Axle Weight Calculator

Axle Weight Distribution Calculator

Determine the load distribution between the front and rear axles of your vehicle or truck.

Distance from front axle center to the center of the cargo.

Results

Final Front Axle Weight 0

Final Rear Axle Weight 0

Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) 0

Understanding Axle Weight Distribution

Calculating axle weight is critical for truck operators, logistics managers, and anyone towing heavy loads. Improper weight distribution can lead to hazardous driving conditions, increased wear on tires and brakes, and heavy fines for exceeding DOT (Department of Transportation) axle weight limits.

The Physics Behind the Calculation

The distribution of cargo weight follows the principles of moments (leverage). When you place cargo between two axles, the weight is shared based on how close the load is to each axle. This is calculated using the wheelbase of the vehicle as the total span.

• Added Rear Weight: (Cargo Weight × Distance from Front Axle) ÷ Wheelbase
• Added Front Weight: Cargo Weight – Added Rear Weight
• Gross Weight: Empty Weight + Cargo Weight

Practical Example

Suppose you have a truck with a 150-inch wheelbase. The empty front axle weighs 4,000 lbs and the rear axle weighs 3,000 lbs. You place a 10,000 lbs payload at a distance of 120 inches from the front axle.

1. Added Rear Weight = (10,000 × 120) / 150 = 8,000 lbs.
2. Added Front Weight = 10,000 – 8,000 = 2,000 lbs.
3. Total Front Axle = 4,000 + 2,000 = 6,000 lbs.
4. Total Rear Axle = 3,000 + 8,000 = 11,000 lbs.

Why This Matters

If the load is too far back, the front wheels may lose traction and steering control. If the load is too far forward, the front axle and tires may exceed their manufacturer's gross axle weight rating (GAWR), leading to suspension failure or steering difficulty.

function calculateAxleWeight() { var wheelbase = parseFloat(document.getElementById('wheelbase').value); var payload = parseFloat(document.getElementById('payload').value); var distFront = parseFloat(document.getElementById('distFront').value); var tareFront = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tareFront').value) || 0; var tareRear = parseFloat(document.getElementById('tareRear').value) || 0; if (isNaN(wheelbase) || isNaN(payload) || isNaN(distFront) || wheelbase <= 0) { alert("Please enter valid positive numbers for Wheelbase, Payload, and Distance."); return; } // Calculation Logic // Weight on Rear Axle due to payload = (Weight * Distance from Front) / Wheelbase var addedRear = (payload * distFront) / wheelbase; var addedFront = payload – addedRear; var finalFrontVal = tareFront + addedFront; var finalRearVal = tareRear + addedRear; var totalGVWVal = finalFrontVal + finalRearVal; // Display Results document.getElementById('finalFront').innerText = finalFrontVal.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('finalRear').innerText = finalRearVal.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('totalGVW').innerText = totalGVWVal.toLocaleString(undefined, {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2}); document.getElementById('results-area').style.display = 'block'; }