I want my 200lbs

[canadiankid]

Just looking for your thoughts on this matter please. So I have been looking into the GVRW of my truck and it just doesn't add up (compared to a 4X4 version). I have a 2wd Tundra crewmax with a GVRW of 7000lbs. A 4X4 Tundra crewmax has a GVRW of 7200lbs. My thought on this is they needed to keep the 4X4 cargo carrying capacity a few hundred lbs above the 1000lbs mark so they jumped the 4X4 up to 7200 (the 4x4 Tundra weighs 300lbs more than the 2wd). My cargo cap is 1375 (door sticker) for the 7000lbs GVRW but I would love to have a 1575 cap. Do you think more cargo cap in a 2wd might sell a few more 2wd trucks instead of 4x4 costing Toyota some money? Is there a good reason to have 200lbs less GVRW or is it just looks on paper?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Don.

[canadiankid]

Thanks for your replies.

1st I don't think there is a government calculation for GVWR (if this was true then how could companies like ford increase their numbers without doing anything to their truck?)

2nd The RAWR on my truck is 4150lbs and the FAWR is 3950lbs (total of 8100lbs). The rear is the same on a 4x4 tundra but I can't seem to find the front #'s for a 4x4.

3rd Toyota uses depending on packages the same all season tires on both 2wd and 4wd.

I know Toyota is very conservative with their #'s so I am not too worried (plus I only tow a 4500lbs trailer) but it would be nice to have some more room just in case. I think it is all marketing unless someone can prove me wrong:)

Don.

[mkirsch]

The suspension may be the same in back, but it is certainly different IN FRONT.

There's 200-300lbs of 4x4 "stuff" up there that's almost entirely carried by the front axle, which is designed to carry the extra 200-300lbs.

As others have noted, the rear end weight is virtually unchanged, and cargo is carried almost entirely by the rear axle. Thus it is perfectly valid to raise the GVWR by 200lbs on a 4x4.

That said, people looking at 1/2 ton pickups rarely care about cargo carrying capacity and don't even understand what the GVWR is. It's a truck, it will haul anything.

[jerem0621]

Pretty sure that it is in the tires. I bet is you look at your rawr and then add the carry capacity if your rear tires you would come up with a number that is very close.

The 4x4's MAY (probably) have higher rated tires.

GVWR is what the truck was rated for the day it left the factory with all factory equipment.

Many many many Tundra owners modify their trucks to SAFELY handle an increased load. It doesn't do anything to change the little yellow sticker but it does impact how the truck handles. They add LT tires, add air bags, timbrens, or overload springs and just roll with it.

My old 97 F150 has P-XL tires. Aired up to 44 PSI they were rated for a fuzz under 2000 lbs each.

Thanks!

Jeremiah

[BurbMan]

Quite simple: The 4x4 adds 200 lbs in additional drivetrain like the transfer case and front axle and so has a higher curb weight. The mfr raises the GVWR so that the 2x4 and 4x4 both have the same cargo carrying capacity.

[kmbelt]

take off your front and rear bumper and tailgate. You just gained your 200lbs back.

[ependydad]

canadiankid wrote:
Just looking for your thoughts on this matter please. So I have been looking into the GVRW of my truck and it just doesn't add up (compared to a 4X4 version). I have a 2wd Tundra crewmax with a GVRW of 7000lbs. A 4X4 Tundra crewmax has a GVRW of 7200lbs. My thought on this is they needed to keep the 4X4 cargo carrying capacity a few hundred lbs above the 1000lbs mark so they jumped the 4X4 up to 7200 (the 4x4 Tundra weighs 300lbs more than the 2wd). My cargo cap is 1375 (door sticker) for the 7000lbs GVRW but I would love to have a 1575 cap. Do you think more cargo cap in a 2wd might sell a few more 2wd trucks instead of 4x4 costing Toyota some money? Is there a good reason to have 200lbs less GVRW or is it just looks on paper?

Thanks for your thoughts.

Don.

IMO, you don't get to pick your trucks GVWR based on other models or what you want. It's what it is and is printed in black and white on the doorjamb (usually).

[skipnchar]

GVWR is a federally controlled safety rating and is computed using solid engineering data. They do not have an option for HOW the GVWR is computed they can only build the truck stronger to gain extra load carrying ability. Building them stronger would certainly cost more money. NOTE that one of the FEW items that is always found on the DOT Safety Plate is the GVWR and GAWR. SOMETIMES they add empty weight (curb weight) or payload figures (which is ialways GVWR subtracted from the actual weight).

Good luck / Skip

[Sport45]

Or the front axle on the 4x4 adds 200# to the truck's weight without affecting it's carrying capacity...

[sljkansas]

It also could be as simple as the tire ratings on the 4X4 may be greater than thw 2 wheel drive.

[donn0128]

There is many many items that make up the vehicles GVWR numbers. The only way to know for positive is to sit down with a parts guy and start listing numbers for everything from the frame down to the ground.
I also think your looking backwards at the numbers. You actually have more cargo carrying capacity on paper than a 4X4. While it may have a 7200 GVWR, it also weighs 300 pounds more, so its cargo capacity is actually 100 pounds less. True cargo carrying capacity is... GVWR minus the trucks weight loaded ready to travel, Regardless of the marketing hype. Remember the numbers that the sales department cites is a bare bones truck with a 1/4 tank of fuel and one 150 pound driver. Everything you add above that subtracts from the real world net cargo carrying capacity. You really need to be concerned about that in BC, so load the truck up like you would go camping and hit the scales.

[canadiankid]

Well I will agree that the front could be different but I would think that the back would be the same. I tried to find Front and rear axel #'s to compare but Toyota doesn't have them on their site.

Don.

[dodge_guy]

EldIr wrote:
I would suspect the 2wd and 4wd have different axles and suspensions. But that's just a guess.

The rear should at least be the same!

Welcome to the numbers game! Where everyone from the bean counters to the engineers, to the vice presidents wives have a say in what becomes the weight rating!!!

[EldIr]

I would suspect the 2wd and 4wd have different axles and suspensions. But that's just a guess.