Towing question? I am confused

[patmc81]

So if the truck gvrw is 7200 how is my truck rated to pull 9600? I thought gives was the most u can pull? 5.3 3.42 crew cab 4X4.

 

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[R-D]

The GCWR is 15000 or 15500, don't remember exactly which. The GVWR is for the truck and payload, not the combined rating for towing.

[patmc81]

 

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Sorry gvwr

 

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[Gun Designer]

Like YEG said. 7200 is the weight rating for the truck and it's load (includes hitch weight carried by truck) The 9600 is the trailer weight its rated to tow. And the Combined weight is the Truck, trailer, and load combined. Basically you need to consider all three when you figure what you can safely tow.

[Crf450r420]

When I ordered my truck there was no max towing option and I still don't see one in the build your own on the site. I was thinking I was getting a 11,800 towing capacity, but I guess I didn't. I probably won't ever need it, but I don't get why it isn't in the options when you order. I guess that goes with the fact that any time you select the LTZ Z71 on the order page the interior vanishes.

[nards444]

When I ordered my truck there was no max towing option and I still don't see one in the build your own on the site. I was thinking I was getting a 11,800 towing capacity, but I guess I didn't. I probably won't ever need it, but I don't get why it isn't in the options when you order. I guess that goes with the fact that any time you select the LTZ Z71 on the order page the interior vanishes.

Bought mine last NOV was the first time for max tow. I got it, its like 11,200 for the 5.3 not 11,800

[nards444]

So if the truck gvrw is 7200 how is my truck rated to pull 9600? I thought gives was the most u can pull? 5.3 3.42 crew cab 4X4.

 

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7200 is what your truck can have in it, or payload. Tow capacity is what you can tow max which is 9600. And then you have GCWR or everything combined which assuming you have 15,000 as yours.

 

 

Now here is where it gets tricky. You can tow 9800 but you have to start doing the math. For instance if your truck weighs 5 grand you take that off of the 15,000 so now you are at 10 grand, so you can tow 9800lbs but pretty much only with a driver and even then thats a misnomer as you have to factor in tounge weight of the truck.

 

Now 7200lbs is your payload, so if your truck weighs 5 grand you can only put 2200 worth of people and supplies in it.

 

 

 

So lets say you have 4 people in the truck each weighs on average of 200lbs. Truck weighs 5 grand. Add another 200lbs for gear. You are now sitting at 6,000 lbs., then add 500 for tongue weight so you sit at 6500 for play load and have 700lbs to play with. Go back to the GCWR of 15k, subtract 6, you get 9 grand total left to play with.

 

Now lets say you max out payload of 7200lbs with people, gear,.. So after maxing your truck out you could tow something no heavier according to specs than 7800lbs.

 

 

Its confusing but its marketing to an extent. really if you want to know what you can do find the curb weight of your truck. If your just putting things in the truck take the 7200 and minus the curb weight first that tells you what you have left.

 

Now if you are towing add your curb weight up along with passengers and gear, Once you get the final number subtract that from 15,000. That will tell you the max tow you can tow. Dont forget you still arent supposed to go over the max payload and still tow.

 

 

Really take any max tow number and minus 1000 right off the bat for what you can truely do

[Crf450r420]

Bought mine last NOV was the first time for max tow. I got it, its like 11,200 for the 5.3 not 11,800

I ordered in November and waited until 3 weeks ago because I ordered the 6.2L. I didn't see the max tow option. Wasn't given the option. I go to the build your own page and still don't see the option.

 

Couldn't find go weight info anywhere, so I hit the dump to get mine. 5960 pounds with just me and 3/4 of a tank.

[nards444]

If you go to the model and specs page you have to have the 6.2 and can have it crew cab and double cab with 4x4. If you go to build select crew cab short bed, or whatever and select LTZ nothing else along with 4x4. Once you get to options page select max trailering which will reconfigure gearing and a few other things, then select the 6.2l This gives you 11,800 or 11,700 depending on cab config. Now if your dealer is telling you elsewhise time to find another dealer.

 

 

Now IMVHO i wouldnt be towing upwards of 12k lbs with a half ton, the engine size is rather irrelevent, and wouldnt be paying 45-50k to do it.

 

 

 

Also to put it in perspective compare a 6.2l LTZ crew cab with a LT crew cab both with max tow. The 6.2l you actually have 150lbs less payload as well as 150lbs less towing. So you gain 600lbs by adding the 6.2l to your towing bust must subtract 150. So you lose payload which affects towing and only gain 450lbs in towing for thousands of dollars and worse MPG. Not so sure that works out for me.

