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08-29-2018, 07:22 PM
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#1
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 53
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Exceeding the GVWR of a travel trailer
We looked at a trailer (Little Guy Max) with a dry weight of 3140 lbs and a GVWR of 3800 lbs. I did the math and found we just just about exceed the GVWR when including myself, wife, daughter, 2 dogs, luggage, and water on board. Do I understand this correctly?
We have looked at other brands that can handle more heft including Lance and Northwood (Nash).
Have others run into this problem of nearing the cargo capacity? Perhaps this just suggests that the manufacturers did not intend this trailer to have more than 2 people (despite having room for 3-4 to sleep).
Thanks for your thoughts.
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Tom
2012 Winnebago Vista 35F
Stoddard, WI
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08-29-2018, 07:39 PM
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#2
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Syracuse Ut.
Posts: 692
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Exceeding the GVWR of a travel trailer
The GVWR is for the trailer while being towed. You shouldn’t have people in it while you’re towing. That said, the weight doesn’t allow for much gear and water. The GVWR where you and the dogs becomes an issue is with your tow vehicle. The tow vehicle needs to be sufficient to carry you, your passengers and gear, and the tongue weight of the trailer.
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2016 Bighorn 3270RS, 2015 Ram 3500 CTD/ASIN
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08-29-2018, 07:43 PM
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#3
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Member
Join Date: Mar 2018
Posts: 88
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I need some clarification. Did you exceed the GVWR of the trailer while you were towing it, or did you exceed the GVWR while it was parked at a camp site, etc? If you are talking about exceeding the GVWR while parked, I dont think that would be an issue unless you were extremely overweight.
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08-29-2018, 07:46 PM
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#4
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 53
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I see where I might be confused. I thought the GVWR of a travel trailer was similar to cargo capacity. Of course the trailer will only have lugge and water in transit. I was worried about the weight in the trailer when parked.
I thought the GVWR also represented the max weight allowed in the trailer, even when parked?
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Tom
2012 Winnebago Vista 35F
Stoddard, WI
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08-29-2018, 07:47 PM
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#5
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 53
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I am talking about when parked. I did the math of how much weight would be on the trailer when fully loaded, parked. Does GVWR only apply when the trailer is being towed?
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Tom
2012 Winnebago Vista 35F
Stoddard, WI
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08-29-2018, 07:52 PM
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#6
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Muskoka Ontario Canada
Posts: 3,142
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The gross weight would be on the axle when towing. When parked, you probably have the stabilizers down, as well as the tongue jack which would spread out the weight even more. As long as you are under the gvwr while towing, you will be fine.
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2000 coachmen santara 370 5.9 cummins isb
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08-29-2018, 08:07 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 53
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Quote:
Originally Posted by winniman
The gross weight would be on the axle when towing. When parked, you probably have the stabilizers down, as well as the tongue jack which would spread out the weight even more. As long as you are under the gvwr while towing, you will be fine.
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That makes sense. I guess I am nervous about having too much weight in the trailer. I have a tow vehicle that is more than enough for the trailer.
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08-29-2018, 08:36 PM
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#8
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Member
Join Date: Jul 2018
Posts: 53
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I appreciate everyone's insight as I work to understand this information. I would appreciate clarification as I find competing definitions in my research.
Some sources say a travel trailer's GVWR is the weight that should never be exceeded (in travel or stationary), while some sources specify that GVWR refers to the max weight while the vehicle is traveling.
Any thoughts? Again, I just want to make sure I am not making the weight of a trailer when it is fully loaded for boondocking.
Tom
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Tom
2012 Winnebago Vista 35F
Stoddard, WI
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08-29-2018, 08:47 PM
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#9
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Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2017
Location: Syracuse Ut.
Posts: 692
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Driftless RV
I appreciate everyone's insight as I work to understand this information. I would appreciate clarification as I find competing definitions in my research.
