Axle Rating

[nfisherman]

I’ve spent a lot of time under my new White Hawk 26RK, fixing things that were messed up when I got it.

I noticed that my Dexter axles have stickers that say their maximum load is 3,500 pounds, excluding wheels and tires. The GVWR for the trailer is 7,750 pounds. Even assuming 250 pounds for 4 wheels and tires and perfect weight distribution between the axles, they seem under rated to me, but I’m a novice at this. Am I missing something?

[TaftCoach]

First rule, they will always use the bare minimum unless it's a television, then go big. That's how to sell them.

[ChiToones]

You need to account for tongue weight which is usually 12-15% of the total weight. If your trailer is fully loaded at 7,750#, your tongue weigh would be 930#-1,163#. If it's 930#, that leaves 6,820# on your axles. Close but not over their 7,000# capacity (3,500x2).

[Onyrlef]

Next time you're out and loaded for the trip run it across a Cat Scale twice, once with the trailer and then just your TV, that'll give you axle weight on the trailer and after the second weigh, tongue weight. They'll give you a discount on the reweigh.

[Marcm157]

Originally Posted by Onyrlef

Next time you're out and loaded for the trip run it across a Cat Scale twice, once with the trailer and then just your TV, that'll give you axle weight on the trailer and after the second weigh, tongue weight. They'll give you a discount on the reweigh.

If you are using a WDH you need 3 weights. Truck alone, trailer with WDH in receiver but bars disconnected,(just hanging so their weight is calculated) and a third with the hitch fully connected including the bars. This will give you all you need to do the math and determine where you stand.

[Route 66 Traveler]

Originally Posted by nfisherman

I noticed that my Dexter axles have stickers that say their maximum load is 3,500 pounds, excluding wheels and tires. The GVWR for the trailer is 7,750 pounds.

My trailer has similar weights as yours, and I have the same axles also. Before a recent trip when our trailer was fully loaded for a trip, including food, clothes, 60 gallons of water, and 2 full propane tanks, I stopped at our local CAT scale on the way out of town. The weight on the dual axles was 6480 pounds, 1220 less than the 7700 pounds maximum gross weight. 6480 divided by 2 equals 3240 on each axle, 260 pounds under the stated 3500 rating. Tongue weight using a tongue weight scale was 920 pounds. I would be hard pressed to load another 1220 pounds of stuff to reach the 7700 pounds gross weight.

I think your setup will be fine. Next trip out get a weight fully loaded and see if your trailer is at, or close to max gross weight, before you start to worry about your axles.

[nfisherman]

Thanks, all. I asked if I was missing something in considering the weight on the axles and I was. I had forgotten about a substantial amount of tongue weight. I have a CAT scale not far from me. I’ll get my specific weights sometime when I’m hitched up but I’m sure all will be fine.