Can anyone explain to me why my 2wd V10 Excursion has a GVWR of 8600 pounds which leaves only about 1800 pounds max for payload? The specs show that the rear axle is rated 7000 lbs. and the front axle is rated 4700 lbs. The tires I believe are rated for 3000 lbs. each. I am towing a TT with about 850 pounds tongue weight and with me, wife, 2 teenagers, dog, cooler and misc. stuff in the vehicle.... a scale showed us about 50 pounds over the 8600 pound GVWR when fully loaded and with 44 gallons of fuel. It seems like the Excursion should be able to handle more.

 

>Can anyone explain to me why my 2wd V10 Excursion has a GVWR of 8600 pounds which leaves only about 1800 pounds max for payload?

A wide margin for safety. Vehicle weight classification rules.

>a scale showed us about 50 pounds over the 8600 pound GVWR when fully loaded and with 44 gallons of fuel. It seems like the Excursion should be able to handle more.

It can. What is most important to you is the Gross Combined Weight Restriction.

If there is too much weight in the truck, move it to the trailer.

What does the whole ball of wax weigh when you're loaded up?

 

Excursion and TT (fully loaded for a trip) together weigh about 16000 pounds. I don't have anything in the Excursion that can logically be moved back to the trailer. I have almost a half ton or so of available payload available in the TT but I can't really use it. The GVWR of the Jayco TT is 8500 pounds. The dry weight of the TT was 6200 pounds. The TT weighs in loaded at about 7350 pounds. I have considered the possibility that I could take out of the Excursion the spare tire, jack, safety kit, cameras, laptop, CB radio, games, snacks for the road and move it all back to the TT. The cooler has to stay up in the Excursion. I could also remove the 3rd seat and make the kids and dog co-exist in the 2nd row. They would really grumble if I did that. If I could legally and safely send the kids back to ride in the TT I would ... LOL. The kids have asked if they can bring friends along and I had to say no because we are at the limit. The extra friends would add about 250 - 300 pounds in the vehicle. I have the room for them ..... but not the available payload. The cargo area in the back of the Excursion is basically empty when we go on trips with the TT. Except for the payload ..... I love everything about the Excursion and the stable way it tows the trailer. My wife loves it too. If I just had about 400 or so more pounds of payload available I would be a happy camper. I do wonder what damage can possibly be done or has been done by running at or slightly over the GVWR limit.

Thanks
Dave "Rainbow" Trout

 

Well buddy, you could always throw some airbags under the rear-end. That'll definitely bring up your weight capacity for the truck. How much I'm not sure. I haven't looked into it much since my trailer isn't as big as yours(insert trailer envy joke here!). I've got a buddy that put some on his F350 for a 33-footer he tows and he loves them. He even mounted both air valves inside his refueling door to keep them nice and hidden. Gets some funny looks when he's filling the bags too, not too many "air-powered" diesels out there these days. I think down in the towing forum I saw someone add a set of air bags to their Ex for towing. Might ask in there. All told though, you do realize that you're within less than a ton of the total GCWR for your truck right?

-jase

 

>Well buddy, you could always throw some airbags under the rear-end. That'll definitely bring up your weight capacity for the truck.

Warning! Air bags will NOT increase the GVWR of your truck!!!!!! They will only keep things level.

 

Since the rear axle is rated for 7,000lbs I would put E rated tires in the rear with 80 lbs PSI for an extra 800lb capacity per pair. Add some air bags to keep it leval and you should be good for 6,800lbs on the rear axle alone.

Joe

 

Good thinking!