Axle ratings where is the weak link?
I keep being told my current truck an 07 Chevy diesel 4x4 DRW LB EXT CAB can handle the triple slide TC's on the market today with some suspension upgrades but it has some pretty low ratings as it si...
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I just went through this analysis.
The manufacturer puts a GVW on the door.
That's, by law, the max of the total vehicle weight with ALL the load init. No exceptions.
So if you go to a weigh scale and weigh your front the rear axles and add the two you will find the actual GVW. If you were pulled over by a trooper and told to get weighed he would compare the GVW on the door to the weight from the scale as driven. If it over he can take you off the road. I doubt that this is going to happen to you, but that is the law.
So if you are overweight what can you do short of buying a new truck or camper?
As a practical matter you can best improve the suspension system by upgrading certain components. This however WILL NOT increase your GVW, the number on the door frame.
Start with the tires, rims and springs.
Look at the tire load tables for your tires and see if you can buy a stronger tire. Same for the rims. In my case (Ford) my model (F-250) had a 'bigger y, stronger) model so I bought a set of that model's rims and tires for the highest 'stock' model. It was a Lariat model. Craigslist abounds with these resales as some people want fancy rims and hugh knobby tires!
Air bags (~$800) will increase the gap between the spring and the frame, offloading the spring and allowing it to work in their design range, not jammed down on the overload section.
More springs are also a solution but they are more money than airbags. Dunlop are the best.
You will probably find you front is not overloaded, but if it is you can get airbags up front too.
Hope this helps
David
The manufacturer puts a GVW on the door.
That's, by law, the max of the total vehicle weight with ALL the load init. No exceptions.
So if you go to a weigh scale and weigh your front the rear axles and add the two you will find the actual GVW. If you were pulled over by a trooper and told to get weighed he would compare the GVW on the door to the weight from the scale as driven. If it over he can take you off the road. I doubt that this is going to happen to you, but that is the law.
So if you are overweight what can you do short of buying a new truck or camper?
As a practical matter you can best improve the suspension system by upgrading certain components. This however WILL NOT increase your GVW, the number on the door frame.
Start with the tires, rims and springs.
Look at the tire load tables for your tires and see if you can buy a stronger tire. Same for the rims. In my case (Ford) my model (F-250) had a 'bigger y, stronger) model so I bought a set of that model's rims and tires for the highest 'stock' model. It was a Lariat model. Craigslist abounds with these resales as some people want fancy rims and hugh knobby tires!
Air bags (~$800) will increase the gap between the spring and the frame, offloading the spring and allowing it to work in their design range, not jammed down on the overload section.
More springs are also a solution but they are more money than airbags. Dunlop are the best.
You will probably find you front is not overloaded, but if it is you can get airbags up front too.
Hope this helps
David
