Tow Capacity Numbers Question

lawrosa wrote:
snip....

I disagree.. There is a weak link on the truck somewhere.. Maybe tires.. Post those specs from sidewall..

And could be performance related

Like at GCWR, on max incline, at max altitude, at max humidity...etc
and at a dead stop...the ability to get it going again and again...don't
know how many times the specification requires

Another is longevity. Both warranty and liability.

Finally, it's ability to manhandle the GCWR at whatever the worst
conditions specified. Not the above from a dead stop, but going max
specified speed (recommendations all over the glove box manual) and
be able to stop the GCWR to specification (distance) at max conditions

Stuff like that...that we on the outside of the design team will never
know...

lawrosa wrote:
What 5 er are you looking at?????

Grand Design Reflection 318RST, a revision of the 317....the 317 had a GVWR of about 14,000 lbs.

KeithAS wrote:
That's what I thought. Since the front and rear axel weight ratings combined are 11700 lbs., what typically limits the GVWR to 10100, 1600 lbs. less?

GVWR can be whatever the truck maker wants.
It can be the sum of the GAWRs or much less.

GVWR isn't used in any legal sense for how much load a truck can safely carry.
Your era 3500 SRW Dodge has a very low 6200 RAWR rear spring/wheel/tire capacity. Dodge uses the same 11.5" AAM axle in the 2500/3500 SRW and DRW.
Ratings run from 6000/6200/6500/7000/9350 RAWR all depending on rear spring pack/wheels and tires.

Much like Fords F350 SRW with a 10000 GVWR or 11200 GVWR for the same exact truck specs per Fords body builders website.

Just stay under the trucks RAWR as its carrying the load.

Many times its legal issues that limit the payload. I believe going above 10,000 or 12,000 puts you in a different class per the government.

KeithAS wrote:
I don't want to buy a dually, especially since my 2010 has less than 10,000 miles.:(

It's not rocket surgery: Shop for a lighter trailer.

There are trailers out there in every size and weight range. Surely you and your spouse can find one that you and your truck can live with.

Now, I didn't know that. I'll have to check that out.

mkirsch wrote:

KeithAS wrote:
I don't want to buy a dually, especially since my 2010 has less than 10,000 miles.:(

It's not rocket surgery: Shop for a lighter trailer.

There are trailers out there in every size and weight range. Surely you and your spouse can find one that you and your truck can live with.

KeithAS wrote:
Now, I didn't know that. I'll have to check that out.

mkirsch wrote:

KeithAS wrote:
I don't want to buy a dually, especially since my 2010 has less than 10,000 miles.:(

It's not rocket surgery: Shop for a lighter trailer.

There are trailers out there in every size and weight range. Surely you and your spouse can find one that you and your truck can live with.

Well one thing I've noticed about most RVers is that they put on blinders when it comes to making decisions about trailers and tow vehicles. They absolutely, positively *HAVE* to tow *THIS* trailer with *THAT* vehicle, regardless of how practical it is.

I understand people want what they want, but sometimes you have to compromise. Do you want the truck, or do you want the trailer? That's what you have to ask yourself.

GVWRs in the Class 3 - Class 5 truck world can be arbitrary, with a range of GVWRs offered and little or no difference in equipment. Sometimes a particular GVWR option is for a particular state, to be just under the upper limit of a tax category in that state.

GVWR vs sum of GAWRs? Matching the sum means the buyer has no flexibility on how he loads to GAWR. Having some excess axle capacity makes it more likely that the full GVWR can be used without going over on either axle.

But you don't really know.

The GVWR of a truck is changed by the manufacturer based on what the customers needs are. 3/4 and 1 ton trucks can be ordered with several different GVWRs but the trucks are not mechanically/physically different. The GVWR ordered just changes the cost of registration. In my state you can register your truck at any GVW you need and you pay accordingly. Many other states are the same.