Some sources say a travel trailer's GVWR is the weight that should never be exceeded (in travel or stationary), while some sources specify that GVWR refers to the max weight while the vehicle is traveling.
Any thoughts? Again, I just want to make sure I am not making the weight of a trailer when it is fully loaded for boondocking.
Tom
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It's a good question. I'm not sure what the manufactures have to say on it. One thing to keep in mind is that the loaded weight is going to have much more of an affect and impact on things when on the road than it's going to have while stationary. Bouncing down the road, cornering etc will result in dynamic loads significantly higher than stationary loads as things bounce, flex and otherwise stress things much more than while stationary. It's just an opinion though which I can't base on any written guidance.
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2016 Bighorn 3270RS, 2015 Ram 3500 CTD/ASIN
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08-29-2018, 08:51 PM
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#10
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: GrandJunction, Co
Posts: 546
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The GVWR of a trailer is the total of the trailer (not just the weight on the wheels), and everything in it when going down the road. It is a rating required by law, so you know what is safe, and the authorities can use to say if you are over weight.
Has nothing to do with what is done when the trailer is parked. As stated, the weight is spread out by the stabilizers, when parked. Plus, the dynamics on the frame, hitch, and axle, are way different when parked, compared to moving down the road.
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84 Country Coach Cummins Cruiser, 6BTA5.9, GV Overdrive, Exhaust brake.
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08-30-2018, 06:36 AM
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,459
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As a quick comparison, take your hammer, put your thumb on the workbench. Push the hammer on thumb as hard as you can. That is the load on a parked trailer. For going down the road? Hit thumb
Quote:
Originally Posted by Superburban
The GVWR of a trailer is the total of the trailer (not just the weight on the wheels), and everything in it when going down the road. It is a rating required by law, so you know what is safe, and the authorities can use to say if you are over weight.
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Not quite.
The Gross Vehicle Weight of a trailer is the total of the trailer (not just the weight on the wheels), and everything in it when going down the road. The GVW Rating is the maximum GVW the vehicle is designed for.
Also, I paid a lawyer quite a bit of money so a judge could explain to a LEO that the only "weight rating" that is enforced by law is the tire load rating...
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08-30-2018, 11:37 AM
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#12
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: GrandJunction, Co
Posts: 546
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ScoobyDoo
Not quite.
The Gross Vehicle Weight of a trailer is the total of the trailer (not just the weight on the wheels), and everything in it when going down the road. The GVWRating is the maximum GVW the vehicle is designed for.
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Correct, I was wanting to stress that it includes the weight on the tongue, and did not think the wording through.
Quote:
Also, I paid a lawyer quite a bit of money so a judge could explain to a LEO that the only "weight rating" that is enforced by law is the tire load rating...
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All depends on where you are, and what laws they are going by. Get off the interstates, there are all kinds of crazy & strangely worded laws.
Just like you never know if the weight limit signs are the actual weight, or the GVRW.
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84 Country Coach Cummins Cruiser, 6BTA5.9, GV Overdrive, Exhaust brake.
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08-30-2018, 01:46 PM
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2018
Posts: 1,459
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Superburban
Correct, I was wanting to stress that it includes the weight on the tongue, and did not think the wording through.
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Yes, but if trying to teach it is important to make clear the difference between a weight and a rating.
Quote:
All depends on where you are, and what laws they are going by. Get off the interstates, there are all kinds of crazy & strangely worded laws.
Just like you never know if the weight limit signs are the actual weight, or the GVRW.GVWR
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The weight rating never hurt a bridge, so it's the weight that matters. Now I'm sure that some officers might write somebody for there rating, but I bet the fine is low enough that nobody hires a lawyer. Now a town can place any kind of limits as far as weights on streets, as long as they don't restrict commerce...
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08-30-2018, 02:28 PM
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#14
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Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2017
Posts: 2,582
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This is an international site with members from all over. Lets not make blanket statements what towns can or can't do.
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