What makes up a GVWR rating?
I am wondering what it is in the design of a trailer's frame and suspension or otherwise that gives it a particular GVWR rating. Is it the axles primarily? We have a trailer with a GVWR of 6800 lb...
Forum Discussion
20 years ago (or so) they used to have inspection stations everywhere in the province and every 2 years (IIRC) you had to take your vehicle to get inspected. They were very picky and could make you correct the smallest of things. I once had a modified car that was lowered which made the headlights a tad too low. I had to return it to stock height to get passed. (Shh- I installed the original springs just to pass and then put the ones I wanted back in. I was in my early 20s...) I don't recall ever seeing RVs there but that was sooo long ago.
There is no mandatory weight inspection now but they do have random inspections by CVSE in various locations. Mostly dump trucks and semis, but I do seem to recall the odd pickup truck and TT or 5th.
I just got to setting up to post pictures. Here are a few from the frame shop that inspected our frame. I don't recall if I have mentioned a failed aluminum weld in the framing. While adding some storage space in the pass-through, I discovered that a weld in a horizontal aluminum framing member has failed and separated from the alum. member the runs vertically. This weld is at the very front of the trailer on the right hand side, just below floor level, and directly behind the fiberglass cap. Now that I know about the extreme frame flex, I am making an educated guess that the frame flex has been causing the entire trailer structure to flex, thus causing the weld in the framing members to separate. The weld was likely not great to start with, which is possibly a contributing factor. I have to wonder if there are any other failed alum. welds hidden behind the inside and outsside skins. It's my understanding that welds should be continuous around the complete length where the pieces connect, not just a blob of weld on one or two sides. Again, I wonder what standards there are in the RV industry for welding?
Wheels way off camber when trailer pushed to the side.
Left side of trailer showing bracket bent in one direction.
Right side bracket bent in opposite direction compared to bracket on lfet side of trailer.
Distorted lower flange of I-beam due to extreme frame flex. Only towed about 100 miles so far by us.
Failed/separated weld in aluminum framing at front of trailer.
ps: how can I embed photos directly into a post?
There is no mandatory weight inspection now but they do have random inspections by CVSE in various locations. Mostly dump trucks and semis, but I do seem to recall the odd pickup truck and TT or 5th.
I just got to setting up to post pictures. Here are a few from the frame shop that inspected our frame. I don't recall if I have mentioned a failed aluminum weld in the framing. While adding some storage space in the pass-through, I discovered that a weld in a horizontal aluminum framing member has failed and separated from the alum. member the runs vertically. This weld is at the very front of the trailer on the right hand side, just below floor level, and directly behind the fiberglass cap. Now that I know about the extreme frame flex, I am making an educated guess that the frame flex has been causing the entire trailer structure to flex, thus causing the weld in the framing members to separate. The weld was likely not great to start with, which is possibly a contributing factor. I have to wonder if there are any other failed alum. welds hidden behind the inside and outsside skins. It's my understanding that welds should be continuous around the complete length where the pieces connect, not just a blob of weld on one or two sides. Again, I wonder what standards there are in the RV industry for welding?
Wheels way off camber when trailer pushed to the side.
Left side of trailer showing bracket bent in one direction.
Right side bracket bent in opposite direction compared to bracket on lfet side of trailer.
Distorted lower flange of I-beam due to extreme frame flex. Only towed about 100 miles so far by us.
Failed/separated weld in aluminum framing at front of trailer.
ps: how can I embed photos directly into a post?
