GVWR's - Tow Ratings - weight police weigh in please
Moved my OP over to this thread on the same topic: http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/27425688.cfm
Forum Discussion
I have spent sometime pouring over the tow guides Ford has published. I noticed that in 2004 (my truck) at a certain point, GCWR just stopped at 20,000#. Engines increased (gas to diesel)and gear ratios went from 3.73 to 4.1 or 4.3, SRW to DRW and the rating stayed the same. In the more modern trucks you "get credit" for those additional upgrades.
Since the "tow wars" started, all of a sudden you get credit for all these upgrade.
Now in some states I've learned the by capping GVWR at 10,000# they save on insurance and registration (private vs commercial) and so the truck was "de-rated".
We must not forget lawyers, insurance and politicians. Based on state and federal laws I believe manufactures cap the posted ratings of their equipment.
With all that said I try had to stay within the "posted" ratings of my truck although I do hit the 20,000# GCWR (by CAT Scale) when I travel. I'm well within GVWR's and GAWR's of truck and trailer as loaded but if you looked at the GVWR's of each separately, they total 22,000#.
"Bridge laws" which effect commercial truck axle weights and placement to protect the road surface and bridges are well above what many RVers will see (except Class A DP). At 20,000# per single axle or tire ratings (up to single axle rating). 34,000# per tandem axle. These are the only legal limits the police are worried about except registration fees.
Since the "tow wars" started, all of a sudden you get credit for all these upgrade.
Now in some states I've learned the by capping GVWR at 10,000# they save on insurance and registration (private vs commercial) and so the truck was "de-rated".
We must not forget lawyers, insurance and politicians. Based on state and federal laws I believe manufactures cap the posted ratings of their equipment.
With all that said I try had to stay within the "posted" ratings of my truck although I do hit the 20,000# GCWR (by CAT Scale) when I travel. I'm well within GVWR's and GAWR's of truck and trailer as loaded but if you looked at the GVWR's of each separately, they total 22,000#.
"Bridge laws" which effect commercial truck axle weights and placement to protect the road surface and bridges are well above what many RVers will see (except Class A DP). At 20,000# per single axle or tire ratings (up to single axle rating). 34,000# per tandem axle. These are the only legal limits the police are worried about except registration fees.
