is anyone over exceeding their gross combination weight rating?

[stevensmith2859]

What transmission do you have? If it is the 4L60E, start saving now for a new one. My went out in my 04 Avalanche and I had three transmission shops tell me its not if, but when with the 4L60E.

[Springerdad]

Another item not mentioned: rear axle bearings. On a 10 series GM you are using the axle as the inner race. I have changed LOTS of axles and bearings due to constant overloading. Construction tradesmen just love to buy a 1/2 ton and load it like it was a one ton.

[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by stevensmith2859

What transmission do you have? If it is the 4L60E, start saving now for a new one. My went out in my 04 Avalanche and I had three transmission shops tell me its not if, but when with the 4L60E.

X2. Count on it.

[mrpep]

Originally Posted by dan4jeepin

A friend tows with a Toyota FJ40 right at or probably over the max rating. Even using Amsoil oil in the rear axle he is on his third set of gears in 300K miles. He probably only tows about 500 miles a year but it's is just more than the rear axle was designed to handle.

I'd say run what you have for now but start looking for a larger TV or smaller trailer if you don't want to deal with break downs.

I think that this is what I will do. I'm already looking into it - probably gonna go with a lighter tt - I really do love my van. I'll get this season out of the way with local camping and wrap it up towards the end of the season with a new tt.
I do want to add that I have the 3.42 rear gear ratio - it is the small one and will make my motor run at higher Rpm's but the motor seems very strong. The van had one owner, it was garage kept for 15 years before I bought it and it only had one mechanic work on it. She was in mint condition when I bought her and the engine purrs like a kitten. I will gamble in about a week when I go camp and this has really concerned me - again not safety but breakdown . Don't feel like buying a new trans , you know ?


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[CaptnJohn]

"is anyone over exceeding their gross combination weight rating? " Not now, not for many years, but long, long ago I did. Consistently. Trying to make a living a Ford Ranger was overloaded by a lot more than 500#. It was over by any number published or even in ones dreams. Put 80,000 miles on it and only changed brakes.

[KingFisher]

I'd sure think that you'd max out your payload on a vehicle before you'd max out the gcwr.

[mrpep]

I posted it on Craigslist - I'm sad to have to do this but I don't want to risk a new trans or rear gear - darn, I'm literally just a few hundred over the limit


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[KingFisher]

Originally Posted by mrpep

I posted it on Craigslist - I'm sad to have to do this but I don't want to risk a new trans or rear gear - darn, I'm literally just a few hundred over the limit


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This camping deal will grab ahold of you.

What's great now will seem small soon.

Years ago I had a 26 ft Travco motorhome and before that a 32 ft trailer I lived in on the road that I pulled with a 1978 Big 10 Chevy. I was no doubt way over my weight ratings back then in 1985 but there was no internet to tell me so. It pulled ok.

Then I had a couple of used trailers I traded for and then sold after fixing them up because they didn't suit me.

I was going to buy a rockwood minilite to pull with my 2015 Colorado. Wife said too small, and she didn't like the Murphy Bed.

Bought Jayco 23RB 2015 new. Discovered no room for my big Lab. I built a frame where I could take the dinette table out and store it and then put his kennel in the dinette space. Major contortionist moves to do this every time we went somewhere.

Then I was working out of town and took it to live in. No room, my feet were hanging off of the camper queen bed, was aggravated.

So I bought a 2016 Sunset Trail 250RB. A nice big slide, 80 inch queen bed so my feet didn't hang off the end, everything's great. Except the Colorado was at the edge of it's limits (7200 pound tow rating). Dealer wouldn't give me peanuts for the Jayco so I put it up for sale.

So I traded it for a 2015 Silverado 1500 z71 4x4. Tow rating 9200 pounds, gcwr 15,000 pounds, payload 1745 pounds.

Everything's fine now, right?



We went to Florida for 2 weeks. Drove down in ice and snow, drove back in ice and snow. Dangerous roads, but locked into our reservations. While I was down there I reserved our spot for next winter for a month. That was $1200 I think.
After sitting in Illinois freezing weather when we got home I decided a month wasn't long enough. After weighing the options with the wife I bought the place year round for $3600. 4 months was $2800 so it seemed like a good decision.

Then this used Windjammer showed up at my fave camper dealer. They shot me a great trade and deal for my jayco which hadn't sold. All I'd had from my ads on the jayco were people with no money and tire kickers. so wife and I decided to trade and just leave the Windjammer 3001W in florida all year. After the initial pull down there we wouldn't have to pull a trailer down there, it would already be there.

So now I'm stressing about pulling an 8,000 pound trailer (loaded) to florida, 1100 miles. Over and down Monteagle. Even though I'm within my capacities. So I've looked at 2500HD and 3500HD trucks but can't afford to trade. And wife says get the 3500HD in case we decide to sell the house and get a big 5th wheel and hit the road.

Unless I've already put you and everyone else to sleep (and I'm sure about 95% of people have stopped reading way before now), what I'm saying is it never ends. I think it's called 2 footitis.

If you like your trailer, just find something that will pull it. You probably won't be happy with something smaller.

Novel writer out, hands cramping...

[mrpep]

Thing is I live my van too, maybe even more than the trailer , lol


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[Iwannacamp]

I posted this the other day...government commercial vehicle




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[Iwannacamp]

Originally Posted by KingFisher

This camping deal will grab ahold of you.

What's great now will seem small soon.

