THE CERTIFICATION LABEL ON OUR 2018 GULF STREAM VINTAGE CRUISER LISTS THE GVWR AS 7480 LBS. (2 AXLES WITH A STATED WEIGHT RATING OF 3500 EACH AND A TONGUE WEIGHT OF 480 LBS). IN A SAFETY RECALL, GULF STREAM ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THE CERTIFICATION LABEL WAS INCORRECT; THE ACTUAL WEIGHT RATING FOR EACH AXLE WAS 2800 LBS. THIS REDUCED THE GVWR TO 6080 LBS., THUS REDUCING THE NET CARRYING CAPACITY FROM 2847 LBS. TO 1447 LBS. THE REMAINING CAPACITY--AFTER SUBTRACTING 232 LBS. FOR THE WEIGHT OF THE POTABLE WATER IN THE TANK AND WATER HEATER--DROPPED TO JUST 1165 LBS., WHICH IS ONLY 45% OF THE STATED CAPACITY OF 2565 LBS. IN THE RECALL, GULF STREAM STATES THAT "THE RVS COULD POTENTIALLY BE OVERLOADED SHOULD THE CONSUMER RELY ON THE INFORMATION AS STATED ON THE ORIGINALLY APPLIED FEDERAL WEIGHT LABEL.' RATHER THAN REPLACE THE SMALLER, INCORRECT AXLE WITH THE AXLE STATED ON THE FEDERAL LABEL, GULF STREAM OPTED TO SIMPLY SEND TO THE OWNERS OF ALL AFFECTED VEHICLES A LABEL THAT REVISES GVWR, NCC AND RC BASED ON AN AXLE WEIGHT RATING OF 2800 LBS. THIS IS NOT ONLY DECEPTIVE (MY WIFE AND I PURCHASED A VEHICLE WE THOUGHT WOULD SAFELY CARRY 1400 MORE LBS.) BUT ALSO DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY IF THE BLACK WATER & GRAY WATER TANKS LOCATED IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE ARE FULL. TWO FULL 30-GALLON TANKS WOULD ADD APPROXIMATELY 498 POUNDS, REDUCING THE MAXIMUM ALLOWABLE COMBINED WEIGHT TO 667 LBS (1165-498) FOR FOOD & CLOTHING FOR UP TO 5 PEOPLE, PLUS ACCESSORIES LIKE A BATTERY, TV AND GENERATOR. THAT REALLY IS MOOT. THE DANGEROUS REALITY IS THAT 667 LBS OF RC MAKES IT IMPOSSIBLE TO SAFELY LOAD THE RV WHEN ALL 3 WATER TANKS ARE FULL, SINCE IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO COUNTERBALANCE THE COMBINED WEIGHT OF THE TANKS AND WATER HEATER (730 LBS.) ON THE FRONT AXLES WITHOUT GOING OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT--EVEN IF THE RV IS EMPTY. GULF STREAM NEEDS TO INSTALL THE AXLES LISTED ON THE FEDERAL LABEL.
- NHTSA ID
- 11010755
- Incident
- May 25, 2017