GVWR, Payload, Towing Capacity or GCWR

jaydub74 wrote:
What trumps what when making a TV decision. I'm not a pulling expert by any means but when looking at commercial trucks they always seem to display their GVWR and GCWR. Should I be using these rather than worrying about the advertised towing capacity and payload. What is the order of importance. I would assume:

GVWR
GCWR
Payload
Towing Capacity (only most trucks will run out of payload before they ever reach their advertised towing capacity).

It's not a matter of "trumping" -- it's a matter of what information you have available.

Published "payload" is approximately equal to GVWR - Curb Weight. It can be used in lieu of knowing a vehicle's actual empty weight.
If you know the actual empty weight, subtract it from GVWR to get the payload value.
Or you can use the "weight of occupants and cargo must not exceed" value from the TIRE AND LOADING INFORMATION sticker.

Published "towing capacity" is approximately equal to GCWR - Curb Weight. It also can be used in lieu of knowing a vehicle's actual empty weight.
If you know the actual empty weight, subtract if from GCWR to get the "towing capacity" value.
Remember -- maximum allowable trailer weight is equal to "towing capacity" minus known or estimated total weight of occupants and cargo carried by the TV.

Lacking certain information, you must use the "payload" and/or "towing capacity" values to ensure you don't exceed GVWR or GCWR.
If you have the necessary information, you can measure or calculate GVW and GCW values and compare directly with GVWR and GCWR.

Ron