I am looking for a toy hauler to put a golf cart in. I’ve seen a few but they will be about 10,000 pounds after everything is loaded. Current tow capacity on the truck is 9300lbs. With GVWR @ 7,000lbs. I found a shop that will add an extra leaf to the rear end (.47in steel leaf, was told that would add roughly 600lbs each side) and install HD sway bars. Do you think this will be enough to increase my GVWR?

FL JasonR wrote: Do you think this will be enough to increase my GVWR?GVWR of a truck is what it is. You can't increase it beyond the design specs of the manufacturer.You can add all sort of gee-gaw to improve the handling with heavy loads, but that won't increase the GVWR.For towing that kind of a load (9000lb +) I'd want a 3/4 ton or better truck.

That’s what I was afraid of. I purchased this truck in 2018 to tow my current TT and now that we’re upgrading I really don’t want to purchase another truck unless it’s the only option. I would rather try and increase the capacity of the current vehicle.

The capacity of the current vehicle can not be increased.

It may the only option you have but it’s the wrong option. Wrong for you, your family, your truck.

You will likely be over the rating. It might ride level but still over the rating. You will have to be OK with that. Can't recommend spending money into this situation.

1/2 ton truck towing question | Good Sam Community

Thermoguy
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2020
Some of these comments are interesting...

If you can add an extra leaf spring to a 3/4 ton to give it the capability of a 1 ton, why can't you do the same to a 1/2 ton?

So, the sticker on the door is no longer correct, doesn't mean the leaf spring isn't there doing its job. Yes, you do have to consider everything else to make the truck capable, like tires, engine cooler, maybe brakes. But those things might be easier than buying a new truck.
ppine
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2020
No.
Lynnmor
Explorer
Oct 25, 2020
I guess that the reason for lengthy accident cleanup is all that weighing of each piece of debris and determining which piece came from what vehicle. :R
GDS-3950BH
Explorer
Oct 25, 2020
wing_zealot wrote:
theoldwizard1 wrote:
Worst case scenario. You have an accident while towing. You insurance company voids your policy because you knowingly modified the vehicle to EXCEED its capacity !!
You may be canceled, but it will be after the claim is paid Think about it, you're drunk, hop in your car, hit a telephone pole and cause a couple hundred thousand $ of damage. Your still covered. May get canceled, but it will be after the fact. Insurance companies can't decide just to void your coverage just beacause you do something stupid. If they could, they'd do it every time someone got in a accident.

ROFLMAO....yet this BS gets repeated over and over on forums and has since the internet was invented by Al.
pitch
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2020
Years ago I had an early '70's F-100. Truck was a yard and woods truck. Broke an axle.
I had another old truck in the hedgerow, this one a 3/4 ton. All it took was to simply cut the shock and spring mounts of off both axles and switch them. Also Had to cut the drives shaft for the universal.
So all you fine referees out there are going to tell me that I did not make the f-100 much more capable?
pitch
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2020
theoldwizard1 wrote:
Worst case scenario. You have an accident while towing. You insurance company voids your policy because you knowingly modified the vehicle to EXCEED its capacity !!
4

You know Folks have been posting this particular nugget of **** since I have been a member. 15 years at least.
The poster has been corrected every time,yet this nonsense lives on.
And you very definitely can increase your trucks capabilities with the addition of springs,
air bags,sway bars even stronger tires. You can even increase it's ratings if an approved aftermarket outfitter, certifies the components and work.
If you do your own work the trucks capabilities are increased but the rating stays the same.
valhalla360
Navigator
Oct 25, 2020
blt2ski wrote:
The person company that installs springs, can put an addendum on door pillar to the effect that rear spring capacity increased by 1200 lbs, increased wieght of vehicle by 100lbs or whatever the springs added in capacity and wieght to the ruck.

Marty

They can put a sticker on the door pillar that says the truck can time travel...doesn't change the manufacturer's rating.
wing_zealot
Explorer
Oct 25, 2020
theoldwizard1 wrote:
Worst case scenario. You have an accident while towing. You insurance company voids your policy because you knowingly modified the vehicle to EXCEED its capacity !!
You may be canceled, but it will be after the claim is paid Think about it, you're drunk, hop in your car, hit a telephone pole and cause a couple hundred thousand $ of damage. Your still covered. May get canceled, but it will be after the fact. Insurance companies can't decide just to void your coverage just beacause you do something stupid. If they could, they'd do it every time someone got in a accident.
theoldwizard1
Explorer II
Oct 25, 2020
Worst case scenario. You have an accident while towing. You insurance company voids your policy because you knowingly modified the vehicle to EXCEED its capacity !!
BenK
Explorer
Oct 24, 2020
One component everyone forgets (most at least) is that if this TV has an automatic...is that the thermal system is designed for published ratings...plus some level of margin (safety factor) for longevity up to and just past ratings

Mainly the TC (torque converter) and that is where most all of the heat of any automatic is generated...shearing the fluid

Be sure to check your cooling system is up to spec and if you can, increase the fan clutch from OEM (except HD trucks) to a HD fan clutch or even Severe Duty fan clutch. Just helps reject the added amounts of heat (BTU’s) for the radiator to reject

Plus consider adding ‘another’ external aux ATF cooler & an electric fan if you have room/inclination.

Also, a fresh charge of synthetic ATF would help