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Old 05-15-2016, 08:27 PM   #1
Riverss
 
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Axle weight rating capacity help

I think i have a problem but i need some advice. I bought a new Forest River Rockwood signature lite 8299BS in February and i have been prepping for a long road trip. during one of my inspections i noticed that the decal on the Dexter torque flex axles rated the axle GVAW as 5000. there are two axles so i figured 10,000 lbs as there combined weight rating. on the decal on the side of the trailer it lists the DRY wt as 9803 lbs. and never exceed cargo weight of 1200 lbs so this totaled to 11003 lbs and on another decal it list the GVWR 11062 lbs. the tag registration at 11000 LBS. Cat scales show 11200 LBS.This R/V should have 6K rated axles at the least in my opinion. am i wrong? i just discovered this to day and need some advice on my next step.
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Old 05-15-2016, 08:36 PM   #2
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Not all the weight goes to the axles - the tongue get's 10-15% as well, which is transferred to the tow vehicle...

That covers the difference between the axle ratings, and the GVWR.

Yes, they slice it fine, to keep costs down...

EDIT - sorry , with the weights listed, I assumed it was a travel trailer, not a 5ver... with a fifth wheel, 20-25% of the weight is transferred to the TV - taking even more weight off the axles...
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Old 05-15-2016, 08:39 PM   #3
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Some of your RV weight is carried by your truck. This is your pin weight, so not all of the weight is carried on its rated 5,000 lbs axles. Not really sure why you can find two different GVWRs.
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Old 05-15-2016, 08:57 PM   #4
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as others have said, you have at least 15% of that weight on the truck. They put in axles just barely enough to handle the rest.
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Old 05-15-2016, 09:41 PM   #5
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thanks guys i did not factor that in . the CAT scales recorded steer axle=3840 #; drive axle 5480 #; trailer axles 8660 #. i can sleep tonight.
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Old 05-17-2016, 12:23 AM   #6
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Could be all wrong here but I have pondered this axle weight rating thing for some time now and ........

It seems to me that not only is some of the trailer's weight supported by the hitch. Some of the weight of the unit is the wheels/tires and the axles themselves which are not technically supported by the axles. At least the way I see it. I'm thinking that it must be several hundred pounds.

But as I think more about it, the limiting component on the axle could be the bearing sets which do support the weight of the axles, but not the wheels/tires.

Does any of this make sense? Just thinking out loud and looking for a few more pounds of safety factor.

Now I'm really scratchin my head

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Old 05-17-2016, 09:44 AM   #7
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When axle manufacturers certify an axle they are saying that all components have the ability to support the axle’s certified weight rating.

Axles are not made in all weight increments. The DOT recognizes that fact and allows vehicle manufacturer’s to derate an axle manufacturers certified weight to some other lesser value and certify that value by displaying it on the vehicle’s certification label as the Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) for that fitment.

Even though an owner may have individual axle (s) rating (s) higher than the vehicle’s certified GAWR (s) the trailer was built to support the vehicle’s GAWR (s) and nothing higher. So the excess should be treated as nothing more than a reserve load capacity.
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