Tow Vehicle GARS vs GVWR
Good Evening; 1st off I've searched thru any & all threads I thought this might be in, but no such luck. Why is that the gross axle weight ratings on most tow vehicles, when added together, are grea...
Forum Discussion
texasdiver wrote:
Because even if you managed to load the vehicle perfectly with the payload centered over both axles, the weight on the axles would shift the moment you turned the key and pulled out of the driveway. Every time you brake the vehicle's momentum will throw additional weight onto the front axle. That is why the nose dips when you brake hard. Every time you corner you are throwing additional weight onto the outside wheels. And if you are accelerating or climbing a steep incline you are shifting weight onto the rear axle.
That's all true, but vehicles are designed and rated will all that taken into account. You could load a vehicle right up to its limits and drive it without fear of damage from turns, hills, etc. You could also probably load twice what a truck is rated for in a static condition without damage since the truck would not be subjected to all the forces from turning and stopping.
