GVWR, Payload, Towing Capacity or GCWR
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 ...
Forum Discussion
Here's my input.
GCWR......isn't placarded on a truck nor is it required to be by NHTSA/FMVSS nor is it legally enforced by roadside.
GVWR .... is placarded on the truck but has no legal status as to how much a load truck can carry from a practical or legal standpoint. It can be used in other applications such as figuring the trucks GCW.
Payload capacity.... nothing but a advertising number and not a legal number roadside enforcement uses.
tow capacity...... isn't placarded on the truck so nothing legally enforceable.
FAWR and RAWR ......are a legally number and is enforced by road side.
tire placard capacity.... anther number that can be changed by the truck owner for a higher rating but isn't a enforceable number
Many of these rating are not on our older trucks. Rating like GVWR/FAWR/RAWR are placarded on the older and newer trucks. The other numbers were added later ...many after '05.
Having towed legally/safely with these size trucks to make a living I choose my rating based on safety/reliability.
My choice is stay under the trucks FAWR/RAWR and RAWR/tires load ratings in particular since it will carry most if not all of the load from a trailers hitch or a truck camper.
I also choose to stay close the the truck mfg tow ratings especially a low powered gas engine drive trains for how much my truck can pull.
Others have differing opinions and may use all or some or non of the above numbers.
GCWR......isn't placarded on a truck nor is it required to be by NHTSA/FMVSS nor is it legally enforced by roadside.
GVWR .... is placarded on the truck but has no legal status as to how much a load truck can carry from a practical or legal standpoint. It can be used in other applications such as figuring the trucks GCW.
Payload capacity.... nothing but a advertising number and not a legal number roadside enforcement uses.
tow capacity...... isn't placarded on the truck so nothing legally enforceable.
FAWR and RAWR ......are a legally number and is enforced by road side.
tire placard capacity.... anther number that can be changed by the truck owner for a higher rating but isn't a enforceable number
Many of these rating are not on our older trucks. Rating like GVWR/FAWR/RAWR are placarded on the older and newer trucks. The other numbers were added later ...many after '05.
Having towed legally/safely with these size trucks to make a living I choose my rating based on safety/reliability.
My choice is stay under the trucks FAWR/RAWR and RAWR/tires load ratings in particular since it will carry most if not all of the load from a trailers hitch or a truck camper.
I also choose to stay close the the truck mfg tow ratings especially a low powered gas engine drive trains for how much my truck can pull.
Others have differing opinions and may use all or some or non of the above numbers.
