GCWR and Tongue Weight

lanerd wrote:

pray wrote:
HI, I'm looking to purchase a truck and haul up to a 15,000+lbs trailer as a fifth wheel.

I would like to know if the GCWR is truly the ultimate weight that is the combined Curb weight of the truck + the loaded weight of the trailer? No..it's not. The GCWR is a "rating", not the actual weight. Typically, the GCWR is the GVWR of the truck plus the "towing capacity" rating of the truck. However, the GCW (actual weight) is as you mentioned above. I think this is what you meant.

Or is the factor that matters solely the tongue weight not exceeding the GVWR? No, not directly. The pin weight of a 5ver should not exceed the "available payload" rating of the truck. The truck's "factory" payload rating is derived from the truck's GVWR and the curb weight. However, to figure the "available" payload rating you add the total of whatever is in the truck (you, passengers, equipment, hitch, tools, etc subtracted from the truck's factory payload rating. In other words, if the truck's factory payload rating is 4000 lbs, and you have 1500 lbs of the items mentioned above, then the pin weight of the 5er cannot exceed the difference....in this example, 2500 lbs. So, you first need to get your truck weighed so you know its actual curb weight as it may not be what the factory said it is. Accessories and options can play a big part in this determination.

Any help to educate me on the topic is appreciated.

Correction on the GCVWR it is the total of the Curb weight of a stripper model of the truck, and the Max tow rating of that TV. Thus as the weight of the TV goes up the max you can tow goes down. More of a concern about getting going and hill climbing at a reasonable speed.

GVWR, is the Max the the TV should have on it's wheels. While a valid rating sometimes is is based on tax law! I feel more important than GVWR is GAWR of the rear axle, and the weight capacity of the tires.
I am over GVWR, but well under both GAWR.