Interpretation ID: 77-3.15

TYPE: INTERPRETATION-NHTSA

DATE: 06/30/77

FROM: AUTHOR UNAVAILABLE; Joseph J. Levin Jr.; NHTSA

TO: Matt Kolb

TITLE: FMVSR INTERPRETATION

TEXT: This responds to your April 18, 1977, letter asking whether our regulations pertaining to truck-camper loading apply to trucks designed to haul fifth-wheel trailers.

Truck manufacturers are required to supply information pertaining to the cargo weight rating and longitudinal limits for the center of gravity of those vehicles capable of accommodating slide-in campers (Code of Federal Regulations, Volume 49, Part 575.103, Truck-camper loading). Slide-in camper is defined as "a camper having a roof, floor, and sides, designed to be mounted on and removable from the cargo area of a truck by the user." The purpose of this information requirement is to lessen the possibility of vehicle overloading. Since fifth-wheel trailers do not fall within the definition of slide-in camper, the regulations pertaining to truck-camper loading do not apply to vehicles designed to haul these trailers.