RAWR Question?

mkirsch wrote:
If we're not to believe the numbers on the door sticker, what DO we believe?

Is there a certain measurement that we can take between the bumper and the ground that tells us the truck is at risk of a component failure?

Or, do we just load whatever, and go?

I guess you have to wing it just like all those people had to do before they started putting those numbers on the door.

Having worked in the medium/heavy duty truck industry all my life, I have come to realize that certain vehicles ratings are limited by regulation, and others are limited by actual component limits. You have to do a little homework to which is limiting your. This should be hard to do since most people have more knowledge in their phone and can quickly access knowledge that would take people just a few decades ago hours, days, weeks or even a lifetime to find out. Sometimes, you would never be able to find out the kind of info you can know within seconds today.

In the case of my 2014 2500, it is limited by regulations rather than the actual limits of its parts which are the same as other vehicles with much higher ratings. The 3500 version and my 2500 use the exact same trans, frame, axles, brakes, and front suspension. The only difference it rear suspension which is why the 2500 has 6,500 rear GAWR and the 3500 has a 7,000 rear GAWR. Front GAWR are the same. However, even though they only have a 500 lb difference in GAWR, they have 1,500 lbs difference in GVWR since my 2500 is capped out at a max GVWR of 10k due to regulation of the truck class it is in and the 3500 has a much higher max GVWR in the class it is in.

This is why I do not hesitate to load 3,200 in the back of my truck even though the sticker says max is 2,200. I am sure this will trigger the weight police since they have to be within the limits someone tells them to be in. Going outside these limits gives them anxiety attacks with visions of accidents, cops pulling them over, and lawyers knocking on their door.