Jump to content

Need To Understand My Truck's Load Capacity

TedHam

Recommended Posts

TedHam Enthusiast

TedHam

Posted
Posted

I am considering use of my truck to haul my '80 Corvette via a dual axle trailer between Florida and Ohio (1100 mile trip). The truck is equipped with the 'towing package', hitch and wiring connection at the rear bumper (along with the oil cooler and other off-road pkg improvements).

 

Question #1: I obviously don't understand GVWR as it relates to towing. Also, given my truck's attributes (4.8L, Z71, Auto Trans, Towing Pkg, 3.73 gears, Sport side, Extend Cab, Short bed, etc.), how do I determine how much weight I can haul/pull IN ADDITION TO the truck's gross weight (without risking voiding my warranty)?

 

Question #2: Are the vette (3250 lbs) and a trailer far in excess of the towing capacity of my truck?

 

Question #3: What factors determine the max safe amount of weight I can pull/haul? Can I safely increase the towing capacity of my truck (ex. supercharger, tires/wheels, frame augmentation/hitch reinforcement, air bags on rear leaf springs, etc.)?

 

Question #4: Ford recently updated the F150 'Towing Capacity' to 9900lbs. What does the 9900lb towing capacity represent? GVWR?

 

Yes, I am confused... :chevy: Seeking clarification... :)

asilverblazer Senior Enthusiast

asilverblazer

Posted
Posted

If memory serves GVWR rating is simply the weight of your truck empty. If the weight of the Vette trailer and you ar less than the MVWR (Max Vehicle Weight Rating) you should be good to go.

Hope I'm right and it helps.

AlanTDickey Enthusiast

AlanTDickey

Posted
Posted

Tedham:

It looks liike the max trailer weight for your truck is 7,100 lbs. that's how much you can tow - end of story.

GVWR, which has nothing to do with towing, is the max load your truck can carry (not tow) plus the empty wieght of your truck. There is also a number that is the total you can tow and haul. If you load up your truck with enough cargo, you can tow somewhat less that you tow rating, but this is rare, I think.

Boudreaux38134 Enthusiast

Boudreaux38134

Posted
Posted
I am considering use of my truck to haul my '80 Corvette via a dual axle trailer between Florida and Ohio (1100 mile trip). The truck is equipped with the 'towing package', hitch and wiring connection at the rear bumper (along with the oil cooler and other off-road pkg improvements).

 

You will have no problems towing this load, provided the trailer doesn't weight 4000 pounds by itself! :chevy: What you need to make sure of it that you have the load centered properly so you will not:

 

1. Put excessive weight on the rear of the truck. This will lighten your front end and reduce your ability to steer and control the vehicle.

 

2. Put excessive weight on the rear of the trailer. This can lift the rear of your truck, leading to a loss of breaking power and cause the condition known as "the trailer driving the truck". (As the trailer starts to sway, it will cause the truck to move around excessively and you could loose control as a result.)

 

Most dual axle trailers have load leveling springs, which you can use to make sure your load is centered. Looking between the wheels at the springs, you should see a bracket that is in the shape of a "W". When the load is centered, the W should be even and level front to back. (Look at it prior to loading anything on the trailer, and you will see that it is tilted towards the rear of the trailer.)

 

Additionally, you should try and tie the vehicle down as tight as possible (compress the suspension if possible). This helps the vehicle to stay stationary over bumps and such, so it is easier to maintain safe control at highway speeds.

 

Hope this information helps! :)

SilveradoWV Senior Enthusiast

SilveradoWV

Posted
Posted

Max trailer weight ratings are calculated assuming a base vehicle, except for any options necessary to achieve the rating, plus driver. The weight of optional equipment, passengers and cargo will reduce the max trailer weight your vehicle can tow.

That being said, a base, 4x4, Short Bed, Ext Cab, 4.8L, Auto Trans, 3.73s, can tow 6800lbs. (This is info for 2002 Trucks) Any options, passengers, cargo, etc will reduce this number. I still feel like you should have no problems with the load though!

Ben Enthusiast

Ben

Posted
Posted

GVWR = Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. what your truck can carry, including it's own weight.

 

Curb = Weight of the vehicle without options. Usually includes full fluids. Base or stripped vehicle, aka: no stereo, no AC, no 4x4, no upgraded interior, etc. Used to derive "max trailer weight".

 

GAWR = Gross Axle Weight Rating. Front and rear are different. Rear should be larger, as most all pickups/SUVs places majority of weight over the rear wheels (look at drivers door edge, it's usually middle between the wheelbase).

 

Max trailer weight = the max trailer it can tow when in "base" config, if optioned, must reduce by added weight of the options. Plus reduced by additional passengers and cargo (they use one 150 lb driver as basis).

 

GCWR = Gross Combined Weight Rating. Both TV (tow vehicle) and trailer weight. Usually derived from "Curb" TV.

 

Best to use the TV's GVWR to calculate. Take GCWR - TV's GVWR = true max trailer weight.

Red2500HD Enthusiast

Red2500HD

Posted
Posted
Question #1: I obviously don't understand GVWR as it relates to towing. Also, given my truck's attributes (4.8L, Z71, Auto Trans, Towing Pkg, 3.73 gears, Sport side, Extend Cab, Short bed, etc.), how do I determine how much weight I can haul/pull IN ADDITION TO the truck's gross weight (without risking voiding my warranty)?

