If someone told you right this very minute that you had to remove 250 pounds of cargo in your RV for safety, could you do it? And how easy would it be for you to do so?
For some of you, after getting rid of several pairs of shoes and all those DVDs you never watch anymore, it might be easy. For others in small trailers, that might cost you your entire microwave and then some.
Please tell us in the poll below, and if you have time, leave a comment too and tell us what removing 250 pounds of cargo would look like for you and your RV. Thanks!
Having been full-timers for 12 years we have jettisoned everything we don’t need over time. That said I weighed it (again) and discovered we are over 2,000 lb too heavy for our allowable load capacity in our 2017 5th wheel and the unit had 2,000 lb more on the rear axle than the front axle even though they are only 36 inches apart! Most manufacturers don’t design and build the frames and axles for nearly enough basic stuff. I hand weighed EVERYTHING we have inside and out including the difference in add-ons and extras (satellite dish, gen set, replacement hitch, etc.) and got rid of some. I rearranged weight so I am almost perfectly balanced front to back and side to side based on individual wheel weights, but am still overweight. I added heavier springs and switched from 7,000 lb axels to 8,000 lb ones to compensate. I can’t alter what the sticker reads for total capacity but at least I know my axles can handle the load. FYI whatever you guess your stuff weighs I guarantee it is more!
Off load the wine !
As in … drink it, Fred? 😆 Have a great day. 😀 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Wife before the wine!
We keep a fair amount of emergency (quake, volcano, wildfire) supplies in our Class A, so ‘light-loading’ it for a big trip is an occasional requirement. Between the usual firewood, coolers and a few entertainment items, we can pull out almost 500lbs of cargo.Despite that extra weight, we are way under our CCC/GVWR and it doesn’t affect our gas mileage.
heaviest cargo is the 50 amp power cords.
I had a simular problem, the rear axle of my truck with my 5th attached was 1760# over weight…solution was to buy a bigger truck…now “I”, not my wife, have another 185# of capacity….but it cost me $67k!
Does leaving your significant other at home count?
If they weigh 250 pounds, YES!
At the moment it wouldn’t be too hard, since I store a lot of the deck furniture in the trailer during the winter. Once that’s out for the summer, it might take more work to get the weight down.
Lol, all the suggestions so far, for jettisoning the spouse, are from men who signed their names. Brave! Or, lots of funny guys in the dog house tonight.
Hmmm, NO option re leaving wife or mother-in-law?
Go for it, John. And good luck! Let us know how it goes. 😆 –Diane at RVtravel.com
Boy! Did I just get a dirty look!
I weigh my fully loaded motorhome periodically to make sure my weight is safe and well distributed. It is easy to add items when you live full-time. We usually use the “one item in one item out rule” to help If you are weighing your coach make sure the fuel, fresh water, black and grey tanks are full.
Hey, don’t give the wife any ideas. I have over 250 lbs in tools alone. Bet you thought she’d toss me out. LOL. We have a 45 ft. DP with a 200 gallon fuel tank. That adds 1400 lbs. when full. I won’t haul more than 1/4 tank of water unless we’re going to boondock for an extended period because of the weight.
Since we have a Class B, we simplify as much as possible. My main problem is that we are a little overweight in the front, but there isn’t much at that end we can eliminate.
In fact I am 250#s overweight and trying to figure out what to remove right now.
The fastest way would be to leave the wife behind. 😉 
😆 Oh, you’re in big trouble now, Howard (if you’re married). Of course, one could leave the husband behind, also. Take care (and duck, if you’re in the vicinity when your wife reads this). 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
Better yet, Howard, would be to leave the husband behind. Just sayin’. 😆 Have a great day! 😀 —Diane at RVtravel.com
😊 You live dangerously.
Being full time has it’s issues with weight, but when safety comes to mind, you have to do what you have to do! Tools are the biggest problem with full timers. You think you need it all and sorry to say, in most cases you do! But, I could manage 250 lbs. If you have a diesel pusher, you have much more carrying capacity, such the reason most who full time have gone this route.
I probably carry too many tools and general stuff.
I could start with the golf clubs, 2 sets. Not using them as much as I thought we would.
How many folks carry rocks to hold down the green carpet at their entry steps? There’s 25lbs.
We presently have 4 camp chairs, a step ladder, the Gen-turi generator exhaust pipe extension, and a 25-foot 50-amp extension cord in our RV storage compartments. I cannot imagine what we could additionally remove to reach 250 pounds. Were we living in the RV full-time, or on an extended trip, then we might be able to manage it by removing food and clothing. But we have none of either in the RV at this moment. Besides our RV is rated at 44,500 pounds and we are presently at 37,000.
For starters, I could lose weight!