Quote:
Originally Posted by CWtheMan
Those that are familiar with my postings should know that I support what is supposed to happen. It is not my intent to be arbitrary with my posts.
The following are the actual paragraphs from one of the FMVSS (standards) RV trailer builders MUST comply with. If they or their representatives wish to embellish their answers to such questions, so be it. Those that do that may just not know the actual requirement or are just saying things to satisfy the question at hand so they can move on.
S10.2 On RV trailers, the sum of the GAWRs of all axles on the vehicle plus the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tongue weight must not be less than the GVWR. If tongue weight is specified as a range, the minimum value must be used.
S10.4.2 The weight value for load carrying capacity on the RV load carrying capacity labels (Figures 1 and 2) must be displayed to the nearest kilogram with conversion to the nearest pound and must be such that the vehicle's weight does not exceed its GVWR when loaded with the stated load carrying capacity. The UVW and the GVWR used to determine the RV's load carrying capacity must reflect the weights and design of the motor home or RV trailer as configured for delivery to the dealer/service facility. 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.
Those are from a 2018 document. If you wish the read the entire standard here is a reference.
http://federal.elaws.us/cfr/49CFR571.120
NOTE: The topics above are the same for trailer's under 10K. If in doubt you can look at 49 CFR 571.110. |
Cal,
Having been a "gubmint employee" for 30+ years, I found that little two word phrase that I bolded and changed to red in your post has "bit more butts than not".....
That said, it's my understanding that "If applicable" in this situation, refers to permanently installed propane tanks (like those in class A, B and C motorhomes) and not to removeable propane cylinders. That portion of the regulation also doesn't include a requirement to include the spare tire, tire rack/mount in the cargo weight calculations.
My "assessment" (for what it's worth) is that "for every regulation, there's a list of exceptions, usually not easily found (often in a supplement or appendix) and often not listed in the "original verbage" so there's no "direct link for novice regulation readers".... I'd suppose that is likely the situation here as well. For me, it's not worth the time or effort to "go hunting for some obscure, well hidden CFR post, so I'll just leave what the factory representative told me (in writing) and move on. This will likely become a "he said/she said" flare to the ongoing discussion that, as I said, comes up several times a year.
Anyway, we're forecast (weatherman's morning guessing) to get "somewhere between 3 and 11 inches of snow today. This is as the trailer sits in the driveway, being loaded for a Monday morning departure for "anywhere south"..... So, I'm about to load a laundry basket full of shorts, bathing suits and sandals to the trailer door so my DW can put them away while I check tire pressure. BTW, both our propane tanks are full, so we're 60 pounds heavier than we were when the tanks were empty.