JIMNLIN wrote:
First off a trucks GVWR doesn't determine how much load any truck can carry legally. Your state motor vehicle size and weight folks can help you with the legal aspect of how much weight you may carry per the truck mfg stickered ratings.
Your trucks legal/safe hitch load capacities revolve around the trucks RAWR as its going to carry the hitch load placed in the bed. Course everyone knows the tires capacity is equal or may exceed the highest FAWR or RAWR.
And your state may require you to have some type of weight for registration/tax paid purposes. Some do not as mine. We simply carry hitch weight up to the RAWRs/tire load capacities.
It pretty simple to figure how much hitch load any truck can carry safely if you have separate front and rear axle weights.
Example; Many 2500 trucks may have a 2800-2900 rear axle weight when empty. Subtract that number from your trucks 6200 RAWR leaves you with approx 3200-3300 lbs for a payload.
Some folks use the GVWR method of subtracting the trucks scaled weight from its GVWR. Folks with "some" of the new trucks with those high GVWR numbers need to be aware that GVWR payload number can overload the trucks RAWR/tires.
It is all pretty confusing for me. Here are my numbers at the scale (full tank of diesel and my wife next to me in the passenger seat) and on the inside of the driver door sticker:
Steer axle: 4220 lbs
Drive axle: 2900 lbs
Gross weight: 7120 lbs
The sticker on the inside of the driver door says:
GVWR: 9200 lbs
GAWR Front: 4670 lbs
GAWR Rear: 6084 lbs
My wheels are rated at 3,000 lbs as per manufacturer (they are not the stock wheels but wheels that the first owner put on the truck). Tires are Nitto load range E, 3750 lbs capacity (so they overshoot the wheels).
Can someone guide me through the exact calculation used to find out how much weight can be put on the tongue in the truck bed?
I am asking for the following case: we (God forbid) get into an accident and are taken to the scales. The scales put out a set of numbers and my insurance company gets these numbers. Based on these numbers they calculate that I am within carrying capacity and decide to honor insurance. Or they decide I am grossly overweight and decide not to honor it. I don't want to drive around thinking I am insured when I am not. In addition, breaking distance, safety etc. play a role. I don't want to drive around, for example, 2,000 lbs overweight and that increases my breaking distance by X feet.
Thanks!
