Coast Resorts Open Roads Forum: Whats Your Real Weights? Truck and Trailer. The Real Deal

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Topic: Whats Your Real Weights? Truck and Trailer. The Real Deal

Posted By: Sam and Chris on 09/20/14 06:59pm

Chevy Silverado is a 2500HD. What I want to know is how the manufacturers get away with this? How many people are out there towing way beyond their limit. So, GVWR of the trailer, that is what we go by? In reading the Trailer Life Towing Guide for fivers, it got so confusing with all the weight abbreviations. We went with the Gross Combined Vehicle Weight. Added truck, trailer, people, dog, cargo (weighed a lot of this to get a good #), fuel, hitch, etc. We are getting ready to look at a Crossroads Cruiser Aire 28SLE (think that is he right model). Stamped weight on vehicle (not brochure) is around 8200. Guessing we need to add couple hundred xtra. Not sure what GVWR is, will check.
Thanks, appreciate any and all info we can get!
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Posted By: DW-gray on 09/20/14 07:02pm

Sam and Chris wrote:

Hello all! Thanks for posting this very important topic of weight. Previously we have had two TT's and one older MH. Sold the last TT in June and looking for small fiver. TV is a 2010 Chevy Silverado HD, 3.73 axle ratio with a tow rating of 9900#'s. Just had a HUGE lesson in tow weight as we put a contract in on a 2015 FR Wildcat 282RKX at the Hershey RV show. Brochure weight: 8300; trailer weight on side of rig: 8878. We didn't catch the 8878 until we got home (going back to pick up rig). Called and had them re-check the weight and confirmed 8878. Started the math: GCVR is 16K. Truck is 5840, fiver is 8878, add in people, dog, hitch, fuel, cargo, etc... we were just over the 16K. Dealer was great as we went back up and they weighed the rig at a scale: came in at 9000 lbs! Thankfully we were let our of the contract and now searching for something much lighter! Lesson learned: brochure weight is a down out lie as is stamped weight on side of vehicle. Anyone??????

I'm so glad you were let out of the deal. So many before you have encountered an overweight purchase.

Come Monday morning, there will be a new free web-based app available that will answer that age old question, "How much can I tow?"

Unfortunately, I can't tell you what is without violating the forum rules. PM me, and I'll tell you what it is.

Dave Gray
RV Safety Educator & Consultant
08 Dodge Ram 3500 4X4, Dually, 6.7L Diesel, 09 Heartland Cyclone 4012

Posted By: rhagfo on 09/20/14 08:41pm

Sam and Chris, so don't start jumping on the salesman to hard! I think if you do a little checking your 2500 HD with a 4.10 rear gear might have been capable of towing that fiver. so some numbers that you need to provide and understand;

Dealing with your truck AKA TV (Tow Vehicle).
GVWR (Gross Vehicle weight rating)Total weight allowed to be carried on the TV wheels.

Payload (Real world) Difference between your TV GVWR and actual scaled weight ready to pull your trailer.

GAWR This is the max weight allowed on each axle, the total will be greater than the GVWR.

GCWR The total of TV and trailer, this number is based on engine power and gear ratio, for the same engine, the lower the rear gear ratio the bigger the number gets. Lower gear ratio has higher numbers, a 4.10 is LOWER than a 3.73.

Now the 5er.

DRY weight (AKA Shipping weight) this is brochure weight of the base model. You should NEVER use this number to figure if you can tow this trailer. You can use as a starting point, then ADD to it, weight of options, weight of battery, weight, of full propane tanks, weight of the "STUFF" you currently carry in your trailer.

GVWR This is the maximum the trailer can weigh, pin and wheel weight. This is also the number you need to look at for GCVW, if if the weight of the TV ready to tow and the trailer GVWR is slightly over the TV GCVWR you might be OK, as very few of us load the traile to the max.

