid grease fires
Leave your itinerary with relatives or friends in case of
emergency
Tools to keep handy
Flashlight
Jumper Cables
Flat Repair Spray
Road Flares
Adjustable Wrench
Screwdrivers
Pliers
Duct Tape (for temporary repairs to ruptured radiator
hoses)
Park in a sheltered area
Avoid trees or power lines that could fall on your
vehicle. The safest place during lightning is inside your
RV. If you're in the path of a tornado, you are safest
in a tornado shelter. Avoid parking in low areas that
are prone to flash flooding.
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
No matter how long you’ve been RVing, you still need to plan
ahead for a safe, trouble-free and enjoyable trip. When
something goes wrong, it can happen far from home, in
unfamiliar territory, and it can turn your journey into a
nightmare. That’s why the more you know about proper load
distribution, vehicle preparation and other safety concerns, the
better. It’s well worth your time to reduce the potential risks
you and your RV may face on the road. All you have to do is
take a few RV safety precautions before you leave.
Reduce the dangers of overloading, equipment failure and other
RV pitfalls
Understanding simple, but important, RV safety practices can
help you move toward safer traveling. For example, did you
know that driving or towing an overloaded rig is a leading cause
of RV accidents? It’s true that even a slight overload or
unequal weight distribution can seriously restrict braking and
steering. It can also result in sudden blowouts or breakdowns.
An overweight RV often creates the danger of early failure in
tires, brakes, wheels, the drivetrain and other components. As
if that’s not bad enough, higher fuel consumption and driver
fatigue are also common side effects of taking to the road in a
heavy, overloaded and poor-handling RV.
Do these RV weight problems sound familiar? If so, you’re not
alone. Disturbing statistics, compiled by RV safety expert John
Anderson during rally weighing exercises, show that nearly two-
thirds of all the RVs weighed exceed one or more of their load
ratings. Simply put, your RV is overloaded if it exceeds any of
the manufacturer’s established limitations for total load, axle
load, or tire loading. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is
the maximum amount your RV can safely carry. It includes both
the wet weight and the cargo weight. Be sure to check your
owner’s manual for weight limitations.
Recent Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) weight-
labeling requirements make it easier for new RV buyers to
judge weight and carrying capacity. If you’re in the market for a
new motor home or travel trailer, you’ll find this information
very helpful. In the meantime, there are important steps you
can take toward safer weight distribution.
Does your rig need to go on a diet?
If you’ve been gradually accumulating more and more "stuff"
over the years, it’s probably time to put your RV on a weight
reduction program. But, first you need to take a trip to the
scales. Don’t guess at your load weight because it’s easy to
underestimate by hundreds of pounds. You can have your rig
weighed at a public weigh station for a minimal fee. Look in the
Yellow Pages under "Scales, Public" to find the location of scales
nearest you. Be sure to weigh your rig when it’s fully loaded. It’
s also important to weigh each axle separately. After the weigh-
in you might be surprised at how quickly the combined weight
of your passengers and all your "stuff" adds up to more than
you expected.
Look your RV over from top to bottom and consider what’s
necessary and what’s not. Just because your rig has a lot of
shelves, drawers and other storage space doesn’t mean you
have to fill it up. It would be helpful to remove all your "stuff"
then put back only the items you really need. When you reload,
remember to store heavy items low and forward, lightweight
articles high. Be sure heavy items can’t slide into the water
pump or other fixed equipment. Try to balance the load
between the two sides of the RV. A simple measurement of
clearances on both sides can aid in proper balance. You can
minimize swing, sway or wobble if you keep the vehicle’s center
of gravity low.
When loading your motor home or travel trailer, make sure
everything has a place and is easy to get at when needed.
Experienced RVers prepare a packing map of luggage and
storage areas for easy access. Secure all cargo inside and
outside the vehicle. Anything rattling around loose is a potential
hazard, as well as noisy.
Get ready, Get set, Go
Check over all your RV’s equipment and systems at least a
week before you take to the open road. That way you’ll have
time to make necessary repairs. If you leave it until the last
minute, it could cancel or postpone your travels. Inspect tires,
brakes, jacks, lights, oil, radiator, belts, horn, shocks, steering,
windshield wipers and washers, lubrication and other vital
equipment.
