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
IMHO we're getting way off track here from the original question. Legality is irrelevant, really. Even if you are running an "illegal" rig the odds of getting pulled over are slim to none unless you are committing some other traffic infraction such as speeding or driving erratically.
Payload, and Tow Rating, are usually advertising numbers based on a specific "ideal" vehicle configuration.
What you need to work with are the four ratings of the vehicle, and the ACTUAL WEIGHTS of the vehicle:
1. GFAWR / FAWR
2. GRAWR / RAWR
3. GVWR
4. GCVWR / GCWR
5. ACTUAL front axle weight
6. ACTUAL rear axle weight
With these six simple values and some simple math you can figure out:
A. How much tongue weight, people, and "stuff" you can load in the truck.
B. How much trailer your truck will tow within its ratings.
IMHO driver comfort is the most important factor when it comes to towing. If you are comfortable driving it, not white-knuckling and nervous, being shaken or bounced until you're physically ill, or screaming and pounding on the steering wheel as you crawl up hills with the engine roaring at 5000 RPM, everything else will fall into place.
Payload, and Tow Rating, are usually advertising numbers based on a specific "ideal" vehicle configuration.
What you need to work with are the four ratings of the vehicle, and the ACTUAL WEIGHTS of the vehicle:
1. GFAWR / FAWR
2. GRAWR / RAWR
3. GVWR
4. GCVWR / GCWR
5. ACTUAL front axle weight
6. ACTUAL rear axle weight
With these six simple values and some simple math you can figure out:
A. How much tongue weight, people, and "stuff" you can load in the truck.
B. How much trailer your truck will tow within its ratings.
IMHO driver comfort is the most important factor when it comes to towing. If you are comfortable driving it, not white-knuckling and nervous, being shaken or bounced until you're physically ill, or screaming and pounding on the steering wheel as you crawl up hills with the engine roaring at 5000 RPM, everything else will fall into place.
