Fleetwood 2010 Pulse, 2010 Icon, Jamboree DSL, Tioga DSL, Jamboree Sport DSL Owner's Manual

2010 Owner’s Manual

6/2009 Pulse - Icon Owner’s Manual Printed in USA (Revised 8/2008)

2010 Pulse - Icon

©

2009 by Fleetwood RV, Inc. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or trans­mitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any infor­mation storage or retrieval system without written permission from Fleetwood RV, Inc.

IMPORTANT - PLEASE READ: Product information, photography and illustrations included in this manual were as
accurate as possible at the time of publication. Materials, design, and specifications are subject to change without
notice. Fleetwood has designed its recreational vehicles for a variety of customer uses. Each vehicle features optimal
seating, sleeping, storage, and fluid capacities. The user is responsible for selecting the proper combination of loads
(i.e. occupants, equipment, fluids, cargo, etc.) to ensure that the vehicle’s weight capacities are not exceeded.

Manufacturing subsidiaries of Fleetwood RV, Inc. build the following motor homes:
American Allegiance • American Eagle • American Heritage • American Tradition • Bounder • Bounder Diesel •
Discovery • Excursion • Expedition • Fiesta • Icon • Jamboree • Jamboree Sport • Pace Arrow • Providence •
Pulse • Quest • Revolution LE • Southwind • Terra • Tioga • Tioga Ranger

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01-1

Inspect and Maintain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01-2

Planning and Preparation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01-2

Owner’s Information Package . . . . . . . . . . . .01-2

Chassis and Vehicle Identification . . . . . . . .01-3

Suspension Alignment and Tire Balance . . . .01-3

After-Market Steering Aid Devices . . . . . . . .01-4

Warnings, Terms and Concepts for

Safe Operation of Your Motor Home . . . .01-4

Event Data Recording Device

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .01-6

Drivers License Requirements . . . . . . . . . . .01-6

WARRANTY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-1

Coverage Provided . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-1

What is Not Covered by This Warranty . . . .02-1

Limitations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-2

Your Rights Under State Law . . . . . . . . . . . .02-2

Dealer’s Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-2

Owner’s Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-2

Manufacturer’s Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-2

Warranty Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-3

Reporting Safety Defects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .02-4

IMPORTANT NOTICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .03-1

Tires . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-8

Tire Inflation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-8

Air Pressure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-9

Underinflation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-9

Air Pressure Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-9

Tire Replacement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-10

If You Get a Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-10

Changing a Flat Tire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-10

Seats and Seat Belts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-11

Air Bags (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-11

Air Bag Supplemental Restraint

System (SRS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-11

Combination Lap and Shoulder Belts . . .05-11

Safety Belt Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-12

Safety Restraints for Children . . . . . . . . . . .05-12

Safety Belts for Children . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-12

Child Seat Tethers (If Equipped) . . . . . . .05-13

Driving and Vehicle Control . . . . . . . . . . . .05-13

Using the Engine to Slow the

Motor Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-14

Maneuvering in Traffic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-14

Rear View Video Monitor (If Equipped) . . .05-15

Body Undercoating . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-15

Fuel and Fuel Systems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-15

Safe Refueling Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . .05-16

Fuel Types and Driveability Issues . . . . .05-16

PULSE-ICON INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . .04-1

Lamps and Bulbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .04-1

Motor Home Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . .04-1

ON THE ROAD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-1

Motor Home Loading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-1

Responsibility for Proper Loading . . . . . .05-1

Some Definitions First . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-1

Towing a Vehicle or Trailer . . . . . . . . . . . .05-2

Dinghy Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-4

Trailer Hitch Connector Wiring . . . . . . . .05-4

Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity and

Load Distribution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-5

How to Weigh Your Loaded Motor Home .05-5

Dangers of Overloading . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-7

Loading Tips . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-7

API Refueling Advisory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-16

Engine Fan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-17

Exhaust System Heat . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-17

Engine Temperature Gauges . . . . . . . . . . . .05-17

Emergency Towing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .05-17

LIVING WITH YOUR MOTOR HOME . . .06-1

Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-1

Effects of Permanent Occupancy . . . . . . . . .06-1

Condensation and How to Control It . . . .06-1

Dripping Ceiling Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-3

Important Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-3

What the RV Owner Can Do . . . . . . . . . . .06-4

Carbon Monoxide Safety Precautions . . . . . .06-5

Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm . . . . . .06-5

00-1

Table of Conten t s

Fire Safety . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-6

Fire Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-6

Smoke Detector/Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-7

Monitor Panel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-7

Leveling System (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . .06-8

Power Entry Step (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . .06-8

Entry and Screen Doors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-8

Patio Awning (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-9

Windows . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-9

Emergency Exit Window(s) . . . . . . . . . . . .06-9

Remote Mirror Control (If Equipped) . . . . . .06-9

Sun Visors (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-9

Pull Shades (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-10

Day/Night Shades (If Equipped) . . . . . . .06-10

Mini-Blinds (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-10

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-10

Exterior Compartments . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-10

Interior Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-11

Slide-Out Rooms (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . .06-11

Interior and Furnishings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-11

Dinette Conversion (with Built-in Table)

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-12

Dinette Conversion (with Free-Standing Table)

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-12

Dinette Conversion

(with Pedestal Table) (If Equipped) . .06-12

Sofa Conversion (If Equipped) . . . . . . . .06-12

Sleeper Sofa Conversion (If Equipped) . .06-12

Bunk Ladder Use . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-12

Folding Doors/Privacy Curtain

Dividers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-13

Interior Lighting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-13

Overhead Vents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .06-13

Folding Chairs (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . .06-14

Free-Standing Furniture (If Equipped) . .06-14

PLUMBING SYSTEMS

AND HOLDING TANKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-1

Fresh Water System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-1

External Fresh Water Hookup . . . . . . . . . .07-1

Filling the On-Board Water Tank . . . . . . .07-1

Draining the Fresh Water Tank . . . . . . . . .07-2

Water Pump . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-2

Water Pump Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-2

Low Point Drains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-2

Troubleshooting the Fresh Water System . .07-3

Leaks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-3

Sanitizing the Fresh Water System . . . . . .07-3

Exterior Shower (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . .07-4

Drinking Water Filter System

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-4

Whole Coach Water Filter System

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-4

Waste Water System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-4

Toilet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-4

Draining the Holding Tanks . . . . . . . . . . .07-5

Black Tank Flush System (If Equipped) . .07-6

Holding Tank Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-7

Cold Weather Usage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .07-7

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-1

Batteries . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-1

Chassis 12-Volt Electrical System . . . . . . . . .08-1

Chassis Bulbs and Fuses . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-1

Fleetwood 12-Volt House and Automotive

System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-1

Battery Disconnect (If Equipped) . . . . . . .08-1

Battery Inspection and Care . . . . . . . . . . .08-2

Battery Charging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-2

Solar Panel (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-3

Selecting a Replacement Battery . . . . . . . .08-3

Auxiliary Start System (If Equipped) . . . . .08-3

120-Volt System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-3

Power Converter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-4

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) .08-4

Generator (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-4

Generator Fuel Supply . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-5

Propane Generator (If Equipped) . . . . . . .08-5

Generator Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-5

Generator Operating Safety Precautions . .08-5

Electronic Climate Control System

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-6

Electrical Wiring Diagrams . . . . . . . . . . . . . .08-6

Motor Home Fuses and Circuit Breakers . . .08-7

00-2

Table of Content s

PROPANE SYSTEM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-1

Propane Safety Precautions . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-1

