[Vision2020] Does your RV need a diet?

Wed Mar 12 16:00:19 PDT 2008

Good Point Glen, even a 400HP muscle car can squeeze 25mpg with an overdrive and EFI.  From the looks of the info below maybe we should focus more on the motorcycle convention:

Does Your RV Need to be Put on a Diet
After years of toil building the perfect vehicle to take you down the road in style, you may have to face an alarming fact-all those gizmos and quirks that make your RV yours, have made it overweight! If you find yourself in this situation, you're not alone. Statistics show that more than 60% of recreational vehicles on the road today are over weight-limit restrictions. Many people choose not to worry about it. Here are a few good reasons why you should. 
First, RVs are slow stoppers. On average it takes a RV 65% more time to come to a full stop than a regular-size car. When your RV is overweight, it takes even more time to stop. And, since it's difficult to know exactly how much more time is required, you may be unprepared in an emergency. 
Secondly, more weight means more stress on your tires, transmission, suspension and axles, which means these systems can give out prematurely and many times unexpectedly.
If you are unable to, the officer may escort you to a weigh station. If you are overweight, he can require you to solve the problem before you can drive away.

Total Weight of Vehicle
Gas Mileage
Diesel Mileage

20,000 lbs. or more
5 to 8 mpg
5 to 10 mpg

15,000 - 19,000 lbs.
6 to 8 mpg
8 to 11 mpg

12,000 - 14,000 lbs.
7 to 9 mpg
10 to 13 mpg

9,000 - 11,000 lbs.
8 to 11 mpg
12 to 15 mpg

6,000 - 8,000 lbs.
12 to 15 mpg
16 to 20 mpg

3,000 - 5,000 lbs.
20 mpg or more
25 mpg or more
Finally, lightening your load saves you money. Excess weight will cause your components to burn out more quickly, requiring more frequent replacement. These sudden failures can also cause accidents, which can delay your trip, cost you money and jeopardize your safety. Carrying a heavier load also burns more gas or diesel. The following is a rough guideline as to load versus gas mileage, courtesy of RV Buyer's Guide.
Keeping the Balance
Load balancing is as important as the overall weight of your RV. You know how disconcerting it is when you are carrying a grocery bag in each hand and one is much heavier than the other. Imagine going thousands of miles in this condition. The weight distribution will affect your steering, stopping and cornering. The uneven wear on your tires and axles increases your chances of a rollover accident. Weight distribution needs to be considered not only side to side, but also front to back. As far as side to side, try to be as evenly weighted as possible. Front to back, the distribution should be 30/70. Under no circumstances should the RV be heavier in the front than in the back. 
When packing for your trip, keep the weight distribution issue in mind. If you are bringing along any heavy items, make sure they are evenly placed left to right in the RV. Secure items so their weight does not shift around when the coach is in motion. Get to a weigh station after you have packed the vehicle for a trip. You'll be amazed at how much your "stuff" can weigh. A typical RV owner packs 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of belongings when preparing for a trip.
A big part of the "stuff" you bring along is necessities like water, propane and gasoline. To help you gauge the weight of your essentials, here is a guideline for liquid weight (pounds per gallon): 

