Can I safely exceed the GVWR and payload on my TV?

[willdennis]

Hi all,

When I got my brand new TV 6 years ago (details in sig below), and was shopping for my first TT, I was kindly educated by some of the folks on this board on how to properly estimate how much trailer I could buy (dry weight, then estimate the "people & stuff" load) and how that would fit the max load capacity parameters of my TV (hitch weight, payload, GVWR and GCWR.) So with this information, I constructed a nice Excel spreadsheet that does all of the math for me.

The current TT is around 4800lbs dry; according to my spreadsheet calcs, I am about 100lbs over GVWR (1.4 percent) fully laden for camping. I feel the TT has been a good fit for my truck, and easy to tow (although, I haven't gone up any big mountains with it...)

Now I'm shopping around for the next TT. I'm looking at a nice TT that runs 5900lbs dry; that would put me about 250lbs (3.6 percent) over the GVWR, and also 100lbs over max payload (5.2 percent)

My question is, how concerned do I have to be about going over the published weight max's of the TV (especially now that I don't have to worry about invalidating a warranty...) Are these max's on the conservative side, and by how much can I safely exceed them realistically (like maybe up to 5 percent ??)

If it's definately NOT a good idea to go over these maxes, what could I do to increase the payload and GVWR maxes on my TV? (other than getting a bigger TV of course :P)

Thanks all!
Will

[SoCalDesertRid1]

I had to take my daughter's TV out to her house this weekend. It was threatening to rain, but fortunately didn't. I had several other of her things to bring to her also.

Some things ended up on top of the TV when I loaded everything. The TV may have been over it's weight rating, not sure, I didn't weigh everything I put on top of it.

Anyhow, the TV made it there in one piece. We watched it later that day. 🙂

[coolbreeze01]

Can you? I didn't read all the posts. Good luck.

[PA12DRVR]

If your as-loaded, maximum full of fuel, ready to camp weight is 3.6% over your vehicles GVWR, it's not something I'd sweat, but I suspect you could find places to take out a couple hundred #'s and be back under.

If you're basing everything on dry weight, that 3.6% overload will become 15% before you know it or even higher and that deserves serious consideration.

No other person can tell you "It's safe" (or unsafe with certainty). If all your weights are as-loaded, ready to go, unless you're using a CAT scale every trip, that 3.6% is probably within a rounding error and not significant.....but for the sake of thoroughness, I'd suggest weighing everything on an as-ready-to-go basis to see if the 3.6% is close to reality.

[SoCalDesertRid1]

Tires, wheels, springs, shocks, sway bars and rubber suspension bushings can all be upgraded, to help the truck better carry the weight, in an overloaded situation. I have done all of these on a few of my trucks.

There is very little that can be done with the brakes to make them work significantly better. Drilled/vented rotors can help them not fade as much during repeated braking. Different pads/shoes can be used too, for a small improvement in braking, or for longer wearing. However, none of this does much to truly significantly help braking ability.

Aside from swapping in another axle from a bigger truck, with bigger brakes on it, you're stuck with whatever the truck was made with. And therein lies the main problem with running a truck overloaded: Poor braking ability.

This is a major reason why I decided I was done with driving overloaded F350's and got a truck with significantly bigger brakes (after one of my F350's was destroyed in a fire). I got a class 7 commercial truck, and loaded it to significantly less than it's 33,000 GVWR, while also quite a bit heavier than F350 could ever hope to carry. It weighs 20,000 lbs and stops on a dime. 🙂

[rhagfo]

smkettner wrote:
A hundred pounds over? People do it every day. Can't recommend it but there are far more important safety factors while driving than 100 pounds extra payload.

Best I can say is put it on a scale and know your real numbers.

Wow! Three pages in before someone caught the fact the OP's post was based on DRY weights and calculations!
Best thing to is load it up hook it up and head for the scales with what you have now. This is with the TV and TT loaded as you would for a camping trip and get your real weights!
The. Post back with TV Listed GVWR, axle ratings, and tire size and tire weight rating. Without that information it is all speculation and guess work.

You also state different numbers being over GVWR and Payload. The max payload is caculated at the factory as GVWR - TV Curb weight. The vehicle GVWR is the number to be watching, and more importantly TIRE and axle ratings.
It is your choice to run over ratings, some do it just fine others have issues.
There are many that are within all ratings and have terrible issues.

Let us know what you find out at the scales!!

[otrfun]

wing_zealot wrote:
Otrfun's post was supposedly a quote from a post he says he saw somewhere else posted by someone he doesn't know. That's the way it always is lots of hyperbole no facts, names, court case numbers, dates, or anything. Didn't happen, blowing smoke.

I posted this quote because I believed it was on-topic, and an interesting and entertaining read. Everyone is more than welcome to read into it what they will. Thought it would promote some good debate. Which it has. Mission accomplished.

[TomG2]

I realize that people simply have to bring diesel into the picture, but the OP has a 1500 pickup, a model with which I am familiar. After adding suspension improvements and LT tires, I got rid of my 2012 Silverado 1500 when it developed a tendency to sway at a little over its GVWR.

