What is a gross axle weight rating?

What is a gross axle weight rating?

• A. The maximum amount of weight that an axle system can safely carry
• B. The maximum engine horsepower
• C. The recommended tire pressure
• D. The weight of fuel in the tank

Answer: (A)

Gross axle weight rating is the maximum load a single axle is designed to carry safely. It accounts for the weight of the vehicle plus any cargo, passengers, and the forces on that axle, all limited by the design of the suspension, tires, and wheels. This per-axle limit helps protect the axle, tires, and structure from overloading and potential failure. It’s different from engine horsepower, which measures power, and from the recommended tire pressure, which relates to inflation, and from the weight of fuel, which can vary; GAWR is about the maximum permissible load on each axle regardless of those other factors. For example, if the front axle GAWR is 5,000 pounds and the rear axle GAWR is 9,000 pounds, you must not put more than those amounts on the respective axles, even if the total vehicle weight would allow more.

Gross axle weight rating is the maximum load a single axle is designed to carry safely. It accounts for the weight of the vehicle plus any cargo, passengers, and the forces on that axle, all limited by the design of the suspension, tires, and wheels. This per-axle limit helps protect the axle, tires, and structure from overloading and potential failure. It’s different from engine horsepower, which measures power, and from the recommended tire pressure, which relates to inflation, and from the weight of fuel, which can vary; GAWR is about the maximum permissible load on each axle regardless of those other factors. For example, if the front axle GAWR is 5,000 pounds and the rear axle GAWR is 9,000 pounds, you must not put more than those amounts on the respective axles, even if the total vehicle weight would allow more.