GVWR Calculation Question

Omodan wrote:

John & Angela wrote:
Howdy. I'm not sure I understand the one portion of your question where you state you are over your GVWR. Are you referring to the truck or the trailer. If you are referring to the trailer the only way you can be over the GVWR is to load it over the GVWR. Remember, GVWR in a trailer is your friend. The higher the number the better. Would you rather have a trailer that is loaded to 8000 pounds have a GVWR of 9000 pound, 10,000 pounds, 11000 pounds. Always pick the biggest number. It is indicative of axle size, tires, rims brakes etc. GVWR is a rating, not a weight. GVW is a weight. Always keep the GVW to a number your truck is capable of towing. As far as GVWR, bigger is better. I have seen dry weight trailers of 6300 pounds on lots with 7000 pound GVWR. I have also seen the 6300 pound trailers with GVWR's of 10,000 pounds. Which one do you think is built better?

Hope your trailer search goes well. Happy trails and safe journeys.

The trailer GVWR is 9250. My Tundra is only 7100. The Dry weight of the trailer is listed as 6500. I assume as I have it configured, It would probably be closer to 7000 dry. I don't anticipate ever having more than 1000 lbs of gear/water while actually towing it. I will be weighing my tundra soon to see its true curb weight. As it stands now, the sticker says 5500 with a 1420 max payload. I just don't know what is already included in that weight. Toyota states they are SAE J standard compliant. That standard dictates that curb weight should include two 150 pound passengers and common configuration options and fuel included. If that is actually how my curb weight is calculated, then I can reduce that weight from my figures above. Potentially freeing up 350 lbs of payload capacity. I also read that a weight distribution hitch will transfer roughly 1/3 of my hitch weight back to my trailers axles, thus further reducing the load on my tow vehicle but increasing my load on my trailer. The combined truck/trailer load has to stay within 16000 lbs.

Considering all of the above, I really need to go weigh my truck and see what my actual payload capacity is after fuel, family, and gear. If my assumptions are right, I might actually be ok. Definitely high side, but within tolerance. I won't know until I get her on a scale though. The trailer has plenty of room for its axles, 6500 to 9250, but my truck payload is my constraint. So offsetting some of that weight to the trailers axle would be great if possible.