Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/34501
HOW TO WEIGH THE RECREATIONAL VEHICLE NOTE:Michelin recommends using a professional weighing group or organization to perform the weighing of your Motorhome/RV. The Recreational Vehicle Safety Foundation (RVSEF) is an organization partially funded by Michelin that performs weighing and other educational services. They can be contacted at www.rvsafety.com. If you are planning to do your own weighing, you should follow the procedures below: HOW TO WEIGH THE RV First, the RV must be weighed fully loaded — that includes passengers, food, clothing, fuel, water, propane, supplies, and anything else you can think of. Also, any towed vehicle (car, boat, or trailer) or item loaded on brackets on the back of the RV (like bikes or motorcycles) should be included in the weighing. HERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT TYPES OF SCALES: 1) Platform – Platform scales are usually long enough to weigh the entire vehicle at once. Michelin suggests the following: a) Pull onto the scale so that only the front axle is on the platform. The rear end of the scale needs to be midway between the front and rear axles. Record the weight. b) Pull forward until the full unit is on the scale. Record the weight. c) Pull forward until only the rear axle is on the platform. The front end of the scale needs to be midway between the front and rear axles. Record the weight. SCALE d) If RV has a rear tag axle, pull forward so only tag axle is on the scale. Record the weight. e) To determine individual wheel position weights, repeat steps (a) through (d) with only one side of the vehicle actually on the scale and the vehicle centered over the side of the scale. See diagram on next page. Record the weights. f) To calculate the opposite wheel positions’ weights, subtract the weights recorded in step (e) from the weights recorded in steps (a) through (d). If there is not a towed vehicle, the tag axle weight derived from (d) will represent the actual weight on the tag axle. g) If a vehicle is being towed, it should be weighed and combined with the GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) to ensure the total weight doesn’t exceed the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating). 2) Segmented Platform – Platform scales with segmented sections can provide individual axle weights and total vehicle weights all at once when the vehicle is positioned properly. To do this, simply: a) Position the vehicle on the scales so that each axle is centered as much as possible on the segments, and record the weight. b) Reposition the vehicle so that only one side is on the scale – centered on the segment as much as possible. SCALE c) Subtract the weighed wheel positions from the total axle weights to determine the unweighed wheel position weights. 3) Single Axle – Weighs one axle at a time. Follow these steps: a) Drive the front axle onto the scale and stop long enough for the weight to be recorded. b) Pull vehicle forward until the rear axle is on the scale. c) For gross vehicle weight, add the two axle weights together. d) To obtain the individual wheel position weights, repeat this process with only one side of the RV on the scale. SCALE Note: Even though the weight of the total axle is within the axle rating, it may be overloaded on one side, which means an overloaded wheel position. That’s why side-to-side weighing is required. 74 Section Five: MICHELIN RV Tires ®