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
IMHO, the keys are common sense, knowing your limitations, and staying with the legal limits. Like Jim said with his excerpt from the CVC, the law says you must keep within your tire weights (the law). The manufactured ratings are there for a reason (commons sense). So take them into consideration, as guidelines that shouldn't be exceeded without some thought and maybe a modification of driving habits, like: speed, following distance, anticipated traffic, etc (your limitations).
With those three thoughts, I'm slightly above GVW and 2K above GCWR (see below) and drive conservatively (below 60MPH, avoid heavy traffic, keep extra stopping space and am alert for knuckleheads). I consider myself and family safer and more "legal" going down the road than a good majority of folks who are texting, speeding, not well rested, drunk, etc.
Here are my weights:
GVW: Rated: 9,900/Loaded 10,120 (over by 220lbs)
Ax Wt (front) Rated:4,750/Loaded 4,460 (under by 220lbs)
Ax Wt (rear): Rated 6,150/Actual 5,660 (under by 490lbs)
GCWR: 19,000/Actual 21,000 (over by 2,000lbs)
Trailer Axle Wt: 10,880lbs
Trailer Wt: 13,480lbs
Tongue Wt: 2,600lbs (19.3% of trailer wt)
With those three thoughts, I'm slightly above GVW and 2K above GCWR (see below) and drive conservatively (below 60MPH, avoid heavy traffic, keep extra stopping space and am alert for knuckleheads). I consider myself and family safer and more "legal" going down the road than a good majority of folks who are texting, speeding, not well rested, drunk, etc.
Here are my weights:
GVW: Rated: 9,900/Loaded 10,120 (over by 220lbs)
Ax Wt (front) Rated:4,750/Loaded 4,460 (under by 220lbs)
Ax Wt (rear): Rated 6,150/Actual 5,660 (under by 490lbs)
GCWR: 19,000/Actual 21,000 (over by 2,000lbs)
Trailer Axle Wt: 10,880lbs
Trailer Wt: 13,480lbs
Tongue Wt: 2,600lbs (19.3% of trailer wt)
