Axles that barely pass specs

Whenever I'm on the AK Hwy in my car, it never ceases to amaze me the speed some RVs are moving. In my car I'm usually moving along at 70 mph but I know the road and I slow for the bad heaves.

One trip I was in the car northbound on the Alaska Hwy at Muncho Lake and four fifth wheels passed me. I was driving 60 mph!

When we're pulling the fifth wheel, we're usually driving about 40 mph. On the section of the Alaska Highway between Destruction Bay and Beaver Creek, we take it at 25 mph because it is just plain bad. Not every bump is marked.

We don't understand what the hurry is. You're on vacation. Slow down. Enjoy the scenery. Drive for the road conditions. In spring and early summer the conditions are worse as the frost leaves the ground and the road sinks in spots.

The people who drive too fast for the conditions here are likely the same ones that tell others horror stories about how the roads tore their RV apart. Nope ... the speed you were driving is what tore your RV apart.

We've driven thousands and thousands of miles in Yukon & Alaska with a motorhome, then the fifth wheel and now a truck camper.

TxGrands08 wrote:
We have a bent axle that has caused the shock absorbers to rub the inside of the tires. We are in Alaska in a Cedar Creek by Forest River, we were told that the axles just barely met the specs for the trailer weight. Speed limit in AK is 55 most of the time the road conditions allow only 45-50 if you plan on traveling up here in a fifth wheel or any trailer have the axles and brake shoes and pads checked before leaving. Also would be best if tires were better than 10 ply. The road conditions in some places are extremely rough, always make sure you have a spare for both trailer and tow vehicle and have brakes checked and adjusted before entering the Yukon Territory. You will find parts for vehicles and RV's extremely hard to find in AK or YT, most have to be ordered and will take two weeks to one month to arrive, 80-90% of the RV Dealers and repair places are booked 30-45 days in advance. Part of this advice comes from experience and upon dealing with some of these issues having the others done as a preventative. Anyone else traveling in a Cedar Creek in Alaska?

Here is how the current regulation reads for minimal axle ratings.

"On RV trailers, the sum of the GAWRs of all axles on the vehicle plus the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tongue weight must not be less than the GVWR. If tongue weight is specified as a range, the minimum value must be used".

FastEagle

Thanks for the sharing the info, TxGrands08.

Pure Bunk! The roads for the most part in Alaska and northern Canada are no different than those in the lower 48. Now if you are traveling too fast for conditions, you will tear up your equipment. Frost heaves are bad in places but usually well marked. Going 45-50 in those sections is pure stupidity. 10-15 is more appropriate. There is no need to carry a large pile of spare parts unless you choose to drive faster than conditions dictate.

Just my $.02 after having been on those roads in the past.

Keith

It depends on the manufacture but determining GVWR for TT, FW, boat trailers and even equipment trailers is either done by adding up the axle capacity (the only kind I will buy) or by adding up the axle capacity plus the estimated pin wieght (leaves zero margin when fully loaded)

What you are seeing for axle ratings is completely normal. And yes you must adjust your equipment based on expected type of travel you are planning.

:h post makes perfect sense to me. If I were traveling to alaska, Im sure i would be loaded much heavier than usual with needed supplies. It's no secret rv manuf install the bare minimum to get you out the door.

Thank you for taking the time to let folks know what there in for if traveling to alaska and added precautions that should be taken :)

Need a lot more details. When you say that the axles barely meet the spec for the weight what are the numbers? Are you or the person who told you that considering that about 20% of the weight is carried by the tow vehicle.

That is really a generalized statement and nothing I read to support such a claim. What is your axle weights and what is the weight rating of the axles? What year, model of CC are you towing? What tires are under it? Have you replaced the ST tires with LT tires prior to the trip?
Cme on lets see some real weight numbers or retract your absurd comments!