max capacity tow buffer

I am running a 2015 GMC Sierra 3500 HD long bed crew cab with single rear wheel. Says it will tow 16900 but I am trying to figure out what my most limiting factor is out of all my specs

If you're vehicle is SAE J2807 certified, I say your good to the max. If it's not, especially on smaller tow vehicles like and SUV or 1/2 ton towing at max weights would really be tough.

A Sequoia was "10,000" lbs before J2807 certification and 7400 after. No changes were made to the vehicle.

We load right up to the max.

From the last weigh on 4/24:

Steer - 5,220
Drive - 6,780
Trailer - 11,680
Total - 23,680

guido04 wrote:
10+ years ago when my family first started towing the rule of thumb was leave 15% off of your vehicles maximum tow capacity as a safety buffer to prevent overloading and overtaxing your tow vehicle. Does this hold true today or has the number changed? Is it still necessary with todays trucks or is there a built in safety buffer by the auto manufacturer?

My rule of thumb is to use trailer GVWR vs tow rating.
Probably some buffer in there.

I run/tow at MAX ratings.

case in point....
Truck rear axle is rated for 6200# by Dodge (AAM 11.5" mfg rates it at 8400#)

BUT tires are only rated at 3195# at MAX PSI so I run/tow at MAX on rear tires and did so for 7 yrs FT.

Why leave something out when you have the capacity to take it? No need to have a buffer, use it as designed.

Vehicles have several ratings that you need to understand when planning to tow, especially an RV. Rear Axle, GVWR, receiver limits can easily be exceeded by some vehicles at half of the tow rating.

I like leaving a buffer so I don't have to inventory and weigh every single item I want to take along, but I don't have a set percentage. For example: My enclosed trailer may weigh anywhere from 5000-8000 lbs based on what we load inside. Having a 10,000 lb capacity allows me to pack what I want and not worry about it.

That rule of thumb sounds like it was made up by someone who didn't want to or couldn't do the math.
Any vehicle should be fine up to it's rated limit. Sometimes this includes the frontal area of the trailer, not just the weight. Also, particularly with 1500 series vehicles it's difficult to actually tow the rated weight RV because you run out of payload before hitting the maximum tow rating.
If you're talking about heavy duty diesel vehicles that's another story. Many of them can quite safely tow well over their ratings. Professional "hot shot" truck drivers do it all the time. Also farmers and contractors often go well over the ratings. I think my '05 Duramax is rated for about 22,000 GCWR. It does quite well at 24,000. That's about the most I've ever had need to tow/ haul.