Tow Vehicle GARS vs GVWR

goducks10 wrote:
My gross axle ratings are 1900lbs more than my GVWR. Crazy.

Yip, and my 4 tires are more than the sum of the axles.

rjstractor wrote:
That's all true, but vehicles are designed and rated will all that taken into account.

I would be really interested to hear why you feel qualified to make that statement!
Yes, vehicles are designed to perform at their max ratings but the Manufacturer will not accept any responsibility if you exceed them.

JIMNLIN wrote:


Some of the newer gen trucks with those high GVWRs are within 200-300 lbs of the sum of the GAWRs in some cases depending on the trucks configuration.

Very true, they are getting very close to 100%. Seems like just ten years ago they were about 80%. We still need some sort of J2807 rating system IMO.

SAE J2807

Old-Biscuit wrote:
GVWR is the MAX weight the 'whole' package can be----tires, suspension, braking power, frame, axle etc.

The axle ratings are what that axle can handle.

The 'parts' are stronger than the 'whole'

You got it right. A stronger axle alone would not increase the capacity of the suspension, brakes, frame, or other components of the rest of the vehicle. GVWR is the vehicle in its entirety. That's why it is called "Vehicle" instead of "Sum of the Axles" rating.

goducks10 wrote:
My gross axle ratings are 1900lbs more than my GVWR. Crazy.

Is that ALL?

My 01 has ratings of;
Front 5,200#
Rear 6,084#

Total 11,284#
GVWR 8,800#
Diff 2,484#

The interesting part is that the rear axle is the total of the standard tire rating 245/75-16 3,042 ea. The truck came from the factory with a camper package which included 265/75-16 3,415# ea, but the axle rating is based on the 245 tires.

The F150 with the following ratings has got no margin for error;
Front 4,050#
Rear 4,800#
Total 8,850#

GVWR 8,200#
Diff 650#

I just wonder how many run those F150 Max, Max with larger 5th wheels are exceeding that rear axle rating.

This it is one thing to exceed your GVWR, but another thing all together to exceed your axle ratings.

You have received some decent responses so far. The fact that they don't add up is simple. They are two different ratings and reflect different parameters.
Some try to combine the ratings or substitute one for another. The fact is they are not the same.
Axle ratings reflect only the axles. GVWR encompases the entire truck.

My gross axle ratings are 1900lbs more than my GVWR. Crazy.

You'll get all kinds of wild and interesting/head scratching opinions and theories on this as its another topic that gets beat to death. Only the vehicle mfg can tell you why he chose a GVWR or the GAWRs for a particular truck.

Some of the newer gen trucks with those high GVWRs are within 200-300 lbs of the sum of the GAWRs in some cases depending on the trucks configuration. For that reason some owners have complained of going over their trucks RAWR from using GVWR to determine a payload. Folks forget a GVWR payload is over the trucks GAWRs and not just setting the rear axle/tires.

The vehicle mfg sets the trucks GVWR and the GAWRs. The GVWR cannot be more than the sum of the GAWRs ratings. This is one reason GVWR out here in the real world does not legally determine gross weight or a payload on a truck in the states or any province.

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.

fla-gypsy wrote:
Because no one could ever perfectly load any vehicle

That is the correct answer! The higher values for each axle allow for variation in front/rear loading without exceeding the overall max ratings provided by the vehicle Manufacturer. While exceeding GVWR is not illegal (except in BC,Canada), exceeding axle ratings usually is as they are often based on tire capacities.
Having said that, exceeding GVWR can open up a can of worms in regards to warranty issues and even liability in the even of an accident.