System Components . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-2

Hoses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-2

Propane Regulator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-2

Using Propane System at Low

Temperatures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-2

Filling Propane Tanks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-3

Propane System Check . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .09-3

Propane Leak Detector/Alarm . . . . . . . . . . . .09-3

Lighting Propane Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . .09-4

APPLIANCES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-1

Water Heater . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-1

Water Heater Bypass Valve . . . . . . . . . . . .10-1

Refrigerator . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-1

Furnace . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-1

Range . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2

Range Exhaust Hood . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-2

Air Conditioner(s) (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . .10-2

Televisions and DVD Players

(If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-3

Additional 12-Volt Equipment . . . . . . . . . . .10-3

Video Equipment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-3

Video Control Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-3

MAINTENANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-1

Exterior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-1

Stains . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-1

Sealant Renewal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-2

Exterior Graphics Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-2

Windows, Doors, Vents and Locks . . . . . . .11-2

TPO Roof System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-2

Cleaning . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-2

Care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-3

Door, Window, Roof Component

and Molding Resealing . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-3

Acrylic Assist Handles (If Equipped) . . . . . .11-3

Interior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-3

Fabrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-3

Solid Surface Top Care (If Equipped) . . . .11-3

Laminate Top Care (If Equipped) . . . . . . .11-4

Walls and Ceiling Panels . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-4

Attaching Accessories to Your

Motor Home . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-4

Plastic/Fiberglass Shower Stall . . . . . . . . .11-4

Floors and Carpeting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-4

Wood Floor (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-4

Engine Access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-5

Exterior Sealants . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-5

Generator Filters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-5

Maintenance Guideline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11-5

TV Antenna . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-3

Antenna Operating Instructions . . . . . . . .10-3

Satellite Dish Antenna (If Equipped) . . . . . .10-4

Telephone Jack (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . . .10-4

Microwave Oven (If Equipped) . . . . . . . . . . .10-4

Washer/Dryer-Ready . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-4

Miscellaneous Appliances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10-4

STORAGE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-1

Storage Checklists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-1

Short-Term Storage (Less than 60 days) . .12-1

Long-Term Storage (Over 60 days) . . . . .12-2

Winterization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-2

Water System Winterizing . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-3

Reactivating the Motor Home

After Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12-4

GLOSSARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13-1

00-3

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INTRODUCTION

Welcome to the recreational vehicle life-style
and the growing family of motor home owners.
We sincerely thank you for choosing a
Fleetwood motor home!



This manual describes many features of your RV and
includes some instructions for its safe use. This man­ual, including photographs and illustrations, is of a gen­eral nature only. Some equipment and features
described or shown in this manual may be optional or
because of the continuous program of product change
conducted by Fleetwood, it is possible that recent prod­uct changes may not be included.



Throughout this manual the term “RV” represents a
“Recreational Vehicle” as defined by the NFPA 1192.
This includes motor homes, fifth wheel trailers, travel
trailers, camping trailers, recreational park trailers,
and truck campers.

Failure to follow proper procedures or install proper
equipment can result in property damage, injury
and/or death.

NOTE

NOTE

WARNING

!

Your motor home has been designed to provide
you with years of carefree, pleasant traveling
and vacationing. It conforms with, or exceeds,
applicable National Fire Protection Association

(NFPA), Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
(units built for Canada only), Federal Motor
Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS), Environ­mental Protection Agency (EPA) and California
Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. The

seal attached just outside the entry door indi­cates compliance with NFPA or CSA standards.

Like all equipment, your motor home will require
care and regular maintenance in order to deliver
maximum value and performance. The dealer will
give you basic operating and maintenance instruc­tions. However, supplement this by reading all
instructional material(s) furnished with the motor
home in the Owner’s Information Package and
the motor home Chassis Operator’s/
Owner’s Guide/Manual. This information out­lines important areas of operation and mainte­nance for you to follow for safe, trouble-free serv­ice from your motor home. Study these materials
carefully. A good working knowledge of your
motor home and how to care for it will help you
enjoy many miles and years of recreational living.

01-1

Introduction

If you have any questions regarding operation,
maintenance, or service, please contact your
dealer immediately so he can assist you. Your
dealer’s Service or Sales Department will han­dle any normal problems which might occur.

Some equipment and features described or
shown in this manual may be optional or not
available on some models.

Because of the continuous program of product
improvement conducted by Fleetwood, it is pos­sible that recent product changes may not be
included in this manual. Specifications may
change without notice. Product information,
illustrations and photography included in this
Owner’s Manual were as accurate as possible at
the time of publication, and are representative of
function and may or may not be specific in their
depiction of actual equipment, fabrics, interior
or exterior decor or design options as installed
on or in your recreational vehicle.

The instructions included in this manual are
intended as a guide, and in no respect extend the
responsibilities of the manufacturing subsidiary,
parent company or affiliates beyond the stan­dard written warranty as presented in this man­ual.

Fleetwood has designed its recreational vehicles
to provide a variety of uses for its customers.
Each vehicle features optimal seating, sleeping,
storage and fluid capacities. The user is respon­sible for selecting the proper combination of
loads to ensure that the recreational vehicle’s
capacities are not exceeded.

INSPECT AND MAINTAIN

Follow a consistent schedule of inspection and
maintenance for your motor home. Your contin­uing safety and comfort depend on it. This man­ual includes a section outlining maintenance
intervals. If you follow the maintenance guide­lines, you will minimize the possibility of fail­ure of any important system or part of your
motor home.

PLANNING AND PREPARATION

Each year millions of Americans embark on
trips using some type of recreational vehicle.
Proper planning of your trip will ensure a pleas­urable experience. A thorough knowledge of
your RV is important if you are going to get the
most out of the convenience and safety items
built into your motor home. Be as familiar with
it as you are with your personal car or truck. If
you have trouble or have questions, please con­sult your dealer.

OWNER’S INFORMATION
PACKAGE

This package contains valuable documents about
your motor home and its equipment and systems.
This Owner’s Manual and the Chassis
Operator’s Manual are in the package. Since this
manual does not cover every possible detail of
equipment and options installed on or in your
motor home, there are booklets and instructional
material in the package that will help you safely
operate, maintain and troubleshoot those items.

Be sure you read all this information and
understand the safety and operating instructions
included in the package. Additionally, you must

follow all maintenance instructions to insure full
warranty coverage. If you decide to sell or trade
your motor home, be sure the new owner
receives all the material in this package.



If your Owner’s Information Package does not con-
tain these items, even if you purchased your motor
home “used,” please call or write Fleetwood and
request the desired or missing information.

NOTE

Fleetwood Owner Relations

P.O. Box 1007

Decatur, IN 46733

1-800-322-8216

01-2

Introduction

CHASSIS AND VEHICLE
IDENTIFICATION

Several numbers are used to identify the vehicle
and components used on the vehicle.

