Looking at getting a new TH and at first I was thinking bumper pull 25-27 ft. Made the mistake of looking at a 5th wheel and the trailer dealer was trying to tell me I could pull this 28ft with a max GVWR of 13800, I see no way based on what I have learned about calculating capacity that could happen once i load my 1700 Lbs RZR and water. The other option was a trailer (oddly the same length) with a GVWR of 11,500, trailer has smaller axles.Anyway, so I ran VIN and I do not get how this truck can have GVWR of 8800#, curb weight of just over 6200# but have a max hitch weight of 3500#, in my world that would be 9700 GVWR. Is the difference between the 8800 and 9700 a built-in safety margin? I am not sure how the trailer dealer can say this is possible with a loaded trailer. Am i missing something?

Truck is a 2001 V10 4" lift 35" E rated tires and 4.56 GR Auto.

 

A couple of basics that will help.

Payload, how much weight the truck is rated to haul, is: the GVWR minus the empty curb weight. Payload is how much trailer pin/tongue weight plus any cargo and passengers in the truck.

GCVWR (Gross Combined Vehicle Weight Rating) is how much weight the truck can haul/tow. GCVWR is: Vehicle Curb Weight plus passengers/cargo plus loaded trailer.

Your GVWR and GCVWR should be printed on the sticker in the driver's door jamb. With that info you can calculate what the truck can tow.

 

Yes sir i get that. This is why the VIN report is a little confusing. With a GVWR of 8800 - 6200 for curb weight leaves 2600# for Payload, yet the report states max of 3500# max hitch weight which is already over the actual payload capacity by 900 Lbs.

In the end I just used the towing calculator to play with the numbers

Thanks

 

vin report may not be accurate based upon options.

Best thing to do it confirgure your truck with everything that you think you will have it, without any trailers. Then put it on a cat scale. Get those weights.

Then, using your door cert, take the GVW of each axle and subtract what the scale told you for each axle.

Compare the left over amount against the side wall on your tires. whichever gives you the lesser amount (tires or axle ratings) is what you can use.

When determining trailers, always go by the GVW of the trailer, not the dry weight. It will never be that lite again once you buy it.

 

As Senix noted, your VIN may not have the best information. The door tag is the best reference.

Max pin weight being over payload is not uncommon because max pin weight doesn't take actual curb weight into account. That max pin weight is likely for a base model truck that is significantly lighter than yours.

 

Maybe this can help or further confuse.

Trailer Towing Guides | How Much Can You Pull | How to tow safely | www.trailerlife.com

 

The numbers don't add up, and they are not supposed to. Each one is a separate rating. To truly be safe (especially from liability) you should not exceed any one of them. Is there a built in margin of safety, of course there is (that's what engineers do). Are there people all over the place who are getting away with exceeding most of the ratings, yes.

You will need to make a decision if you want to exceed any ratings yourself. Do you just want to "feel" safe going down the road? How much experience do you have? Are you sensible enough to slow down a little, concentrate more, do you know the route well? All those things will probably make more difference for real world safety than exceeding ratings, but if a lawyer's toddler runs out in front of you, you will lose every thing you own.
I will also guess that the trailer dealer, who told you it is fine, will not put that in writing.

Why would the ratings not add up? Again because they are each a separate rating.
If you really wanted to you could probably be able to use that 3500# hitch rating, and 8800# GVWR. Drive solo, remove all the other seats, tailgate, and spare tire. You'll probably be there.

Looking at your numbers lots of things don't add up. I would guess that you can't put enough weight on the front or back to get to max axle rating without exceeding GVWR. Tires max is probably higher than axles and GVWR.

I know this was an entire book here hope it helps someone.