GVWR's

Dad12153 wrote:
ok....more specifically...have 2004 sierra 1500/5.3L/3.73 diff.....gvwr is 6200 per door panel....total weight of truck w/full gas/me in it leaves 1010 pounds of payload, large portion of which would be consumed by the tongue weight of TT....have been told that the payload for my year/size(1500 vs 2500) is unusually low...sooooooo, trying to find other vehicles with GVWR rated higher....have to consider buying other truck

I would look for a 2011 or newer truck - GVWR ratings increased. That is the reason I traded a 2005 3500HD SRW , GVWR 9900 lbs, for a 2011 3500HD SRW, GVWR 11,600 lbs.

In a brochure or on a web site you might find the range of offered GVWRs for a particular model, or you might find the maximum offering, for which there might be very few trucks.

GVWRs are determined by options: GVWR package options, "heavy duty" or "high payload" options, and wheel and tire choices. Sometimes some of these options also get tied to trim levels or trim packages.

To order a new truck built (or to be searched from inventory) you negotiate options with the salesman. Actually, you try to negotiate with the fleet sales manager, because most sales people I encounter don't know that much about the vehicles they are selling.

To find the GVWR of a truck on the dealer's lot, you open the door and look at the DOT weight sticker. If you don't like the number, maybe the salesman can point you toward an example with the options and trim packages that make GVWR higher, like uglier smaller wheels with higher profile tires.

The real problem is going to be how you find out what the vehicle actually weighs, and how much of that GVWR is left over to carry people and cargo.

My suggestion shopping the lot is to look for the 250/2500 or 350/3500 series in "work truck" trim with no more seating than you actually need, and as few weight-adding options as possible. Some dealers keep a few in stock, salesmen don't like to sell them. But most of them get bought buy companies who want to carry the most, or pull the most, at the lowest cost. If buying more than one at a time, they'll usually go to the fleet manager to find the trucks.

GCVWR is a warranty issue and I assume you're looking for safety numbers. It is required by law to have the GVWR on the DOT safety plate, located in the door frame of each truck. That's one SURE place to find it since some manufacturer web sites will have you looking under rocks and in the bushes to get that information.

sail2liv wrote:
Better check GCWR while you are looking...that is usually the limiting number

Depends what you are towing. With 5th wheels it's usually GVWR. Payload will change depending on how a truck is equipped, GVWR won't.

The GVWR is easy to find, it's the actual weight of the truck and the net payload capacity that is hard to find....

Just as an example....my new 2500 has a 10,000# GVWR and 3,000# payload.

Dad12153 wrote:
ok....more specifically...have 2004 sierra 1500/5.3L/3.73 diff.....gvwr is 6200 per door panel....total weight of truck w/full gas/me in it leaves 1010 pounds of payload, large portion of which would be consumed by the tongue weight of TT....have been told that the payload for my year/size(1500 vs 2500) is unusually low...sooooooo, trying to find other vehicles with GVWR rated higher....have to consider buying other truck

Pre '07 GM 1500s typically have very low payloads which forced even people with modest sized trailers and families into a 2500 right off the bat. My '08, crew cab, 5.3, 3:73, has just over a 1600# payload. Even if our adult daughter goes with us I still have lots of margin.

Dad12153 wrote:
ok....more specifically...have 2004 sierra 1500/5.3L/3.73 diff.....gvwr is 6200 per door panel....total weight of truck w/full gas/me in it leaves 1010 pounds of payload, large portion of which would be consumed by the tongue weight of TT....have been told that the payload for my year/size(1500 vs 2500) is unusually low...sooooooo, trying to find other vehicles with GVWR rated higher....have to consider buying other truck

There will be A PILE OF THEM that have a higher GVWR rating than your 04' Sierra, including newer 1/2 ton pickups....you may want to narrow it down to a much newer 1/2 ton or go with a 2500 truck.....

Depends on what you're going to use it for, ie , the example in your first post? If so and just a TT, some of the newer 1/2 tons will have more payload. A gasser 2500 might be a better deal...

ok....more specifically...have 2004 sierra 1500/5.3L/3.73 diff.....gvwr is 6200 per door panel....total weight of truck w/full gas/me in it leaves 1010 pounds of payload, large portion of which would be consumed by the tongue weight of TT....have been told that the payload for my year/size(1500 vs 2500) is unusually low...sooooooo, trying to find other vehicles with GVWR rated higher....have to consider buying other truck

sail2liv wrote:
Better check GCWR while you are looking...that is usually the limiting number

No. Payload is the limiting number.

Bruce