I've been diligently trying to determine what weight TC I can put on my truck and still be within my GVW. I know many are over GVW and have had no problems, and ultimately I may also be over GVW but would like input.I have a 2000 F250, cc, sb, psd, 4x4. My door sticker says GVWR is 8,800 lbs and rear axle GAWR is 6,084 lbs. An F350 of the same year has a GVWR of 9,900 lbs and rear axle GAWR of 6,830. Reading lots of stuff on the differences, it comes down to the following:1) the F250 had 235/85/16 E tires, rated at 3,042 lbs each, the F350 came with 265/75/16 E rated at 3,415 lbs.2) the F350 had rear overload spring vrs none on the F2503) the F350 had rear sway bar vrs none on the F2504) the F350 had 4" blocks between the axle and rear leafs vrs 2" on the F2505) the F350 had heavier front coil springs.All of the above gave the F350 1,100 lbs more of GVWR and 746 lbs more rear GAWR.My truck is optioned with the factory Heavy Service Suspension Package/Camper Option which includes everything listed above for the F350. So I know my trucks ability is that of 9,700 GVWR and 6,830 rear GAWR. Yet my door sticker shows the GVWR and GAWR as if it had none of these options. Does anyone know if this is typical for the manufacturer to keep a standard door sticker even your truck came from the factory with options that increase the GWR numbers?If I have it figured correctly, with 9,900 GVWR and unloaded but fueled weight of 7,200, leaves me 2,700 lbs to stay within my limits. If I use the 8,800 GVWR it puts me down 1,100 and limits me to not much more than a camper shell.I guess my question is about the door sticker not reflecting the options. I'm pretty sure that's the way it came from the factory and these options were not added later. Does anyone know if it is typical for the door sticker not to reflect options that change the weight ratings? Thanks for any input.

Read the post about how close are you to the GVWR.Lots of good ideas.IMHO if you exceed 110%,time to get another truck or smaller camper.Also there seem to be three groups.the don't exceedGVW by any group,the group that puts on any load without thought and waddles down the road blissfully unaware.And the group that researchessprings,axles,tires and adds air bags or tembrens and ugrades tires

Keep in mind the door sticker is the manufacturer suggested weight rating. Mine even says its rating is with a given tire and wheel size. This to me clearly states the load capacity by the manufacturer is determined by the tires and wheels. Obviously, with your truck, the load capacity has been increased without the manufacture changing the decal. So, which is true, your door decal or the option sheet? I say both are true. You have a greater load capacity due to the upgrade in tires and wheels. The options you have are very common upgrades with aftermarket parts.My guess is before this Thread runs out, someone will post the decal is the law. I will ask for which state in the USA, and under what vehicle code?Wayne

The F250 has a GVWR of 8,800# regardless of any options included. The GVWR was mostly governed by Federal/State law dictating certain requirements to be met by vehicles with certain GVWR in regards to MPG, taxes, classification, and licensing. Not sure of the "why?" for 8,800# though. A lot of the F350 and other trucks were limited to a 9,900# GVWR, because they can be driven commercially without a CDL in most states, however a 10,000# GVWR vehicle requires CDL adding taxes, insurance, headaches etc. Something may have changed since over the last several years I have seen the big 3 making SRW with 11,000#+ GVWR.That being said, if you are not driving a newer truck or an older dually, you are just about guarenteed to be over the GVWR if you put a camper of anything but bottom grade pop-up.Since your options did not raise your GVWR, you are limited to that camper shell if you want to stay under the GVWR.Exceeding GVWR is a different discussion entirely, so I'll not go there unless you ask. But to be open, even my 1-ton SRW in my signature is over the GVWR and I don't have a microwave, oven, tv, or even a radio in it.

The 1999 to 2004 Superduty's GVW was set more for licensing, insurance, and warranty purposes.My F250 has the F350 HD suspension, 7.3/275HP engine, 6spd, 265's at 3415lb ea/6830 total yet the sticker says 6080lb GAWR, and it was still grossly under rated for what it could really handle. Ford simply never changed the GVWR on 1999 to 2004 Superduty F250/F350 SRW's, no matter what engine, transmission, suspension, tires, or gear ratio it came with.

Oh, and before I forget, my 2001 F250 weighs about 7800lbs with full tank of gas and a driver in it.Simply looking wrong at it and not washing the truck means it goes over the GVWR.

Question about GVW Rating on Door | Good Sam Community

kohldad
Explorer III
Aug 21, 2013
The F250 has a GVWR of 8,800# regardless of any options included. The GVWR was mostly governed by Federal/State law dictating certain requirements to be met by vehicles with certain GVWR in regards to MPG, taxes, classification, and licensing. Not sure of the "why?" for 8,800# though. A lot of the F350 and other trucks were limited to a 9,900# GVWR, because they can be driven commercially without a CDL in most states, however a 10,000# GVWR vehicle requires CDL adding taxes, insurance, headaches etc. Something may have changed since over the last several years I have seen the big 3 making SRW with 11,000#+ GVWR.

That being said, if you are not driving a newer truck or an older dually, you are just about guarenteed to be over the GVWR if you put a camper of anything but bottom grade pop-up.

Since your options did not raise your GVWR, you are limited to that camper shell if you want to stay under the GVWR.

Exceeding GVWR is a different discussion entirely, so I'll not go there unless you ask. But to be open, even my 1-ton SRW in my signature is over the GVWR and I don't have a microwave, oven, tv, or even a radio in it.
Reddog1
Explorer II
Aug 21, 2013
Keep in mind the door sticker is the manufacturer suggested weight rating. Mine even says its rating is with a given tire and wheel size. This to me clearly states the load capacity by the manufacturer is determined by the tires and wheels.

Obviously, with your truck, the load capacity has been increased without the manufacture changing the decal. So, which is true, your door decal or the option sheet? I say both are true. You have a greater load capacity due to the upgrade in tires and wheels. The options you have are very common upgrades with aftermarket parts.

My guess is before this Thread runs out, someone will post the decal is the law. I will ask for which state in the USA, and under what vehicle code?

Wayne
RWDIII
Explorer
Aug 21, 2013
Read the post about how close are you to the GVWR.Lots of good ideas.IMHO if you exceed 110%,time to get another truck or smaller camper.Also there seem to be three groups.
the don't exceedGVW by any group,
the group that puts on any load without thought and waddles down the road blissfully unaware.
And the group that researches
springs,axles,tires and adds air bags or tembrens and ugrades tires

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