Trailer weights explained. GW, GA, etc

[SteveA]

Getting to the nitty gritty of what trailer weight abbreviations actually mean:

 

GW = Gross weight

GA = ?

 

Gross axle?

 

Confusing....

 

Any other abbreviations explained in this thread, hopefully!....

 

Cheers, Steve

[SteveA]

GTW.... Gross Train Weight =

 

Total Weight of towing vehicle (fully loaded) + Total weight of trailer (fully loaded).

 

The total weight of both should not be more than the GTW

 

Did I get that right? https://www.gov.uk/towing-with-car/car-towing-weight-and-width-limits

[treequip]

Let's start with tyres, make sure they are load rated and have the correct speed index

 

Moving up to axles, you will find on the vehicle plate or in the handbook the maximum load allowed per axle, the sum of the axle weights is the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicle or trailer.

 

The vehicle will have a maximum gross train weight (GTW) declared on the vehicle plate or in the handbook, the GTW lof the vehicle less the vehicle MAM is the MAM of the trailer.

 

Axle weight = the most an individual axle on a vehicle is allowed to weigh

MAM = the most the vehicle (or trailer) and it's load combined are allowed to weigh

GTW = the most the vehicle, it's trailer and thier combined loads are allowed to weigh.

[SteveA]

Let's start with tyres, make sure they are load rated and have the correct speed index

 

Moving up to axles, you will find on the vehicle plate or in the handbook the maximum load allowed per axle, the sum of the axle weights is the maximum authorised mass (MAM) of the vehicle or trailer.

 

The vehicle will have a maximum gross train weight (GTW) declared on the vehicle plate or in the handbook, the GTW lof the vehicle less the vehicle MAM is the MAM of the trailer.

 

Axle weight = the most an individual axle on a vehicle is allowed to weigh

MAM = the most the vehicle (or trailer) and it's load combined are allowed to weigh

GTW = the most the vehicle, it's trailer and thier combined loads are allowed to weigh.

 

Thanks for this, very helpful.

What is GA?

[treequip]

Thanks for this, very helpful.

What is GA?

 

Great ass???

 

Where did you see it?

[SteveA]

It's written on a sticker on an Anssems trailer. Maybe GA is the German equivalent of GW??

 

Cheers, steve

[Dan Curtis]

It's written on a sticker on an Anssems trailer. Maybe GA is the German equivalent of GW??

 

Cheers, steve

 

Gross axle weight I'd assume. I have an ifor with German plates, I'll go and have a look at it

[aspenarb]

GA is the max nose weight for the trailer coupling .

 

Bob

[SteveA]

GA is the max nose weight for the trailer coupling .

 

Bob

 

Ah right! Cheers, finally got to the bottom of it. But what does the 'A' actually stand for word wise? Gross 'Action', Gross 'Angle' etc, etc??

 

The trailer plate says the gross axle weight is 1300kg and the GA is 1400kg.

 

The maximum nose weight for the tow hitch on the car is specified at 60kg.... yet it's rated to pull a maximum of 1300kg on a braked trailer. ?????

 

Very confusing.

Cheers, steve

[Agi-Smash]

Nose weight is the downward load on the towball and 1400 is the horizontal load applied when towing. I would imagine ga is maximum allowable gross. I had a trailer plated for 750 but you COULD gross 1000 with it if our laws allowed.