What is the "real" GVWR?
So, after months of looking for a TT for my 2013 Tacoma to safely tow< I'm still confused about the GVWR. On some models the dry weight is say 3155 lbs with the gvwr at 5890lbs. So, I can put 2735lbs ...
Forum Discussion
You are confusing truck and trailer GVWR. They both have one.
Dryweight is a term used in place of UVW, empty, or unloaded weight of a trailer.
GVWR for the truck is printed on the driver side door post. The GVWR, for the truck, is maximum gross weight on the truck frame, axles, tires, and brakes.
GVWR for Tacoma trucks will be the same for all Tacoma's. They will differ on cargo capacity, depending on what has been added to the truck. IE: two wheel drive and four wheel drive will have same GVWR, but, the four wheel drive will have less cargo capacity, because the 4 X 4 parts add weight to the truck.
GVWR, for the trailer, is maximum weight the trailer frame, axles, and tires can carry. Here again, the cargo capacity is reduced by whatever has been added to the trailer. Unloaded weight (UVW), is what the trailer weighed, when it left the factory. Anything added by the dealer (battery, propane, accessories, etc) will add to the UVW weight and reduce cargo capacity, in the trailer.
First thing you need to find out, is cargo (also called payload) capacity and rated trailer towing capacity. Towing capacity should be in the owners manual, or, you can look it up online. Cargo capacity is GVWR minus the actual weight (take it to a CAT scale) of the truck (with driver and full fuel tank). The cargo capacity figure, is weight capacity you have available for passengers, tongue weight (from the trailer), weight of the hitch (about 75 - 100 lbs) attached to the truck, and anything else you put in or on the truck. This is first place you will have trouble with your Tacoma.
Truck Example:
Say your GVWR is 5890 and actual weight of the truck is 4900
5890 - 4900 = 990 lbs cargo (payload) capacity. This is the carrying capacity available for trailer tongue weight, hitch, passengers, and cargo in the truck.
When you look at trailers, keep in mind, the only time that trailer got towed at UVW (empty)weight, is when it left the factory. No end users will be at that weight.
Average camping load (dishes, bedding, groceries, camping gear, and water) is about 1200 lbs.
Average trailer tongue weight is about twelve percent of the trailer gross weight. Tongue weight on a 4500 lb trailer, will be about 540 lbs. Subtract that from 980 lbs payload, subtract 100 lbs for the hitch, and you only have 340 lbs of payload left for passengers and cargo in the truck.
Trailer example:
Dry (UVW, empty, unloaded) weight is 3000 lbs and cargo capacity is 1500 lbs. The GVWR of the trailer is 4500 lbs.
Dryweight is a term used in place of UVW, empty, or unloaded weight of a trailer.
GVWR for the truck is printed on the driver side door post. The GVWR, for the truck, is maximum gross weight on the truck frame, axles, tires, and brakes.
GVWR for Tacoma trucks will be the same for all Tacoma's. They will differ on cargo capacity, depending on what has been added to the truck. IE: two wheel drive and four wheel drive will have same GVWR, but, the four wheel drive will have less cargo capacity, because the 4 X 4 parts add weight to the truck.
GVWR, for the trailer, is maximum weight the trailer frame, axles, and tires can carry. Here again, the cargo capacity is reduced by whatever has been added to the trailer. Unloaded weight (UVW), is what the trailer weighed, when it left the factory. Anything added by the dealer (battery, propane, accessories, etc) will add to the UVW weight and reduce cargo capacity, in the trailer.
First thing you need to find out, is cargo (also called payload) capacity and rated trailer towing capacity. Towing capacity should be in the owners manual, or, you can look it up online. Cargo capacity is GVWR minus the actual weight (take it to a CAT scale) of the truck (with driver and full fuel tank). The cargo capacity figure, is weight capacity you have available for passengers, tongue weight (from the trailer), weight of the hitch (about 75 - 100 lbs) attached to the truck, and anything else you put in or on the truck. This is first place you will have trouble with your Tacoma.
Truck Example:
Say your GVWR is 5890 and actual weight of the truck is 4900
5890 - 4900 = 990 lbs cargo (payload) capacity. This is the carrying capacity available for trailer tongue weight, hitch, passengers, and cargo in the truck.
When you look at trailers, keep in mind, the only time that trailer got towed at UVW (empty)weight, is when it left the factory. No end users will be at that weight.
Average camping load (dishes, bedding, groceries, camping gear, and water) is about 1200 lbs.
Average trailer tongue weight is about twelve percent of the trailer gross weight. Tongue weight on a 4500 lb trailer, will be about 540 lbs. Subtract that from 980 lbs payload, subtract 100 lbs for the hitch, and you only have 340 lbs of payload left for passengers and cargo in the truck.
Trailer example:
Dry (UVW, empty, unloaded) weight is 3000 lbs and cargo capacity is 1500 lbs. The GVWR of the trailer is 4500 lbs.
