Forum Discussion

2012Oudoorsman

Explorer

Apr 29, 2013

Vehicle Capacity Comparison

So there are lots of numbers to know when buying a truck and trailer. I have recently purchased a truck and camping trailer I knew all these numbers but got a little suspicious once seeing the numbers the competition is posting vs the ones on our trucks. Hopefully you all know what these numbers stand for if not google them and it will make a lot more sense. So on RV.net I have seen lots of posts (mainly f150 guys) touting there large payload numbers and it got me thinking. Yes some of them have the larger axle but some do not.

So I have a 2012 Ram 1500 QC Outdoorsman 4x4 with the hemi. I have a gvwr of 6700lbs and both front and rear gawr is 3900lbs. My payload is 1165lbs. Sounds really lame I know but just keep reading and it may make you think differently. So the information I'm posting about other trucks is stuff I've come across and cannot say its 100% true but its what these guys are saying about there own trucks and not others.

Now we all know that Ram has lower payload numbers and it got me thinking why is it so low is our trucks really that much worse. So here goes a little comparison vs a regular 2011 f150 hopefully you can follow.

My truck:
GFAWR=3900
GRAWR=3900
7800lbs
but our actual gvwr is 6700 or 6800 for you guys with crew cabs.

Now lets look at Fords for example. Now this isn't a max payload were they basically throw in a 7 bolt axle its a regular 6 bolt one

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2011 F150 XLT screw
4X4
5.0
5.5 box
3:55 limited slip
7200# GVWR package
Trailer tow package--not MaxTow
18" wheels
GAWR front 3750
GAWR rear 3850
GVWR 7200
Payload 1438

So his payload is nearly 300lbs more than mine but look at the axle ratings. They are both LOWER. Our trucks have approx 1100lbs loss and the normal f150 has 400lb loss. weird right? If my truck has the same 400lb loss from axle ratings I would have a 7400gvwr and a payload of 1865 lbs . I am a member on this sight as well as rv.net and both are great sights and full of people who just want to help and are willing to dedicate there time to your/our questions. But this one has me thinking. What in our trucks makes them have so much more of a safety factor. Is it bc the coils are that soft or is there something else. Does Ram/Dodge just value the well being of the customer and just wants to keep them safe. What ever it is just think about this the next time you overload your truck by 100lbs. As My truck sits it will take 1700lbs to overload the rear axle and that makes me feel good.

Sorry about this going on forever but i've done a lot of reading since getting my camping trailer which is 6500lbs dry and 29.5' long and I feel very comfortable towing it with my RAM 1500.

What do you all think about these numbers? I'm not trying to be a hater against ford and can easily post the same against Chevy. Did this dawn across anyone else who pulls a trailer and thinks about these numbers?

Tow Vehicles

26 Replies

BenK
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Oh, also the 'curb' mystic....don't think I can unbolt and remove enough 'optional'
stuff to come close to either 5,500 or 6,000 I've seen on 'GM' literature for
my Suburban
K_Charles
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
I wonder if the empty weight has something to do with it because my SUV empty weighs 500 lb more then your GVWR.
BenK
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Most all TV's come out that way

My specifications for a GMT400, 1996 3/4 ton Suburban 4x4, big block
and the highest option package, minus the fancy wheels (added my
own later, which weighs about 100 lbs more than stock)

GVWR 8,600
Frt GAWR 4,250
R GAWR 6,000
GCWR 16,000
MTWR 10,000
Curb 5,500 and have seen 6,000

Actual weight at the certified garden scale approx 7,200 with me (180),
toolbox (+200), misc stuff (approx 50), full fuel/fluids

The supplier of the axle assembly to GM (AAM) rates my axle assembly
at 10,000

Ordered it with the F60 option (snow plow prep), which begets the
1 ton torsion bars

So, should I take the 10,000 rear GAWR from AAM, add it to 4,250
front GAWR, but since have the 1 ton F60 option, should I then use
the 1 ton 5,250 F GAWR?

That would mean my 8,600 GVWR should be 15,250 lbs, right?

Or since the MTWR is 10,000 add the above 15,250 = 25,250 GCWR, right?
instead of the GM specified 16,000 GCWR.

This is how the weight specification, limits, ratings, etc works:

howmuchcanitow
2012Oudoorsman
Explorer
Apr 30, 2013
Oh, and this was a copy paste from a post I made on another forum but thought I would share it with those that know a lot more about what i'm talking about. Some of the guys over there are worried about 1/4 times and such, not what i'm thinking about and neither are any of us.
2012Oudoorsman
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
Please realize I'm not trying to bash other manufactures as this may be what it looks but this is why I for one am not concentrating on Payload as much as Axle ratings and what vehicle looks and handles like when performing such tasks
2012Oudoorsman
Explorer
Apr 29, 2013
My work truck
2006 GMC caynon

GFAWR=2753
GRAWR=2896
=5649
GVWR=5150 so a difference of 500lbs, which is very close to the f150 above.

My payload rating is 1403lbs. YES 250lbs more than my full size hemi powered ram 1500.
So this just makes me wonder even more what the weak link is, or is it just the fact that they use a much larger safety factor than the competition.

Many try to go by there max tires, which this is not a very good method is my eyes as my truck came stock with E range tires rated at 3200lbs which give you a total of 12,800 which is as much if not over most dually trucks.