Quick question on tow ratings

What is your front axle rating? Is it 5250? Are you exceeding it at 5620?

JIMNLIN wrote:
Actual state legal size and weight regs and how their enforced vs opinions/theories expressed on rv websites on the subject have always been a hoot. Especially from those that think they know.

Then we have those on rv websites that think legal weight regs are some how not safe 'cause the vehicle mfg gvwr isn't used.

Or the really funny opinion weight regs are for commercial use only and some how non commercial vehicles (rvs owners) have no weight regs.

My advice has always been check with your local state troop post. Someone there can separate theories/opinions on what numbers are used and what numbers are not used.

There is a big difference between RV owners have no weight regs. and Very few RV owners need to worry about LEO with regards to weights. First, if your RV is large enough that you are likely to exceed the legal axle limits for CMVs, RVs are allowed higher weights. This only goes for the largest motorhomes. For the rest, as long as your tires have high enough rating for the weight on axle, you have nothing to worry about, because you will not have 20,000 on 1 axle, or 34,000 on the tandem of the trailer. And because the odds of LEO finding weight violation, they are very unlikely to weigh a RV. Now, if running around looking like 12 lbs of snot in a 10 lb sack, or bicycle tires on pickup, that will not be a reason to get stopped.
Now as to the ratings. If you overload ratings, performance will suffer, and things will wear out faster. Performance, reading the RV sites, some think getting passed on uphill is such a assault on manhood, they want to keep GCVW below 70% of rating.
As for wear; If you stay under ratings for stock tires, and use your RV like most people, (1 weekend a month & 2 weeks a year) not likely to notice in the few years most keep their TV.

Lantley wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Taking the idea that GVW is a performance and manufacturer's rating only.
Does that mean GVWR doesn't matter and can be ignored?
I don't think so. All the ratings have some significance and should be factored into your decisions.

I never get a good answer on this one.

How can I load my rear axle to it's RAWR of 9,750# and not add a single pound to it's front axle weight of 5,250# and be within the 14k GVWR???

I got booted off IRV.NET over disagreeing with SmokyWren a monitor on this subject.

No one wants to tackle this one??????

If I understand correctly you can't load to the full rear axle rating without exceeding your GVWR.
Much in the same way you can't tow a 15k bumper pull RV without exceeding the hitch rating.
Sure you may be within one rating but exceed others. I'm not sure what's so complicated about that!

What IS complicated is that they have a rear axle rating that you simply can't load to without exceeding the GVWR.

Obviously I don't heed any of this but it is just plain stupid. Here are my last WA State DOT scale numbers.

Actual state legal size and weight regs and how their enforced vs opinions/theories expressed on rv websites on the subject have always been a hoot. Especially from those that think they know.

Then we have those on rv websites that think legal weight regs are some how not safe 'cause the vehicle mfg gvwr isn't used.

Or the really funny opinion weight regs are for commercial use only and some how non commercial vehicles (rvs owners) have no weight regs.

My advice has always been check with your local state troop post. Someone there can separate theories/opinions on what numbers are used and what numbers are not used.

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Taking the idea that GVW is a performance and manufacturer's rating only.
Does that mean GVWR doesn't matter and can be ignored?
I don't think so. All the ratings have some significance and should be factored into your decisions.

I never get a good answer on this one.

How can I load my rear axle to it's RAWR of 9,750# and not add a single pound to it's front axle weight of 5,250# and be within the 14k GVWR???

I got booted off IRV.NET over disagreeing with SmokyWren a monitor on this subject.

No one wants to tackle this one??????

If I understand correctly you can't load to the full rear axle rating without exceeding your GVWR.
Much in the same way you can't tow a 15k bumper pull RV without exceeding the hitch rating.
Sure you may be within one rating but exceed others. I'm not sure what's so complicated about that!

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Taking the idea that GVW is a performance and manufacturer's rating only.
Does that mean GVWR doesn't matter and can be ignored?
I don't think so. All the ratings have some significance and should be factored into your decisions.

I never get a good answer on this one.

