Is Trailer Axle Bow Normal When Loaded

Updated 03/25/2019 | Published 03/22/2019

Question:

Since this bow is to compensate for load I’m assuming when you look at Rv loaded and still see it that bow that would be more pronounced if empty . Can you ever see it flatten out or would that be overloaded? Thanks.

asked by: Roy

Expert Reply:

You are correct that trailer axles feature an upward bow in them to compensate for the trailer's loaded weight. As more weight is put onto the trailer this bow will indeed flatten out (so the axle profile will look different when the trailer is completely empty compared to when it's fully loaded for a trip).

If the axle is flat this doesn't necessarily mean that it's overloaded. It's more likely that it's just supporting around the maximum weight that it's designed to handle. It's always best to simply go by the axle's listed capacity when determining if too much trailer weight is being put on it.

I have attached a couple additional articles on trailer axles that you might also find helpful.

expert reply by: Chris R