Why doesn't the math work?

Me Again wrote:
Most front 4x4 axles are a size or three smaller than the rear axles, and could never carry the same weight as the much larger rear axles. Most now also have coil springs in the front with softer ratings to provide a quality ride.

So lets look at my 2015 3500 SRW SB 4x4.

GVWR 11,700
Front GAWR 6000
Rear GAWR 7000

Not much in truck and front axle is 4900.

With Fifth wheel almost ready to Arizona trip
Front 5120
Rear 6620
Truck 11,740
Trailer 12,780
Combined 24520

So I can not by the book use the full rear GAWR without going over the GVWR or getting to the 5th wheel tow rating of 17,050 pounds. Our trailer has a 16K GVWR and is weighing around 15780.

So the same RAM truck with long bed has a 12,300 GVWR. Tires, axles, brakes, springs, etc are all the same, except it weighs more with the longer frame and bed. So did they just set the GVWR higher to account for the heavier truck???

I don't thing I will worry about it. Washington State licensed it at 12K and I could pay a little more and license it at 14K. If I licensed it at 14K and carefully loaded the front axle to 6K and rear to 7K totaling 13K, I would be legal based on the licensed weight.

And we have not even talked about the Federal bridge weight laws.

There are NO standards on how manufactures come up with GVWR. If GVWR was a binding number then there would be standards set on how it is determined. Ford will sell you a 3500 with a 10K GVWR for areas that restrict vehicles over 10K.

Chris

Well at least you need to work at it to exceed GVWR! :B The fact that your GVWR is 90 percent of your axle ratings, makes it a bit harder. Remember back to your 2001.5 where the GVWR was only 78 percent of the axle ratings!!! :S

Remember these numbers;
Front GAWR 5,200#
Rear GAWR 6,084#
GVWR 8,800# :R

So the TV with or without the 5er is right at 4,500# on the front axle so that in reality that leaves me 4,300# that I can carry on my rear axle before exceeding GVWR. Take about 3,000# basic weight on the rear axle and I am left with 1,300# of payload to carry my 5er.
Well I will let you guess the rest , I am 500# under the rear axle capacity. I have added nothing to the rear suspension other than a a full set of Bilstein 5100's. The TV is equipped with the Factory Camper package, but in 2001, that didn't change the GVWR.