Gcwr?

[Wellsp]

I am looking at Holiday Rambler's Alumascape TT models. All but the 25' lists a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 11,000 lbs. which combined with my truck is way over my gross combined vehicle weight. That got me looking more closely at Dodges tow rating data.



Now according to Dodge my truck is rated to tow 9,450 lbs. and the GCVW is 16,000lbs. That's easy. Here's the math:



GVW (truck weight) (8,800 lbs) + GVTW (9,450lbs) = GVW 18,250 lbs



Wait a minute. That's 2,250 lbs more than their 16,000 lbs. GCVW. Is my math off or did I miss a footnote somewhere? So how much can I tow?

 

[BV]

Manufactures math

I don't think you missed anything except the part that is not written that says - We can list whatever we want for weight ratings and you can't exceed any of them.



Try adding the Axel weight rating and see if it adds up to the GVWR of 8800#

 

[THerman]

GVW is the max the truck can be loaded. . ie stuff in the bed, fat passenger, fuel, etc.



how often would you tow at the same time as you are loaded to the gills... . ?



If you don't put three pallets of rock in the bed, you can tow that tow rating.

 

[RustyJC]

To see how a 5th wheel affects GVW, you need to know the approximate laden curb weight of your truck (i. e. , with full fuel tanks, passengers, whatever gear you're carrying and the 5th wheel hitch). You also need to know the actual loaded curb weight of the 5th wheel with options, all the gear in the basement, full propane tanks, water if you carry it, etc. For an approximation, you can figure that about 20% of the 5ver's weight will be carried by the truck as pin weight. Therefore, if your 5ver were loaded to its GVW of 11,000 lbs, its approximate pin weight would be 2,200 lbs. If you want to stay inside your truck's GVWR, the laden curb weight of your truck cannot exceed 8,800 lbs GVWR minus 2,200 lbs pin weight, or 6,600 lbs.



Insofar as the GCW is concerned, that's simply the laden curb weight of the truck plus the loaded curb weight of the 5ver.



In our case, we tow a 13,500 lb 5ver, and our numbers are:



10,380 GVW (10,500 GVWR)



21,180 GCW (21,500 GCWR)



Rusty

 

[dflack]

weigh your truck

Best way I have found to be reasonably certain is to weigh truck with a full tank of fuel and passengers on board. Simplest place to run over a scale is at a rock/landscape material supplier. Then you can do the real math! Heck, why not hook up the trailer too!

 

[wlowe]

To determine how much you can "legally" tow you need to know the actual weight of your truck (probably around 6,700 pounds with fuel and driver but could be more depending on accessories, best to get it weighed). Subtract this from your GCVW and you get around 9300 pounds. To determine your maximum tongue weight capacity (fifth wheel), take your GVW and subtract the weight of your truck from it and you get around 2,100 pounds. The key is knowing the exact weight of your truck.



Good Luck,

Bill

 

[JGarcia]

What RustyJC said, GCWR is total weight of what you're pulling plus total weight of truck (not GVWR of truck).



JRG

 

[BigMike]

My truck, fully loaded which includes 5er hitch, tool box, fuel and people weights right at 7400#. It's ridiculous to think I only have a payload capacity of 1400#. If you want to be "legal", I don't think there's a 5er out there that I could pull or a camper I could carry. I'm way over my truck GVWR with my 5er and have pulled it thousands of miles without one single problem. Good brake controller, ebrake and maghytec help!

 

[RustyJC]

Originally posted by BigMike

If you want to be "legal", I don't think there's a 5er out there that I could pull or a camper I could carry.

Which is precisely the point. IF one wants to run within ALL of the truck's ratings, 2500s are not a good choice to pull 5th wheels because (1. ) of the 2500's limited GVWR and (2. ) because a 5ver applies around 20% of its GVW to the truck as pin weight versus 12% or so for a TT.



Rusty

 

[BigMike]

I agree Rusty, but I would bet a paycheck that well over half the 5ers out on the road today are being pulled by 2500's! I simply quite worrying about it and enjoy my travels. I pay close attention to my tire quality and pressures, put on a good ebrake and otherwise take great care of my truck. So far it has performed flawlessly.

 

[Wellsp]

Thanks for The Info

I ask my Dad to weigh the truck and send me the results. I am doing some research prior to my next TT purchase while stationed here in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

 

[JGarcia]

Wellsp,

You take good care of yourself out there. Hope you have a prompt and safe return home!!!



Best Regards, Joaquin Garcia

 

[JBlock]

Wellsp

Hi Wellsp



i over in the desert too! I work for an oil company, sound like your in the military, at least you get good beer.



Drop me a line.



Joe

 

[Wellsp]

Got the GVW

My truck weighed in at 7,170 with a full tank of fuel and two passengers and add another 500 lbs of gear in the truck. Round that sum up to 7,700 lbs. and subtract from GCWR of 16,000 lbs. = 8,300 lbs GTVW left over. Not too bad considering that the Holdiay Ramblers that I am looking at start out at between 5,500 and 6,500 lbs dry. Now I need to get home and actually weigh the trailer I decide on buying and see how it pulls. I will probably install an exhaust brake too since I will be pulling over the Cascade Mountains often.



Thanks JGarcia. I will and you do the same.



JBlock,



Adult beverage consumption is unauthorized here in the Kingdom or Kuwait for that matter. We have to travel to Qatar or Bahrain for that and most never get the chance.