Tires are one of the most critical factors in safe RVing. Since
most tire failures are caused by overload or underinflation, be
sure your tires are inflated in accordance with proper inflation
pressures for the load you’re carrying. Overloaded tires are
more prone to blow out. Keep tires of similar tread patterns
and similar construction on the same axles.
Along with safe tires, properly adjusted brakes are essential.
Don’t forget the parking brake, because a slipping brake can
drop the RV off its jack while you’re changing tires. If you’re
towing anything, give the hitch and safety chains a going-over.
Check the luggage racks. Are the mountings secure and tie
downs strong enough to keep cargo in place?
Be sure to check LP tanks. All tanks by law must have a 10%
valve. The valve releases and lets off gas in case of over-filling.
If your tank doesn’t have the safety valve, get a new tank.
Also, make sure you fill your LP tanks to only 80 or 90 percent
of their volume - depending on the temperature.
Inspect and test all connections to every appliance. In order to
check lines for leaks, just dab soapy water on fittings and
watch for bubbles. Also, look at appliance vents for
obstructions since it’s not uncommon for squirrels and birds to
build nests in vents.
Check your fire extinguishers, smoke detector and carbon
monoxide (CO) detector to make sure they are in proper
working order. Some fire extinguishers have a gauge that
indicates their condition, others have a test button and
instructions for making a condition test. You should have two 2
1/2 lb. fire extinguishers with a rating of 5BC - one located in
the galley and the other in the cockpit of your motor home or
tow vehicle. Test the smoke detector’s battery, as well as your
CO detector according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Be Careful Out There
More accidents are due to the failure of the driver to be
comfortable with the RV, than a failure of the rig itself. Be
conscious at all times of the RV’s height, width, length and
weight, and be aware of blind spots and other limitations.
Physically measure the dimensions of your RV, jot the figures
down and tape them to your dashboard. Those dimensions
must be respected to avoid overhead collisions or clipping other
vehicles and objects. Always check clearances. When in doubt,
get out and take a look.
Left and right outside mirrors are your most valuable
equipment when you’re on the road. Use them. Set them so
you get a proper view by simply turning your head or glancing
out of the corner of your eye. Properly set, they should show
the rear wheels in the bottom corner, as well as a distance of at
least 30 feet behind the vehicle.
Make routine checks during every gasoline stop. Check tires,
oil, water, wiper blades, battery, etc. If you are towing
something, inspect the trailer hitch and safety chains. Tug at
any gear strapped to the outside of the vehicle.
When you’re on a busy highway, stay away from the pack if
possible. The more vehicles around you, the greater the
chances of encountering trouble. If you’re traveling with others,
don’t travel in a caravan because this often causes a traffic
hazard.
No matter how long you’ve been RVing, you still need to plan
ahead for a safe, trouble-free and enjoyable trip. When
something goes wrong, it can happen far from home, in
unfamiliar territory, and it can turn your journey into a
nightmare. That’s why the more you know about proper load
distribution, vehicle preparation and other safety concerns, the
better. It’s well worth your time to reduce the potential risks
you and your RV may face on the road. All you have to do is
take a few RV safety precautions before you leave.
Reduce the dangers of overloading, equipment failure and other
RV pitfalls
Understanding simple, but important, RV safety practices can
help you move toward safer traveling. For example, did you
know that driving or towing an overloaded rig is a leading cause
of RV accidents? It’s true that even a slight overload or
unequal weight distribution can seriously restrict braking and
steering. It can also result in sudden blowouts or breakdowns.
An overweight RV often creates the danger of early failure in
tires, brakes, wheels, the drivetrain and other components. As
if that’s not bad enough, higher fuel consumption and driver
fatigue are also common side effects of taking to the road in a
heavy, overloaded and poor-handling RV.
Do these RV weight problems sound familiar? If so, you’re not
alone. Disturbing statistics, compiled by RV safety expert John
Anderson during rally weighing exercises, show that nearly two-
thirds of all the RVs weighed exceed one or more of their load
ratings. Simply put, your RV is overloaded if it exceeds any of
the manufacturer’s established limitations for total load, axle
load, or tire loading. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is
the maximum amount your RV can safely carry. It includes both
the wet weight and the cargo weight. Be sure to check your
owner’s manual for weight limitations.