 

[Per the manual...you can tow a maximum of 6,800 lbs not to exceed the GCWR of 12,000 lbs which is the TOTAL weight of the truck, trailer, cargo(vette), and contents of all the above (passengers, fuel, pets, coolers, food, etc.

 

 

Question #2: Are the vette (3250 lbs) and a trailer far in excess of the towing capacity of my truck?

 

I doubt it....do the math above.

 

Question #3: What factors determine the max safe amount of weight I can pull/haul? Can I safely increase the towing capacity of my truck (ex. supercharger, tires/wheels, frame augmentation/hitch reinforcement, air bags on rear leaf springs, etc.)?

 

You cannot increase the amount of your GCWR by "adding on things". You can put on air bags or helper springs to keep the truck from "squatting", Increase HP with chips or super charger will make it faster, but you will NOT increase your GCWR at all. Your frame, brakes, suspension, wheels, tires, and transmission are the limiting factor. Your truck will always be a 1500, and will always have the restrictions stated in your owners manual.

 

Can you safely pull what you report above? It sure sounds like you can. I would definitly add a tranny temp gauge if towing frequently especially in the warmer months.

 

Good luck.

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Go to topic listing

  • Recently Browsing   0 members

    • No registered users viewing this page.

  • Forum Statistics

    250.4k
    Total Topics
    2.7m
    Total Posts

  • Member Statistics

    342,840
    Total Members
    8,960
    Most Online
    appletrav
    Newest Member
    appletrav
    Joined

  • Who's Online   2 Members, 0 Anonymous, 501 Guests (See full list)

  • Latest Articles

  • Posts

    • newdude
      2 speed transfer case optional now?

      By newdude · Posted

      This is a 1/2 ton thing ONLY.  All HDs 2020-2026 have the two speed transfer case, with Autotrac as an option.     1/2 tons 2019-2026, regular 4x4s come with a single speed case (no 4LO!), and trucks with Z71 ordered, or all Trail Boss trucks come with the 2 speed case.  2 speed case is also an option on WT, and is also standard on High Country.  
    • newdude
      Different requirements for oil filters?

      By newdude · Posted

      2013 5.3 still to this day calls for the PF48 filter.  Which as a 15psi bypass pressure.     There is a TSB, 17-NA-157 that talks about the PF-63 and PF-64 filters which have a higher bypass rating of 22psi.    TSB HERE - temp.xml   "Beginning in 2012, the oil pumps began to regulate main gallery feedback instead of pump out pressure. This means that the oil pump now does not begin to regulate until pressure is built up to the main gallery. This change reduces the amount of time it takes to provide oil to the engine bearing and lifters during extreme cold start conditions.  Main gallery feedback oil pump control systems are present on the following engine families which use Spin-on oil filters: Small Gas Engine (SGE), Large Gas Engine (LGE), High Feature (HFV6) Gen2 and Small Block Gen5 gasoline engines. These engines with the main gallery feedback oil pump control systems are factory built with an ACDelco® oil filters"   It also calls out what engines use those filters.  The gen 4 small blocks were not on that list (LMG, LC9, L9H, L92, L94, L20, L96).  Gen 5 small blocks use the higher pressure filter.          That all said...   Your 7045 Napa filter is the PF63 equivalent, with 22psi bypass.  You are already using the higher bypass pressure filter.  You CAN keep using it, you don't technically have to use it though.  
    • Grumpy Bear
      Different requirements for oil filters?

      By Grumpy Bear · Posted

      Do you know WHY the filter relief setting was increased to 22 psig?    When the new system goes into the second stage the pump volume ramps up considerably. It was found that the 15 psi filter bypass setting put the filter in bypass on a warm engine when the second stage was activated. Raising the filter bypass setting forced the filter to do what it designed to do. Filter. Preventing debris from circulating during high load, high rpm operation.    So next question is how did GM find this out? VLOM/lifter failures and a deep dive by Melling Corp.    Last question. Is it required? Look at it like this; a motor may be equipped with a rev limiter. But it only works if the set point in reached. That 22 psig setting only matters if the pressure differential across the filter media exceeds 15 psig during normal warm operation. Second stage kicks in around 3000-3500 rpm.    I can't answer your question because I don't know you and how you use the truck. But I think there is enough information here to let you decide for yourself. 😉
    • Coastie05
      give me some tips to make my truck look better

      By Coastie05 · Posted

      Go back to OEM wheels. 
    • newdude
      2020 Trailboss 6.2 replacement

      By newdude · Posted

      Probably not their first rodeo, so it should go as planned most likely.  Typically the service manager or tech doing the swap will put some seat time to shake it down after they get it all put back together.  We usually put 50-100mi before we hand them back so if something happens, its not after you get it.  A coolant leaks, oil leaks, a ground left off or loose, vibration, etc.     The new engines so far have been good?  There's been a couple that have popped out there again (the replacement engine) but most have been okay.  

  • GM-Trucks.com Clubs

  • Popular Contributors

×
×
  • Create New...