This may be a dumb question I know, but it still stands. My truck was rated 5700lbs from factory. Does that mean it actually was 5700lbs?

 

Good question... here's the definition from Wikipedia:

"The gross vehicle weight rating (also gross vehicle mass, GVWR, GVM) is the maximum operating weight/mass of a vehicle as specified by the manufacturer including the vehicle's chassis, body, engine, engine fluids, fuel, accessories, driver, passengers and cargo but excluding that of any trailers. The term is used for motor vehicles and trains."

 

GVW (gross vehicle weight) is the maximum weight that a vehicle can weigh when fully loaded. This includes, fuel, oil, coolant, occupants and cargo.
To get how much you can carry in a truck you take the GVW and subtract the empty weight.
Example:
Your truck has a GVW of 6100 lbs and empty it weighs 4400 lbs with oil and a full tank of gas. That means you can carry 1700 lbs of occupants and cargo.
You need to load it so the weight is balanced between the front and rear axles, you don't want to load all the weight on the rear axle, that would make for some light (and scary) steering.

 

thanks guys. I think I'll try and find somewhere local that has a scale big enough. Scrap yards maybe?

 

That's one place... a waste transfer station and truck stops are others.

 

Truck stops have scales a lot of times, moving companies, scrap yards. Sometimes they're listed under "public scales" in the phone book.

 

supposedly the nearest one is 20 miles away. I'll have to check it out

 

cat certified scales can be found at a ton of places. If you are near an interstate I can almost guarantee there is one within 30 minutes. Also, if there are fairgrounds or anything nearby, they weigh in all the pulling trucks so they will have an accurate scale there.

 

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