Recent Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA) weight-
labeling requirements make it easier for new RV buyers to
judge weight and carrying capacity. If you’re in the market for a
new motor home or travel trailer, you’ll find this information
very helpful. In the meantime, there are important steps you
can take toward safer weight distribution.
Does your rig need to go on a diet?
If you’ve been gradually accumulating more and more "stuff"
over the years, it’s probably time to put your RV on a weight
reduction program. But, first you need to take a trip to the
scales. Don’t guess at your load weight because it’s easy to
underestimate by hundreds of pounds. You can have your rig
weighed at a public weigh station for a minimal fee. Look in the
Yellow Pages under "Scales, Public" to find the location of scales
nearest you. Be sure to weigh your rig when it’s fully loaded. It’
s also important to weigh each axle separately. After the weigh-
in you might be surprised at how quickly the combined weight
of your passengers and all your "stuff" adds up to more than
you expected.
Look your RV over from top to bottom and consider what’s
necessary and what’s not. Just because your rig has a lot of
shelves, drawers and other storage space doesn’t mean you
have to fill it up. It would be helpful to remove all your "stuff"
then put back only the items you really need. When you reload,
remember to store heavy items low and forward, lightweight
articles high. Be sure heavy items can’t slide into the water
pump or other fixed equipment. Try to balance the load
between the two sides of the RV. A simple measurement of
clearances on both sides can aid in proper balance. You can
minimize swing, sway or wobble if you keep the vehicle’s center
of gravity low.
When loading your motor home or travel trailer, make sure
everything has a place and is easy to get at when needed.
Experienced RVers prepare a packing map of luggage and
storage areas for easy access. Secure all cargo inside and
outside the vehicle. Anything rattling around loose is a potential
hazard, as well as noisy.
Get ready, Get set, Go
Check over all your RV’s equipment and systems at least a
week before you take to the open road. That way you’ll have
time to make necessary repairs. If you leave it until the last
minute, it could cancel or postpone your travels. Inspect tires,
brakes, jacks, lights, oil, radiator, belts, horn, shocks, steering,
windshield wipers and washers, lubrication and other vital
equipment.
Tires are one of the most critical factors in safe RVing. Since
most tire failures are caused by overload or underinflation, be
sure your tires are inflated in accordance with proper inflation
pressures for the load you’re carrying. Overloaded tires are
more prone to blow out. Keep tires of similar tread patterns
and similar construction on the same axles.
Along with safe tires, properly adjusted brakes are essential.
Don’t forget the parking brake, because a slipping brake can
drop the RV off its jack while you’re changing tires. If you’re
towing anything, give the hitch and safety chains a going-over.
Check the luggage racks. Are the mountings secure and tie
downs strong enough to keep cargo in place?
Be sure to check LP tanks. All tanks by law must have a 10%
valve. The valve releases and lets off gas in case of over-filling.
If your tank doesn’t have the safety valve, get a new tank.
Also, make sure you fill your LP tanks to only 80 or 90 percent
of their volume - depending on the temperature.
Inspect and test all connections to every appliance. In order to
check lines for leaks, just dab soapy water on fittings and
watch for bubbles. Also, look at appliance vents for
obstructions since it’s not uncommon for squirrels and birds to
build nests in vents.
Check your fire extinguishers, smoke detector and carbon
monoxide (CO) detector to make sure they are in proper
working order. Some fire extinguishers have a gauge that
indicates their condition, others have a test button and
instructions for making a condition test. You should have two 2
1/2 lb. fire extinguishers with a rating of 5BC - one located in
the galley and the other in the cockpit of your motor home or
tow vehicle. Test the smoke detector’s battery, as well as your
CO detector according to manufacturer’s instructions.
Be Careful Out There
More accidents are due to the failure of the driver to be
comfortable with the RV, than a failure of the rig itself. Be
conscious at all times of the RV’s height, width, length and
weight, and be aware of blind spots and other limitations.
