Axle rating vs GVWR

JJBIRISH wrote:
It is common practice in the industry but common practice and good practice is far from the same thing…


THIS IS NOT GOOD PRACTICE, OR IMHO EVEN ACCEPTIBLE PRACTICE for RV trailers that are at or neat full load their entire useful life… and should be a warning to keep close tabs on you individual wheel weights….

It’s amazing how industry sells these half-baked ideas as acceptable and prudent when they are anything but…

Using this common practice will almost guarantee there are overloaded situations while the trailer is doing anything but sitting on level ground…

Equalizers minimize loading one axle more than the other but doesn’t eliminate the problem, and there are no side to side equalizers…

Many if not most RV trailers loaded close to their GVWR are overloaded on at least one wheel…

Agreed! My axles, wheels, tires will support the full weight of my TT with some reserve left over.

It is common practice in the industry but common practice and good practice is far from the same thing…


THIS IS NOT GOOD PRACTICE, OR IMHO EVEN ACCEPTIBLE PRACTICE for RV trailers that are at or neat full load their entire useful life… and should be a warning to keep close tabs on you individual wheel weights….

It’s amazing how industry sells these half-baked ideas as acceptable and prudent when they are anything but…

Using this common practice will almost guarantee there are overloaded situations while the trailer is doing anything but sitting on level ground…

Equalizers minimize loading one axle more than the other but doesn’t eliminate the problem, and there are no side to side equalizers…

Many if not most RV trailers loaded close to their GVWR are overloaded on at least one wheel…

You are correct, the tow vehicle carries part of the weight.

Yes it is standard practice in the industry.

My TT has a GVW of about 11,500. And 5200# axles.

In did some checking into what the differences were between the different rated axles. In my case, it is the springs that are limited to 5200#. The rest of the axle is a 6000# axle. Bearings, spindles, brakes, tube etc. One extra leaf is the difference.

So I could upgrade easily, and may do it some day. What I like about my situation, is that the important stuff (in my mind) is oversized, and will cover the entire GVW of my TT.

You can do the same thing by visiting the manufacturers website and doing a little sleuthing.

You may or may not like what you find...But the important thing is....You will know. With that knowledge gives you the the choice of whether to do some upgrading or not.

Interesting. Seems to be pretty common then. Thanks guys!

Trailmanor does the same thing. I've got a single 3500# Dexter axle under a trailer with 4230# GVWR. And, the posted GAWR is not 3500# but 3619#, since Trailmanor believes the weight of the wheels and tires do not count. It's all part of making an extreme light weight trailer.

Other companies are much more conservative. Keystone puts 4400# axles under some smaller Passports, Cougars and Laredos. The Northwood Mfg. and Outdoors RV puts 5200# axles under some of theirs. The Outdoors RV Timber Ridge 240RKS has two 5200# axles and GVWR of 8100#. THat's one reason why these trailers are considered more rugged than the light-weights.

You are fine with your setup. It is common to count the tongue weight for the GVW. With tandem leaf spring axles your equalizer between the axles with equally distribute the load to both axles offering a smoother ride and it won't allow one axle to carry too much of the load.

On rubber torsion axles there is no equalizer so one axle may have to carry more than it's recommended maximum weight. That is why some rubber torsion axle manufacturers recommend that the builder use a factor of 1.25 times the weight rating for each tandem axle.

Most run them right to the limit counting on tongue weight.

Mine are rated 2500# ea with a GVWR if 5345#. Also your assessment on individual loading is spot on. I scaled my trailer and was under the combined axle ratings of 5000#. As the trailer got to be a couple of years old I noticed the equalizer between the springs was not even leading me to believe that back axle may have had more weight on it. Well, last year I pulled into a rest area and when I braked, the left rear spring on the trailer broke. Fortunately, I got it towed and fixed. When I got home I ordered new springs- 1750# springs instead of the 1250# springs (I know I should replace the axles, but again by scales they are not overweight. The 1750 were the next size up of the same eyelet dimensions).

When changing them my suspicions were confirmed. The remaining rear spring was considerably "flatter" when it was off the trailer than the front ones.

These were Lippert axles and I had read somewhere on these forums, that Lippert had some problems with imported springs. I am kind of on my own on this since the trailer is out of warranty and the manufacturer is no more.

Moral: Watch your springs and equalizer.

7500lbs - 750lbs or more tongue weight < 7000lbs on the axles.