[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 31 (Wednesday, February 14, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 5730-5736]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-3178]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

49 CFR Parts 571 and 575

[Docket No. 96-09, Notice 01]
RIN 2127-AF81


Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, Truck-Camper Loading; 
Consumer Information Regulations, Truck-Camper Loading

AGENCY: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 
Department of Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: This document proposes to rescind Federal Motor Vehicle Safety 
Standard (Standard) No. 126, Truck-camper loading, and combine its 
provisions with 49 CFR 575.103, Truck-camper loading. This action is 
being proposed because a review of all of this agency's standards and 
regulations pursuant to the President's regulatory reinvention 
initiative led the agency to the tentative conclusion that combining 
these two rules into one will make their respective requirements easier 
to understand and apply.

DATE: Comments must be received on or before April 15, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments must refer to the docket number and notice number 
set forth above and be submitted, preferably in 10 copies, to: Docket 
Section, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh 
Street SW, Room 5109, Washington, DC 20590. Docket hours are from 9:30 
a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: For technical issues: Robert M. 
Clarke, Office of Vehicle Safety Standards, National Highway Traffic 
Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5307, Washington, 
DC 20590. Telephone (202) 366-5278, FAX (202) 366-4329. For legal 
issues: Walter Myers, Office of the Chief Counsel, National Highway 
Traffic Safety Administration, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Room 5219, 
Washington, DC 20590. Telephone: (202) 366-2992; FAX (202) 366-3820.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Standard No. 126 was initially established by final rule published 
on August 15, 1972 (37 FR 16497) to provide information that can be 
used by consumers to reduce overloading and improper load distribution 
in truck-camper combinations. The standard requires manufacturers of 
slide-in campers to affix a label to each camper specifying, among 
other things, the maximum weight of the camper and its equipment. The 
standard also requires that the owner's manual for the camper contain a 
picture showing the location of the longitudinal center of gravity of 
the camper when properly loaded. When initially published, the standard 
also required manufacturers of trucks capable of accommodating slide-in 
campers to include in the truck operator's manual a picture showing the 
manufacturer's recommended longitudinal center of gravity for the cargo 
weight rating of the camper and a picture of the proper match of a 
truck and slide-in camper.
    On the same day, August 15, 1972, NHTSA published a notice of 
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to require that slide-in campers 
be identified by a vehicle identification number ``to facilitate any 
future defect notification and recall campaigns that might occur'' (37 
FR 16505).
    In a notice published on December 14, 1972 (37 FR 26605), NHTSA 
adopted the requirement for a vehicle identification number. In the 
same notice, in response to petitions for reconsideration of the final 
rule of August 15, 1972, which established Standard No. 126 (37 FR 
16497), NHTSA withdrew the truck requirements from the standard and 
reissued them in 49 CFR 575.103, a consumer information regulation (37 
FR 26607).
    Pursuant to the March 4, 1994 directive entitled Regulatory 
Reinvention Initiative from the President to the heads of all Federal 
departments and agencies, NHTSA reviewed all its Federal motor vehicle 
safety standards and related regulations. As a result of that review, 
NHTSA identified several standards and regulations, or portions 
thereof, that it would propose to rescind or amend. The agency 
tentatively determined that the camper requirements of Standard No. 126 
and the truck requirements of 49 CFR 575.103 should be combined into 
one regulation as before, but this time as a consumer information 
regulation rather than as a safety standard.

Agency Proposal

a. Truck Camper Loading

    After reviewing the requirements for truck-camper loading, which 
involve labeling and certain information in the owner's manual, the 
agency has tentatively concluded that it serves no useful purpose to 
keep the camper requirements separate from the truck requirements in 
the CFR. The agency believes that it would be easier, more convenient, 
and more efficient for manufacturers, regulators, and the public to 
apply those provisions if they were combined rather than maintained as 
separate provisions in the CFR. Indeed, placing them together is 
appropriate since their subject matter is so closely related. 
Accordingly, the agency proposes to rescind Standard No. 126 and 
consolidate its requirements into 49 CFR 575.103.

