Door sticker question (TV)

[Peter417]

On the first sticker You see a cargo rating of 1300#
On the second sticker, if you do the math on GVWR vs the axle ratings you come up with 950. Am I misunderstanding how this works?

[Dennis C]

It’s not uncommon for the axle ratings combined to add up to more than the GVWR. Your cargo and passenger rating is 1,300 lbs. as you see on the sticker. The vehicle’s GVWR is determined by a combination of factors, not just the GAWR.

[Bill M.]

The difference is common. That does seem like a lot of difference. This difference is one reason WD hitch users really like the axle limits instead of the GVWR.

[pjshier]

Originally Posted by Peter417

On the first sticker You see a cargo rating of 1300#
On the second sticker, if you do the math on GVWR vs the axle ratings you come up with 950. Am I misunderstanding how this works?

1,300 lbs is the difference between your TV unladen (tare) weight, plus or minus, subtracted from the 7,200 GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) on the blue sticker. Your vehicle tare weight does not appear on the stickers anywhere. Note that the tare weight may include an assumed full tank of fuel and perhaps a standard weight driver allowance. It may vary slightly by manufacturer.

The calculated sum of the GAWR (Gross Axle Weight Ratings) is indeed 950 lbs greater than the GVWR, and some TV operators have interpreted that to provide a weight capacity 950 lbs beyond the manufacturer's GVWR. But there is a lot more to it than the math.

[Ch47d1sg]

Your gross vehicke weight is 7200 lbs regardless of you GAWR. The GAWR is the max weight on that axle allowable as long as you do not exceed GVWR. Not uncommon for combined axle gross weights to exceed the GVWR.

[jcl]

It is intentional that the sum of GAWRs exceeds the GVWR.

The reason that the axle weight ratings are higher than the GVWR is because if they only added up to the GVWR, you would need to position your cargo precisely (fore/aft, and left/right) to not exceed axle weight ratings when loaded to GVWR. The manufacturer doesn't know where you are going to put the cargo, and so provides a buffer. Also, the manufacturer doesn't (and can't) account for the use of WD equipment, which shifts the effect of the tongue weight on the axle loads, either fore or aft.

GVWR and GAWR have different reasons for being considered limits. The design strength limits of the tow vehicle (to avoid breaking something, or operating outside design limits) are the GAWRs and the tire ratings. The GVWR is important to determine the tax classification of your vehicle and your licensing requirements (depending on your location). This is particularly applicable to commercial operators.

Some have interpreted the GVWR to be a safety rating, and it can be, but mainly to the extent that you have an appropriate operator's license if you are near a classification limit, eg 10,000 lbs.

[Howard L.]

Originally Posted by Ch47d1sg

Your gross vehicke weight is 7200 lbs regardless of you GAWR. The GAWR is the max weight on that axle allowable as long as you do not exceed GVWR. Not uncommon for combined axle gross weights to exceed the GVWR.

Correct. In fact you will never see the two combined GAWRs less than the GVWR. Whiplash lawyers would be all over that where a vehicle would outweigh what it’s axles could carry. Same with the sticker recommended tire pressures. When you see lower than tire sidewall PSI recommendations listed (ie, 30 front, 33 rear), it’s the auto manufacturer telling you to keep the load carrying ability of the tires at no more than that of the axle—strictly liability considerations.

[1StreamDream]

It can be confusing, and as you point out, the math does not always add up. I think the main point to have in your thought process is that you don't want to exceed ANY of them. The tickets from a weight scale (aka CAT scale) tell the absolute story for your rig. It is not safe to exceed one or more of those manufacturers ratings. If an axle is overloaded, even when you are under the GVWR number, thats a bad thing and you should definitely avoid that. Same with loading on your tires, don't exceed the load rating of them either.