Years ago I had a 26 ft Travco motorhome and before that a 32 ft trailer I lived in on the road that I pulled with a 1978 Big 10 Chevy. I was no doubt way over my weight ratings back then in 1985 but there was no internet to tell me so. It pulled ok.

Then I had a couple of used trailers I traded for and then sold after fixing them up because they didn't suit me.

I was going to buy a rockwood minilite to pull with my 2015 Colorado. Wife said too small, and she didn't like the Murphy Bed.

Bought Jayco 23RB 2015 new. Discovered no room for my big Lab. I built a frame where I could take the dinette table out and store it and then put his kennel in the dinette space. Major contortionist moves to do this every time we went somewhere.

Then I was working out of town and took it to live in. No room, my feet were hanging off of the camper queen bed, was aggravated.

So I bought a 2016 Sunset Trail 250RB. A nice big slide, 80 inch queen bed so my feet didn't hang off the end, everything's great. Except the Colorado was at the edge of it's limits (7200 pound tow rating). Dealer wouldn't give me peanuts for the Jayco so I put it up for sale.

So I traded it for a 2015 Silverado 1500 z71 4x4. Tow rating 9200 pounds, gcwr 15,000 pounds, payload 1745 pounds.

Everything's fine now, right?



We went to Florida for 2 weeks. Drove down in ice and snow, drove back in ice and snow. Dangerous roads, but locked into our reservations. While I was down there I reserved our spot for next winter for a month. That was $1200 I think.
After sitting in Illinois freezing weather when we got home I decided a month wasn't long enough. After weighing the options with the wife I bought the place year round for $3600. 4 months was $2800 so it seemed like a good decision.

Then this used Windjammer showed up at my fave camper dealer. They shot me a great trade and deal for my jayco which hadn't sold. All I'd had from my ads on the jayco were people with no money and tire kickers. so wife and I decided to trade and just leave the Windjammer 3001W in florida all year. After the initial pull down there we wouldn't have to pull a trailer down there, it would already be there.

So now I'm stressing about pulling an 8,000 pound trailer (loaded) to florida, 1100 miles. Over and down Monteagle. Even though I'm within my capacities. So I've looked at 2500HD and 3500HD trucks but can't afford to trade. And wife says get the 3500HD in case we decide to sell the house and get a big 5th wheel and hit the road.

Unless I've already put you and everyone else to sleep (and I'm sure about 95% of people have stopped reading way before now), what I'm saying is it never ends. I think it's called 2 footitis.

If you like your trailer, just find something that will pull it. You probably won't be happy with something smaller.

Novel writer out, hands cramping...

Interesting to me....I think pretty normal too. The only thing that stops me from a Ram4500/5500 or f450/550 and a 42 ft. 5er is money.

[mrpep]

Just spoke to my mechanic who happens to own a transmission shop and he tells me that with electric brakes, wdh and trans cooler - I shouldn't worry as long as I'm not in the mountains and am taking it easy. Says the Chevy 350 is a good motor . It's still on Craigslist for sale and well see what happens - I will keep my camping trip for the week of the 8th of July but will sell once someone shows interest since it may be a problem down the line and too be honest, I want to go to the smokeys, the badlands etc etc.


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[rmac04401]

Originally Posted by mrpep

Just spoke to my mechanic who happens to own a transmission shop and he tells me that with electric brakes, wdh and trans cooler - I shouldn't worry as long as I'm not in the mountains and am taking it easy. Says the Chevy 350 is a good motor . It's still on Craigslist for sale and well see what happens - I will keep my camping trip for the week of the 8th of July but will sell once someone shows interest since it may be a problem down the line and too be honest, I want to go to the smokeys, the badlands etc etc.


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Which are you selling the trailer or TV?

[mrpep]

Trailer


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[rmac04401]

That's too bad after the work you put in it. I had a 2000 mallard 24j that I towed with a Jeep Grand Cherokee. I was less educated than am now and the GVWR of camper was 6500. And the towing of jeep was 7200. Never weighed it never worried. Drove the thing for 7 year without an issue until 7th year. I am sure I was way much more overweight than you are.

Most vehicles if you get a few overweight people in them are overweight and I'm talking about passenger cars. (Cargo)

My dad years ago towed a 18ft TT behind a caprice classic. He drove that from Maine to California to Oklahoma to Pittsburgh. Forums or weight police were not in existence back then.

Do what makes you feel comfortable. To get lighter than what you currently have you are down to a small hybrid or pop up. Most newer pop ups are over 2500lbs now.

Good luck.

[mrpep]

It sucks but I got it cheap enough to where I'll make my money back. I'm in no rush though, BOM still taking it out next week and will sell at my leisure. Will just play it safe when towing.


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[mrpep]

I feel I could haul it with no problems but after a while , things will break down and that's what I'm trying to avoid. I'll still enjoy it this summer with local cg's while having it posted on Craigslist - eventually it will ship


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[Dodge Guy]

Don't let anyone tell you the GM has a bad trans or rear axle! There are 10's of thousands of them in the road with no problems! 1 or 2 on a forum is not enough to sway me!

[mrpep]

That's what my mechanic said - he said id be fine just take it easy . I'll test it local and great it like a baby


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[Springerdad]

Originally Posted by Dodge Guy

Don't let anyone tell you the GM has a bad trans or rear axle! There are 10's of thousands of them in the road with no problems! 1 or 2 on a forum is not enough to sway me!

Not to start an argument, but the 4L60 DOES have weaknesses. The 4L80 and 4L80E are much more stout for towing use. Same with a semi floating rear vs a full floating rear. I'm not saying they are bad. They have limitations, thats all.