[EXSlider400]

Good Scrap metal places also have certified scales.

[nards444]

Good Scrap metal places also have certified scales.

Thats a good idea. But be sure to know the weight of your truck so you can subtract it. Also when you do this your truck and items such as a travel trailer should be loaded with what you typically put in there and keep people in the truck that should be riding.

 

 

People do it all the time they run out and buy a truck that says it can tow 9800. Subtract tongue weight and a family of four to start and your probably already down to 8500lbs or less. Clothes food, camping gear add up, did you put 200lbs of water in that trailer, all this can easily add up to 2-4 grand in weight, which for the typical guy buying the 9800lbs towing capable truck when hes looking for campers should probably be looking for a trailer that weighs no more than 6000lbs.

 

Travel trailers you need to give your self extra due to the fact you can load them up with so much stuff and they act like sales. Boats, you can tend to go longer as you cant pack them full of so much stuff and they are more aero dynamic to pull.

[Jon A]

Also to put it in perspective compare a 6.2l LTZ crew cab with a LT crew cab both with max tow. The 6.2l you actually have 150lbs less payload as well as 150lbs less towing. So you gain 600lbs by adding the 6.2l to your towing bust must subtract 150. So you lose payload which affects towing and only gain 450lbs in towing for thousands of dollars and worse MPG. Not so sure that works out for me.

 

But that's just an illustration of how little connection those stickers have with reality. In the real world, if you're really towing that much--especially if there are any hills--the 6.2 will handle it much more easily, quietly and probably get better mileage while doing it giving you a much better towing experience. People shouldn't be making their buying decisions based solely upon those stickers.

 

If there comes a day when the Engineers are no longer overridden by the Lawyers and Marketers, those stickers may carry more weight with me.

[EXSlider400]

True...look at torque curve inside towing rpm.

[nards444]

 

But that's just an illustration of how little connection those stickers have with reality. In the real world, if you're really towing that much--especially if there are any hills--the 6.2 will handle it much more easily, quietly and probably get better mileage while doing it giving you a much better towing experience. People shouldn't be making their buying decisions based solely upon those stickers.

 

If there comes a day when the Engineers are no longer overridden by the Lawyers and Marketers, those stickers may carry more weight with me.

 

Like I said before you shouldnt be towing close to 12k with a half ton regardless of stickers your right and thats reality. But in general you have to get ratings somewhere and a baseline has to be established of which I do trust engineers who designed it to put out information, but what isnt trustworthy is how the numbers are marketed. This isnt a dog on you, but Im not sure we can necessarily trust what ones opinion is on the capability vs published data by engineers. But we all know those numbers are dumbed down by companies for legal speek and that because not everybody can handle towing at max, and conditions dont always warrant it, but how far they dumbed down who knows, they are dumbed down in order to keep your vehicle from breaking and manufactures footing repair bills by pushing things to the max.

 

A 6.2 will out tow a 5.3 it will but it still weighs the same and still has the same breaking, tranny and rear end, and thats what towing is really about not necessarily hp and torque. If were going to reality your better off buying that 6.2l in a 3/4 if your going to push that 1/2ton to the limits as a 3/4ton can be had for the same price, and kick in a few more bucks you can be in a diesel which will leave the 6.2l in the dust.

 

Im not sure throwing a 6.2l and adding 60hp and 60torque in the grand scheme is giving you much more in the cost benefit column as like I said its still a half ton. I know some guys tow a lot but typical towing is less than 10% of annual miles. Do the math on initial investment, MPG difference vs what you are getting for the average guy the equation just doesnt work. Now if you dont care and just want, just want the big engine thats fine nothing wrong with that at all, and it will tow a little better than the 5.3 it just will. But if you do the cost benefit equation 95% for 95% of the guys, you can not make that equation work, you cant.

 

Heres the thing with the 6.2l dodge doesnt make an equivalent well maybe in the hemi but not really. Ford is ditching theres, as it shows the manufacture as well as their customer base has determined the application for the cost doesnt make any sense. And not to get on Fords high horse, but if they think somethings working, I would to believe it.

[nards444]

And I hate to throw it out there and being mr scare tactic but get pulled over by the DOT nazis or get into a crash and have insurance or law enforcement start to investigate what you were towing and what with. They are not going to take my personal belief on what a truck can do vs published data