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Don_Z's avatar
Don_Z
Explorer
Oct 01, 2013

Am I calculating this correctly?

Over the weekend, I went to a local RV show and walked through 3 floor plans from Grand Design RV, makers of Solitude 5th wheels. I noticed they were equipped with LT235/85R16 tires.

They didn't have any brochures about their units so I went online after returning home. The 2 larger trailers (both listed as 38'11") are equipped with 7K axles. GVWR for these trailers is 16K, hitch weight is listed at 2600 pounds.

Gross weight 16K - hitch weight 2600 leaves 13,400 for the tires to support, but E load range tires would max out at 12,168. So...is this unit set up for tire failure right off of the assembly line?

Don Z.
  • IMHO pin or hitch should be the safety margin.
    Axles and tire should be rated for full GVWR.
  • Probably had load range G tires. Mine came from the factory with 7k axles and Goodyear load range G tires.
    Dave
  • If the hitch weights you are using are the dry weights... then no... you are not calculating correctly.