Physically measure the dimensions of your RV, jot the figures
down and tape them to your dashboard. Those dimensions
must be respected to avoid overhead collisions or clipping other
vehicles and objects. Always check clearances. When in doubt,
get out and take a look.
Left and right outside mirrors are your most valuable
equipment when you’re on the road. Use them. Set them so
you get a proper view by simply turning your head or glancing
out of the corner of your eye. Properly set, they should show
the rear wheels in the bottom corner, as well as a distance of at
least 30 feet behind the vehicle.
Make routine checks during every gasoline stop. Check tires,
oil, water, wiper blades, battery, etc. If you are towing
something, inspect the trailer hitch and safety chains. Tug at
any gear strapped to the outside of the vehicle.
When you’re on a busy highway, stay away from the pack if
possible. The more vehicles around you, the greater the
chances of encountering trouble. If you’re traveling with others,
don’t travel in a caravan because this often causes a traffic
hazard.
| B E F O R E Y O U R T R I P |
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS WHEN
TOWING YOUR CAMPER IS SAFTY, SO WE HAVE
GONE INTO DEPTH ON SEVERAL ITEMS, TAKE THE
TIME TO READ THESE SUGGESTIONS
TOWING YOUR CAMPER IS SAFTY, SO WE HAVE
GONE INTO DEPTH ON SEVERAL ITEMS, TAKE THE
TIME TO READ THESE SUGGESTIONS
| B E T T E R S A F E T H A N S O R R Y |
 | |  | |  | |  |
Finding the tongue weight (TW) of any trailer can, at
first, seem like a difficult task. Fine-tuning the tongue
weight to fall within the 9- to 15-percent weight range
of the gross trailer weight (GTW) might seem nearly
impossible. You'll be happy to know that it doesn't have
to be complicated at all.
Most trailer owners already know their gross trailer
weight -- the actual weight of the trailer. If you don't
know your gross trailer weight, then you'll need to plan
a trip to the local public scales. With an investment of
only a few dollars and just a little bit of your time, you
can get some valuable information. Knowing your gross
trailer weight is critical to properly adjusting the tongue
weight of your trailer. In fact, it's your starting point in
a very simple equation.
Blaine Franger/Getty Images
The front wheels of the tow vehicle are barely on the
ground. Is the tongue weight too heavy?As an example,
let's say that your gross trailer weight is 564 pounds
(256 kilograms). If you're trying to adjust your tongue
weight to 11 percent of the gross trailer weight, then
you want the tongue to weigh 62 (28 kilograms)
pounds. Easy enough -- but how do you find out how
much the tongue weighs right now?
Since this is a smaller trailer, you can measure the
weight of the tongue using a standard bathroom scale.
The trick is to make sure that the scale is at the same
height as the hitch ball on the tow vehicle. Usually a
small box or a cinder block will do the trick. Next,
carefully place the tongue of the trailer directly on the
scale and read the weight. This is your tongue weight. If
the tongue weight is more than 62 pounds (28
kilograms), then you need to move some of the trailer's
cargo rearward so that more weight is carried behind
the trailer's axle. If the tongue weight is less than 62
pounds (28 kilograms), then you'll need to adjust some
of the cargo toward the front of the trailer so more
weight is carried in front of the trailer's axle. Keep your
eye on the scale and you should be able to hit the
target tongue weight.
For much heavier trailers -- those with a tongue weight
that would exceed the weight limit of a standard
bathroom scale -- you need to employ a slightly
different technique. There are two very good options
available to you. First, you could purchase a tongue
weight scale that's designed specifically to measure
trailer tongue weights (up to one ton). Or, with a little
extra effort and some additional setup time on your
part, you can use the same standard bathroom scale.
