lets just jump right in with some numbers, class A diesel pusher, GVWR = 27400
unloaded vehicle weight = 25250
net carrying capacity = 2150
150 gals of diesel at 7.2 LBS Per Gal = 1080
85 gals of propane at 4.2 LBS Per Gal = 357
105 gals of water at 8.34 LBS Per Gal =875
now if you have done the math as I did you would find that the coach is now 144 LBS over weight and you have not added any of your personal items, or I have completely misread this, I hope I have given enough information to get an answer as to how much can a couple load into the rig before we are over weight
I guess it would help to know the brand of RV. And did they do the weight with the fuel and water tanks full, just stated it was empty of all other things?
The whole reason they came out with CCC ratings is that so many consumers where driving totally overloaded RV's back in the late 90's BECAUSE poor manufactures built RV's such as this example that where over the GVWR when leaving the factory, and buyers had no idea, and did not take them to a scale.
I think that one brand had a recall on their RV's because the drivers side tire was overloaded, had to much weight on it, the front axle needed to be upgraded, rims and tires replaced with heavier rated units. Now Toyo will not allow tires to be mounted on a National RV brand coach. (My guess is they got a huge lawsuit with someone who had a collision)
So if you are looking at a National RV, such as Sea Brease, I am not surprised by the overloaded condition. But they sure look good with all that solid wood construction inside. I looked underneath one in 1995 and it had a pipe leading from the passenger side shower to the drivers side gray water tank, going underneath the driveshaft. No way I would want to buy something like that. Pipe sitting under the coach ready to break when it hits anything on the road. More I thought about it though, what about left hand turns? The water in the grey tank will swish to the passenger side, go up the pipe, and you have a geyser in the shower!
So it is wise to take any used RV to a scale, check the empty weight (even if 3/4 full of fuel). Most new ones should have a proper weight due to the current Federal rules about cargo carrying capacity.
Wirenutz, the "empty" weight normally includes fuel, propane, water and possibly one person. Normally, 2150 lbs of cargo capacity should be sufficient.
You are being prudent to be concerned about being overweight since many coaches prior to some 10 years ago or so were built to be at their weight limit coming off of the dealer's lot.
Holiday Rambler Navigator DP, Hummer, and Honda VT1100C Shadow
The weight of the diesel fuel is always included in the UVW. Otherwise it would be called a dry weight.
Weight of the propane, I'm not sure, some manufacturers might include it in UVW. Weight of fresh water is almost always considered part of the load.
Are you getting these numbers off the weight sticker from the particular vehicle? I've never seen a vehicle that carried 85 gallons of propane, unless it was being used as motor fuel. A tank that holds 85 pounds of propane is typical for a motorhome that size.
Still, UVW at 90% of GVWR is not right in this class of motorhome. If you are thinking about full timing you should be looking for one built to 75-80% of GVWR, 'cause you'll end up loading a lot of stuff. Not much over 20,000 UVW.
If you need a bigger motorhome, chassis manufacturers build to about 33,000 GVWR before using a tag axle, then to 45,000 with a tag, but even then some RV manufacturers will build some models using almost all of that.
the ones that come up high on my list are; 1998 - 2002 newmar's with a cummins motor, following that would be a 98-02 beaver, 95-98 monaco executive, 97 vouge, we are trying to stay in the $50-$60k range, we will be full timing it, so now the CCC is starting to come up high on my list, any thoughts from the rest of you will be taken into account, thanks
and this is why I ask the experts,BTY tatest, after looking at that propane number, I believe your right, 85 lbs of propane is a little over 20 gals, thanks for the input on the UVW, I just assumed unloaded meant unloaded, as no fuel, propane, water
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