The V.I.N. or Vehicle Identification Number is
assigned by the chassis manufacturer and is the
number used for vehicle registration. The V.I.N.
is found on the Federal Certification Tag attached
in the driver’s compartment. Refer to this infor­mation when ordering parts from the chassis
manufacturer or chassis dealer service center.

The F.I.N. or Fleetwood Identification Number
is located on the tag just outside the main entry
door or on the outside left front side of the motor
home. Use this number when ordering parts
through your Fleetwood dealer.

(Example)

SUSPENSION ALIGNMENT
AND TIRE BALANCE

The front suspension and steering system of this
vehicle was accurately aligned at the factory
before delivery to the dealership. However, after
you have fully loaded the vehicle according to
your personal needs, have the alignment
checked and adjusted, if necessary. To help pre­vent uneven tire wear, check the front-end align­ment periodically.

Please note that front-end alignment after
retail delivery is the owner’s responsibility and
is not covered under the warranty.

(Example)

Located in the driver’s compartment.

Located on the exterior left front side
of the motor home.

01-3

Introduction

Excessive or abnormal tire wear may indicate
worn or misaligned suspension or steering com­ponents, unbalanced or improperly inflated
tire(s) or some other tire/suspension problem.

Alignment can be affected by worn steer­ing/suspension parts or road hazards such as hit­ting a curb, pothole, railroad track, etc.
Improper alignment can cause tires to roll at an
angle and wear unevenly. It may also cause the
vehicle to “pull” to the right or left.

Out-of-balance tires will not roll smoothly and
will cause annoying vibrations and uneven tread
wear such as cupping or flat spots. If you see
uneven tire tread wear or if the vehicle ride
comfort decreases, the tires may need to be bal­anced.

See the Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/
Manual for more information.

AFTER-MARKET STEERING AID
DEVICES

Fleetwood does not sanction or condone the
installation of any steering aid device that is not
approved by our chassis manufacturer’s. Any
add-on device of this type may void the chassis
manufacturer’s warranty on the item or items
affected.

WARNINGS, TERMS AND
CONCEPTS FOR SAFE
OPERATION OF YOUR MOTOR
HOME

Vehicle Crash

Like any other vehicle you may drive, your
motor home can be involved in a vehicle
crash, including a rollover. The motor home
will be damaged and you and others can be
injured or killed. Drive defensively at all
times. DO NOT drive if you are tired, have
been drinking alcoholic beverages, are under
the influence of any controlled substance, or

are taking any medication or drugs that may
impair your sight, hearing, judgment or coor­dination. Pull off the road and park in a safe
area until you can drive safely.

Vehicle Handling

Your motor home is longer, wider and
higher than a typical car or truck you may
be accustomed to driving. Keep this in
mind as you become familiar with driving
your motor home. New motor home own­ers should take special care to learn the
driving and handling characteristics of your
vehicle in safe and familiar surroundings.
The distribution of the weight of your
motor home is designed so it will handle
safely while being driven.

• When loading the motor home, balance
the load front-to-rear and side-to-side.

• Load and secure heavier items lower in
the storage areas than lighter items.

If you fail to properly load your belongings and
supplies, you will defeat the load distribution
design of the motor home, possibly leading to
handling problems and a vehicle crash.

Vehicle Response

When you, the driver, accelerate, brake or
steer the motor home, it responds to these
inputs. If you are faced with an emergency
while driving, the way you respond to the
emergency and the way the motor home
responds becomes more critical. If you
load, alter or maintain your motor home
improperly, it will not respond as it did
when you first received it in an unloaded
condition. Improper loading, alteration,

maintenance and improper driver
responses to emergency conditions can
lead to handling problems and vehicle
crashes.

Vehicle Towing

Your motor home can be equipped with a
hitch designed to allow you to tow vehicles

01-4

Introduction

or other loads behind your motor home.
The maximum amount of weight your
motor home can pull or stop is determined
by the manufacturer of the chassis on
which your motor home is built. Check the

Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/
Manual provided by the motor home chas-

sis manufacturer for the limits on the
weight you can tow.



In most cases the GCWR of the chassis and the fin­ished motor home are the same. In some cases, due
to the equipped hitch receiver, the GCWR may be
reduced. Please refer to the Federal Certification Tag
posted in your motor home for the rated GCWR.

• You may be able to increase the weight of

• You CANNOT increase the towed weight

• Properly load what you tow to avoid a

• Do not attempt to tow something that is

• When driving in mountainous areas,

NOTE

If the Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/
Manual equipped with your motor home

does not provide specific information on
towing weight limits, it is strongly recom­mended that the towed vehicle or trailer be
equipped with a properly installed and oper­ating supplemental brake control system
that operates in combination with the brakes
on your motor home.

any towed load by properly installing on the
towed load a supplemental brake control
system that operates with your motor
home’s braking system. Even with addi­tional brakes, you cannot tow more than the
GTW or GCWR for the chassis under your
motor home. Again, check the Chassis

Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/Manual.

limit by changing the size of your hitch.

vehicle crash.

too heavy for your chassis.

look for and obey highway signs con­cerning grades and curves. Your driving

experience when pulling and stopping a

towed unit on mountain roads will be very
different from what you experience on
level ground.

• State laws in the United States and provin­cial laws in Canada vary concerning tow­ing equipment requirements and limits.
Check the laws in the areas where you
anticipate traveling.

Alterations to Your Motor Home

Many motor home owners like to add a
personal touch to their motor home. But
there is a difference between changing how
your motor home looks versus how it
handles or responds to driver inputs. If you
expect to make any type of alteration to
your motor home, consult a professional
who understands the correct way to do the
alteration and how the alteration will
change or affect the stability, handling,
vehicle response, and overall performance
and safety of your motor home. An

improper alteration that affects vehicle
handling or response can cause a vehicle
crash, and any improper alteration to the
electrical or Propane systems can cause a
fire and can endanger your motor home
and its occupants. Fleetwood, your chassis

and other manufacturers stand behind the
motor home as delivered – NOT as altered
by someone else.

Warning Devices

Your motor home is equipped with warning
devices. Check them before a trip for
proper operation. A disabled warning
device cannot warn you or vehicle occu­pants of a life-threatening danger. Keep
them working and respond to them quickly.

Examples of These Devices Include:

• Carbon Monoxide Detector/Alarm

• Propane Detector/Alarm

• Smoke Detector/Alarm

• Seat Belt Warnings

• Hazard Flashers

01-5

Introduction

• Brake Warning

• Engine Warning

EVENT DATA RECORDING DEVICE

(If Equipped)

SPECIAL NOTICE: Vehicle Event Data
Recording Capabilities.

Motor homes equipped with driver/passenger
airbags, Navigational or Vehicle Avoidance
Systems and/or equipped with certain other
electronic devices may be equipped with event
data recording capabilities.

Your motor home is built on a vehicle chassis
supplied by an automotive manufacturer. For
diagnostic and safety related reasons, this chas­sis comes equipped with electronic modules
(devices).

