GVWR greater than axle rating?!?! Is this okay? Please exlain.

[phumpher]

Greetings,

So, while reading the label on the new to us trailer;

I notice that the GVWR is greater than axle rating.



Is this okay?

Seems to me that it would be very easy to overload the axles.
And still be under the GVWR for the trailer, and within the towing and payload ratings for the TV.
How can this not be a liability?

And, what would you do about it if it was your trailer?

[alias100]

Greetings,

So, while reading the label on the new to us trailer;

I notice that the GVWR is greater than axle rating.



Is this okay?

I would guess they are figuring the hitch of the tow vehicle will be taking at least 10% of the trailer's weight.

[alias100]

Is this okay?

I would guess they are figuring the hitch of the tow vehicle will be taking at least 10% of the trailer's max weight leaving the rest for the axles.

[phumpher]

Okay.

But why run the axles near their max?
What would be wrong with having a bit of a safety margin?
Using axles that have a higher weight rating?

[Jerryr]

What alias100 stated. Subtract pin/tongue weight from GVWR and that is weight the axles carry.

Typical, My Reflection 337RLS has a GVWR of 13,995 lbs with 6,000 lb axles. Loaded pin weight is 2,800 lbs so axles “only” carry 5,597 on each 6000 lb axle. 5597+5597+2800= 13,994 lbs.

[alias100]

Okay.

But why run the axles near their max?
What would be wrong with having a bit of a safety margin?
Using axles that have a higher weight rating?

Using heavier duty axles would cut into profit.

[Scott'n'Wendy]

Okay.

But why run the axles near their max?
What would be wrong with having a bit of a safety margin?
Using axles that have a higher weight rating?

I agree with you. But, All RV manufacturers run pretty close to the rating on axles. As for safety 'margin', there is probably some safety margin in the 3500# rating? Like they aren't going to fold up on you if they see 3600# occasionally.

[xrated]

I agree with you. But, All RV manufacturers run pretty close to the rating on axles. As for safety 'margin', there is probably some safety margin in the 3500# rating? Like they aren't going to fold up on you if they see 3600# occasionally.

Momentum triple axle trailers are definitely the exception. My Momentum394M.....GVWR = 20,000 lbs. Three axles rated at 7,000 lbs each for a total of 21,000 lbs. Six tires with a 4080 lb rating when inflated to the 110 psi sidewall number for a total of....8160 per axle.....all three axles with six tires = 24,480 lbs.

So if the trailer is loaded all the way up to the 20K GVWR and using the 20% "guesstimation" for pin weight would put 4000 lbs of pin weight on the truck, leaving 16,000 lbs on the trailer axles. 16,000 divided by 3 axles = 5,333 lbs per axle, which is 1667 lbs per axle under the axle rating.

Tires....24,480 lbs capacity minus the weight on all six tires 16,000 lbs = 8480 lbs excess capacity or 1,413 lbs per tire....or 2,826 lbs excess capacity per axle.

The above numbers are of course subject to tire age, wear, and pressure in the tire. Those numbers are also assuming that there is equal loading on the axles/tires....both front to rear and side to side.....And we all KNOW that simply doesn't exist.....well, maybe once in a blue moon, but it does show that some trailers are actually built with adequate axles/tires load capacity ratings. I researched this before buying my triple axle toy hauler...vs...a tandem axle toy hauler and was impressed enough with the triple axle ratings and that is what I went with.

[jleonard]

Greetings,

So, while reading the label on the new to us trailer;

I notice that the GVWR is greater than axle rating.



Is this okay?

Seems to me that it would be very easy to overload the axles.
And still be under the GVWR for the trailer, and within the towing and payload ratings for the TV.
How can this not be a liability?

And, what would you do about it if it was your trailer?

As a mechanical engineer, I would consider that a huge design error.
I would not be happy if it were my trailer.

[Hoopy Frood]

As a mechanical engineer, I would consider that a huge design error.
I would not be happy if it were my trailer.

With the exception of triple axle trailers, these units are rarely overbuilt. Those numbers are pretty much the norm.