Looking to buy a 2015 Wildcat 295rsx. Among the dealer's website photos is the weight sticker. It says GVWR = 11999 LB. It also lists the GAWR as Front = 5200 LB and Rear = 5200 LB. Shouldn't the maximum GVWR equal the sum of Front and Rear GAWR (i.e. 5200+5200=10400, not 11999)? What am I missing here?The Dry Unloaded weight is brochure listed at 9,363 and I know from CAT weights in the current RV that we typically load only 600 or 700 LB on a trip. So for us we're probably OK, barely. (9363+700=10,063).But this mfg. sticker seems to say that it's ok to load 1,599 LB over the axle ratings! Shouldn't the RVIA object or something.Comments welcome.

hbillsmith wrote:Looking to buy a 2015 Wildcat 295rsx. Among the dealer's website photos is the weight sticker. It says GVWR = 11999 LB. It also lists the GAWR as Front = 5200 LB and Rear = 5200 LB. Shouldn't the maximum GVWR equal the sum of Front and Rear GAWR (i.e. 5200+5200=10400, not 11999)? What am I missing here?The Dry Unloaded weight is brochure listed at 9,363 and I know from CAT weights in the current RV that we typically load only 600 or 700 LB on a trip. So for us we're probably OK, barely. (9363+700=10,063).But this mfg. sticker seems to say that it's ok to load 1,599 LB over the axle ratings! Shouldn't the RVIA object or something.Comments welcome.Do yourself a favor and forget dry weights, go by GVW....You've forgotten one thing, with a 5th wheel, the truck carries approx. 20% of your 5er's weight,(ie, the "5th. wheel") so if loaded to 12,000#, the pin weight could be 2400#, thus the max amount on your 5er's axles would be 9600# and you're covered for 10,400#

Pin weight........Not all of trailer weight is carried on axles.Up to 25% is on pin or front landing gear legs.

Also, when not hooked to the truck, the landing legs carry much of the weight.Jerry

Sounded like a good explaination since it is a 5ver. Now how about my MH? GVWR is 22,000#. GAWR is rear 15,000# & front 8,000#. Adds up to 23,000#. Like mentioned in the post couple days ago. Guess like doing 60 in 55 mph zone.:C :B

WyoTraveler wrote:Sounded like a good explaination since it is a 5ver. Now how about my MH? GVWR is 22,000#. GAWR is rear 15,000# & front 8,000#. Adds up to 23,000#. Like mentioned in the post couple days ago. Guess like doing 60 in 55 mph zone.:C :Bno, just says of the GVWR, you cannot have more than 8000 lbs on the front axle at any one time. and similarly, of the GVWR, you cannot have more than 15,000 on the rear axle at any one time.GVWR says that at all times, the total of front and rear axles cannot exceed 22000 (in your case). GVWR ALWAYS must be maintained (from manufacturers perspective)

Wildcat GVWR not equal to GAWR Front + Rear | Good Sam Community

12 Replies

P_Kennedy
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
Yes that may be true but the farther back the axles are the better it trails behind the tow vehicle so maybe they were having sway complaints from there customers.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jan 14, 2015
Me Again wrote:
And some manufactures(Cardinal for one) are moving the axles aft to put more pin weight on the TV, which allows a larger trailer on their cheap ST235/80R16E tires.

Tis a true statement Chris, have seen this at some RV shows...
Me_Again
Explorer III
Jan 14, 2015
And some manufactures(Cardinal for one) are moving the axles aft to put more pin weight on the TV, which allows a larger trailer on their cheap ST235/80R16E tires.
laknox
Nomad
Jan 14, 2015
kaydeejay wrote:
hbillsmith wrote:
........I totally forgot to offset the weight carried by the truck. Just the advertised hitch weight on that unit is 1636 LBs so 11999 minus 1636 is indeed under the trailer axle ratings.
Bill
That is DRY hitch weight. It will be more than that when loaded, probably by around 20% of everything you load into the fiver.
That would be around another 500# if you loaded to GVWR.
If you really do add only 600# (1000-1200# is more typical) then you would add roughly 120# to the hitch.

Don't forget that it's also =where= you load it, and that can add much more to the pin. Batteries and propane are all in the front, as are most OEM generators, for example.

Lyle
kaydeejay
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
hbillsmith wrote:
........I totally forgot to offset the weight carried by the truck. Just the advertised hitch weight on that unit is 1636 LBs so 11999 minus 1636 is indeed under the trailer axle ratings.
Bill
That is DRY hitch weight. It will be more than that when loaded, probably by around 20% of everything you load into the fiver.
That would be around another 500# if you loaded to GVWR.
If you really do add only 600# (1000-1200# is more typical) then you would add roughly 120# to the hitch.
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
hbillsmith wrote:
NC Hauler/Jim you nailed it. I totally forgot to offset the weight carried by the truck. Just the advertised hitch weight on that unit is 1636 LBs so 11999 minus 1636 is indeed under the trailer axle ratings.

Thanks for clearing this up for me.
Bill

No problem Bill, take care buddy and good luck with the new 5er you choose to purchase. :)
hbillsmith
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
NC Hauler/Jim you nailed it. I totally forgot to offset the weight carried by the truck. Just the advertised hitch weight on that unit is 1636 LBs so 11999 minus 1636 is indeed under the trailer axle ratings.

Thanks for clearing this up for me.
Bill
sdetweil
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
WyoTraveler wrote:
Sounded like a good explaination since it is a 5ver. Now how about my MH? GVWR is 22,000#. GAWR is rear 15,000# & front 8,000#. Adds up to 23,000#. Like mentioned in the post couple days ago. Guess like doing 60 in 55 mph zone.:C :B

no, just says of the GVWR, you cannot have more than 8000 lbs on the front axle at any one time.
and similarly, of the GVWR, you cannot have more than 15,000 on the rear axle at any one time.
GVWR says that at all times, the total of front and rear axles cannot exceed 22000 (in your case).

GVWR ALWAYS must be maintained (from manufacturers perspective)
WyoTraveler
Explorer
Jan 13, 2015
Sounded like a good explaination since it is a 5ver. Now how about my MH? GVWR is 22,000#. GAWR is rear 15,000# & front 8,000#. Adds up to 23,000#. Like mentioned in the post couple days ago. Guess like doing 60 in 55 mph zone.:C :B
MFL
Nomad II
Jan 13, 2015
Also, when not hooked to the truck, the landing legs carry much of the weight.

Jerry