gmw photos wrote:
totaldla wrote:
I question whether you understand what goes into payload capability. Do you think the frame is thicker? Do you think the sheet metal is stronger?
Just what sort of magic do you think goes into the payload rating?
They read it on the internet somewhere. Or someone told them. Therefore it's some sort of magical tell-all number.
How do they explain that a typical 2500 has the same components under the rear as it's sister 3500, yet the 2500 is somehow magically limited to 10000 pounds GVWR. Could registration regulations have anything to do with it ?
In my state, the highway patrol could care less what the payload or GVWR number is on that sticker. What they care about is whether the actual weight on the axle is within legal limits, and also, whether I am registered ( plates ) for the correct weight class. For instance on my little puny class one Frontier, I run a 12K plate, even though the truck, since it is class one, is "limited" to 6K. I have to run a heavier plate, because the truck regis also covers any trailer I tow.
Dana/spicer builds the rear axle assembly for Nissan. The axle is rated by them higher than what Nissan states as rear axle limit. Imagine that.
EDIT: how is it that GCWR is higher/lower depending on the differential gear ratio ? Hmmmm....enquiring minds want to know.
I would only ask if you really know.? First the GCVWR is higher with a lower gear because. I'm thinkin it is because a lower gear can move more weight than a higher gear. Pretty sure of that. Being science and all. Plus it is highly likely that the lower gear higher rated gear has had one or two more processes done to it. Do remember. higher gears get better MPG, and lower gears pull more weight. Towing 101.
As for increasing the GVWR of a vehicle. again there are many, many things to take into consideration. Simply adding heavier tires, and stiffer springs as suggested just won't do it. After all when you changed tires, Did you upgrade the rims? Did you upgrade the hubs? How about the brakes, up grade them as well? How about the gearsets, up grade them as well? Not all the same you know. And not all vehicles even with the same ratio get the same rear gears.
After all two trucks sitting on the lot beside each other, even though they look just alike, have the same motor, Trany, and rear ratio can have different GVWRs by as much as 1000lbs. WHY? Because they do not have the same components all the way thru. and there is nothing you can do to raise the lower rated truck to the same GVWR of the higher rated truck. UNLESS, you want to totally rebuild the lower rated truck, right down to the Ring, and pinions in the rear end. Why would you want to do that?
How are ring, and pinions different you ask? Ford GM, Fiat / Ram , and on, and on, use the same ratio in different rated vehicles, but the ring, and pinion can be vastly different. Different processes make them stronger, less brittle. Higher rated vehicles get shot peened gearsets, some get Shot peened, hard drilled, and tapped and Phosphated. Lower rated vehicles get non shot peened, and no Phos gearsets.
So when you begin to try to change the GWVR of a vehicle. Be ready to go all the way, Or all you did in truth, was to lower the payload by adding weight.
Hope this helps your understanding of how vehicles can be rated differently.