[rhagfo]

wing_zealot wrote:

rhagfo wrote:
Otrfun, the example in your post is an extreme case and the owner was either not aware or just didn't care!!!!! Over tire, and axle, you really can't fix stupid!

Yes many like myself run over GVWR, but respect axle and tire ratings! I have seen rigs like you described, they just don't look at anything but what looks cool!
I my case we were headed to Oregon coast on a snow covered Highway 6, it was a 4X4 diesel big tires, pulling a TT toy hauler. There was a snow plow in front and we were going about 45 to 50 and the guy was about a car length behind the plow!

Any sudden movement slowing or stop of the plow he would be wrapped around it.

Otrfun's post was supposedly a quote from a post he says he saw somewhere else posted by someone he doesn't know. That's the way it always is lots of hyperbole no facts, names, court case numbers, dates, or anything. Didn't happen, blowing smoke.

The post in Cummins Fourm

These get to the same point as diesel vs gas.
Now days for a given size of truck there are as many as 40 differnt GVWR, on a whole 2500's are the same truck as a 3500 (even more in the past) with softer springs, and a sticker that maxes the GVWR at 10,000#!
In my personal case I am over GVWR, but about 500# under stock rear axle rating about 1,300# under the camper package sized rear tires.
So that must make my rig extreamy overload and an extream danger to all others on the road.

[TomG2]

I have driven 85 mph in a 65 mph zone, I have driven with a .10 alcohol blood level when the limit was .08. I have driven overloaded vehicles and got by with it. I know more than all the cops, doctors, and engineers put together.

If the OP is asking permission, "Can I?". Looks like he got it.

[wing_zealot]

rhagfo wrote:
Otrfun, the example in your post is an extreme case and the owner was either not aware or just didn't care!!!!! Over tire, and axle, you really can't fix stupid!

Yes many like myself run over GVWR, but respect axle and tire ratings! I have seen rigs like you described, they just don't look at anything but what looks cool!
I my case we were headed to Oregon coast on a snow covered Highway 6, it was a 4X4 diesel big tires, pulling a TT toy hauler. There was a snow plow in front and we were going about 45 to 50 and the guy was about a car length behind the plow!

Any sudden movement slowing or stop of the plow he would be wrapped around it.

Otrfun's post was supposedly a quote from a post he says he saw somewhere else posted by someone he doesn't know. That's the way it always is lots of hyperbole no facts, names, court case numbers, dates, or anything. Didn't happen, blowing smoke.

[4x4ord]

I am 100% confident that I am much safer in my 2016 F350 while 3000 lbs over my truck's max trailer rating than what I would be pulling a 4000 lb lighter trailer with my 2003 2500 Duramax. The '03 Duramax would be within the manufactures weight ratings. I suppose a lawyer may see things differently.

[2001400ex]

Can you do it? Yes. Should you? No. Have I towed over weight? Yes. In fact today, I was at 9,940 with rock in the bed and my gvw is 9,200. I wouldn't do this on the freeway or more than a couple miles even tho I have much higher rated tires than stock.

That being said, I've blown a tranny being 2,000 pounds under gcvw. My parents pull a 4,200 dry TT behind their 2006 crew cab Tacoma. I'm sure they are close or over both gvw and gcvw after the canopy, generators, water, etc. They drove back from Indiana to western Washington through the mountains of new Mexico, Arizona, California, Utah, etc.

Now, I'm not wealthy but do I enough to own an 08 Duramax with 120,000 miles for my 5,200 dry toy hauler. I'm about 8,000 pounds wet with 3 quads. I recently went on a trip with 3 other campers and all three other dudes had to get in my truck to scope out a site. All of them commented how much better mine pulled than theirs. I have pulled close to over weight and I didn't like it. Now I put it on cruise control and drive stress free.

Really it's up to you. I personally will never be close to over again, but I many people do that.

[JIMNLIN]

Otrfun, the example in your post is an extreme case and the owner was either not aware or just didn't care!!!!! Over tire, and axle, you really can't fix stupid!

Yeah his example didn't have much to do with over a GVWR number or a payload number and a poor case scenario for the OP question. This guy was over on all numbers legally and ethically.

[blt2ski]

Cat scale, DOT scale wts on the side of the.road, are really only.good until you fill up with fuel the next time. Put a.load of groceries in the tree trailer or truck.......Yes CAT will to a degree stand behind the weight you were on that day, but a day later....you're on your own! I personally see no.reason to.pay $20 @ a CAT scale when are least locally, there are DOT scales every 50 or so miles along the interstates, you can weigh for free any way you.want if they are not manned by CVEO's doing a job.
They do not care what the manufacture rating is frankly. All they care about is that you are under 20k per axle, or the lessor of 500lb per inch width of tire. Along with.a.paid for give that is MORE than what you weigh at that moment in time.
Reality is, OP will be legal with ANY trailer from an Leo standpoint. Civil court is another.factor. Along with warranty potential not covering if the over weight facto.comes.into.play.
Marty