Forum Discussion
- handye9Explorer IIManufacturers use many things to calculate tow ratings. Some of them are engines, transmissions, tires, brakes, frames, suspensions, and hitch classes. In addition to tow weight rating, the vehicle has a rating for it's max weight, a rating for the weight it can carry, and your hitch receiver has ratings for what it can carry. All of those ratings are tied together.
Nothing you do to the vehicle can change it's ratings. Increasing engine performance might help you accelerate faster, but, it would do nothing as far as carrying weight, and if the engine performance upgrades added any weight to the vehicle, it would actually reduce towing capacity.
Note: When you see advertised manufacturer tow ratings , they say this vehicle can tow up to XXXX lbs. Then the fine print in their owners manual says "the vehicles tow rating does not include passengers or cargo". When you add these to the vehicle, it's tow rating is reduced, pound for pound". Different options also affect tow capacity. Side by side vehicles with same engine, frame, brakes, etc, one has two wheel drive and the other has four wheel drive, the two wheel drive will have higher tow capacity, because it weighs less. - LwiddisExplorer II“can I increase my tow vehicle's tow rating”
No! The manufacturer built the TV and set the rating. - JIMNLINExplorer IIIMuch depends on the tow vehicle.
If its a small V8 or V6 1/2 ton size vehicle/suv/van/etc the vehicles frame/brakes/trannies are close to maxed out using the mfg tow rating.
Other vehicles like a new gen 3/4 ton diesel are the most under rated vehicle out here....mostly because of low 6000-6500 RAWR. These trucks may have the same engine/frame/brakes/tranny front and rear axles/etc as the 3500 SRW trucks ( example Fords F250 with the camper package or heavy service pack).
Of course this doesn't change the mfg tow rating. - Some will have optional gear ratios that will give you maybe 1000/2000 pounds increase. Payload however does not improve.
- TerryallanExplorer II
ray biggs wrote:
am confused. just read in july. manufacturer's use engine power for tow rating but further states if you improve performance it won't improve tow rating?
You can't increase the factory tow rating. BUT. You CAN make it tow better. Most simple way, Is to replace the rear gear with a lower rear gear. Trying to add power to the engine is expensive, and not real productive.
Also If it dosen't have the tow package. Adding it will allow it to tow with out damaging the trany. - BenKExplorerWith enough money....most any OEM rating can be changed...but...it generally would cost more than just buying a higher class TV
You will need to pay a ME/PE to figure and design whatever is needed, pay a firm to do the modifications, pay to have the final TV tested and certified that it meets the new specification, pay to register/certify/etc it to spec....M sure there are more stuff to pay for....
But...there is a way...it will cost you, but not as much as the above for upgrading= GVWR, FGAWR, RGAWR....this ppplies to most OEM’s
Here is what the OEM’s change to up their MTWR and GCWR...that is to change diff ratio to a higher numeric... - blt2skiModeratorThen again, you can be like me, I do not trust the manufacture tow ratings to work as "I" need them too. So I go thru many hoops and other figuring out to see if it will truly tow to its rating! Per MY ratings mind you.
At the end of the day, you may get a rig that will have no issues towing over its ratings. OR, as I have some, it will not tow to its ratings.......
I would suggest you look up the latest and worst jsea spec or whatever it is called, and ask youself. Am I willing to go up a 5% grade as little as 40 to 35 mph? if under 15000, its 40, over 15K its 35. Am I will to go up no greater than a 12% grade at max rating? if not, you better know what to deduct that max weight so you can go up a 25-30% grade as I have gone up too many times to count on both fingers and toes.
Also remember, that "W" in gvWr, gcWr, graWr.......while you may think it is weight, the real W is "warranty!" along with weight! Go over the weight, your warranty could be null and void depending upon what breaks, vs how and why!
Marty - MFLNomad IIYou need to post what tow vehicle you have. While the manufacturers rating may not change, some vehicles towing capacity can be improved on. In some cases, a simple gearing change will improve towing capacity, or adding a transmission cooler, higher capacity receiver hitch, heavier springs/air bags, with certain models.
Jerry - memtbExplorerYes....you can improve the towing and/or load carrying capabilities of many vehicles. And the has mentioned, many vehicles are somewhat underrated by the manufacturer, but if you make modifications to improve the vehicle and are found to be “at fault” in an accident..... being “over” the listed capacities may work against you in court!
- mowermechExplorerCheck the Owners Manual. What options control the towing rating or Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR)? What options does YOUR vehicle have?
For instance, a 3.55 differential ratio will often result in a lower GCWR. A 3.73 ratio will have a slightly higher GCWR. A 4.10 ratio will have the highest rating. All it takes is time and money to change the gears.
There are licensed "upfitter" shops all around the country that can change ratings, and may even make a new placard for the door post.
In many states, the owner of the vehicle has absolute control over what the GVW is. It is whatever the owner wants to pay for. For instance, my old 1994 Dodge 3500 dually could legally be loaded to 14,000 lbs. GVW, because that is the GVW I paid for when I registered it. Note that that weight is the ACTUAL weight, not a "Rating".
The truck manufacturer's axle rating (GAWR) is often quite a bit less than the axle manufacturer's rating.
The bottom line is, YES, there ARE things that can be done to change the ratings. Yes, such changes may (probably will) result in increased stress and wear on the vehicle. That is a fact that the owner must be willing to live with. The chances of a catastrophic failure are very slim. The previously mentioned '94 Dodge was towing a fifth wheel at a Gross Combined Weight of 21,180 lbs. That was about a ton and a half OVER the GCWR. The truck had 275,000 miles on it when I got rid of it, still going strong. The only reason I allowed it to go away is that I just didn't need a one ton dually 4X2 any more.
I have often quoted my step-father's rules for hauling firewood or hay:
1. Will it move?
2. Will it stop?
If the answer to either question is "No!", fix the problem and you are good to go.
If the answer to both questions is "YES!", just go.
Of course, that was in "the bad old days", when a half ton truck was rated at 6,000 GVW, a 3/4 ton was rated at 8,000, and a one ton was 10,000.
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