How can I load my rear axle to it's RAWR of 9,750# and not add a single pound to it's front axle weight of 5,250# and be within the 14k GVWR???

I got booted off IRV.NET over disagreeing with SmokyWren a monitor on this subject.

No one wants to tackle this one??????

I think I did in many more words than needed.

SMokeywren is full of the sheet that hits the fan causing a major mess, as he knows NOTHING about the actual true weight laws and how they are enforced!

Your axle ratings per manufacture, are not legal either. YOu can in reality, put 20K on your rear axle, as you have enough tire width to do so. SWAG about 10-11K lbs on the FA. SO you could go down the road weight wise upwards of 30-31K lbs. Not that I would reccomend you do this, any more than me running down the road at 22K lbs in my 1500!

Marty

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Lantley wrote:
Taking the idea that GVW is a performance and manufacturer's rating only.
Does that mean GVWR doesn't matter and can be ignored?
I don't think so. All the ratings have some significance and should be factored into your decisions.

I never get a good answer on this one.

How can I load my rear axle to it's RAWR of 9,750# and not add a single pound to it's front axle weight of 5,250# and be within the 14k GVWR???

I got booted off IRV.NET over disagreeing with SmokyWren a monitor on this subject.

No one wants to tackle this one??????

The real key is to be aware of ALL the towing parameters.
You don't have to live and die by all of the parameters, but you should be aware they exist, what they mean and where you stand in relation to the ratings.
Knowledge is power.
Just adhering to a few and ignoring the others as though they don't exist is ill advised.

If I get pulled over at 21000 gcwr in my 1500, pulling a 55k trailer with an 80k gvw registration, from a weight standpoint only, I am legal!

Then comes "OTHER" laws and regs that will get me off the road if I'm truly unsafe etc. "THOSE" rules will hurt me way the heck more than me being over the manufactures ratings etc. I am assuming I am under the legal "engineer designed max road bed load" ratings.
Like not being able to stop the rig with in x' at 20 mph. Failed braking system. Vehicle is impounded on the side of the road, need a low boy in most cases to get said rig to shop to fix "ha ha" the brakes that do not have the ability to stop said load from the get go. This goes on driving record.
Being over a registered weight class, or over a legal axle rating, generally speaking, a non moving violation, getting the local government the tax for the increases damage you are doing to the road.

Is it smart to be over a manufactures gcwr. While not an issue legally speaking, even over a manufactures axle rating is not illegal. Other factors do come into play as I noted. THOSE factors will cause you problems.

Most RV folks stock to manufactures numbers, that can be good or bad.

If you talk about gcwr, manufactures have a minimum grade you can go up before the rig will stall out, or go below a min grade on a freeway grade. If your expecting to.pull a 30% grade, manufactures spec is a 20%. You've gon beyond performance ratings, you may stall out, blow up a trans, clutch or equal. If you expect 60 mph on a 5% freeway grade, the current min spec is is 40mph. You will not probably be going 60! That's with 60 sq ft of frontal area. If you have Cummins12v's trailer, you will be over 100 sq ft. You may not meet that 40 mph spec. Much less your spec of 60 mph!

Reality, just because your under manufactures ratings, you may not be safe, yet someone else over has a better over balanced setup, is better off.

More than one way to play this game.

I have had rigs stall out under gv/cw per manufactures. Other rigs OVER manufactures ratings, not stall out where the better rated rigs blew up, ie literally!

Marty

Cummins12V98 wrote:

Lantley wrote:

Cummins12V98 wrote:
Axle ratings and tonnage coverage are all that matters.

Not quite totally true but close

Please elaborate.

All of the ratings have significance. GVW is a manufacturer's wear rating. Ignore it and components may fail prematurely but there are no legal ramifications for the most part except in parts of Canada maybe? .
Axle and tire ratings may have more legal impact here in the USA but they are not the only parameters to consider whe deciding on a combo.
It's sort of like saying, "If your blood pressure is fine you're 100% healthy". When we know there are many other health parameters to consider.