GVWR/Towing capacity question

That diagram is mainly newbies and/or folks who don't understand the inter-relationship
between each rating

Drove me nuts constantly answering PMs asking pretty much the same question and
that diagram solved most of that over load into my PM box

It is a system and to take any 'ONE' rating by itself is to be out of context

There are interdependencies, or prerequisites and that diagram shows
them in graphical form that verbiage does NOT get through very often
That is where folks take any single rating as an absolute and therefore
out of context

Say to first decide if you believe in the ratings system or not

If not, then do whatever, but know that you have taken the OEM(s) off the warranty
hook (if any left) and the biggie: liability

If yes, then learn how that system works

Like Marty's example. Yes, that is the whole point if you believe in the ratings

Load up the TV to it's GVWR before hooking and you have no more 'rating' for
the hitch & tongue weights

Also part of everyone's "Risk management decisions"...AKA Gambling.

The OEMs have dialed in their product to meet the min or more of the regulatory
agencies requirements for that class of vehicle

Dialed in are: safety margin, longevity, performance to specification and more


It is a personal, or individual decision to go over the ratings or not

I do NOT ever recommend it to anyone. Especially anyone asking, as they
do NOT have the experience to make that decision...yet...if ever

Todd, welcome to Open Roads Forum.

FYI the diagram which you posted is at least six years old. It contains some errors and has been amended by Ben.

Ben's most recent posting of the amended diagram can be found here.

Ron

Thanks much for the updated link Ron, and the welcome. I've been reading for a while as a guest and decided that this looks like a good place to learn and exchange so I finally registered.

-Todd

handye9 wrote:
Payload - GVWR minus actual weight of the truck. Payload is used up by everything and everybody in, or on, the vehicle. Includes people, pets, aftermarket accessories (floor mats, bed liners, nerf bars, bed caps, etc), cargo, and tongue weight.

When using a weight distributing hitch, the weight of the WDH, which typically is 75-100#, also must be included as TV cargo.

And, the good news is -- when using a WDH, the full tongue weight is not carried by the TV.
A properly sized and properly adjusted WDH can transfer a load equal to about 20-25% of tongue weight to the trailer's axles.
This means that, instead of carrying the full tongue weight as TV cargo, the TV only is having to carry a load equal to 75-80% of the tongue weight.

Ron

ttavasc wrote:
Here is a diagram that I found on another thread that depicts how these figures roll up into GCVWR to ultimately determine what what you can actually tow:

Todd, welcome to Open Roads Forum.

FYI the diagram which you posted is at least six years old. It contains some errors and has been amended by Ben.

Ben's most recent posting of the amended diagram can be found here.

Ron

While the diagram Todd posted of BenA's, I've personally never liked it. Because, if you hadbe a rig at over, no remaining payload, you have zero, zip, nada, NO trailer tow capacity what so ever. Really, they ONLY way I k.ow of to be proof positive of tow ability, is to.take the.remaining paper of.the tow rig, divide by the HW% you will have or need, the remainder will give you that amount. It will vary!

A 1000 lbs of payload with 10% HW is 10,000 lbs of trailer. If 25% is needed, you have way less at 4000 max lbs. Again showing another misnomer, you can.pull a larger 5w than a ball mount! Looks pretty wrong to me. Other than the ball mount hitch assuming you have payload for.either trailer.

Marty
Who is hoping this typed out correct from phone.....

handye9 wrote:


GVWR - Based on frame, wheels, tires, suspension, and drivetrain, this is a maximum weight rating on the vehicle.

GCVWR - Maximum weight of truck and trailer combined.

Payload - GVWR minus actual weight of the truck. Payload is used up by everything and everybody in, or on, the vehicle. Includes people, pets, aftermarket accessories (floor mats, bed liners, nerf bars, bed caps, etc), cargo, and tongue weight.

Tow capacity - A marketing number. What the vehicle could pull, if it had no cargo, no passengers, a 150 lb driver, and very little tongue weight. As you add weight to the truck (people, cargo, accessories, etc), this number goes down, as does available payload, pound for pound. If put 500 lbs of people and cargo in the truck, your 9200 lb tow capacity becomes 8700 lbs, and your available payload drops 500 lbs.

Here is a diagram that I found on another thread that depicts how these figures roll up into GCVWR to ultimately determine what what you can actually tow:



-Todd

Tennessee_Nomad wrote:
This new Dodge lists the GVWR at 6,350lbs and a towing capacity of 9,200lbs. I thought your GVWR was your towing capacity. Help in layman's terms? Thanks folks...

-Doug

GVWR - Based on frame, wheels, tires, suspension, and drivetrain, this is a maximum weight rating on the vehicle.

GCVWR - Maximum weight of truck and trailer combined.

Payload - GVWR minus actual weight of the truck. Payload is used up by everything and everybody in, or on, the vehicle. Includes people, pets, aftermarket accessories (floor mats, bed liners, nerf bars, bed caps, etc), cargo, and tongue weight.

Tow capacity - A marketing number. What the vehicle could pull, if it had no cargo, no passengers, a 150 lb driver, and very little tongue weight. As you add weight to the truck (people, cargo, accessories, etc), this number goes down, as does available payload, pound for pound. If put 500 lbs of people and cargo in the truck, your 9200 lb tow capacity becomes 8700 lbs, and your available payload drops 500 lbs.

For RAM go here:

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/

Click on the "Look up my vehicle" button and plug in the VIN that you can get from the dealer's listing. This should provide specifics for that model including the axle ratio, which in this case appears to be a 3.55. Also, I think the max payload shown here does not account for any options added, so better to look at the loading sticker on the door jam to get a more accurate figure for that.

Having recently bought a new RAM for towing TT in the 4-5K range I would recommend if at all possible see if you can find a model with an 8-speed transmission. It's a big improvement over the 6-speed, especially when towing/hauling.

-Todd

GCWR is located in the owner's manual under towing. It will be in a series of charts where you pick your truck configuration, engine size, and axle ratio to find out the GCWR.

Your joey is pretty light. 5000 lb trailer and light tongue... Youll be fine with the dodge IMO..

http://www.skylinerv.com/brochures/616%202014%20FP%20brochure%20Nomad.pdf


But! You cant go buy whats advertised with the dodge..

What rear does it have? With 3.21 the tow rating is reduced some.

I dont think your gaining anything over the ford but a v8.. The ford v 6 may acytally outperform the dodge, but I have to look at specs...

http://www.ramtrucks.com/en/towing_guide/