Tow Capacity Comparisons For 2015 Trucks

JIMNLIN wrote:

So far you haven't proved that calculators that don't include GAWR fail. Since the calculator discussion has been mostly about RV Tow Check, prove to me, and everyone else, the flaws in RV Tow Check with the following data from real tow vehicles that may tow fifth wheel or conventional trailers.

I've ran the numbers and have posted the results above. This calculator has been around for a while and has been on other RV forums. Reviews of its accuracy were about like we see on rv.net. Not much good was said about it.

However your asking for numbers that have nothing to do with what I have said or what the calculator asks for.
These are the numbers straight out of the '15 Ram Body Builders spec sheets PDF for a 2500 Ram 6.4 hemi 5500 FAWR/6000 RAWR the calculator asks for and the same numbers I used in my above reply;

...22800 GCWR..
...10000 GCWR
...6026 gvw

I added
...250 gear/hitch
...340 passenger

calculator says the 2500 Ram can tow a 16184 lb TT or 5th wheel.


Now do the GVWR math or the RAWR math on this truck and same trailer and either way a 16k trailer will overload the GVWR and/or the RAWR/tire capacities of the 2500 truck. Overloading a tire is illegal and dangerous.
This a a example of the fallacy of a calculator. In this case its basing a formula on GCWR calculator that omits the trucks #1 safety numbers (RAWR/tires/wheels/brakes and suspension capacities).

Okay, thanks. I’ll work with these numbers you've provided and use the information that’s described on the calculator website.

BTW: I forgot to ask for the base weight of the rear axle. I found it and used this: Rear axle wt. 2581.

Method 1: Available payload (Avoids exceeding GVWR)

GVWR (10000) - GVW (6026) – Gear/Hitch (250) – Passengers (340) = Available payload (3,384)

Using the national average PW of 20% on the available payload would result in a towing capacity of 16,920.

Using a mid-range TW of 12.5% on the available payload would result in a towing capacity of 27,072. (Whoa, you might say. But wait.)

Method 2: GCWR

GCWR (22800) – GVW (6616) = Towing Capacity (16184)

Therefore, since method 2 is the capacity that falls within the manufacturers statements, method 1 is discarded to avoid exceeding GCWR.

Now we’ll look at the trailer weight of 16184.

Fifth Wheel -
Potential PW @20% is 3237
PW (3237) + GVW (6616) = Loaded GVW (9853) (Under GVWR: 10000)
PW (3237) + Rear Axle Weight (2581) = Loaded RAW (5818) (Under RAWR: 6000)

Conventional Trailer -
Potential TW @12.5% is 2023.
Potential TW @15% is 2428.
(Really no need to break that down.)

Now that you see how this is calculated, go ahead and throw all the verifiable vehicle weight and ratings at it you want to. If you can find a vehicle that will fail these double check methods, please let me know. So far, the GVWR/Payload and GCWR methods has worked every time for me. Even when considering nearly a hundred RAWRs. I've stop trying to make these methods fail.