have a 2004 sierra 1500 w/3.73 diff....5.3l v-8...standard bed...several publications list this to be able to tow 8100 lbs...also know following:1. gvwr=62002. fawr=36003. rawr=3886 vehicle weight w/full gas/me in it4. front axle weight 30805. rear axle weight 20406. total weight 5120so, all this means i have a payload,which will include the tongue weight of a TT, to be 1080lbs???(6200-5120) is this correct?? also, seems to me that if the combined axle weight rating is 7486 lbs, why is the gvwr only 6200lbs???

According to your weights you have 1846 lbs of payload left before you go over your rear axle rating.You have about 1080 lbs before you go over you GVWR yes..I drove a tractor trailer many years. The DOT only cares about axle weights and tire ratings to carry the load..Your most important factor when towing is trans temps.. If it has a cooler its probably too small. Install the largest you can fit IMO.What else are you going to put in the truck and what are you thinking about towing?

GVW is more than the sum of its parts. To correctly determine how much you can safely load/tow you need to load the vehicle up like your going on a trip and drive across a set of scales. Look on the drivers door post, take the rated GVWR and subtract scaled weight from that. More than likely you will find that your available payload will be around 800 pounds or possible even less.

Based on the manufacturers information and ratings that is correct.

You have to understand that the ratings are NOT those of the actual engineer who designed and oversaw the building of the systems, but are the product of the legal department, who makes ALL decisions based on culpability, NOT facts. According to a family member, who is a department head with one of the big 3, everything is derated a minimum of 20-40% by the legal department.

lawrosa/everyone...thanks for replying...thought about pulling TT w/tongue weight of about 650lbs....with 130lb wife on board, doesn't appear to be a lot of payload left

towing poundage//correct?? | Good Sam Community

24 Replies

The_Texan
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
You have to understand that the ratings are NOT those of the actual engineer who designed and oversaw the building of the systems, but are the product of the legal department, who makes ALL decisions based on culpability, NOT facts. According to a family member, who is a department head with one of the big 3, everything is derated a minimum of 20-40% by the legal department.
fla-gypsy
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
Based on the manufacturers information and ratings that is correct.
donn0128
Explorer II
Aug 20, 2014
GVW is more than the sum of its parts. To correctly determine how much you can safely load/tow you need to load the vehicle up like your going on a trip and drive across a set of scales. Look on the drivers door post, take the rated GVWR and subtract scaled weight from that. More than likely you will find that your available payload will be around 800 pounds or possible even less.
lawrosa
Explorer
Aug 20, 2014
According to your weights you have 1846 lbs of payload left before you go over your rear axle rating.

You have about 1080 lbs before you go over you GVWR yes..

I drove a tractor trailer many years. The DOT only cares about axle weights and tire ratings to carry the load..

Your most important factor when towing is trans temps.. If it has a cooler its probably too small. Install the largest you can fit IMO.

What else are you going to put in the truck and what are you thinking about towing?

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towing poundage//correct??

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