Confused About GCVWR

[BigMike]

I have a 1999 Ram 2500HD 4WD Quad Cab. My transmission is a 5-Speed HD Manual with a 3. 54 axle ratio. I purchased it new in August 1999. According to the window sticker from my truck the GVWR is 8800#, the GCWR is 16000# and the Maximum Trailer Weight is 9400#. I'm a bit confused by the GCWR. I look in my owners manual and it doesn't indicate a GCWR for my truck with a 3. 54 axle ratio. It only indicates a GCWR of 18000# for a 4. 10. If mine is only 16000# then I am way over my GCWR. I'm right at about 18000# fully loaded. However, I am over my GVW by about 1600# because of the pin weight. Also, when they say maximum trailer weight, does that include a 5er? If so, I'm way over that weight when loaded.



I see trucks just like mine going up and down the highway with bigger loads than I have. Would someone please tell me if I have a serious problem? BTW, I've been pulling my 5er for over a year with no problems. Am I going to have one some day? Why is the axle rating important to load and does it make that much difference?



Sorry for all the questions. Just want to make sure I'm not doing something stupid!

 

[FFutch]

Your truck should handle this load just fine. These trucks are built pretty heavy. I've pulled a 580 case backhoe(20k with trailer)and have no problems. I think the only concern would be d. o. t. and liability issues. an exhaust brake helps alot too. Doug

 

[RustyJC]

Mike,



I'm going to answer your questions "by the book" despite the fact that any number of individuals will likely come along and tell you that the book is meaningless and you can ignore some or all of the following.



Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating (GCVWR) is the maximum that your loaded truck and 5ver can weigh in combination. This includes the weight of all fuel, accessories, passengers, baggage, water (in the case of the 5ver), etc.



Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), in the case of your truck, is the maximum weight that your truck can carry on its tires. When hitched up, this will include the weight of all fuel, accessories, passengers, baggage and will also include the pin weight of the 5th wheel since this pin weight is carried by the truck.



Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) is the maximum weight that can be carried by an axle.



"Trailer Tow Rating" is a rating published by Dodge that's basically meaningless since it assumes the weight of a base truck with only a 150 lb driver. Any weight of the actual loaded truck beyond that must be subtracted from the TTR. As an example, the TTR on our truck is 14,700 lbs, but look at the example below to see how close we are to GCVWR and GVWR with a 13,500 lb 5th wheel! In effect (again, "by the book"), the maximum weight of the trailer you can actually tow will be determined by your ability to stay within your truck's GCVWR and GVWR.



You will probably notice that the combined GAWR's will be more than the GVWR. According to Dodge, you are not allowed to exceed any individual GAWR nor the truck's GVWR. In effect, the higher sum of the GAWR's just gives you some latitude in where the weight is carried in the truck since the GVWR still governs.



Yes, the GCVWR will vary with axle ratio. Our truck has a GCVWR of 21,500 lbs - if it had a 3. 54 rear axle, the GCVWR would be 20,000 lbs.



Pulling our 5ver, we're running an actual GCVW of 21,380 lbs (21,500 GCVWR) with all passengers and full fuel tank and a truck GVW of 10,480 lbs (10,500 GVWR). Gotta unload some of the junk we're toting around in that 5ver's storage bays! We're running about 10,900 lbs on the 5ver's axles (combined GAWR on the 5ver is 12,000 lbs).



Rusty

 

[Thomas]

Mike,



I'll add to what Rusty has written.



The Ram pickup sales brochure for 1999 has a table that shows trucks with YOUR specs to have a GVWR of 8,800 pounds and a GCWR of 20,000 pounds (for both axle ratios), not the 16,000 pounds that is on your window sticker.



I purchased a model year 2000 Ram 2500 4X4 quad cab with the same drivetrain as yours and the window sticker showed a GCWR of 16,000 pounds. Three or four telephone calls to D/C got me a letter on corporate letterhead that has my VIN and a GCWR 0f 20,000 pounds.

 

[RJOL]

Pay Your Money And Take Your Chances...

When I purchase my 1996 Alpenlite 5th wheel I owned a non-turbo 1986 Ford 6. 9L diesel. I contacted the manufacturer directly and asked him about towing this 5th wheel with double slideouts and about 10000-11000 loaded. They assured me that they towed these trailers all the time with my setup.



