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rear axle, the effect on the
rear axle is greater than just the
weight itself, as much as 1.5 times
as much. The weight at the rear
axle could be 850 lbs (386 kg)
X 1.5 = 1,275 lbs (578 kg). Since
the rear axle already weighs
2,700 lbs (1 225 kg), adding
1,275 lbs (578 kg) brings the total to
3,975 lbs (1 803 kg). This is very
close to, but within the limit for
RGAWR as well. The vehicle is set
to trailer up to 8,500 lbs (3 856 kg).
If the vehicle has many options and
there is a front seat passenger
and two rear seat passengers with
some luggage and gear in the
vehicle as well, 300 lbs (136 kg)
could be added to the front
axle weight and 400 lbs (181 kg) to
the rear axle weight. The vehicle
now weighs:
Weight is still below 7,200 lbs
(3 266 kg) and you might think
700 additional pounds (318 kg)
should be subtracted from the
trailering capacity to stay within
GCWR limits. The maximum trailer
would only be 7,800 lbs (3 538 kg).
You may go further and think
the tongue weight should be limited
to less than 1,000 lbs (454 kg) to
avoid exceeding GVWR. But
the effect on the rear axle must still
be considered. Because the rear
axle now weighs 3,100 lbs
(1 406 kg), 900 lbs (408 kg) can be
put on the rear axle without
exceeding RGAWR. The effect of
tongue weight is about 1.5 times the
actual weight. Dividing the 900 lbs
(408 kg) by 1.5 leaves only
600 lbs (272 kg) of tongue weight
that can be handled. Since
tongue weight is usually at least
10 percent of total loaded trailer
weight, expect that the largest trailer
the vehicle can properly handle is
6,000 lbs (2 721 kg).
It is important that the vehicle
does not exceed any of its
ratings — GCWR, GVWR, RGAWR,
Maximum Trailer Rating or
Tongue Weight. The only way
to be sure it is not exceeding any of
these ratings is to weigh the vehicle
and trailer.
Driving Your Vehicle 4-47