Incorrect Federal ID Tag

[Stripit]

This is what I know;

The recall is only changing the axle rating with anyone with G-range Wheels. It will go from 8000# to 7500#. Has nothing to do with tires just the wheel rating.
The axles are still rated 8000#.

[jcasey]

I did a bit of searching and found this:

RE: NHTSA Campaign #11 401200 N/A

The above noted NHTSA recall involves the misprinting on the federal tag of the GAWR (gross axle weight rating).

The units involved have the GAWR rating of 8,000 lbs on the tag and the rating of 7,500 lbs should be on the tag.

That is the only change the new tag will have. GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating) and carry capacity are correct and do not change.

[rotaxman]

Maybe I'm a little heavy on the dumb side but given the extreme weight of these trailers I don't see how they can take a 1000 lbs of the axle rating and leave the carrying cap and the gross weights unchanged.

I know that my 06 weighed 18500 ready for the road and that my 09 weighs 17920 and could easily go above 18500. There just isn't much buffer.

As always good camping

Joyce and Jerry

[RickandJanice]

GVWR and and does not have to change just because the GAWR is reduced because all of the trailer weight is not on the axles. I used to find this confusing too, until I understood this balance. A well balance 5th wheel should have 15% -20% of the GVWR on the king pin which takes this weight off of the axles. We have not had ours weighed yet, but intend to do this at the rally in June as long as Stacy is planning on doing this again. Glad they made this correction before June, but since we area 32TK3 I don't think it will affect our unit.

[rotaxman]

Hey RickandJanice

I understand the relation ship between pin weight and actual weight carried by the axles. As you said a real good balance actually a perfect one would be the 15 percent that you mentioned. All of DRV's 36's and above exceed that percentage they exceed the 20 percent range.

It is common to find the large DRV's with pin weights in excess of 4000 pounds. The two that I have had have been 4500 and 4300 respectively.

If I had a DRV unit that was rated at a 20000 pound GVWR and loaded it to 20000 pounds and the pin comes in at 4000 pounds lets even go a little further lets say it comes in at 4500 which it will maybe even more but it could also be less not likely though. (Less is worse for this example) That will leave 15500 for the axles to support which if your axles have been derated to 7500 each you will be 500 over what they are rated for. I'm fairly sure that the axles will not have the weight distributed evenly on both of them. One of them may be just under and the other could be a lot over.

I'm gonna hook up with Stacey one of these days and have him weigh me out. I was very surprised when I weighed my 06 I had the use of a digital platform scale at a grain company. I went there when they were closed and could take the time to weight the truck and trailer by axle and total weight.

Rick and Janice I didn't mean to sound snippy if I did I apologize as that was not my intent.

As always good camping

Jerry

[anijet]

Just for a known reference I have attached the weight slips for our MS 36TK3. We have a washer/dryer and a lot of supplies and tools in the basement. The last weigh slip dated 5-7-07 is fully loaded for what we believed at the time would be full time use. (We have since gone to part time.) The total axle weight is 13,380, well within the 15,000 rating.

The first slip is truck only and the second is new trailer empty.

As a note, a few hundred pounds on the truck rear axle is from a 50 gallon bed tank/tool box combo with hyd jacks, tire chains, etc.

[RickandJanice]

Jerry, no offense taken. I agree with what you are saying and understand your concerns. I also agree that the best assurance is to have Stacy do a weights and know for sure as each rig is different. We intend to do the same thing, hope this is offered again at this year's rally.