GVWR math help!!

GCVR means gross combination weight, otherwise with fuel people belongings, and car in tow is to not exceed 22,000 lbs.

Roman Duck wrote:
GCVR means gross combination weight, otherwise with fuel people belongings, and car in tow is to not exceed 22,000 lbs.

and yes your math is correct

The 14500 would be the MAX the Sunseeker can weigh on it's axles. The 22000 is the Max the Sunseeker and anything being towed can weigh together.

Using your numbers you could tow a 7500 lb toad with a fully laden 14,500 lbs) RV. You still have margin to carry lots of stuff in the Element....more beer!!

No.
The GVWR 14500 is the Maximum that your MH can weigh, vehicle, passengers, supplies, water, propane etc. and hitch weight. It is also dependent on the weight on the front and rear axles and ratings.

The GCWR 22000 is the maximum combined weight of your MH and what it is towing. Your Element is falls in this category. Technically you can tow up to 7500lbs, but your hitch and frame extensions are probably only rated for 5000lbs.

With a 24' MH, you will probably have lots of capacity for normal items in your MH. It would be best to weigh your MH to get an accurate weight. There won't be any problems towing your Element. We barely know that our 3500lb CRV is behind our 29foot c.

Beverley and Ken

The 14,500# GVWR and 22,000# GCWR are the numbers from Ford, and not necessarily how Forest River rates that vehicle. More than likely they rate it to tow, and provide it with a 5,000# hitch. I have read where they are rating their new units up to the 22,000# Ford specified GCWR.
You also have to find out the weight of the vehicle itself,as to how much of a cushion you have on that GVWR number.
That being said, that vehicle shouldn't have any problems towing a 3,600# car.


***** Sorry, I did not see the previous post (or the two before that) when I posted. :h

THANKS for the replies!

So, in any instance, with a tow or not, if my Sunseeker has an empty weight of 11,150 (per Forest River) and a GVWR of 14,500 then the maximum weight of cargo/people/fluids cannot exceed 3350 because GVRW is a number that covers braking capacity or axle capacity. Is that somewhat correct?

Oh, and I did get the numbers from Forest River, which doesn't mean they are right!

Don't you also have to include the tongue weight of your toad in the GVWR? If not, why not.

Yep, you won't know what you can carry till you load the coach as for travel, with all the above-mentioned people, fuel, supplies and (worst of all) STUFF.

Yes, the negligible weight of the towbar that falls on the hitch is "stuff."

Load'er up and go to the CAT scale in a truck stop. Tow the Element. The way the scale lays out, meant for tractor-trailer rigs, it'll show weights for Steer, Drive, and Trailer. Front Axle, Rear Axle and Element.

Or, if you haven't bought it, weigh it empty. That'll give you an idea of where you're starting. They're almost invariably heavier than listed. Problem with that is, you'll probably underestimate the weight of what you take aboard.

Good news is that you can take your CAT weights and use a Tire Load/Pressure Chart to get the correct pressure in your tires.
Hint/Teaser: FRONT tire pressure on E450 should never exceed 65PSI.

j-d wrote:
Problem with that is, you'll probably underestimate the weight of what you take aboard.

Yes, always. :(