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
Ron Gratz wrote:Crespro wrote:Is 6300# the estimated loaded-for-camping weigh of the TV -- not including the weight of a WDH?
We are shopping for a trailer for our daughter and son-in-law. They bought a 2006 Ford Expedition with tow package.
The trailers we are looking at are UVW of about 6,000 and loaded weight of about 7,200, with maximum weight of about 8,000.
The projected numbers are: GCVW of 14,500 with Ford at 6,300 and trailer at 7,300=13,600.
Tongue weight of 780 with max rated of 895. Trailer weight of 7,300 with max trailer of 8,000 and TV of 8,900.
If so, you need to add about 100# bringing the TV's GVW to 6400#.
Then subtract the GVW from the TV's GVWR and the remainder is the maximum allowable vertical load which can be imposed on the hitch by the TT.
For example, if the GVWR is 7100#, the maximum vertical load is 7100-6400 = 700#.
A tongue weight of 895# (receiver maximum) would require the WDH to transfer about 200# to the TT's axles to satisfy Ford's specification to return the front end to its unhitched height.
Transferring 200# would leave a net load of 895-200 = 695# imposed on the hitch head.
This means, for the example numbers, a tongue weight of 895# would meet the TV's GVWR and the receiver's tongue specs.
A trailer's tongue weight percentage should be about 13% for good yaw stability.
This means a tongue weight of 895# would correspond to a TT weight of about 895/0.13 = 6900# which is less than the 7200# loaded weights of the trailers you are looking at.
To better determine the tongue weight and trailer weight limits, you need to:
1) verify or adjust your best estimate of the weight of the TV when loaded-for-camping (including 100# for WDH), and
2) verify or adjust the TV's GVWR.
The best way to do 1) is to load the TV approximately as it would be loaded for camping and take it to a scales to weigh the front and rear axles individually. This will give you information for estimating the TV's loaded GVW and determining whether the TV's rear GAWR might be exceeded.
Ron
Thx to all who responded. Very helpful.
Crespro
