Forum Discussion

Georgia_Popcorn's avatar
Sep 11, 2016

Vehicle Weight

For you weight professionals:

My sticker on my 2016 2WD Tundra SR5 says:
GVWR 6900 LB

GAWR FRT 3900 LB
RR 4100LB

Both on 18X8J rims


My sticker on my Camper 34'11'' Keystone Outback 277RL Says:

Ship Weight 7480 lb
Hitch Weight 870 lb
Carry capacity 2020 lb

Equalizer 14000 lb HITCH


Now comes my question. We are on our 6 month trip with everything loaded, presently in Myrtle Beach. On our way here from Atlanta I stopped at a Truck Stop "certified SISSON SCALE " and got weighed. My slip of paper which looks real legal with registration numbers, "STATE CERTIFIED PUBLIC SCALE GUARANTEED WEIGHT" SAYS:


FRONT END OF TRUCK--STEERING AXLE--- 7420 lb
TRAILER AXLE------------------------------7200 lb

TOTAL WEIGHT ----------------------------14,620 LB


AM I LEGAL?
  • My tire size is P255/70R18 112T, do these numbers tell you the rating on the tires?

    IMO the new load index numbers are a waste of time and tell the guy kicking new tires nothing.
    The 112T is the new number that tells us how much the tires capacitry is.:M
    112T load index number equates to 2470 lbs if you can find a load index chart.
    Now derate per fed regs by dividing 2470 by 1.1 = 2245 lbs capacity.
  • And that is on each wheel? I hate to be so dumb, but the last time we were in the "camping business" we were pulling a 30' CARDINAL with a F250 ford Diesel 7.3, needless to say, I wasn't too concerned about weights and towing...This time I just didn't have the $ for a diesel...


    I did speak to an engineer with BRIDGESTONE TIRE and he told me I was good with the "P"rated tires (35 PSI) but if my load increased any amount, I should step up to the "E" rated (85 PSI) tire


    THANX A LOT for all the advice!
  • Newbie question:
    Does adding the towing package to a 2006 Toyota Tundra add more capacity to the 6500 rated towing capacity?
  • I would not think so...Your TUNDRA is 10 years old, there's been a lot of changes in those 10 years! Although, I just camping next to a guy in Myrtle Beach who was pulling a Jayco 5th Wheel, I think it was a 26' (don't know the weight), and he was pulling with a 2007 TUNDRA...
  • Towing packages generally just install a receiver hitch, trailer wiring, and sometimes a larger transmission cooler.

    Towing capacity is mostly based on the cab/bed configuration, engine, transmission, axle ratio, and available payload capacity.
  • Have not been here for a while. Some of the same old weight issues.

    Your weight on the truck you say is 7420 lbs is 520 lbs over your GVWR of 6900 lbs

    I also think you will find that that is how much, if not more that you are over the rear axle of 4100 lbs Depending on your WD hitch transfer to the front end.

    You probably should weigh the axles separately.
  • Good grief, don't execute the poor guy for having a load on the back of his brand new pickemup truck.
    Yes you're over pretty much every paper limit by a little. You're probably also right there or a little over on tires.
    Realistically, you have an adequate vehicle for towing your trailer. Wouldn't want to go any bigger with your particular truck and I'd at least look into getting some tires that are heavier duty.
    Tons of options for 18x8 rims. From your P rated tires, there are like "super Ps" called XL. Typically 50 psi max and a bit better weight rating. Or load D or E LT tires.
    If $ is a factor, you could buy a set of new LT takeoffs on Craigslist. Tons of them for sale coming off 3/4&1 ton pickups in favor of bigger gnarlier tires. Get a whole set for like $600 or less pretty much new. Then sell yours. You could upgrade for only a few hundred bucks.
    That said, I've tried to kill P tires on half ton pickups many times. They are tougher than their rating. Pump them up and go.
    Happy campin!
  • #1 - Don't think 35psi while towing that load with P tires is a good idea. Get those things up to 40-44psi or buy some LT tires and run them at 50-55psi. (XL tires are also good, but I can only talk about UPH...ultra high performance...XL's, which are the best tires I have towed with on two SUV's to date. I have yet to meet anyone else ever trying such a tire.)

    #2 - You are over your Gross Vehicle Weight Rating of 6900lbs by 500lbs.

    Edit: You are NOT within Gross Combine Weight Ratings. 13,600lbs is Toyota spec...and you are 1,000lbs over. This is a BIG BIG problem and where I would claim you are NOT legal.

    #3 - Did you weight the whole thing with your WDH connected? I doubt your rear axle weight would be in spec if you did not have it connected (mine is not) and some of that tongue weight is put back on the trailer as well (200lbs in my case) which regains (cheats!) your payload and gross vehicle weight by that amount. So...in other words...go back and get each axle weight when fully loaded and the WDH is connected.
  • Being over the combined weight rating from the owner's manual has no legal ramifications, at least in most, if not all, states.

    Your truck is registered for a certain weight.
    Your trailer is registered for a certain weight.

    In the odd event that an RV were pulled over and weighed by a DOT officer, those are the weights that would be used to determine if you are legally overweight.

    However, DOT as a general rule does not waste its time with RVs, and a regular highway patrol officer would only pull an RV over if it were committing a moving violation, such as speeding.

    Heck you can pretty much weigh whatever you want with an RV in the United States and it's perfectly "legal" as long as it's under 26,001lbs. Whether you can control it, whether you will like driving it, are whole different discussions.

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