TomG2 wrote:
I can find no mention of stopping as the only criteria in any GVWR definitions that I can find. I still say it "should" be the maximum weight a vehicle is safe and comfortable with. I feel that my 9,200 pound GVWR rated pickup is good up to 9,200 pounds, both going, stopping, and steering. After that????? If GM caught me with a burned out transmission and broken frame while loaded to a GVWR of 12,000 pounds, I don't think they would tell me I was simply overloading the brakes. Point is, they rate the whole truck, not individual parts with the GVWR.
NHTSA says this about brakes;
"Gross Axle Weight Rating is the rated load-carrying capacity of an individual axle and wheel assembly. (It represents the load that may be steadily sustained by the components in the system; i.e., tires, rims, hubs, bearing, axles, brakes, suspension, sub frame, etc. with the GAWR limited by the components with the lowest working rating".
And from AL/KO axles
Weigh the trailer after it is fully loaded and ready for use.
Axles, brakes, wheels, tires, frames and suspension components are
designed to carry a specific maximum weight. Locate the VIN
(Vehicle Identification Number) plate on the trailer. It will show the
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). The GVWR is the total
amount your trailer (including tongue weight) can weigh when it is
completely loaded including holding tanks, propane etc. The GAWR
(Gross Axle Weight Rating) is the maximum load that the axles will
carry and the maximum load the brakes will stop.
And RMA
• GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating (for each axle) -
The maximum weight rating that the components
(tires, rims/wheels, brakes, springs, and axle) of
each axle are designed to support. This is
determined by the lowest design capacity of any
component. In other words, if the wheels have the
lowest design capacity of any component on that
axle, installing tires with a higher load capacity
does not increase the GAWR. By regulation, the
tire load rating times the number of tires on that
axle must equal or exceed the GAWR for that axle.