Certain electronic modules have the capability
to record information about the vehicle, driver,
and passenger such as engine performance,
braking performance, vehicle location, vehicle
speed, and occupant seat belt use, or other data.

The data stored in the electronic modules may
be retrieved by authorized parties using special­ized equipment, for vehicle diagnostic or acci­dent investigation purposes.

Please refer to the chassis manufacturer owner’s
guide and/or (if equipped) electronic device
manufacturers owner’s guide(s), for further
details on event data recording capabilities.

DRIVERS LICENSE
REQUIREMENTS:

Some states require either an endorsement or a
different class of drivers license to operate or
tow a recreational vehicle. License classes are
often based on the size of the vehicle you wish
to drive or the weight of the trailer you wish to
tow. Please refer to your home states vehicle
drivers license authority to determine if there is
such a requirement.

01-6

LIMITED ONE-YEAR WARRANTY

For Motor Homes Manufactured by Subsidiaries of Fleetwood RV,

Inc., Sold in the United States and Canada

COVERAGE PROVIDED

Your new motor home, including the structure,
plumbing, heating and electrical systems, all
appliances and equipment installed by the man­ufacturer, is warranted under normal use to be
free from manufacturing defects in material or
workmanship, when first sold by an authorized
Fleetwood Dealership.

The warranty covers the first retail purchaser
and all transferees during the warranty period
when first sold by an authorized Fleetwood
Dealership. The warranty begins on the date of
original retail delivery or the date the motor
home is first placed into service as a rental,
commercial or demonstrator unit (whichever
occurs first) "Start Date" and extends for the
following periods:

1. For non-structural defects, one (1) year
from the Start Date or until the motor home
reaches 15,000 total miles as determined
by the mileage shown on the odometer,

whichever occurs first.

2. For structural defects, three (3) years from
the Start Date or until the motor home
reaches 45,000 total miles as determined
by the mileage shown on the odometer,
whichever occurs first. Structural defects
are defined only as the motor home’s roof
structure, sub-floor structure, and
Vacubond® walls.

WHAT IS NOT COVERED BY
THIS WARRANTY

This warranty does not cover:

1. The automotive chassis system (including
the chassis and drive train), tires and batter­ies, all of which are covered by the sepa­rate warranties of the respective manufac­turers of these components.

2. Defects caused by or related to:

a. Abuse, misuse, negligence or accident;

b. Failure to comply with instructions con-

tained in the Owner’s Information

Package;

c. Alteration or modification of the motor

home;

d. Environmental conditions (salt, hail,

chemicals in the atmosphere, etc.)

3. Normal deterioration due to wear or expo­sure, such as sealants, fading of exterior
surfaces, fabrics, drapes, and carpet wear,
etc.

4. Motor homes on which the odometer read­ing has been altered.

5. Normal maintenance and service items,
such as light bulbs, fuses, sealants, lubri­cants, etc.

6. Appearance imperfections, or damage to
paint, graphics, exterior materials, or
upholstery that may have occurred prior to
delivery and are normally corrected during
the delivery inspection process at the man-

ufacturing plant or at the dealership.

7. Transportation to and from dealer location.

8. FLEETWOOD SHALL NOT BE LIABLE
FOR ANY (1) INCIDENTAL OR CONSE­QUENTIAL DAMAGES, INCLUDING
BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY CLAIMS
FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, LOSS OF
USE, LOSS OF VALUE, LOSS OF
INCOME, LOSS OF TIME, INCONVEN­IENCE, COMMERCIAL LOSS, BUS
FARES, VEHICLE RENTAL, INCIDEN­TAL CHARGES SUCH AS TELEPHONE
CALLS OR HOTEL BILLS, (2) ANY
OTHER PROPERTY DAMAGE CAUSED
OR ALLEGED TO BE CAUSED BY
MOLD, MILDEW, FUNGUS, DRY ROT
OR ANY MICROBIAL MATTER, OR (3)
LEGAL FEES OR EXPENSES.

9. Motor Homes which are not originally sold
by an authorized Fleetwood dealership, i.e.
sold at auction, repossession, salvaged or
sold in an otherwise distressed condition.

Some states do not allow the exclusion or
limitation of incidental or consequential
damages, so the above limitation or exclusion
may not apply to you.

02-1

Warranty

LIMITATIONS

ANY IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING,
BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE IMPLIED
WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY
AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR
PURPOSE, ARE LIMITED IN DURATION TO
THE DURATION OF THIS WRITTEN
WARRANTY.

Some states do not allow restrictions on how
long an implied warranty lasts, so this limita­tion may not apply to you.

The manufacturer is not responsible for any
undertaking, representation or warranty
made by any dealer or other person beyond
those expressly set forth in this warranty.

YOUR RIGHTS UNDER STATE LAW

This warranty gives you specific legal rights,
and you may also have other rights which
vary from state to state.

DEALER’S OBLIGATIONS

By agreement with the manufacturer, the dealer
is obligated to maintain the motor home prior to
retail sale, to perform a detailed predelivery
inspection and to repair or replace any parts
necessary to correct defects in material or work­manship.

OWNER’S OBLIGATIONS

The owner is responsible for normal mainte­nance as described in the Owner’s Information
Package; ; however, minor adjustments (such as
adjustments to the interior or exterior doors,
cabinet latches, TV antenna control, etc.) will be
performed by the dealer during the first 90 days
after delivery. Thereafter, such adjustments are
the responsibility of the owner as normal main­tenance unless required as a direct result of
repair or replacement of a defective part under
this warranty.

If a problem occurs which the owner believes is
covered by this warranty, the owner shall con­tact the selling dealer, or other authorized

dealer, giving sufficient information to resolve
the matter.

Written notice of defects must be given to the
selling dealer or manufacturer within thirty (30)
days of discovery by owner but no later than ten
(10) days after the expiration of the warranty
period. The owner shall deliver the motor home
to the dealer or an authorized Fleetwood dealer
location for warranty service. See “Warranty
Service,” page 2-3, for additional details.

To the extent allowed or not prohibited by appli­cable law, the manufacturer requires that the
owner first provide it with direct written notifi­cation of any alleged unrepaired defect, or any
other dissatisfaction experienced with the motor
home so the manufacturer has the opportunity to
cure the problem or dissatisfaction itself. Giving
the manufacturer this direct notice and opportu­nity to cure enables the manufacturer to supple­ment prior efforts by its authorized dealers so any
ongoing problem or dissatisfaction can be
resolved or addressed by the manufacturer. The
manufacturer’s written notice should be mailed
to:

Fleetwood Owner Relations

P.O. Box 1007

Decatur, IN 46733

MANUFACTURER’S OBLIGATIONS

Upon receipt of notice of a claim, where the
dealer was unable or unwilling to resolve the
problem, a Fleetwood Service Center will repair
or replace any parts necessary to correct defects
in material or workmanship.

For motor homes manufactured by the following
subsidiaries of Fleetwood RV, Inc.:

For Customer Service assistance, contact:

Fleetwood Owner Relations

P.O. Box 1007

Decatur, IN 46733

1-800-322-8216

02-2

Warranty

DaimlerChrysler Customer Assistance:

PO Box 21-8004

Auburn Hills, Michigan 48321-8004

1-800-992-1997 US

1-800-465-2001 Canada

WARRANTY SERVICE

If you need warranty service or warranty
information, please see the booklets and other
documents included in your Owner’s
Information Package. If you have any
questions about the warranty or what it does or
does not cover, please contact Fleetwood Owner
Relations.

