Math question towing capacity

JCR-1 wrote:
The tow vehicle is 2008 chev Avalanche and has 5.3 .(not sure of the rear gear ratio
The GVWR is 7000 lbs
The actual weight of the vehicle is about 5200 lbs
The tow rating is 8200 lbs
Assuming 2 passengers and some cargo about 600 lbs inside the truck (payload)
The trailer weighs about 3200 lbs
If I am doing this right my total payload is 600 lbs plus 5200 curb weight = 5800 lbs for the vehicle ..its allowed to be 7000 lbs
If I am towing a trailer which is 3200 lbs and the vehicle can tow up to 8200 I am 5000 to the good correct ??
How much more weight can I carry in the bed, or how much bigger trailer can I handle
Thx

Is that curb weight from the door sticker? It should also say something like "weight of passengers and cargo should not exceed xxxx lb." That is the payload number for your particular truck.

You need to add the tongue weight of the trailer, and the weight of the WD hitch, to the payload total, since these weights are carried by the truck. Tongue weight will be about 13% of the actual trailer weight, as loaded for camping.

There's a sticker in the glovebox that lists the RPO codes for your truck. The one for the rear end is on that list. RPO codes for gear ratios can be viewed here.

Sounds like you'll be fine, actually. How long is the trailer?

The tow vehicle is 2008 chev Avalanche and has 5.3 .(not sure of the rear gear ratio
The GVWR is 7000 lbs
The actual weight of the vehicle is about 5200 lbs
The tow rating is 8200 lbs
Assuming 2 passengers and some cargo about 600 lbs inside the truck (payload)
The trailer weighs about 3200 lbs
If I am doing this right my total payload is 600 lbs plus 5200 curb weight = 5800 lbs for the vehicle ..its allowed to be 7000 lbs
If I am towing a trailer which is 3200 lbs and the vehicle can tow up to 8200 I am 5000 to the good correct ??
How much more weight can I carry in the bed, or how much bigger trailer can I handle
Thx

drsteve wrote:

intheburbs wrote:
I'm kinda curious what vehicle has only a 700-lb payload and an 8200-lb trailer tow rating.

What he said. My wife's Chevy Malibu has a higher payload rating.

Malibu...heck, I've seen a golf cart carrying more than 700lbs of payload.

4 200lb people and you are already at 800lbs.

My guess is the payload is the weight he intends to carry like family and camp gear. We will have to wait for his reply to be sure.

intheburbs wrote:
I'm kinda curious what vehicle has only a 700-lb payload and an 8200-lb trailer tow rating.

What he said. My wife's Chevy Malibu has a higher payload rating.

Some of your numbers don't make sense?? What is the vehicle in question and what is it's drive train specs?

I would like to know the make/model/year/engine/trans/rear end gearing just to start..

"Curb weight" means absolutely nothing when comparing to your truck...

What is the trailer you are currently towing that only weighs #3500? I'll bet that's the 'dry weight' of it?

Anyway, no way anybody is gonna be able to help you without more info..

Mitch

I'm kinda curious what vehicle has only a 700-lb payload and an 8200-lb trailer tow rating.

darsben1 wrote:
You are at a negative number already
Payload is 700
Tongue or hitch weight of trailer is about 400
leaves you 300 lbs payload. How much do you,your S.O, any pets and the gear you have in the vehicle weigh, my guess is over 300 lbs.

This is your answer.
You also need to add in the weight of the hitch (100+#).
Many of us have made the mistake of trying to tow more than our rating, but none of us will ever make that mistake twice.

The big question is what is your tow vehicle's max cargo and where did you get the number from?

700 lbs sound light.

JCR-1 wrote:
Vehicle curb weight 5200
Trailer loaded 3500
Vehicle Payload 700

Vehicle specs... 8200 max tow rating
7000 GVWR

How much remaining pounds available towing capability if I wanted to upgrade
Thanks

Not enough info. You need to know the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Rating), the maximum tongue weight, and the maximum RAWR (Rear Axle Weight Rating. Those are all associated with your vehicle (TV).

With that, it depends on how you load things. Total weight of both TT and TV shouldn't exceed GCWR. Tongue weight should be obvious. RAWR is the hardest, because it changes depending on the tongue weight, how a weight distributing hitch (if used) is adjusted, and how the TV is loaded.

time2roll wrote:
Vehicle payload will probably be the limit you hit first.

I think the OP was giving how much they would load in the TV. I can't see a manufacturer spec'ing a 700 lb maximum load (~4 adults) and an 8200 lb towing cap, since tongue weight should be at least 820 lbs.