RAWR Question?

mkirsch wrote:

ShinerBock wrote:

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.

I know you made a typo when you said "This should be hard to do" but you hit upon the truth with that statement. It *IS* hard to do.

The only results of any "research" I try to do on this leads me back to forums like this, where it's the same ages-old argument between the "door sticker" and the "I put way more than that on my truck and nobody died" crowds.

I have found NO numbers, such as the axle is rated for X,XXXlbs, the springs are rated for Y,YYYlbs, and the frame is rated for Z,ZZZlbs. The manufacturers understandably keep this information under lock and key so we as the consumers can't sue them if we hurt or kill ourselves or someone else when going by those numbers instead of the door sticker. Just conjecture from old men who claim to know what they're doing.

They do not keep it a secret, you just have to know where to look. I know where to look since I have been in the industry for all these years. They do not readily give this type of info to the everyday buyer, but they do give it to the fleets. My company has a 500+ fleet and we are approached by every truck make on a regular bases to buy their products.

Here is the fleet link for GM products. Change the type of vehcile in the upper right corner.

GM Fleet

Ram used to have the bodybuilder site below, but it has moved for newer vehicles.

Ram Bodybuilder

Ford is a little trickier. I can easily find the info since we have 9 Ford dealerships and I have a Ford dealer login, but I cannot share that info with a link since you don't have a dealer password and due to other non-disclosure agreements. Below is an example that is already published, but it is for an F-650/750. I cannot find a published one for an F150 or Super Duty. As you can see it is very detailed.

F-650/750 Technical Specifications


The gross axle weight rating, the axle itself without suspension or tires put on my the vehicle manufacturer, information comes from the manufacturer that makes these axle for each manufacturer. Most Ford's are Dana and most GM's and Ram's are AAM. This GAWR changes once the vehicle manufacturers puts on brakes, tires and suspension to accommodate for the weakest link in the system. Generally, the axle itself is rated to handle thousands of pounds more than the axle system since it is generally the tires or suspension that is the weak link.

For example, the AAM 11.5 rear axle in my truck has a rating of 10,000 lbs by AAM. However, it has a 6,500 lb axle system rating in my 2500 due to suspension being the week link and a 7,000 lb rating in the 3500 version of my truck due to it having a slightly heavier duty suspension. Tire, brakes, and frame on both trucks are the same.