As a part of the predelivery inspection
procedure, the dealer is responsible for road
testing the motor home, noting and correcting
any steering problems and setting correct tire
pressures before delivery.

Fleetwood and its subsidiaries will not be
responsible for front end alignment after this
predelivery inspection has been performed.

For warranty service, you should return your
motor home to the selling dealer. If this is not
possible, you may contact any other authorized
Fleetwood motor home dealer. The service
department at any of the locations listed at the
back of this manual can help you find a dealer
in your area.

If, for some reason, a problem is not handled to
your satisfaction:

1. Discuss any warranty-related problems
directly with the manager and/or owner of
the dealership, giving them an opportunity
to help the service department resolve the
matter for you.

2. If a problem arises that has not been
resolved to your satisfaction by your local
dealer, contact Fleetwood Owner Relations.
The locations are listed in the back of this
manual. Please contact the one nearest you.

3. We sincerely believe that your dealer and

the factory representative will be able to
solve any problem which might arise. If
their combined efforts are not satisfactory,
please send a letter describing the
circumstances to:

Fleetwood Owner Relations

P.O.Box 1007

Decatur, IN 46733

Please include the brand name and serial
number of your motor home. The serial
number is located on the identification tag
on your warranty card.

4. If you wish to call for assistance, please
use this toll-free telephone number:

Fleetwood Owner Relations

1-800-322-8216

There may be times when your motor home will
need repairs or parts while you are on the road.
If your motor home is repaired by a non­authorized repair facility (non-Fleetwood
dealer), be sure to save receipts and especially
any parts that are replaced. These parts will
usually have to be returned to your dealer before
you can be reim-bursed for their cost.

Always make a written list of the motor home
problems or the specific work you want done. If
you’ve had work done that is not on your
maintenance log, let the service advisor know.

If you have a long list of service items that need
attention and you need your motor home very
soon, discuss the situation with the service
advisor, listing the items in order of priority.
This will help the service department manage its
time and will help get you going as quickly as
possible. If required work is not covered under
the warranty, your dealer’s service department
can help you with getting the correct service.

The materials in your Owner’s Information
Package Package contain warranty information
and operating instructions on the various
appliances and components in your motor home.
If you do not have operating instructions for a

02-3

Warranty

particular appliance or component, contact your
dealer. Warranty registration cards for these
items should be filled out and mailed as soon as
possible after you take delivery of your motor
home. When contacting any of the equipment
manufacturers, always have the model and serial
numbers available. Appliance identification
numbers will be found on tags or plates attached
to the appliance.

If you have a warranty or service concern about
the chassis portion of your motor home, you
may go directly to an authorized chassis dealer
for service. This may save you time and effort
as the chassis warranty is administered by the
chassis manufacturer. Consult your area
directory for an authorized claims dealer. If
you are unsure if the issue is chassis related,
please contact your Fleetwood dealer.

The motor home has been thoroughly inspected
before shipment. Your dealer is responsible for
performing a complete predelivery inspection of
the motor home as specified in the Ownercare
delivery checkout.

REPORTING SAFETY DEFECTS

If you believe that your vehicle has a defect
which could cause a crash, injury, or death, you
should immediately inform the National

Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

in addition to notifying Fleetwood Owner
Relations at 1-800-322-8216.

If NHTSA receives similar complaints, it may
open an investigation, and if it finds that a
safety defect exists in a group of vehicles, it
may order a recall and remedy campaign.

To contact NHTSA, you may either call the
Vehicle Safety Hotline toll-free at
1-888-327-4236, (TTY: 1-800-429-9153);
or go to http://www.safercar.gov or write to:

Administrator

National Highway Traffic

Safety Administration

1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE

Washington, DC 20590

You can also obtain other information about
motor vehicle safety from the Hotline.

Please refer to the warranty in the front of this
manual. It explains your rights and obligations,
as well as the rights and obligations of the dealer
and manufacturer. Please read this section
carefully. You will be better informed in case
you have a warranty-related problem, and your
dealer will be better able to get you on the road
again.

02-4

Please pay close attention to these statements
while you read this Owner’s Manual.

In this manual, statements preceded by the fol­lowing words are of special significance:

IMPORTANT NOTICES

!

indicates an imminently hazardous situation
that, if not avoided, will result in death or seri­ous injury.

!

indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.

!

indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if
not avoided, may result in minor or moderate
injury.

DANGER

WARNING

CAUTION

CAUTION

indicates a potentially hazardous situation
which, if not avoided, may result in damage to
the component or vehicle.



indicates points of particular interest for more
efficient and convenient operation.

NOTE

03-1

This page intentionally blank.

PULSE-ICON INFORMATION

LAMPS AND BULBS

Interior - 12-volt

Bedroom reading light ......................1141, 12-volt

Cabover reading light .......................1141, 12-volt

Halogen................................................G4, 12-volt

Range hood......................DWE 40w incandescent

Exterior - 12-volt

Back-up lights...................................1156, 12-volt

Entry step light ...................................194, 12-volt

Front clearance lights .........................194, 12-volt

License plate light ................................67, 12-volt

Luggage compartment light..............1141, 12-volt

Porch lights.......................................1003, 12-volt

Rear clearance lights .........................194, 12-volt

Side marker lights...............................194, 12-volt

Stop/turn/taillights......................P21/5W OSRAM

SYLVANIA #7528

or PHILIPS #12499

MOTOR HOME FUSES AND
CIRCUIT BREAKERS

The 120-volt circuit breakers and 12-volt fuses
are located on three separate panels. The pur­pose of these three panels is to provide electrical
circuit breakers and fuses to interrupt current
flow if a circuit is overloaded.

1. 120-volt House Electrical — This electri­cal panel is located under the bed. This
panel is very similar to a residential panel
with resettable breakers.

2. Fleetwood Automotive 12-volt System —
This panel is located in the under floor
luggage compartment next to the entry step.
This electrical center contains battery dis­connect systems, entry step, fog light, and
some other automotive circuitry.

3. 12-volt Chassis Fuses — This electrical
panel is located under the driver’s seat.

CAUTION

!

Before relamping, disconnect power source by remov­ing fuse or placing circuit breaker and control switch in
OFF position.

Halogen bulbs operate at extremely high tempera­tures and pressures and will shatter if not handled cor­rectly.

Always use a soft dry cloth or cotton gloves when han­dling halogen bulbs.

Do not touch glass area with bare hands. If bulb is
touched with bare hands, wipe the bulb clean with rub­bing alcohol.

Do not use near flammable or combustible materials
and/or objects which may be sensitive to fading or dry­ing.

Use bulbs designed or specific by manufacturer as to
style, wattage and voltage.



Consult Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/Manual
for automotive lamp replacement on chassis cab. This
would include headlamps, turn signals and running
lamps.

NOTE

WARNING

!