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b. Slide-in Camper Vehicle Identification Number

    As stated in the Background discussion above, Standard No. 126 
requires camper manufacturers to assign a vehicle identification number 
(VIN) to each slide-in camper they produce. Specifically, paragraph 
S5.1.1(e) provides that manufacturers must assign a number to each 
slide-in camper ``for identification purposes consisting of arabic 
numerals, roman letters, or both.'' The same paragraph further provides 
that no two campers produced within a 10-year period shall have the 
same identification number.
    The final rule of December 14, 1972 stated that the purpose of the 
camper VIN was to increase the accuracy and efficiency of recall 
campaigns conducted by manufacturers to remedy safety defects. However, 
out of the 26 recalls that have been conducted under Standard No. 126 
since its inception in 1972, none have involved or relied on the camper 
VIN. Information available to NHTSA discloses that while some camper 
manufacturers use a 17-digit VIN similar to the VIN required on 
vehicles by Standard No. 115 and 49 CFR Part 565, others combine the 
camper VIN and the camper serial number. Thus, there is no uniformity 
in the industry as to the application of the camper VIN. Agency 
experience in past slide-in camper recalls has been that the 
manufacturer's model and serial numbers are sufficient to identify the 
campers and/or the models involved in the recall. NHTSA has tentatively 
concluded, therefore, that requiring slide-in campers to have a VIN is 
redundant and does not serve its intended purpose. Accordingly, NHTSA 
proposes to delete the requirement for a vehicle identification number 
on slide-in campers.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This rulemaking document was not reviewed under E.O. 12866, 
Regulatory Planning and Review. NHTSA has considered the impact of this 
rulemaking action under the DOT's regulatory policies and procedures 
and has determined that it is not ``significant'' within the meaning of 
those policies and procedures.
    The amendments proposed in this rulemaking action are intended to 
reorganize certain existing requirements and to eliminate a separate, 
unneeded requirement, thereby simplifying and streamlining the body of 
Federal regulations. The agency estimates that there would be no cost 
impact or lead time effects for either manufacturers, dealers, or 
consumers.
    Elimination of the requirement for assigning and affixing a camper 
VIN would result in only minimal cost savings. Currently, camper 
manufacturers are required to place the camper VIN on the label 
containing other information about campers. Since camper manufacturers 
would continue to be required to place that label on their campers, 
being relieved of the necessity of placing a camper VIN on the label 
would at most enable the manufacturers to use a slightly smaller label.
    Accordingly, the agency believes that impacts would be so minimal 
as not to warrant the preparation of a full preliminary regulatory 
evaluation.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    NHTSA has also considered the impacts of this notice under the 
Regulatory Flexibility Act. I hereby certify that this proposed rule 
would not have a significant economic impact on a substantial number of 
small entities. For the reasons stated above, this proposal would have 
no significant impact on manufacturers of slide-in campers and trucks 
capable of accommodating slide-in campers, thus would have no impact on 
the costs of those products. Accordingly, the agency has not prepared a 
preliminary regulatory flexibility analysis.

Executive Order 12612 (Federalism)

    This action has been analyzed in accordance with the principles and 
criteria contained in Executive Order 12612, and it has been determined 
that the proposed rule would not have sufficient Federalism 
implications to warrant preparation of a Federalism Assessment. No 
state laws would be affected.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    In accordance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1980, Pub. L. 96-
511, the agency notes that there are no information collection 
requirements associated with this rulemaking action.

Executive Order 12778 (Civil Justice Reform)

    This proposed rule would not have any retroactive effect. Under 49 
U.S.C. 30103(b), whenever a Federal motor vehicle safety standard is in 
effect, a state or political subdivision thereof may prescribe or 
continue in effect a standard applicable to the same aspect of 
performance of a motor vehicle only if the state's standard is 
identical to the Federal standard. However, the United States 
government, a state or political subdivision thereof may prescribe a 
standard for a motor vehicle or motor vehicle equipment for its own use 
that imposes a higher performance requirement than that required by the 
Federal standard. 49 U.S.C. 30161 sets forth a procedure for judicial 
review of final rules establishing, amending or revoking Federal motor 
vehicle safety standards. This section does not require submission of a 
petition for reconsideration or other administrative procedures before 
parties may file suit in court.

