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
I have run into the same thing as AH64ID, I get in washington st 500 lbs per inch width for a single rig, 600 for a dually up to 20K per axel, or 34K per tandem. AS long as I have enough paid for registration tag. I HAVE been pulled over greater than my tire, axel, spring limits, but as of 20 some odd years of being pulled over, I have YET to receive an over wt ticket. I have been over as much 150% of my door tag numbers.
I have also yet to find, ANY state with rules as Jim has posted. I have seen these rules/regulations in a what is recommended by a light and medium duty truck hauler assoc hand book, but they are not actual laws in a given state, as they have not been passed by the individual states. And "IF" a given state were to follow these specs, they would have the potential to lose any and all federal funds for interstate or other roads the feds match or add to local funds. ALL roads with federal moneys, get the min/max per rig to KEEP cargo going on the roads. Manufactures warranty ratings do not come into play in legal amounts.
As far as which truck to choose. I have found that a slightly under powered, correct payload for the job at hand, is the best rig for me any how. Also assuming it has the correct gearing in the trans, axel ratio is a factor of the tire diam. so for me, the bogus engine axel ratio gcwr that many rigs has, is useless propaganda.
I also do not like to tow with a trailer to RA ratio of over 2-1. So if I have a 6K ra, I do not like to tow much over 12K lbs with that rig. Yeah, some manufactures rate there rigs at upwards of 15K with said strength axel, I do not find it to be fun, the dog wags the tail too much.
If you want to go faster up a given interstate grade, get the rig with the most HP. For low end going up steeper grades, the rig with the most torque transmited to the RA with get you up the hill. I have had a 105HP 292 I6 go up a 20+% grade at 12K lbs, 50 % over its gcwr. Yet a 235HP 454 at 12K NOT go up the same hill with a gcwr of 16K lbs. The 292 had a better trans, axel ratio etc to muliply the torque so it would go up the hill.
Reality is, there is not a true right or wrong on what TV to have for a given trailer, other than what your circumstances allow.
Marty
I have also yet to find, ANY state with rules as Jim has posted. I have seen these rules/regulations in a what is recommended by a light and medium duty truck hauler assoc hand book, but they are not actual laws in a given state, as they have not been passed by the individual states. And "IF" a given state were to follow these specs, they would have the potential to lose any and all federal funds for interstate or other roads the feds match or add to local funds. ALL roads with federal moneys, get the min/max per rig to KEEP cargo going on the roads. Manufactures warranty ratings do not come into play in legal amounts.
As far as which truck to choose. I have found that a slightly under powered, correct payload for the job at hand, is the best rig for me any how. Also assuming it has the correct gearing in the trans, axel ratio is a factor of the tire diam. so for me, the bogus engine axel ratio gcwr that many rigs has, is useless propaganda.
I also do not like to tow with a trailer to RA ratio of over 2-1. So if I have a 6K ra, I do not like to tow much over 12K lbs with that rig. Yeah, some manufactures rate there rigs at upwards of 15K with said strength axel, I do not find it to be fun, the dog wags the tail too much.
If you want to go faster up a given interstate grade, get the rig with the most HP. For low end going up steeper grades, the rig with the most torque transmited to the RA with get you up the hill. I have had a 105HP 292 I6 go up a 20+% grade at 12K lbs, 50 % over its gcwr. Yet a 235HP 454 at 12K NOT go up the same hill with a gcwr of 16K lbs. The 292 had a better trans, axel ratio etc to muliply the torque so it would go up the hill.
Reality is, there is not a true right or wrong on what TV to have for a given trailer, other than what your circumstances allow.
Marty
