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To get a clear picture of tire – wheel – axle selections and their application to the RV trailer we must look at it from the designer’s view. Each model will have a target GVWR.
Within the GVWR are all the overall weight values that must be combined into the end product for it to meet satisfactory vehicle certification requirements.
NHTSA allows the trailer manufacturer to set vehicle axle weight requirements and certify those requirements as vehicle certified GAWRs.
The FMVSS (standard) they must follow for certification reads – in part – like this. The sum of the trailer’s total vehicle certified GAWRs, when added to the trailer manufacturer’s published/recommended tongue/hitch weight MUST not be less than the trailer’s GVWR.
On another note: Since 2007 the entire weight of any RV trailer equipped with a propane system will have the entire weight of the system including full propane tanks included in the GVW (dry weight) when it leaves the factory.
Certification labels for units earmarked for the CDN market may have a full water system included in the vehicle certification label. It will be deducted from the unit’s cargo capacity because it is cargo.
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