can't get the gvwr math to work
I want to buy a Bigfoot 25C9.4SB and a short bed srw crew cab diesel to match. Everything I read says "gvwr gvwr gvwr - never violate your trucks gvwr!". ok. So, Bigfoot says their camper is 3K ...
Forum Discussion
burningman wrote:Powerdude wrote:
Those ratings are total bantha poodoo. Worry about the tire ratings, and you'll be fine....
You won't be able to get the GVWR/GAWR math to work, because it is not supposed to work. It's not for real world applications. It's for legal butt covering.
Exactly. And it’s also to make trucks fit into certain defined categories.
It’s like if a five pound hammer came with a rating for finish nails only.
Worry about what your tires can handle. That’s pretty much what the D.O.T. does on real trucks.
There is the crowd that says nothing you can ever change or do will increase your GVWR. That’s almost as silly as saying nothing you can do will decrease it either.
Higher capacity tires increase GVWR in the real world, even if not in the brochure-world.
The axle manufacturers ratings are based on engineering and design. The truck makers ratings are based on number-shuffling to make the truck fit the intended light truck category.
I guess I still don't get the many people posting in here who advocate for just ignoring vehicle weight ratings. I'm not saying the sky will fall, people will get sued, or anything like that. But it is manufacturer rating. So I guess I just don't get the treat it like "a grain of salt" or "bantha poodoo." I'm not trying to start an argument about it, I'm just confused as to why one would be so quick/willing to dismiss a manufacturers rating. I'm doing my best to configure a 1/2 ton truck with a lightweight truck camper. It is a chore. Not saying I'm right or wrong in doing so, but I'm going to stay within the manufacturers ratings. Which sucks because so few 1/2 tons are truly rated for truck camper duties. By way of example: In Ram, only the 2019, 2WD Reg cab 8' bed; in Ford, only trucks w/ the HD payload package; and in GM, no crew cabs.
Maybe there is no risk (legal, warranty, etc), and maybe I'm nerding out to much on the issue. But I can't see just dismissing a Manufacturers rating just because I, a layperson, disagree with it.