Do not install 12-volt fuses or 120-volt breakers with
amperage ratings greater than that specified on the
device or label. Doing so constitutes a fire hazard.

04-1

This page intentionally blank.

ON THE ROAD

State laws in the United States and provincial
laws in Canada vary concerning operator
licensing requirements and vehicle dimen­sional restrictions. Check the laws in the area
where you anticipate traveling.

MOTOR HOME LOADING

Responsibility for Proper Loading

As the operator of this motor home, you are respon­sible for its proper and safe loading. This section is
intended to provide you with helpful information
concerning the loading of your motor home.

Your motor home chassis is designed to carry a
specifically rated maximum weight. This weight
includes everything: the weight of the empty
motor home itself, all occupants and their
belongings, fuel, fresh water, waste water and
anything else that may be in or attached to the
motor home. The specified weights must never
be exceeded. If you do exceed them, you will
change how your motor home handles and
responds, possibly leading to a vehicle crash.

Some Definitions First

Before discussing loading and weighing, we need
to explain some common weight terms. We will
use abbreviations and you should refer back to
these terms if you do not understand what the
abbreviation means.

Designated Seating Capacity
(Canadian units only)

the number of sleeping positions desig­nated equals the seating capacity.

Factory Weight*

is the UVW at the time of shipment from
the factory to the dealer.

GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Rating)*

is the maximum permissible loaded weight
a specific axle is designed to carry.

GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating)*

is the value specified by the motor home
manufacturer as the maximum allowable

loaded weight of this motor home with its
towed trailer or towed vehicle. Towing and
braking capacities may be different. Refer to
Fleetwood and the chassis manufacturer’s
manuals for complete information.

GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating)*

is the maximum permissible weight of this
fully loaded motor home. The GVWR is
equal to or greater than the sum of the
Unloaded Vehicle Weight plus the
Occupant and Cargo Carrying Capacity.

LCCR (Load Carrying Capacity
Reduction)*

is the amount the OCCC is reduced due to
vehicle weight added by the dealer between
vehicle certification and first retail sale.

MGTW (Maximum Gross Towed Weight)*

is the maximum loaded weight of a trailer or
towed vehicle this motor home, with
equipped hitch, has been designated to tow.
Maximum Gross Towed Weight cannot be
increased by changing the trailer hitch.

MTW (Maximum Tongue Weight)*

is the maximum permissible downward
force exerted on the hitch ball by the towed
vehicle coupler.

OCCC (Occupant and Cargo Carrying
Capacity)*

is the available weight capacity for occu­pants and cargo however dealer options
may reduce this by the LCCR.

UVW (Unloaded Vehicle Weight)*

is the weight of a vehicle with maximum
capacity of all fluids necessary for opera­tion of the vehicle, but without cargo, or
accessories that are ordinarily removed
from the vehicle when they are not in use.
UVW does not include occupants and
cargo such as water in the various holding
tanks.

*These ratings are shown on the label which

includes the Federal Certification Tag.

05-1

On The Road

WARNING

!

The heaviest loaded motor home with all passengers,
goods, water, driver and towed vehicle must not
exceed any of the following:

1. The gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR).

2. The gross combination weight rating (GCWR).

3. The front/rear gross axle weight ratings (GAWRs).

4. The individual tire and wheel ratings.

You must not exceed the tire capacities or the
weight factors listed below if you expect to tow
something behind your motor home, either with or
without a dolly. The factors are:

• GCWR - Gross Combined Weight Rating

• MGTW - Maximum Gross Towed Weight

• MTW - Maximum Tongue Weight

• GAWR - Gross Axle Weight Rating

Towing a Vehicle or Trailer

(“Towed Load or Towed Unit”)



Some states and provinces require brakes and safety
chains when towing vehicles. Consult the proper
authorities in the states or provinces through which
you will be traveling.

When you use your motor home to tow, remember
that you must stop the towed load with your motor
home’s brakes. This is critical on hills and in the
mountains where you may encounter sharp curves
and possibly irregular road surfaces. Check your
motor home Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s
Guide/Manual for the maximum weight your
motor home can pull and stop on both level and
steep roads.



In most cases the GCWR of the chassis and the fin­ished motor home are the same. In some cases, due
to the equipped hitch receiver, the GCWR may be
reduced. Please refer to the Federal Certification Tag
posted in your motor home for the rated GCWR.

If the Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/Manual
equipped with your motor home does not provide
specific information on towing weight limits, it is
strongly recommended that the towed vehicle or
trailer be equipped with a properly installed and
operating supplemental brake control system that
operates in combination with the brakes on your
motor home. The supplemental brakes will NOT
allow you to tow more than the listed GCWR for
your motor home. If you cannot stop, you will

crash.

NOTE

NOTE

The ratings for the above factors are all listed
on the Federal Certification Tag posted inside
the motor home.

• Tire Capacity

The tire capacity is dependent upon the infla­tion pressure set at the load applied.

If you expect to tow with your motor home, there
are additional guidelines that you must follow:

• Do not use a load equalizing hitch if your
hitch head receiver rating is below 10,000
lbs. capacity. It could cause structural
damage to the motor home frame
components.

Do not exceed Maximum Tongue Weight

•
as listed on the Federal Certification Tag.
Heavier tongue weights can change your
vehicle’s handling and response, can cause
a vehicle to crash, and will restrict your
coverage under the Ownercare Warranty.

•

Do not tow anything weighing more than the
GTW listed on the Federal Certification Tag.
Heavier towed loads can exceed your chas­sis’ ability to pull and stop the load and
cause a vehicle crash, damage the motor
home structure or drive train, and restrict
your coverage under the Fleetwood or chas­sis manufacturer’s warranty. Changing the
trailer hitch will not increase the tow capac­ity of the motor home.

• Consult the Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s
Guide/Manual, and U.S. state and
Canadian provincial laws for towing weight
limits and for guidelines for installing sup­plemental braking systems that operate with
your motor home’s brakes.

05-2

On The Road

• Towing equipment to consider includes a
weight distribution system, a sway control
system, a brake controller, and a supple­mental brake control system. The weight of
your towed load in comparison to the tow­ing capacity of your motor home should be
evaluated during this consultation.
Installation of tow equipment must be per­formed by a competent installer. Make sure
the installation follow the tow equipment
manufacturer's instructions.

WARNING

!

Do not exceed the rated load of the motor home, or
the rated load of any axle. Exceeding the GVWR,
GAWR, GTW or GCWR of your motor home can
cause handling problems, a vehicle crash, damage
your motor home and void your warranties.

The way your motor home handles and responds
will be affected by the way the towed unit is
loaded. If the tongue weight is too light in rela­tions to the GTW, handling and response will
change and your motor home will operate less
safely. Careful load planning and safe experi­mentation with different loading patterns in
what you are towing can avoid this risk and
make your driving and towing experience safer
and more enjoyable.

Your motor home is equipped with some of the
equipment required to tow a trailer, automobile
dolly, or other towed load.

The equipment supplied with your motor home
is called the "hitch receiver". This component is
attached to the motor home frame. The square
tube opening "receives" any of a wide variety of
hitch head assemblies. The "hitch head" is the
component that includes the hitch ball.

