GVWR: definition, I'm getting myself confused.

[thirtydaZe]

Am I thinking about this to hard, I'm starting to get confused.....

Definition: Gross Vehicle Weight Rating It’s how much weight a vehicle is designed to carry. The GVWR includes the net weight of the vehicle, plus the weight of passengers, fuel, cargo and any additional accessories. The GVWR is a safety standard used to prevent overloading.


Based on this chart:
http://www.dodge.com/bodybuilder/200...r/mlup1500.pdf


GVWR for the 2009 1500 with 3.92's is 6800lbs.


Does this figure actually include the weight of the TRUCK itself? I realize it means passengers, fuel, etc that you would stick in the truck while towing, but actually the wight of the truck too?


This would mean that you'd subtract the 2000+- pounds the truck weighs leaving you to pull a trailer of around 4000lbs?


I'm confused...:smt013

 

[Lazy Daze]

In this instance, that weight is the TOTAL weight the frame and supension, etc. is designed to carry. NOTHING to do with the actual trailer weight. Your truck probably weighs somewhere around 5,500 lbs (not 2,000).

In other words, 6,900 would be truck, gear, passengers, tongue weight of trailer - but NOT the weight of the trailer/boat.

 

[tdappleman]

GVWR is the total weight the truck can carry - that includes the weight of the truck itself. So a truck with a 6800lb GVWR isn't rated to carry much at all - assume 5200lbs for the truck (from their chart - crew cab & 4x4) that leaves you with 1470 payload (their number). That same truck with the 3.92 gears can tow 8550lbs with a maximum GCWR of 14000lbs.

GCWR - Gross Combined Weight Rating is the one you would look at when trying to determine your final towing capacity. This is the load in the truck you are typically going to carry + the actual load you are trying to tow. Looking at that column you have a 14000lb GCWR - 6800lbs potentially in the truck = 7200lbs vs. 8550 lbs towing capacity.

Basically - your truck is rated to tow a certain amount but that amount must be reduced by the actual weight the truck is carrying. So you'd only be able to tow 8550 pounds if the truck was empty.....This whole mess is supposed to get cleared up next year with standardized tow ratings which each manufacturer is supposed to support. We'll see how well it works.

 

[thirtydaZe]

In this instance, that weight is the TOTAL weight the frame and supension, etc. is designed to carry. NOTHING to do with the actual trailer weight. Your truck probably weighs somewhere around 5,500 lbs (not 2,000).

In other words, 6,900 would be truck, gear, passengers, tongue weight of trailer - but NOT the weight of the trailer/boat.

im following you here. thanks.....

 

[Chris R]

One of the things people forget to look at is the load rating of the tires. Don't forget to pay attention to that also. And, as Dennis says, the tongue weight of the trailer is a determining factor.