PIN (AKA hitch) weight, is the DRY Weight placed in the bed of the TV, it WILL increase as you load the trailer.

You CAN increase the GCWR of your TV, simply by having a lower gear ratio installed in the differential.

You can't increase the GVWR, or axle ratings.

Russ & Paula the Beagle Belle.
2016 Ram Laramie 3500 Aisin DRW 4X4 Long bed.
2005 Copper Canyon 293 FWSLS, 32' GVWR 12,360#

"Visit and Enjoy Oregon State Parks"

Posted By: garysol on 09/21/14 06:17pm

Truck is a 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab Short Bed. Trailer is a 40ft Komfort 3530.
..............................Unloaded......................Loaded............difference
Steer axle....................4780...........................4780............+0
drive axle....................3320...........................6160............+2,840
total truck weight........8,100..........................10,940
trailer axles..................N/A..........................10,700...........+10,700

Truck..... 2014 Ram 3500 SRW Cummins Short Bed crew

..............................Advertised max..............Actual Loaded
GVWR............................11,700.......................10,940........-760
payload...........................3,828........................2,840........-988
rear GAWR.......................7,000........................6,160........-840
GCWR.............................25,000......................21,640.......-3,360

* This post was edited 09/29/14 06:57pm by garysol *

2020 GMC Canyon
2022 NoBo 19.2

Posted By: Sam and Chris on 09/21/14 08:18pm

Thanks,Russ, for your input. You are very right, we could have pulled that Wildcat if we had the lower ratio. But, we don't so back to the drawing board. Found a great website: "Fifth Wheel St." (st. stand for safe towing"). Helped me understand the different weight classifications. Plan on loading the TV this week as we would travel and get it weighed. That is a start. Now trying to find a fiver within acceptable distance within our parameters.
Sales people are just one piece of the puzzle. It all starts from the manufacturer. BUT, that being said, the sales people should have the customers interest and safety first and foremost. They should understand what is at stake and be honest with the consumer. Big lesson learned here and well worth the experience.
Safe travels!

Posted By: TommySnake on 09/29/14 03:27pm

How many of you that have a total of 26,001 lbs have a Class A license?
Texas states you must have a Class A if the item you are towing is greater than 10,000 and your combined GVWR is 26,001 lbs. Thoughts are welcome. How hard was the driving test.

Posted By: Winged One on 09/29/14 03:36pm

garysol wrote:

Truck is a 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab Short Bed. Trailer is a 40ft Komfort 3530.
payload...........................4,020........................2,840........-1,180

What is the actual payload capacity listed on your truck door?

2013 F350 6.7 DRW SC Lariat
2011 Brookstone 354TS
Swivelwheel 58DW
1993 GL1500SE
Yamaha 3000ISEB

Posted By: SmittysRV on 09/29/14 03:39pm

TommySnake wrote:

I would like to know the same for the Cali foke on here for the Class A non commercial. Im at 25,740lbs and that's empty.... Thx

Posted By: garysol on 09/29/14 06:56pm

Winged One wrote:

garysol wrote:

Truck is a 2014 RAM 3500 SRW crew cab Short Bed. Trailer is a 40ft Komfort 3530.
payload...........................4,020........................2,840........-1,180

What is the actual payload capacity listed on your truck door?

You know I have never looked or even knew to look there. It is a little less than I stated but not much..... 3,828

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Posted By: Tumbleweed79 on 09/30/14 11:22am

We travel full time, having moved from a 2012 Keystone Bullet Premier to a 2014 Keystone Avalanche this June. The question I have about weight is this: How many of us are truly able to stay within the GVWR of the unit? I have always been very conscientious of weight and what we carry, but have always struggled with the numbers. Upon purchase of our Avalanche we simply moved in from the travel trailer and later added a few extra (not much) and the dealer told me we were 460 lbs. over weight. Note: The Bullet was an ultra light that at one time we pulled with a Suburban.

Thanks all!

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