Axle Weight

[1L243]

Should combined axle weight be greater than rated GVW? In my case my axles are rated at 4400(x2) 8800 and my GVW is 9680.

[1L243]

The last time I weighed in the trailer axles came in at 8150. The rest of the weight sits on the truck as tongue weight of 1450.

That gets me just under the the rated axle combined weight of 8800 and just under the 9680 Gross trailer weight. I was thinking originally that the axles should exceed the combined trailer weight but I was not taking into account the tongue weight.

Good thing I only carry one bike or I would have to leave the beer at home...

[Vinman02]

wa8yxm wrote:
THat sounds like a good design to me (Combined axle weight greater than max vehicle weight) Gives you a bit more flexibility in loading the rig.

I'd be worried if the combined axle weight was LESS.

The combined axle weight IS less than the GVW.

[DrewE]

rk911 wrote:

DrewE wrote:
...For a car or truck or motorhome, the sum of the axle weight ratings should not be less than the GVWR. Often but not always they will be higher, giving some flexibility in weight balance when loading to the maximum rated load.

I've seen up to a 500-lb difference between the GVWR and sum of the GAWRs on a MH. the difference is almost always the max tongue weight.

This has me a bit befuddled...

A motorhome has no tongue to carry some of its weight. If there's a hitch, any tongue weight of the attached applied to the hitch would "count" as vehicle weight, and needs to be accounted for in the GVWR and the GAWRs. The rest of the weight of the trailer is, of course, carried on the trailer's wheels.

I would be quite surprised to see any motorhome where the GVWR is greater than the sum of the GAWRs. There would be no safe way to load it to the maximum GVWR (or, more precisely, no way to do so without overloading an axle), which suggests that rating is improperly assigned.

[wa8yxm]

THat sounds like a good design to me (Combined axle weight greater than max vehicle weight) Gives you a bit more flexibility in loading the rig.

I'd be worried if the combined axle weight was LESS.

[Vinman02]

ppine wrote:
What happens when you park the trailer and disconnect it from your Tow Vehicle ? Then your exceeding the GVW for sure.

Not really since the tongue is still supported independently of the axles.

[ppine]

What happens when you park the trailer and disconnect it from your Tow Vehicle ? Then your exceeding the GVW for sure.

[rk911]

DrewE wrote:
...For a car or truck or motorhome, the sum of the axle weight ratings should not be less than the GVWR. Often but not always they will be higher, giving some flexibility in weight balance when loading to the maximum rated load.

I've seen up to a 500-lb difference between the GVWR and sum of the GAWRs on a MH. the difference is almost always the max tongue weight.

[1L243]

My tongue weight runs around 1400#

[phillyg]

If your tongue weight is 880lbs or less you should be okay WRT GVW. You still need to weigh your axles, then just tongue, to make sure. TT tongue weight should be within 9-15% of your actual towed weight.

[ppine]

YOu have a problem.

[Lwiddis]

Too close for my comfort.

[12th_Man_Fan]

You have to take your tongue weight off of that amount. Not sure the % of GVW on a TT.

[DrewE]

For a trailer, some of the weight is carried by the tongue. Your axles would appear to be a little bit under their weight ratings when the trailer is at its gross vehicle weight rating.

For a car or truck or motorhome, the sum of the axle weight ratings should not be less than the GVWR. Often but not always they will be higher, giving some flexibility in weight balance when loading to the maximum rated load.