RAWR Question?
So help me 'cipher this....
Word on the rvnet street is that half tons are generally good for 3800-4800lbs RAWR depending on the setup (it's on the mighty door stickers anyway) and 3/4 tons are generally good for 6000-6500lbs rawr (from the super duper door sticker).
So was doin a little work last night to the Freedom Wagon. She's a 1986 GMC Sierra Classic K20 for those of you who arent' in the know.
With the mighty semi floating 14 bolt rear axle.
So I sees this little sticker...the infamous door sticker! (Not sure I've ever actually looked at one and studied it before, but with the littany of literature on the rvnet regarding the all powerful door sticker, I took a closer look!)
Well here it is. (Not the actual, my truck is blue, but it reads the very same as this image I pulled off the inner-webs.)
So's I get to thinkin, hmmm 6000lbs RAWR, bout the same as the rvnet weight cops say 3/4 tons are good for...cool!
But wait....there's more. This aint no strong as an Ox full floating heavy duty rear axle with a ring gear somewhere between 10.5" and 12" with big ole beefy double supported axle shafts.
Nooo, this is a puny little 9.5" ring gear, single row, semi floater axle....you know like today's half tons......the weak ones that are only supposed to be used for groceries, according to the weight cops.
So's I start researchin.
14bolt semi floater. 33 spline shafts, 1.37" diameter.
Hmm, look up the specs for my 2016 SilverAdo 1500 parked next to it....you know with the "weak" grocery getter 3800lb RAWR axle.
Whadaya know that 1/2 ton axle is 33 spline and 1.41" diameter!
Sooo, here's the question.
Did steel get weaker in the last 30 years?
Did mfgs get more regulated in the last 30 years?
OR
Did men become pansies in the last 30 years?
'Cause near as I can tell, my old axle is somehow rated for 3tons in a "8600gvw Camper Special" but essentially the same axle is rated 37% LESS in my "new" truck.
Word on the rvnet street is that half tons are generally good for 3800-4800lbs RAWR depending on the setup (it's on the mighty door stickers anyway) and 3/4 tons are generally good for 6000-6500lbs rawr (from the super duper door sticker).
So was doin a little work last night to the Freedom Wagon. She's a 1986 GMC Sierra Classic K20 for those of you who arent' in the know.
With the mighty semi floating 14 bolt rear axle.
So I sees this little sticker...the infamous door sticker! (Not sure I've ever actually looked at one and studied it before, but with the littany of literature on the rvnet regarding the all powerful door sticker, I took a closer look!)
Well here it is. (Not the actual, my truck is blue, but it reads the very same as this image I pulled off the inner-webs.)
So's I get to thinkin, hmmm 6000lbs RAWR, bout the same as the rvnet weight cops say 3/4 tons are good for...cool!
But wait....there's more. This aint no strong as an Ox full floating heavy duty rear axle with a ring gear somewhere between 10.5" and 12" with big ole beefy double supported axle shafts.
Nooo, this is a puny little 9.5" ring gear, single row, semi floater axle....you know like today's half tons......the weak ones that are only supposed to be used for groceries, according to the weight cops.
So's I start researchin.
14bolt semi floater. 33 spline shafts, 1.37" diameter.
Hmm, look up the specs for my 2016 SilverAdo 1500 parked next to it....you know with the "weak" grocery getter 3800lb RAWR axle.
Whadaya know that 1/2 ton axle is 33 spline and 1.41" diameter!
Sooo, here's the question.
Did steel get weaker in the last 30 years?
Did mfgs get more regulated in the last 30 years?
OR
Did men become pansies in the last 30 years?
'Cause near as I can tell, my old axle is somehow rated for 3tons in a "8600gvw Camper Special" but essentially the same axle is rated 37% LESS in my "new" truck.