Comments

    Interested persons are invited to submit comments on the proposal. 
It is requested but not required that comments be submitted in 10 
copies.
    Comments must not exceed 15 pages in length (49 CFR 553.21). This 
limitation is intended to encourage commenters to detail their primary 
arguments in a concise fashion. Necessary attachments may be appended 
to these submissions without regard to the 15-page limit.
    If a commenter wishes to submit certain information under a claim 
of confidentiality, 3 copies of the complete submission, including the 
purportedly confidential business information, should be submitted to 
the Chief Counsel, NHTSA, at the street address given above, and 7 
copies from which the purportedly confidential information has been 
deleted should be submitted to the Docket Section. A request for 
confidentiality should be accompanied by a cover letter setting forth 
the information specified in 49 CFR Part 512, the agency's confidential 
business information regulation.
    All comments received before the close of business on the comment 
closing date indicated above for the proposal will be considered, and 
will be available to the public for examination in the docket at the 
above address both before and after the closing date. To the extent 
possible, comments filed after the closing date will also be 
considered. Comments received too late for consideration in regard to 
the final rule will be considered as suggestions for further rulemaking 
action. The agency will continue to file relevant information in the 
docket as it becomes available after the closing date, and it is 
recommended that interested persons continue to examine the docket for 
new material.
    Those persons desiring to be notified upon receipt of their 
comments in the docket section should enclose a self- addressed, 
stamped postcard in the envelope with their comments. Upon receiving 
the comments, the docket 

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supervisor will return the postcard by mail.

List of Subjects

49 CFR Part 571

    Imports, Motor vehicle safety, Motor vehicles, Rubber and rubber 
products, Tires.

49 CFR Part 575

    Consumer protection, Motor vehicle safety, Reporting and 
recordkeeping requirements, Tires.

    In consideration of the foregoing, 49 CFR Parts 571 and 575 would 
be amended as follows:

PART 571--FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARDS

    1. The authority citation for Part 571 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.


Sec. 571.126  [Removed]

    2. Section 571.126 would be removed.

PART 575--CONSUMER INFORMATION REGULATIONS

    3. The authority citation for Part 575 would continue to read as 
follows:

    Authority: 49 U.S.C. 322, 30111, 30115, 30117, and 30166; 
delegation of authority at 49 CFR 1.50.

    4. Section 575.103 would be revised to read as follows:


Sec. 575.103  Truck-camper loading.