Water: 8.3 
Gasoline: 5.6 
Propane: 4.2 
Diesel Fuel: 6.8 
Buying and/or Building
When you buy a new coach from the dealer or manufacturer, in most cases, the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) according to the manufacturer, as mandated by the Recreational Vehicle Industry Association (RVIA), is posted on the vehicle as a guideline for you. However, it can be difficult to know exactly what the weight limits are for a vehicle you have custom-built. The axles are the best place to start for weight guidelines on your RV. Axles are rated with the amount of load they can carry. This rating is called the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). Be mindful of these ratings and the amount of load each axle will be carrying. For balance, each end of the axle should have approximately the same load, as axle ratings are based on the assumption that the load is equal on both sides. Also, when choosing your tires, check their weight rating and choose tires that are appropriate for the size of your RV. Manufacturers assign a weight rating for all tires. Dealerships typically have access to listings of all makes and manufacturers of tires and their weight ratings.
If you are buying a used coach or converted bus, weight ratings are something you should bring up to the salesperson. If he doesn't know the answers to your questions, either arrange to weigh the vehicle yourself or have an inspector check it out for you. If possible, find out the weight per wheel. This is particularly important if you are buying a previously owned RV conversion. An amateur builder may not have arranged the components of the RV to be evenly distributed across the axles. Salespeople may tell you not to worry about the weight issue because they want to make the sale. Don't believe them. Not only is weight a serious safety issue; fixing the wear and tear due to being overweight is extremely costly. Flying J Truck stops often have public weigh stations for a small fee. Some states will also allow you to use the commercial truck stops to weigh.
On the Road
The safety checks don't stop once you've purchased and left home for your first trip. Because the items you are carrying are constantly changing as food is consumed and water tanks are emptied and refilled, you should keep weight and balance in the back of your mind for the entire journey. When you bring new things on board, remember to think about balancing your load and evenly distributing the items on each axle of the vehicle. Check your tires once in a while. If it seems one side of the vehicle is getting more worn than the other, then you may have a balance issue. Remember, too, that proper tire inflation will help you carry your load in a balanced and efficient manner.

