Trailer Weight

[Too Tall]

Does the empty weight on the trailer placard include propane bottle, how about the propane? Battery?

thanks in advance

[Kenny kustom]

Best to go weigh it to be sure !

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Does the empty weight on the trailer placard include propane bottle, how about the propane? Battery?

thanks in advance

From what I've read from factory reps- it seems to include propane bottles + propane (since they're known/fixed weights) but not a battery (since they can vary so much).

[JohnF]

I believe the dealer adds those, so no it would not.

[ependydad]

That said, when I had to fully empty my camper after owning it for a year - I weighed it. I had a few modifications that I had done but nothing major. There was about a 200 lb. difference between the yellow sticker and the actual weight that I got from the scales.

(On edit: I realize my 4 slide toppers were all dealer-added. They and my battery likely make up the 200 lbs. So I stand by my statement that full propane is included as per factory rep posts.)

Learn To RV: Dry Weights & Truth in Advertising

[Herk7769]

The yellow sticker "as built" weight is when the actual unit left the factory.

It is my understanding that at that point it does not have a battery and the propane bottles are empty.

Dealer installed options (battery and full propane) are considered "user added weight" and counts against your payload.

[Too Tall]

Thank I'm going to weigh it but just trying to get a rough estimate of how much I can add safety.

[JohnF]

I agree with Lou. Never believe advertised weights as they are based on a basic unit. Yellow sticker is very accurate of the weight when it leaves the factory. The key here is if the options were factory or dealer installed. All dealer installed options add to the yellow sticker weight. All of the options on my camper will be installed by the factory with the exception of propane and batteries. So, my yellow sticker should be very close to actual before I move into the unit.

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

The yellow sticker "as built" weight is when the actual unit left the factory.

It is my understanding that at that point it does not have a battery and the propane bottles are empty.

Dealer installed options (battery and full propane) are considered "user added weight" and counts against your payload.

Yea, that's what I'm afraid of. thanks.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Herk7769

The yellow sticker "as built" weight is when the actual unit left the factory.

I was surprised to learn that Sabre doesn't weigh their units. All of the options are plugged into a computer and that blats out a yellow sticker.

[JohnF]

Originally Posted by ependydad

I was surprised to learn that Sabre doesn't weigh their units. All of the options are plugged into a computer and that blats out a yellow sticker.

I don’t know why that wouldn’t work. It would also cut out a step in the manufacturing process.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by JohnF

I don’t know why that wouldn’t work. It would also cut out a step in the manufacturing process.

It seems to work. I was just under the impression that each factory had scales that they'd weigh the units before they went out the door.

[Too Tall]

I guess both methods would work. I'll take it to the scale once I get my propane bottles filed.

[doc73]

Originally Posted by ependydad

It seems to work. I was just under the impression that each factory had scales that they'd weigh the units before they went out the door.

I wonder if the auto industry does it the same way? Weight the base model, know what everything added weights and then add it all up..

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[Airdale]

Excerpts from FMVSS 571.110 an 571.120.

571.110 paragraph S4.3.5. If the vehicle is a recreation vehicle trailer and is equipped with a propane supply, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the vehicle's unloaded vehicle weight.

571.120 paragraph S10.4.2. If applicable, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the RV's UVW and the weight of on-board potable water must be treated as cargo.

NOTE: Liquid propane weighs 4.24# per gallon.

[Too Tall]

Originally Posted by Airdale

Excerpts from FMVSS 571.110 an 571.120.

571.110 paragraph S4.3.5. If the vehicle is a recreation vehicle trailer and is equipped with a propane supply, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the vehicle's unloaded vehicle weight.

571.120 paragraph S10.4.2. If applicable, the weight of full propane tanks must be included in the RV's UVW and the weight of on-board potable water must be treated as cargo.

NOTE: Liquid propane weighs 4.24# per gallon.

Excellent, thanks. idiot question but what is the FMVSS?

[emm-dee]

Pretty sure the UVW weight published on the yellow sticker is a number derived from who knows where. Some say it's the basic weight, based on some initial weight, and others say it's a number generated via computer based on installed options, etc. Then, others claim it to be a weight derived when the unit was weighed at the end of the assembly line.

The bottom line is we really don't know. The published weight is a nice number to start out with if you're looking for anticipated cargo/hitch/pin weight numbers. When I took my trailer to the CAT scale it came in 160 pounds LESS than the sticker number, but the hitch weight is 90 pounds MORE than the "advertised" number. Never weighed my truck completely empty, but it's CAT weight, with a full tank of gas, WD shank, toolbox in the bed with at least 100 pounds (probably more) of stuff, and myself sitting the the drivers seat, came in only 350 pounds over sticker weight. If I subtract the my weights and the fuel weight then the weight is LESS than sticker weight.

Everyone has their opinion, and mine is that sticker UVW is pretty accurate as long as you think pretty accurate is plus or minus 100 to 300 pounds.

[Airdale]

Originally Posted by Too Tall

Excellent, thanks. idiot question but what is the FMVSS?

"Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) are U.S. federal regulations specifying design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for motor vehicles and regulated Automobile safety-related components, systems, and design features."

When the vehicle manufacturer affixes the federal certification label to your trailer they are saying they have complied with all of the applicable safety standards.

[Airdale]

I read a RVIA bulletin not long ago about RV trailer UVW. It said the manufacturers no longer have to weigh trailers to determine that figure.

Since the question came-up in this thread I looked into my files for the bulletin but it looks like I failed to file it because I cant find it.

There were major changes in how options and cargo weights were to be calculated in the 2007 rules changes. A lot of the information out there written prior to that date is no longer valid for trailers manufactured after 2006.

The best information is found in FMVSS 571.110 for vehicles less than 10000# and FMVSS 571.120 for vehicles over 10000#. My search engine will bring them up with just a 571.120 query.

[TURBS]

Originally Posted by ependydad

That said, when I had to fully empty my camper after owning it for a year - I weighed it. I had a few modifications that I had done but nothing major. There was about a 200 lb. difference between the yellow sticker and the actual weight that I got from the scales.

(On edit: I realize my 4 slide toppers were all dealer-added. They and my battery likely make up the 200 lbs. So I stand by my statement that full propane is included as per factory rep posts.)

Learn To RV: Dry Weights & Truth in Advertising

Gary says propane weight and battery weight is absolutely not figured into the uvw sticker.


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