Payload an issue?

hddecker wrote:
You have to good by the GVWR. The GAxleWR is the maximum weight that you can have on that axle.

STRICTLY SPEAKING you are mostly CORRECT .... HOWEVER there is IMO in this case as I stated in my prior post in this thread some room for going over the GVWR. The GVWR of a vehicle is largely a FMVSS certifcation number that is based on very stringent and detailed set of brake testing requirements for that vehicle's configuration. The certification process requires a weight and the one used is what the manufacturer has specified as the vehicles GVWR. These test standards are done at the vehicles GVWR and there are even percentages and protocols on how much wt is to be on each axle based on percentages of what the axle rating is so that the total still equals the GVWR that is being tested to. Thus exceeding GVWR w/o going over the individual GAWR is not going to break anything or cause any wear/reliability issues, and it might not even adversely affect overall braking performance, but the point is that the vehicle has not been tested and certified at that weight. In fact even the particular make and brand of things like what the manufacturer uses as OEM pad material and even it's match to the drum make, etc. can effect these numbers so down the line when we replace things like pads, etc. we have really no idea what effect these changes from OEM and the wea and tear has actually had on what that door sticker GVWR should now legally be. Also, the stated GVWR on a lot of vehicles are specified by the manufacturer to meet or comply with EPA MPG goals, classifications and to stay within certain states registration classification systems.

Thus and this is only my personal opinion is that one can bust the TV GVWR as long as they stay within the individual axle GAWRs and realize that there might be some loss of braking performance. The only caveat I personally put on this is that one should not go over the stated GVWR on 1/2T vehicles as much as 3/4 or 1T mainly from a tail wagging the dog issue. Also, typically there is a lot more extra rear axle capacity in the latter so it is easier to go over your stated GVWR in a 3/4 or 1 T vehicle w/o exceeding any individual axle ratings than it is in a 1/2T vehicle. Again, I can't give any concrete references or cite authortative sources for this, but for me going over say up to around 300 to 500 lbs on a 1/2T would be in my book O.K. and increasing that to around 1,000 for a 3/4 or 1T vehicle.

So in this very specific case is why I stated what I did in my prior post about waiting till things settle out a little better before jumping out of that warm skillet directly into that blazing fire. No I'm not advocating that one should load up their vehicle to 1,000 lbs over the GVWR and drive it like that always, but for things like RVing I personally don't see any issues in doing that.

Larry