F150 or F250
My husband and I have been looking for the perfect travel trailer for about 6 months. We found one two weeks ago and were so excited for our first family camping trip in a TT and not a tent. Before we...
Forum Discussion
Being over on payload doesn't make a transmission boil over. Being over on GCWR does. And GCWR is being confused with payload by some posters.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is the maximum the truck's power train (engine and transmission) can haul down the road.
Example:
Truck weighs 7000# when hitched to the RV, RV weighs 8000#, 7000 + 8000 = 15,000# GCW. Note the absence of the "R", because the 15,000# is the Gross Combined Weight - not the Gross Combined Weight Rating.
The GCWR is set by the manufacturer. It is based on engine power, engine and transmission cooling ability, emergency brake holding power, parking pin holding power, and drive line component strength, among other things. Currently, each manufacturer has their own method of determining GCWR and maximum tow rating, there is a standard available (SAE J2807 - google it), but only Toyota follows it right now.
Payload is the maximum weight the truck can haul on it's chassis. It includes all occupants and cargo, and is the truck's empty weight subtracted from it's GVWR, or Gross vehicle Weight Rating.
Example:
Truck weighs 5000# empty (no passengers or cargo) and has a 7000# GVWR. That means there is 2000# of "payload" available. Hitch a trailer up to it, that adds 500# to the truck by adding trailer tongue weight. Add 3 150# passengers, that adds another 450#. So now you have 5000+450+500 = 5950# GVW and there is 1050# payload left for the generator, firewood, bikes, tools, etc.
I'm willing to bet a whole lot of money your set up exceeds your F150's GCWR and maximum tow rating.
GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating) is the maximum the truck's power train (engine and transmission) can haul down the road.
Example:
Truck weighs 7000# when hitched to the RV, RV weighs 8000#, 7000 + 8000 = 15,000# GCW. Note the absence of the "R", because the 15,000# is the Gross Combined Weight - not the Gross Combined Weight Rating.
The GCWR is set by the manufacturer. It is based on engine power, engine and transmission cooling ability, emergency brake holding power, parking pin holding power, and drive line component strength, among other things. Currently, each manufacturer has their own method of determining GCWR and maximum tow rating, there is a standard available (SAE J2807 - google it), but only Toyota follows it right now.
Payload is the maximum weight the truck can haul on it's chassis. It includes all occupants and cargo, and is the truck's empty weight subtracted from it's GVWR, or Gross vehicle Weight Rating.
Example:
Truck weighs 5000# empty (no passengers or cargo) and has a 7000# GVWR. That means there is 2000# of "payload" available. Hitch a trailer up to it, that adds 500# to the truck by adding trailer tongue weight. Add 3 150# passengers, that adds another 450#. So now you have 5000+450+500 = 5950# GVW and there is 1050# payload left for the generator, firewood, bikes, tools, etc.
I'm willing to bet a whole lot of money your set up exceeds your F150's GCWR and maximum tow rating.