> Message: 3> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 13:16:11 -0700> From: "Glenn Schwaller" <vpschwaller at gmail.com>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Life on Wheels, Dead at the U-I> To: vision2020 at moscow.com> Message-ID:> <323338460803121316w6d33519dqccbd5ffa2eafc0f2 at mail.gmail.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="windows-1252"> > Hmmmmm ? How many barrels of oil does it take to transport over 400 people> in monster RVs to Moscow and back? Shouldn't we be more than happy to say> "Thanks but no thanks! It just doesn't fit in with the image we want to> portray of an environmentally conscious community." I guess the almighty> dollar wins out over a whole host of environmental concerns once again.> > Imagine my surprise> > GS> > > On 3/12/08, Chasuk <chasuk at gmail.com> wrote:> >> > On Wed, Mar 12, 2008 at 10:14 AM, lfalen <lfalen at turbonet.com> wrote:> >> > > The University blew it. This is a big lost. Gaylord Maxwell would have> > preferred to have this event in Moscow. To lose it is a reflection on the> > poor job the University is doing.> >> >> > Truthfully, it is probably a reflection of how one person mishandled> > paperwork, neglecting to move a single important document from their> > inbox to their outbox in a timely manner. It is almost always one> > incompetent employee. Unfortunately, it is the entire institution> > which takes the blame.> >> >> > =======================================================> > List services made available by First Step Internet,> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.> > http://www.fsr.net> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com> > =======================================================> >> -------------- next part --------------> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...> URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20080312/fc114969/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------> > Message: 4> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:26:52 -0800> From: "Ted Moffett" <starbliss at gmail.com>> Subject: Re: [Vision2020] The Evangelical Christian Takeover of the> Military> To: "Warren Hayman" <whayman at roadrunner.com>> Cc: vision2020 at moscow.com, donald edwards <donaledwards at hotmail.com>> Message-ID:> <d03f69e0803121326s606b116dpae8fc90002a88ade at mail.gmail.com>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"> > On 3/11/08, Warren Hayman <whayman at roadrunner.com> wrote:> > > "However, in my view, everything occurring on our planet is a wholly> > owned subsidiary of Earth Biosphere, Inc. I will not elaborate on this> > concept, knowing full well the incredible can of worms it will open."> >> > Aren't you obamanating Gaylord Nelson's statement a bit with that quote?> > "The economy is a wholly owned subsidiary of the environment."> >> > I've always enjoyed that thought, and find said can much more full of> > common sense than worms, but what the heck.> >> >> > Well, I see that a worm or two managed to squiggle out of the can...> > Thanks for the reference to Gaylord Nelson and the "economy is a subsidiary> of the environment" concept. I was writing within the context of the thread> "Evangelical Christian Takeover of the Military," so I meant the quote you> post as meaning more that religion is a "subsidiary" of the biosphere. I> was not focusing on the economic implications of this concept given> environmentalism. I did not make my meaning very clear.> > General Boykin's comments about whose God is bigger are ridiculous when> looking at all religion as a development of human culture that is itself a> subset of the web of life on Earth. From this point of view, it might be> said that bacteria are "bigger" than any God, given that if all bacteria> disappeared from Earth, humanity would go extinct, along with General Boykin> and all the other evangelicals. It is easy to overlook how absolutely> dependent human existence is on the web of life on Earth, even on "lowly"> lifeforms, such as bacteria.> > Such a concept, that religion is a "subsidiary" of the biosphere, is a can> of worms, theologically and philosophically, given the difficulties in> defending its truth, and politically and even personally speaking, given how> expressing such a point of view can make an organization or a person> unpopular. What do you think the odds would be for a presidential candidate> to be elected who openly asserted they were not Christian? Obama has to go> out of his way to insist he is a Christian, due to the political damage of> being perceived as Muslim, even with similarities between the two religions> in belief in God.> > We live in a culture, to state the obvious, with an overwhelming dominance> of a "God" oriented view of the universe, where God sits as creator of the> Earth and all humanity, and Nature is more of a stage for the drama than the> source of life upon which we are absolutely dependent for our creation> (evolution) and continued survival.> > Now is the "can of worms" I was referring to defined a bit better?> > Precisely define "obamanating." This word is not in my dictionary. I'd> guess it's a newly coined "word" referring to the charge Barack Obama> recently made public statements that were actually quotes from someone else,> who was not given credit by Obama.> > Ted Moffett> > >> >> > ----- Original Message -----> > *From:* Ted Moffett <starbliss at gmail.com>> > *To:* deb <debismith at moscow.com>> > *Cc:* vision2020 at moscow.com ; donald edwards <donaledwards at hotmail.com>> > *Sent:* Monday, March 10, 2008 9:43 PM> > *Subject:* Re: [Vision2020] The Evangelical Christian Takeover of the> > Military> >> >> > Deb et. al.> >> > The article mentions the comments from US General Boykin in recent years:> >> > http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3199212.stm> >> > "Well you know what I knew, that my God was bigger than his," said Lt Gen> > Boykin. "I knew that my God was a real God, and his was an idol."> >> > However, in my view, everything occurring on our planet is a wholly owned> > subsidiary of Earth Biosphere, Inc. I will not elaborate on this concept,> > knowing full well the incredible can of worms it will open.> >> > Ted Moffett> >> > On 3/10/08, deb <debismith at moscow.com> wrote:> > >> > > Good grief. This is frightening, especially given our involvement in> > > wars in non-christian countries. Given the problems with "don't ask, don't> > > tell", the difficulty of military Pagans killed in action getting their> > > tombstones marked with their religious affiliation, and the dramatic> > > decrease in those willing to be part of the US military as it now functions,> > > you would think these officers might catch a clue. How far our proud> > > military has fallen to be taken over by zealots and bigots.