    (a) Scope. This section requires manufacturers of slide-in campers 
to affix to each camper a label that contains information relating to 
identification and proper loading of the camper and to provide more 
detailed loading information in the owner's manual. This section also 
requires manufacturers of trucks that would accommodate slide-in 
campers to specify the cargo weight ratings and the longitudinal limits 
within which the center of gravity for the cargo weight rating should 
be located.
    (b) Purpose. The purpose of this section is to provide information 
that can be used to reduce overloading and improper load placement in 
truck-camper combinations and unsafe truck- camper matching in order to 
prevent accidents resulting from the adverse effects of these 
conditions on vehicle steering and braking.
    (c) Application. This section applies to slide-in campers and to 
trucks that are capable of accommodating slide-in campers.
    (d) Definitions. Camper means a structure designed to be mounted in 
the cargo area of a truck, or attached to an incomplete vehicle with 
motive power, for the purpose of providing shelter for persons.
    Cargo Weight Rating means the value specified by the manufacturer 
as the cargo-carrying capacity, in pounds or kilograms, of a vehicle, 
exclusive of the weight of occupants in designated seating positions, 
computed as 150 pounds or 68 kilograms times the number of designated 
seating positions.
    Slide-in Camper means 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.
    (e) Requirements.
    (1) Slide-in Camper.
    (i) Labels. Each slide-in camper shall have permanently affixed to 
it, in such a manner that it cannot be removed without defacing or 
destroying it, and in a plainly visible location on an exterior rear 
surface other than the roof, steps, or bumper extension, a label 
containing the following information in the English language lettered 
in block capitals and numerals not less than 2.4 millimeters (three 
thirty-seconds of an inch) high, of a color contrasting with the 
background, in the order shown below and in the form illustrated in 
Figure 1 to this section.
    (A) Name of camper manufacturer. The full corporate or individual 
name of the actual assembler of the camper shall be spelled out, except 
that such abbreviations as ``Co.'' or ``Inc.'' and their foreign 
equivalents, and the first and middle initials of individuals may be 
used. The name of the manufacturer shall be preceded by the words 
``Manufactured by'' or ``Mfd by.''
    (B) Month and year of manufacture. It may be spelled out, such as 
``June 1995'' or expressed in numerals, such as ``695.''
     (C) The following statement completed as appropriate:
    ``Camper weight is ________ kg. (________ lbs.) maximum when it 
contains standard equipment, ________ liters (________ gal.) of water, 
________ kg. (________ lbs.) of bottled gas, and ________ cubic meters 
(________ cubic ft.) refrigerator (or icebox with ________ kg. 
(________ lbs.) of ice, as applicable). Consult owner's manual (or data 
sheet, as applicable) for weights of additional or optional 
equipment.''
    (D) ``Liters (or gal.) of water'' refers to the volume of water 
necessary to fill the camper's fresh water tanks to capacity. ``Kg. (or 
lbs.) of bottled gas'' refers to the amount of gas necessary to fill 
the camper's bottled gas tanks to capacity. The statement regarding a 
``refrigerator'' or ``icebox'' refers to the capacity of the 
refrigerator with which the vehicle is equipped or the weight of the 
ice with which the icebox may be filled. Any of these items may be 
omitted from the statement if the corresponding accessories are not 
included with the camper, provided that the omission is noted in the 
camper owner's manual as required in paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this 
section.
     (ii) Owner's manual. Each slide-in camper manufacturer shall 
provide with each camper a manual or other document containing the 
information specified in paragraphs (e)(1)(ii)(A) through (F) of this 
section.
    (A) The statement and information provided on the label as 
specified in paragraph (e)(1)(i) of this section. Instead of the 
information required by paragraphs (e)(1)(i)(B) and (C) of this 
section, a manufacturer may use the statements ``See camper 
identification label located (as applicable) for month and year of 
manufacture.'' If water, bottled gas, or refrigerator (icebox) has been 
omitted from this statement, the manufacturer's information shall note 
such omission and advise that the weight of any such item when added to 
the camper should be added to the maximum camper weight figure used in 
selecting an appropriate truck.
    (B) A list of other additional or optional equipment that the 
camper is designed to carry, and the maximum weight of each if its 
weight is more than 9 kg. (20 lbs) when installed.
    (C) The statement: ``To estimate the total cargo load that will be 
placed on a truck, add the weight of all passengers in the camper, the 
weight of supplies, tools, and all other cargo, the weight of installed 
additional or optional camper equipment, and the manufacturer's camper 
weight figure. Select a truck that has a cargo weight rating that is 
equal to or greater than the total cargo load of the camper and whose 
manufacturer recommends a cargo center of gravity zone that will 
contain the camper's center of gravity when it is installed.''
    (D) The statements: ``When loading this camper, store heavy gear 
first, keeping it on or close to the camper floor. Place heavy things 
far enough forward to keep the loaded camper's center of gravity within 
the zone recommended by the truck manufacturer. Store only light 
objects on high shelves. Distribute weight to obtain even side-to-side 
balance of the loaded vehicle. Secure loose items to prevent weight 
shifts that could affect the balance of your vehicle. When the truck-
camper is loaded, drive to a scale and weigh on the front and on the 
rear wheels separately to determine axle loads. The load on an axle 
should not exceed its gross axle weight rating 