I now know a lot more now... You have two significant factors when towing one of these newer 5th wheels with slideouts. One is the total weight of the trailer and truck and the second is the weight your carring over the rear axle with king pin weights in the 2000-3000 lb range when loaded.



The bottom line is this... You will probably be overweight with any newer 5th wheel trailer that has muti slideouts and is over 30. ' You don't have a lot of options unless you buy a heavy duty custom towing vehicle.



I guess you "pay your money and take your chances... "

 

[RAMalama]

I towed way over my truck's head when I had my 89 Ferd F250 4x4 with 4:10's and a ZF44 5spd. It's GCWR was a measily 14,500!! I towed at 16,500 GCWR for 5 years and 120,000 miles. That includes one trip over Wolfs Creek in CO. Of course, I crested that summit "owing" horsepower...



My 95 Dodge CTD with 4:10s and the NV4500 5spd towed over loaded by 2500lbs for 1 year and 10,000 miles.



Both trucks had the brakes and supension to get away with it. They just both ABSOLUTELY needed a gear splitter. Those 5spds had jumps in their gearing that wasn't apparent when empty but loaded up? Wow! 2nd to 3rd, 3rd to 4th, and 4th to 5th was so hard on the truck. I'd run it up against the governor and then shift as fast as I could and still seem to grab the next gear with the engine spinning too slow... STARTING on inclines was murder.



My point is, if your truck doesn't seem to have any trouble moving the weight both starting and equally important, stopping. Then you're not doing anything stupid. I was stupid for years and my trucks let me get away with it.



Traded in the P of S Ferd with 230,000 miles in 95 with the original OEM clutch still go'in strong. Traded in my 95 CTD with only 70,000 (90% towing) with the original OEM clutch in 2001. I miss my 12V.



Just air your tires up and have fun. I bet by the numbers you're inside all your limits anyway. An axle scale at a public certified scale tells no lies...



Ian.

 

[merryman]

I'd like to hear from some of the people delivering trailers---like the operators of the '94 (I believe a 2500), with over 900,000 miles. Those people must deliver the largest fivers that would greatly exceed 'rated' weights, and run more miles than most of can immagine. ????

I have a shirttail relative (whom I see every couple years) who had 196,000 Miles on his '96 2500, when I last talked to him in Feb of 2000. I doubt he can decline to take many trailers because they are over his rated weight and keep his standing with the companies he works with.

Do we have any members with lots of this kind of experience?

Vaughn

 

[KB0OU]

I haul for Bennet International

My truck is tagged for 24,000 lb. in Missouri.

The longest trailer I have hauled to date is a 40 ft. 5ver.

I think that my highest gross weight has been around 22,000 lbs.

I have hauled over 100,000 miles since March 2001.

Yes I have turned down one load, a race trailer, Featherlite, it scaled at 25,000 lbs. I informed the dispatcher that he would have to pay any fines... ... . by the way this was with another company than Bennet.



I average about 10mpg loaded, and 19mpg "unloaded"..... you will note on my sig that when I am not pulling a trailer that I still have some load, fuel, tools, hitches, jacks, etc. that lots of trucks do not run with.



I purchased the 96 Pickup used with 145,000 miles on it as I did not want a computerized injection pump. There are some times that I wish I had a Dually, except when I buy tires!!

I may convert this truck to a Dually someday.



By the way I know a couple who run a 96 Dodge with over 1Million Miles on it. It is still hauling, they work for Hoosier RV Transport. See ya on the road!!!!

 

[BigMike]

Thanks to all for your input. Sounds like I'm ok at where I am. Don't plan on going any heavier. Course I didn't plan where I'm at now. My next step is to add airbags and raise my 5er a bit so everything rides pretty level and I have a bit better clearance. That's a future post for me.

 

[plntmgr]

I just had the AIRLIFT bags installed by Camping World($250) and they make a big difference in rearend sag. Could have gone to a Firestone bag for $450 but could not justify the $200 difference. Works for me.





'98. 5 2500 CC 4X2 Auto 354 Aero Tank 60 gal. Fun stuff.





'01 Alpenlite 32' Augusta RL Double Slide