To do this, you'll need a two-by-four cut to a five- or
six-foot (1.5- or 1.8-meter) length, two pipes, your
bathroom scale, and a brick. Lay one of the pipes across
the scale and the other across the brick. Position the
scale and the brick so the pipes are exactly three feet
apart. Now, lay the two-by-four across the pipes, and
find a suitable way to support the tongue of the trailer
at the same height as the tow vehicle's hitch ball. Place
the tongue (and hitch-height support) on the
two-by-four exactly 2 feet (0.6 meters) away from the
pipe lying across the scale and 1 foot (0.3 meters) away
from the pipe lying across the brick. Read the weight
displayed on the scale, and then multiply the weight by
three. This is your tongue weight. As with the method
we used for the smaller trailer, you can adjust the
weight of the cargo forward or rearward of the trailer
axle to reach your target tongue weight. Just watch the
scale -- and don't forget to multiply the displayed
weight by three.
Calculating tongue weight isn't really that complex. In
fact, with enough practice, you'll soon be a pro at
finding tongue weight -- and the way your trailer
handles on the road will reflect that.
If you're interested in reading more about vehicle
weight, towing and other related topics, follow the links
on the next page.
first, seem like a difficult task. Fine-tuning the tongue
weight to fall within the 9- to 15-percent weight range
of the gross trailer weight (GTW) might seem nearly
impossible. You'll be happy to know that it doesn't have
to be complicated at all.
Most trailer owners already know their gross trailer
weight -- the actual weight of the trailer. If you don't
know your gross trailer weight, then you'll need to plan
a trip to the local public scales. With an investment of
only a few dollars and just a little bit of your time, you
can get some valuable information. Knowing your gross
trailer weight is critical to properly adjusting the tongue
weight of your trailer. In fact, it's your starting point in
a very simple equation.
Blaine Franger/Getty Images
The front wheels of the tow vehicle are barely on the
ground. Is the tongue weight too heavy?As an example,
let's say that your gross trailer weight is 564 pounds
(256 kilograms). If you're trying to adjust your tongue
weight to 11 percent of the gross trailer weight, then
you want the tongue to weigh 62 (28 kilograms)
pounds. Easy enough -- but how do you find out how
much the tongue weighs right now?
Since this is a smaller trailer, you can measure the
weight of the tongue using a standard bathroom scale.
The trick is to make sure that the scale is at the same
height as the hitch ball on the tow vehicle. Usually a
small box or a cinder block will do the trick. Next,
carefully place the tongue of the trailer directly on the
scale and read the weight. This is your tongue weight. If
the tongue weight is more than 62 pounds (28
kilograms), then you need to move some of the trailer's
cargo rearward so that more weight is carried behind
the trailer's axle. If the tongue weight is less than 62
pounds (28 kilograms), then you'll need to adjust some
of the cargo toward the front of the trailer so more
weight is carried in front of the trailer's axle. Keep your
eye on the scale and you should be able to hit the
target tongue weight.
For much heavier trailers -- those with a tongue weight
that would exceed the weight limit of a standard
bathroom scale -- you need to employ a slightly
different technique. There are two very good options
available to you. First, you could purchase a tongue
weight scale that's designed specifically to measure
trailer tongue weights (up to one ton). Or, with a little
extra effort and some additional setup time on your
part, you can use the same standard bathroom scale.
To do this, you'll need a two-by-four cut to a five- or
six-foot (1.5- or 1.8-meter) length, two pipes, your
bathroom scale, and a brick. Lay one of the pipes across
the scale and the other across the brick. Position the
scale and the brick so the pipes are exactly three feet
apart. Now, lay the two-by-four across the pipes, and
find a suitable way to support the tongue of the trailer
at the same height as the tow vehicle's hitch ball. Place
the tongue (and hitch-height support) on the
two-by-four exactly 2 feet (0.6 meters) away from the
pipe lying across the scale and 1 foot (0.3 meters) away
from the pipe lying across the brick. Read the weight
displayed on the scale, and then multiply the weight by
three. This is your tongue weight. As with the method
we used for the smaller trailer, you can adjust the
weight of the cargo forward or rearward of the trailer
axle to reach your target tongue weight. Just watch the
scale -- and don't forget to multiply the displayed
weight by three.
Calculating tongue weight isn't really that complex. In
fact, with enough practice, you'll soon be a pro at
finding tongue weight -- and the way your trailer
handles on the road will reflect that.
If you're interested in reading more about vehicle
weight, towing and other related topics, follow the links
on the next page.
| TONGUE WEIGHT |