Trailer axle weights

A 7500 lbs GVW trailer will have about 900 lbs on the tongue and about 6600 lbs on the axles.

Yep, you got it in one.

Yup, minimum axle size to cover trailer weight minus the expected tongue weight to save a buck.

The tongue carries part of the trailer weight. The "axle rating" such as Dexter 3200 should not be confused with the rating for the max weight to be put on them- GAWR, which is usually based on what the OEM tires can carry as fitted on the OEM wheels.

Now with a TT you also get into the whole thing about weight distribution hitches and what that does to the weight on the trailer tires.

Yeah, that's the way most RV manufacturers equip their units, with axles that can't handle the entire GVWR. Sure we know some of the weight is on the pin or tongue of a towable RV, but for just a few dollars more they could opt to go with a set of axles that cover the entire GVWR for added safety margin. I guess they don't really care as we can see they put the cheapest tires they can get a good deal on knowing full well they will not last more than a season or two in most cases.

We were fortunate when we purchased our rig a decade ago, our TT has a GVWR of 9000# and came from the factory with a pair of 5200# axles which gives us a huge safety margin once tongue weight is subtracted. We are currently looking for our next RV and I am not too happy with the axles and CCC of many units. No wonder so many have issues with their wheel bearings, after 10 years and nearly 40K miles our rig's wheel bearings still look good.

Sandia Man wrote:
Yeah, that's the way most RV manufacturers equip their units, with axles that can't handle the entire GVWR. Sure we know some of the weight is on the pin or tongue of a towable RV, but for just a few dollars more they could opt to go with a set of axles that cover the entire GVWR for added safety margin. I guess they don't really care as we can see they put the cheapest tires they can get a good deal on knowing full well they will not last more than a season or two in most cases.

We were fortunate when we purchased our rig a decade ago, our TT has a GVWR of 9000# and came from the factory with a pair of 5200# axles which gives us a huge safety margin once tongue weight is subtracted. We are currently looking for our next RV and I am not too happy with the axles and CCC of many units. No wonder so many have issues with their wheel bearings, after 10 years and nearly 40K miles our rig's wheel bearings still look good.

Our ORV trailer has a GVWR of ~8300# with a pair of 5200# axles.

ORV (Outdoors RV) and Northwood Mfg. (Artic Fox, Nash and other brands) often have higher GAWR relative to the GVWR. But some models are closer than others.

You can also buy most ORV models with a HD shackle and tire upgrade.

Maybe not necessary for weekenders, but for people planning on a lot of travelling, these are important issues. We're over 37K miles with our 2014 Timber Ridge by ORV.

Every design is a compromise. I expect 3200s weigh less than 5200s so that means you get more cargo capacity within the GVWR. Some include water and propane in that CC leaving less for your camping things.

Rant warning--

The other big deal is the 10,000 lb limit for a special driver's licence. You see lots of trailers with GVWR at 9,900 lbs.

That is a total farce though. Our 2003 has a pair of 5200s and GVWR just under the limit in BC (in kilos) for a special licence. It came with C tires. A couple years later, the company switched to D tires on the same dry weight trailer, and jacked the GVWR up to 11something lbs.

So I would need a special licence to pull my same trailer just because they put Ds instead of Cs on them. As it is I got Ds and am still legal because the GVWR on my trailer stays the same. What a farce.

Then they invent a way to assign the GVWR by adding the dry pin weight to the GAWR or whatever, which is silly, because you don't drive with the dry weight, you have a loaded weight. Another farce.

You really have to load up and go the scales and get real numbers. Then you have to read your law about whether they count the pin weight in their limit for the driver's licence. Some do and some don't (giving you more you can tow)

Don't forget individual weights on each tire either. The scales do all at once or two tires at a time , but you can be heavier on one side and back vs front axle, so one tire can be taking more than it is rated for if you are not measuring that way.

Generally, I would trust they got the strength of the frame and tongue and axles right for the GVWR they give it, and pay more attention to your tires, which is the real "weak link" in the whole thing. Especially if you go more than the rated speed limit on your trailer tires so they heat up. Gee Ma, my crappy tires just exploded--it must be those cheap tires from Country X, and not because I was speeding! :(

Rant ends.