Hitch head assemblies are available in both
"Weight-Distributing" (load-equalizing) and
"Weight-Carrying" types. A weight-distributing
hitch uses spring bars attached to the trailer
tongue A-frame assembly to transfer some of
the trailer tongue weight to both motor home
axles.

A weight-carrying hitch head assembly does not
use spring bars. All of the tongue weight of the
trailer bears down on the hitch assembly which
loads the motor home rear axle. For this reason,
the maximum load you can tow with a weight
carrying hitch head assembly is limited.

In addition to weight-carrying and weight-dis­tributing, your hitch may also have a dinghy
towing rating. This rating will apply should you
tow a motor vehicle with all four wheels down.

The ratings associated with the particular hitch
receiver supplied with your motor home are
noted on the weight tag and on a label affixed to
the hitch receiver.

It is important that the devices which attach to
the hitch receiver equipped with your motor
home are rated to equal or exceed the loads of
your towed trailer, automobile dolly, or other
towed load.

The weight label on your hitch receiver provides
the maximum trailer weight rating and the maxi­mum tongue weight rating. It is important that
these ratings not be exceeded.

Consult with your dealer or towing equip­ment/trailer supplier to determine the correct
type of hitch head assembly, hitch ball and other
tow equipment you should use for towing and
leveling the load you intend to pull.

If you intend to tow, take advantage of reading
and studying literature that is available from
vehicle manufacturers, the National Highway
traffic Safety Administration, equipment manu­facturers, trade associations, and publica­tions/books about how to tow.

WARNING

!

Failure to understand and follow these guidelines as
presented in this section could result in damage to the
motor home frame or body, could cause unstable driv­ing and handling characteristics, and will restrict your
warranty coverage.

05-3

On The Road

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Dinghy Towing

When a motorized vehicle is towed behind a
motor home with all four tires on the ground,
the towed vehicle is often referred to as a
“dinghy”. Vehicle manufacturers produce tow­able cars and trucks that are designed to be
capable of being towed behind a larger vehicle,
such as a motor home, with all wheels down.

Caution should be exercised when selecting a
vehicle for dinghy towing. If not, battery drain
on the electrical system could occur, the trans­mission of the vehicle could be damaged, the
vehicle may be too heavy to pull, among other
concerns.

Before selecting the vehicle that will be towed,
consult the vehicle manufacturers instructions to
ensure the vehicle is approved by the manufac­turer for dinghy (four wheels down) towing.
Any aftermarket products that modify the
dinghy for towing should also be approved by
the vehicle manufacturer.

Make sure that the dinghy weight and attaching
hardware do not exceed the motor home hitch
receiver rating. Make sure that the weight of the
motor home and dinghy together; do not exceed
the gross combination weight rating (GCWR) of
the motor home. Make sure that tow bars and
hitch equipment is rated to handle the weight of
the vehicle you intend to tow.

In addition, the dinghy must be equipped with
its own independent auxiliary brake system that
is activated any time the motor home brakes are
applied. Because of State/Province regulations,
care must be exercised when wiring the dinghy
for all lighting requirements.

Check with the DMV of your State and/or
States (and Provinces) you will be traveling
through for their requirements.

TRAILER HITCH
CONNECTOR WIRING

Trailer Hitch Electrical Connector

(View is looking at the connector on the RV from

the wire harness end. Plug must be removed

from housing to view legend.)

Terminal Circuit
No. Connection

1 Ground
2 Electric Brake*
3 Tail/Clearance
4 Spare
5 Left Turn/Stop
6 Right Turn/Stop
7 Spare

*This circuit is provided to allow the use of a con-

troller for electric brake actuation of a towed trailer
or vehicle.



Due to manufacturing differences between products,
wire color coding may be different than terminal col­ors indicated.

NOTE

05-4

On The Road

Occupant and Cargo Carrying
Capacity and Load Distribution



The Occupant and Cargo Carryi ng Capacit y
(OCCC) print ed on the two tags inside the
motor home is per the Factor y Weight of the
motor home and include s all factor y opti ons.
Dealer added weight, LCCR, is listed on the
same tags in w riting and must be s ubtracted
from the printed OCCC to attain the OCCC at
the t ime of first sale. If any other equi pment is
added after first sale s uch as level ing jacks,
awnings, roof pods, etc., then these items must
also reduce the OC CC.

The occupants and cargo weight you can place in
your motor home is the motor home’s GVWR
minus its current UVW or in other words its
maximum capacity minus the current weight of
your motor home including fluids such as fuel
and propane. When the motor home is being
designed, the number and size of storage com­partments, the liquid tank capacities and number
of belted seating positions are determined for
value and convenience. If you fill all liquid tanks
to capacity, fill all storage compartments and
cupboards to maximum volume and fill all avail­able seating positions with passengers, the motor
home could be overloaded. (See Loading Tips).
Be aware of the weight of the items you store,
where you store the items in your motor home,
and weigh your motor home after it is fully
loaded.

In addition to knowing the overall weight that
can be safely loaded in or attached to the motor
home, you must know how to distribute the
weight so that correct amounts of weight are dis­tributed between the axles or front-to-rear and
also between the wheels or side-to-side. It is also
important to place heavier items in under-the­floor storage or low in the motor home. If you
make the motor home top heavy or much too
heavy on one side, the motor home can be over­turned and crash in a curve, turn or in an emer­gency steering maneuver. When the load is prop­erly distributed, your motor home will handle
and respond safely, and you as the driver can be
more confident and will be more comfortable.

NOTE

If your motor home is improperly loaded, it may
be unsafe to drive, uncomfortable to drive, or
both. Axle load is important and it is recom­mended that you should load your motor home
so that the front axle is loaded to at least 80% of
the front GAWR.

How to Weigh Your Loaded
Motor Home

Refer to your local telephone directory to find a
public weigh station. The following procedures
will help you determine whether your loaded
motor home (complete with cargo, fluids, passen­gers, and driver) is within GAWR, GVWR, and
GCWR limits. When you arrive at a weigh sta­tion, the attendant will guide you through the cor­rect positioning of the motor home on the scales.

Your RV must be weighed fully loaded, that is,
with passengers, food, clothing, fuel, water,
Propane, supplies, etc. Any towed vehicle
(car/pickup, boat or trailer) or item loaded on
brackets on the back of the RV, such as bikes or
motorcycles, should also be included in the
weighing.

The following steps are suggested and are illus­trated on the following pages:

1. Pull onto the scale so that only the front
axle is on the platform (with the end of the
scale midway between the front and rear
axles), and record the scaled weight.

2. Pull forward until the full unit is on the
scale, and record the scaled weight.

3. Pull forward so that only the rear axle is on
the scale (again with the edge of the scale
midway between the front and rear axles),
and record the scaled weight.

If the RV has a rear tag axle, pull forward
so that only the tag axle remains on the
scale, and record the scaled weight.

To determine individual wheel position weights,
it is necessary to repeat the first three steps, but
this time, use only one side of the scale, as
shown on the following pages.

05-5

On The Road

Scale Weight _____________ lbs.

(Step 1 = GAW)

From Fed. Cert. Tag __________ lbs.