[[Page 5733]]
(GAWR). The total of the axle loads should not exceed the gross vehicle 
weight rating (GVWR). These weight ratings are given on the vehicle 
certification label that is located on the left side of the vehicle, 
normally on the dash panel, hinge pillar, door latch post, or door edge 
next to the driver on trucks manufactured on or after January 1, 1972. 
If weight ratings are exceeded, move or remove items to bring all 
weights below the ratings.''
    (E) A picture showing the location of the longitudinal center of 
gravity of the camper within an accuracy of 5 centimeters (2 inches) 
under the loaded condition specified in paragraph (e)(1)(i)(D) of this 
section in the manner illustrated in Figure 2 of this section.
    (F) A picture showing the proper match of a truck and slide-in 
camper in the form illustrated in Figure 3 to this section.
    (2) Trucks.
     (i) Except as provided in paragraph (e)(2)(ii) of this section, 
each manufacturer of a truck that is capable of accommodating a slide-
in camper shall provide to the purchaser in the owner's manual or other 
document delivered with the truck, in writing and in the English 
language, the information specified in paragraphs (e)(2)(i) (A) through 
(E) of this section.
    (A) A picture showing the manufacturer's recommended longitudinal 
center of gravity zone for the cargo weight rating in the form 
illustrated in Figure 4 to this section. The boundaries of the zone 
shall be such that when a slide-in camper equal in weight to the 
truck's cargo weight rating is installed, no GAWR of the truck is 
exceeded.
    (B) The truck's cargo weight rating.
    (C) The statements: ``When the truck is used to carry a slide-in 
camper, the total cargo load of the truck consists of the 
manufacturer's camper weight figure, the weight of installed additional 
camper equipment not included in the manufacturer's camper weight 
figure, the weight of camper cargo, and the weight of passengers in the 
camper. The total cargo load should not exceed the truck's cargo weight 
rating and the camper's center of gravity should fall within the 
truck's recommended center of gravity zone when installed.''
    (D) A picture showing the proper match of a truck and slide-in 
camper in the form illustrated in Figure 3 to this section.
    (E) The statements: ``Secure loose items to prevent weight shifts 
that could affect the balance of your vehicle. When the truck camper is 
loaded, drive to a scale and weigh on the front and on the rear wheels 
separately to determine axle loads. Individual axle loads should not 
exceed either of the gross axle weight ratings (GAWR). The total of the 
axle loads should not exceed the gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR). 
These ratings are given on the vehicle certification label that is 
located on the left side of the vehicle, normally the dash, hinge 
pillar, door latch post, or door edge next to the driver. If weight 
ratings are exceeded, move or remove items to bring all weights below 
the ratings.''
    (ii) If a truck would accommodate a slide-in camper but the 
manufacturer of the truck recommends that the truck not be used for 
that purpose, the information specified in paragraph (E) of this 
section shall not be provided but instead the manufacturer shall 
provide a statement that the truck should not be used to carry a slide-
in camper.

Mfd. By: (Camper Manufacturer's Name)

(Month and Year of Manufacture)

    Camper weight is ________ kg (________ lb) maximum when it contains 
standard equipment, ________ liters (________ gal) of water, ________ 
kg (________ lb) of bottled gas, and ________ cubic meters (________ 
cubic ft) refrigerator (or icebox with ________kg (________lb) of ice, 
as applicable). Consult owner's manual (or data sheet as applicable) 
for weights of additional or optional equipment.

Figure 1. Label for Camper

BILLING CODE 4910-59-P

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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP14FE96.000



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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP14FE96.001



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[GRAPHIC] [TIFF OMITTED] TP14FE96.002



BILLING CODE 4910-59-C
    Issued on February 8, 1996.
Barry Felrice,
Associate Administrator for Safety Performance Standards.
[FR Doc. 96-3178 Filed 2-13-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-59-P