Weight on Axles

[kpsutton]

We are looking at purchasing the Grand Design 355TH. It has a GVWR of 18,000 lbs. There are only 2 axles at 8000 lbs. I am worried that the GVWR of this rig will be over weight for the 2 axles. Does anyone else have this rig and if so have you seen any issues with this?

[huntr70]

You have over 3000 lbs on the empty pin weight, so well under GVW on the axles.

[notsosan]

At a 18K GVW you would be looking at over 3000 lbs on the pin leaving around 15,000 or less on the axles. You will find very few if any 5th wheels these days that can support their entire GVWR on the axles alone.

[Bamaman]

Your toy haulers just about always are long and heavy, not including the load in the back end. In this case, you're looking at dry weight of 13,800 lbs. with a Hitch Weight of 3400 lbs.--or 10,400 on the 4 wheels. Two 7K axles will certainly handle that.

It's important to have a really good diesel tow vehicle when you tackle toy haulers, as they're far above the pin weight any 3/4 ton truck will handle.

[thompsons 369rl]

At a 18K GVW you would be looking at over 3000 lbs on the pin leaving around 15,000 or less on the axles. You will find very few if any 5th wheels these days that can support their entire GVWR on the axles alone.

If the payload capacity for the trailer is not exceeded, the weight on the axels should be within the axel capacity. That is how they are designed. in other words, if you subtract the pin weight from the gross vehicle weight, that would be the weight the axels carry. it should be within the the axel capacity. In my case, with a fully loaded trailer with empty holding tanks, the GVW as checked on the truck scales was 15,002. If you subtract the pin weight of 3492 the weight on the trailer axels was 11,510. that's well below the 14,000 capacity. Even if I added the weight of full tanks at say 1100 lbs, still within axel ratings......but now I would be worried about my trucks abilty to tow it

[notsosan]

If the payload capacity for the trailer is not exceeded, the weight on the axels should be within the axel capacity. That is how they are designed.

Agreed. 15 to 20% of GVW on the pin is desired for stability and that will keep the axle weight well within limits.