Forum Discussion

Resqguy77's avatar
Resqguy77
Explorer
Jan 07, 2016

GVWR vs. GAWR

So I'm looking into doing some suspension upgrades on my 2004 Outback 26RS to include new leaf springs, Dexter EZ Flex, and increase wheel size to 15"

However, the GVWR listed for the trailer is 6000 lbs but the GAWR is only 2750 each axle, so that only adds up to 5500 lbs. Why is that?

Manual says dry weight is 4480 lbs and carry capacity is 1520 lbs which adds up to the 6000 lbs GVWR. My concern is that the axles are only rated to 5500 lbs.

Thanks!!
  • Ahh...I forgot about that. Manual says tongue weight is 600 so I guess that would make up for the axles being 500 lbs under the GVWR. Thx!
  • If each axle has exactly 2,500 pounds on it, and 500 pounds more is on the hitch, then the total weight will be around 5,500 pounds.

    Your axles are WAY under rated IMHO. It relys on the exact weight to be on each axle and each tire. If you actually checked each tire weight my guess is if the total weight is over 5,500 pounds, then at least 1 tire will be over the rated weight.

    My suggestion? Well with only 5,500 pounds, then disk brake upgrade is probably overkill. But if the GVWR was in the 8,000+ pound range, I would suggest going with disk brake conversion, or at least consider the costs. If the upgrade is within $1,000, I would much rather have the disk brakes and effective stopping power. But again, your trailer is only 5,500 pounds.

    ETrailer.com has the parts, just look at their website, and call if you have questions, or don't list everything on the website, but they can get it anyway.

    They also sell mounted tires on steel rims, for a fairly decent price. But beware, that shipping fees can eat up any savings. If you are having axles shipped via a big truck on a pallet, then adding a few rims and tire combo's will not significantly change the shipping fee. 300 pounds and 450 pounds are very close in price, usually liftgate service adds an additional $35 fee (at least it did for my air conditioner delivered from Florida that was 350 pounds all together).

    I was able to find a RV supply store near my uncle's place in Virginia that had steel rims with bias ply tires like the ones on my tow dolly, and I was able to get a spare tire for only $53. It was 14" and rated at about 1,600 pounds.

    Good luck,

    Fred.
  • Grand Design lists the GVWR for their Imagine line as the GAWR + tongue weight.
  • Only RV manufacturers get away with including the tongue load as part of the GVWR. On other trailer applications the GAWR is the GVWR.
  • I agree that subtracting the TW, while legal is not the way it needs to be, and is the cause of many axle and tire problems we have.

    If you are looking to upgrade, then an axle swap done in your driveway is not all that hard or expensive. I would suggest skipping the 15" tires and going straight to 16s. Most of the best tires made today are only available in that size.
    Get 6 lug axles when you swap and rims to match. Some LT tires and you will have a signifignantly better setup than you have now.
  • Thanks for all the info! Unfortunately new axles are not in the budget as they would coast a fortune to have shipped to Alaska. I'm confident with the upgrades planned and careful loading it will be fine.
  • I asked the same question about my axles, until I remembered the tongue weight.

    My TT is designed for a max of 7000 lbs on the axles and 700 lbs on the tongue for a total of 7700 gross.

    In the real world, the CAT scales showed the heaviest I have ever loaded it was 5900 lbs on the axles and 700 lbs on the tongue.

    If I were a boondocker or off-roader I might opt for a higher rated axle, but then I do not think a standard built TT is really designed to hold up to those rigorous conditions in the first place.
  • prichardson wrote:
    Only RV manufacturers get away with including the tongue load as part of the GVWR. On other trailer applications the GAWR is the GVWR.


    I have found some open car and utility trailers have the GAWR + TW = GVWR.

    This was one of the reasons we decided on our Jayco over the Coachmen comparable. GAWR total is a little higher than the GVWR for our Jayco.