GAWR

STEP 1

Scale Weight _____________ lbs.

(Step 2 = GVW)

From Fed. Cert. Tag __________ lbs.

GVWR

STEP 2

Scale Weight _____________ lbs.

(Step 3 = GAW)

From Fed. Cert. Tag __________ lbs.

GAWR

STEP 3

Scale Weight _____________ lbs.

(Step 4)

From Fed. Cert. Tag __________ lbs.

Vehicle Weight
(GCWR – GVW)

STEP 4

To calculate the opposite side of the vehicle
wheel position weight, subtract this side’s
weights from the weights recorded in steps 1, 2
and 3. If there is a towed vehicle, proceed to
step 4 to obtain the “towed vehicle only”
weight.

4. If a boat, trailer or other vehicle is being
towed, it should be weighed and combined
with the towing vehicle’s GVW (Gross
Vehicle Weight) to ensure the total weight
does not exceed the GCWR (Gross
Combined Weight Rating).



Even though the weight of the total axle may be within
the axleʼs rating, it may be overloaded on one side.
This causes one wheel position to be overloaded,
therefore, side-to-side weighing is required.

NOTE

Your RV must remain as level as possible on the
scale (even though an axle or side is not physically
on the scale). Obviously, to obtain the side-to-side
weights, there must be enough space on either side
of the scale to accommodate the RV being par­tially off the scale. You may desire to use wheel
ramps to get the required side-to-side leveling.

If there is a difference in the weights on one
side of the vehicle as compared to weights on
the other side, components (tires, wheels,
brakes, springs, etc.) on the heavier side could
be overloaded, even though the total axle load is
within the GAWR. It is important to redistribute
the load to avoid component failure, as well as
to improve the handling characteristics of the
vehicle. With these actual weights, it is now
possible to compare them against the GAWR,
GVWR, and tire capacities. These actual
weights are also what should be used to help
determine the proper air pressure for the tires.

WEIGHING YOUR MOTOR HOME

To Obtain Individual Axle and Gross Weights:

05-6

WEIGHING YOUR MOTOR HOME

One Side
Scale Weight _____________ lbs.

(Step 1S)

Calculate Other _____________ lbs.
Side Weight (Step 1 - 1S)

Tire Load (lbs.) _____________ lbs.

(See Note*)

Inflation _____________ psi.

(See Note*)

STEP 1S

One Side
Scale Weight _____________ lbs.

(Step 3S)

Calculate Other _____________ lbs.
Side Weight (Step 3 - 3S)

Tire Load (lbs.) _____________ lbs.

(See Note*)

Inflation _____________ psi.

(See Note*)

STEP 3S

*NOTE: Refer to the tire load charts published by the tire manufacturer to determine the
proper inflation pressures recommended for single and dual axles equipped. Always inflate
each axle set to the tire with the higher of the side-to-side loads.

To Obtain Individual Wheel Positions Weights:

On The Road

Dangers of Overloading

Do not overload your RV. In addition to possible
problems with tires, wheels, and springs, there
can be problems of brake failure, drivetrain fail­ure, wheel bearing failure, etc. Moreover, an
overloaded RV uses more fuel, is harder to han­dle, and can lead to driver fatigue. If any com­ponent should fail, it could result in vehicle
damage and/or loss of vehicle control. In addi­tion to the above dangers, there are some states
that require certain motor homes and RVs to uti­lize the Highway Patrol’s weight scales to check
for overloaded axle weights. Citations can be
issued to violators.

Since you may load your motor home differ­ently for different trips, loading and weight pat­terns will change. Periodically reweigh your
motor home and log the weights in this chapter.
Refer to your log as you prepare to load for
future trips.

Loading Tips

• Do not load heavy items on the bumpers.

• Make a loading diagram of your properly
loaded motor home, and then weigh the
properly loaded motor home. The loading
diagram, your loading log and the loaded
motor home weight will help you locate
where specific items are stored, and will
help speed the loading process.

• Secure and brace items so they won’t
move during travel. Generally, load heav­ier items lower.

• Fresh water and waste water weigh over
eight pounds per gallon. Carry only as
much water as needed for travel use or to
balance the load, and whenever practical,
empty the holding tanks before traveling.

• Store emergency items in a readily acces­sible location. As a minimum include a
fire extinguisher, tools, first aid kit, rain
gear, flashlight, highway warning devices,
an electric cord with light, and sturdy
gloves.

05-7

On The Road

WARNING

!

Modification of your vehicle by addition of racks not
originally equipped by the manufacturer to carry addi­tional equipment, vehicles or cargo will reduce your
warranty coverage and may cause personal injury or
property damage.

WARNING

!

Do not store or carry Propane containers, gasoline,
or other flammable liquids inside your motor home.

TIRES

Your motor home is equipped with wheels and
tires selected to match the capacity specifica­tions of the chassis as designed by the chassis
manufacturer. Under normal circumstances and
with proper tire and chassis maintenance, you
should receive thousands of miles of trouble­free service.

Some motor homes accumulate relatively few
miles and therefore the tire age from the date of
manufacture, not mileage, may become the main
tire life determining factor. Motor home tires
normally have a life of 5-7 years, depending on
mileage. However, Fleetwood recommends peri­odic tire inspection by a reputable tire dealer
regardless of tread depth.

Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/Manual or
any tire manufacturer’s information that may be
provided in your Owners’ Information Package
for information on maintenance and tire care. If
no information is provided please contact your
local tire manufacturer’s location for advice.

The maximum cold inflation pressures are stated
on the tire sidewall. The recommended maxi­mum tire inflation pressure for this coach is
shown on the Federal Certification Tag located
on the sidewall near the driver’s seat. To maxi­mize tire performance, consult with the tire
manufacturer’s guidelines or Chassis
Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/Manual for recom­mended tire inflation pressure.



The tire pressures on your motor home were
adjusted at the factory to the tire pressures specified
on the Federal certification tag.

These pressures are specified at full gross vehicle
weight and should be reset to match the weight of
your motor home.

For maximum performance, tire manufacturers pro­vide tire inflation pressure charts so you can match
the tire pressures to the loads on your motor home.

For additional tire pressure information, consult the

Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s Guide/Manual.

NOTE

WARNING

!



When parking your motor home for an extended time,
in storage or camping, you can extend tire life by
parking each tire on a piece of plywood approxi­mately 12 inches square.

NOTE

Tire Inflation

For safety and maximum tire life, vehicle speeds
must be proper, proper inflation pressure must
be maintained, and tread depth and wear must
be monitored. Properly inflated and maintained
tires also contribute to overall motor home sta­bility and safety. Refer to the tire section in your

05-8

For safety and maximum tire life, check and adjust
tire pressure (including the spare, if equipped) at the
beginning of each trip and daily during the trip. Pay
special attention to inside rear duals. Always check
pressure when tires are cold, and do not bleed air
out of warm tires. Follow the tire pressure instruc­tions in the Chassis Operator’s/Owner’s
Guide/Manual or the tire manufacturer’s tire pres­sure chart.



Fleetwood recommends using a high quality tire pres­sure gauge for accurate, repeatable pressure readings.

NOTE