Confusion on weigth

[two_travelers]

We have a 2015 Winnebago Vista. The sticker on the wall near the driver shows a GVW of 16,000#. The GAWR shows 6,500# for front and 11,000# for the rear. These add up to more than 16,000#. Had the coach weighed and we have room to spare. Do I go by the GAWR in figuring my spare capacity??

Thanks!

[tropical36]

My axle limits add up to the gross, but with the rear at max, I can't add any weight, unless it's totally on the front, where I'm still a ton to the good.
I'm guessing with the OP's question, they're just saying that you can't put the total GVWR on one axle....:S:h

[Chum_lee]

MrWizard wrote:
Suspension is also a factor

Just because one coach has gvw that matches the gaw does not mean the op Winnie is built the same way
Max gvw is figured is based on all factors involved
Braking ability suspension weight capacity etc..

Very true! It's not just about weight. It's about weight and balance. The front wheels do all the steering and most of the braking. In most RV's, the rear wheels carry most of the load and apply all the power. It's important to make sure the loads are balanced between front and rear and side to side. Myopia, although convenient, gets people killed all the time.

Chum lee

[dougrainer]

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the actual weight of the fully loaded vehicle or trailer, including all cargo, fluids, passengers, and optional equipment, as measured by a scale. If you are in a motor home and not towing anything, the GVW is the total weight of the RV and everything in it.

GAWR: Gross Axle Weight Rating

Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum number that the GAW of a single axle should never exceed. You may see the more specific RGAWR, when referring to the rear axle, or FGAWR, when referring to the front axle

GCWR: Gross Combination Weight Rating

Gross Combination Weight Rating (GCWR) is the maximum number that the tow vehicle GVW plus towed vehicle GVW (or GTW) should never exceed.

GVWR: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating

Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) is the maximum number that the GVW or GTW should never exceed. GVWR is applied to trailers as well as vehicles, but you may see this rating referred to as the Maximum Loaded Trailer Weight.

[wolfe10]

Again, "least strong" component dictates GAWR and GVWR.

[MrWizard]

Suspension is also a factor

Just because one coach has gvw that matches the gaw does not mean the op Winnie is built the same way
Max gvw is figured is based on all factors involved
Braking ability suspension weight capacity etc..

[DrewE]

FIRE UP wrote:

The axles have their limits but, shouldn't the GAWR of the rear and GAWR of the front add up to the GVWR? If I'm not mistaken, they do on our coach. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. The rear axle is rated at 17,500 lbs. and the front is rated at 10,410 lbs. The GVWR on my coach is, 27,910 lbs. and says so on the drivers tag on the wall.
Scott

Not necessarily. The GVWR of a truck or motorhome should not be greater than the sum of the GAWR's, of course (otherwise there would be no way to reach it), but it may be less. If it's less, you have some flexibility in positioning a maximum load fore and aft without exceeding either of the axle weight limits.

(A trailer will sometimes have a GVWR that is greater than the sum of the axle weight ratings since a portion of the load is carried by the tow vehicle.)

[Dutch_12078]

A grossly simplified example, but consider that if a chassis manufacturer stuck a 10,000 lb rated axle under a 5,000 lb rated spring set, the maximum vehicle weight would still only be 5,000 lbs. Obviously manufacturers try to match everything up closer than that, but it doesn't always work out perfectly given the limited axle, suspension, and drive line choices available. As said, the GVWR is the governing total weight, with the GAWR determining the distribution of that weight.

[Lantley]

They are 2 different ratings reflecting 2 different parameters.
One does not supercede the other. You need to adhere to both.

[Dale_Traveling]

The chassis builder will determine the GVWR and will be based on the whole coach and everything it brings. This will include brakes, differential gearing, transmission torque limits, engine cooling, wheels, tires, suspension and axle limits. There are multiple factors that determine the end rating.

What Ford used to determine the GVWR of 16K lbs I'm not sure. If you go thru the specs the 16K lbs chassis looks like a shorter version of the 18K lbs chassis.

2016 F53 Specifications

[FIRE_UP]

wolfe10 wrote:
Correct.

Axles have their weight limits.

But, the GVWR may be based on other factors such as brakes, transmission, etc.

Both numbers are important.

Yes,
The axles have their limits but, shouldn't the GAWR of the rear and GAWR of the front add up to the GVWR? If I'm not mistaken, they do on our coach. Our coach is an '04 Itasca Horizon 36GD with the CAT C-7 330HP. The rear axle is rated at 17,500 lbs. and the front is rated at 10,410 lbs. The GVWR on my coach is, 27,910 lbs. and says so on the drivers tag on the wall.
Scott

[wolfe10]

Correct.

Axles have their weight limits.

But, the GVWR may be based on other factors such as brakes, transmission, etc.

Both numbers are important.

[Artum_Snowbird]

One is the maximum you can put on that axle. If you reach maximum on one axle, you should cut the weight on the the axle so you do not go over your gross vehicle weight.

[Lwiddis]

The sum of the parts is always larger than the overall max.