> > >> > > Pained,> > > Debi R-S> > >> > ------------------------------> >> > =======================================================> > List services made available by First Step Internet,> > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994.> > http://www.fsr.net> > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com> > =======================================================> >> >> -------------- next part --------------> An HTML attachment was scrubbed...> URL: http://mailman.fsr.com/pipermail/vision2020/attachments/20080312/85c4bbf2/attachment-0001.html > > ------------------------------> > Message: 5> Date: Wed, 12 Mar 2008 14:45:05 -0700> From: <nickgier at adelphia.net>> Subject: [Vision2020] Progress in Iraq is Temporary or Illusory> To: vision2020 at moscow.com> Message-ID: <16573421.1205358305295.JavaMail.root at web17>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8> > Hail to the Vision!> > It has taken me a while to sort through my Iraq file and then pull various threads together, but below you will find my radio commentary/column on the 5th anniversary of the Iraq war. The 1300-word version is attached or can be read at www.home.roadrunner.com/~nickgier/Iraq08.htm. All six of my Iraq column can be read at /IraqColumns.htm.> > PROGRESS IN IRAQ IS EITHER TEMPORARY OR ILLUSORY> > On Monday March 10, 2008, eight American soldiers were killed in central Baghdad, even though 57 new security stations have been set up around the city. Four more GIs died over the next two days. Over the last two weeks hundreds of Iraqis have been killed in the capital's environs in a spate of suicide bombings. > > Even though violence is down across Iraq, it is up dramatically in Mosul, the third largest city once declared secure by General Petreaus. As of September, 2007, militants again controlled most of the city's districts. On January 23, 2008, 25 tons of explosives were set off, wounding 224 and killing 34 in the largest insurgent bombing of the war. > > In early March, 2008, Iran's president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad received a rousing welcome in Baghdad, the first official state visit from any Mideast leader. Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki declared that the talks were "friendly, positive, and full of trust."> > Iraqi government supports Iran's project to enrich uranium, and it does not perceive it as a threat to its security. Iran has given Iraq $1 billion in loans, and trade and investment is increasing daily. Iranian pilgrims stream over the border to visit the holy sites of Shia Islam in Najaf and Karbala.> > Chas Freeman, former US ambassador to Saudi Arabia, states: "The American military occupation of Iraq has facilitated an Iranian occupation of Iraq." "Instead of isolating the 'rouge state' Iran," says Robert Sheer, "the Bush administration has catapulted the theocrats in Tehran into the center of Mideast political power." > > Ahmadinejad did not travel to the Shiite dominated South, and lack of security was most likely the reason. While British troops sit out at the airport doing nothing, conflict among Shiite militias has increased in Basra, the second largest city. > > In a country once known for the liberation of its women, it is especially troubling to learn that dozens of women have been murdered. The reason is clear: the assassins leave notes saying that they were not dressed properly.> > Violence is down primarily because the Shiite Medhi Army has honored a cease fire order, and tens of thousands of former Sunni insurgents have joined Sahwa, Arabic for "awakening." In return for $300 a month from Uncle Sam, Sahwa forces have agreed to attack Al Qaeda instead of Americans.> > The long term loyalty of the Sahwa is questionable, and the Shia dominated central government does not approve of this risky experiment. As one reporter wrote: "Many believe that large numbers of Sahwa forces are resistance fighters simply riding the surge." > > The creation of Sahwa has dramatically reduced violence in Anbar province, but anti-American sentiment is still high. The chorus of the most popular song in Falluja is "Great was the victory over the Americans." > > A 2007 poll with extensive in-depth questioning found that 31 percent blame the violence on the U.S. while only 18 percent accuse Al Qaeda. In 2004 only 17 percent agreed that attacks on coalition forces were OK, but that figure has now risen to 51 percent.> > The UN High Commissioner for Refugees has estimated that there are a total of 4.2 million displace persons in Iraq, 2.2 million internally and most of the others in Jordan and Syria. Many of those returning have found their houses occupied and their neighborhoods cleansed of either Sunnis or Shias. > > A UN report found that between February, 2006 and October, 2007, more than twice as many Iraqis crossed the border to Syria than came back. Only 14 percent interviewed by the UN said that they were returning because of improved security.> > The surge is not produced the religious or political reconciliation that was its goal; rather, Baghdad is now partitioned by 3-meter concrete walls separating Sunnis and Shias, who have lived together and even married each other for centuries.> > A recent Brookings Institute study concluded that terrorist acts have increased sevenfold since the invasion of Iraq. Islamic militants around the world have answered Bush's call "Bring them on!" with a rousing "Yes, we can!"> > The invasion of Iraq has not only produced more terrorists, but has it has led to many more deaths per capita than under Saddam Hussein. It has not brought anything resembling democracy to the country, even after the sacrifice of 4,000 American lives. > > Progress in Iraq is only temporary, as the cases of Mosul and Basra demonstrate; or, as the rise of an Iraqi-Iranian Shiite alliance proves, illusory.> > > > > ------------------------------> > =======================================================> List services made available by First Step Internet, > serving the communities of the Palouse since 1994. > http://www.fsr.net > mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com> =======================================================> > End of Vision2020 Digest, Vol 21, Issue 64> ******************************************
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