SRW vs DRW
Is there a general rule regarding how much weight is okay for SRW and how much is too much? We are thinking of a larger 5er and not sure how much larger will require a new truck too.
Forum Discussion
laknox wrote:klr650goldwing wrote:
Thanks everyone. There is a wealth of information here. I checked the weight tag on my truck and found the following information: GVWR 9900, FRONT GAWR 5200, REAR GAWR 6830. I don't know how to calculate total towing capacity from those numbers. I bought this truck new. When new it had 3.73 differential gearing. I had those gears changed to 4.56. That increased the towing capacity of the truck, but I don't remember how the truck shop calculated those numbers. Can anyone determine the maximum weight 5er this truck can tow?
It's not what you can TOW, it's what you can CARRY, i.e. PAYLOAD, that's the critical number. Sure, you can tow more, but you can't CARRY any more than you could when that truck rolled off the line. First thing you need to do is to load up your truck as if you were going camping. You, passenger(s), hitch, full fuel and "stuff", then hit the scales to see what your truck weighs. Subtract that from the 9900 lb GVW from your placard. THAT is the PAYLOAD capacity that you have left to CARRY the pin of a FW (or GN). If you =really= want good #'s, then take the FW with you to the scales and weigh =all= axles, steer, driver and trailer, both with and without the FW hitched up. Do it ready to camp to get =real= #'s.
Lyle
Lyle, you missed a very important item. That is weighing the individual axles. Pin weight goes almost 100 % on the trucks real axle.
One wants to get that rear axle weight and subtract it from the RGAWR. That number will tell you how much pin weight the truck can handle. Once hooked up a person should return to the scale and get three readings, Front and rear TV weights and the trailer axle weights. Add all three together to and compare that to the trucks combine weight rating.
Compare the TV rear axle weight to trucks RGAWR and assure the tires weight ratings add up to or exceed the RGAWR. Add the two TV axle weights and if you are in a state that licenses tonnage assure that you have purchase enough for the weight the truck is carrying.
