is anyone over exceeding their gross combination weight rating?

[mrpep]

My TV a 2001 chevy express 1500 conversion van v8 5.7 L which weighs 5890 dry is rated for 11000 lbs gross combined weight and I am pulling a combined 11500 so am about 500 over and wonder just how bad this is ? The engine seems fine, the trans runs cool at 170 on the highway on a hot summer day. I get no swaying with the center-line TS husky WDH. Does all f this mean I should be OK ? I plan to take it out on a 180 mile trip in 2 weeks and am a bit concerned since I only hauled this once for 60 miles each way and traveled a bit lighter than I will be this next trip, about 200 pounds lighter. Should I be ok ?

[chideock]

IF you are in an accident and your insurance finds out you were overweight do you think they will pay out?

[Oakman]

I’ve been reading various RV Forums since 2002 and I have yet to hear of anyone having been denied their insurance claim because they were overweight. Nor have I heard of any insurance company impounding a truck and trailer so they could take it to a scale. In a really nasty accident to get the actual weight they would have to go out and weigh all the pieces. Sorry but I consider the insurance scare nothing more than a “urban wives tale.”

[mrpep]

I'm not very worried about crashing, I've taken it out and even ran it up to 70 mph . My concern is vehicle breakdown .


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[stevensmith2859]

The decision is ultimately yours, but at the end of the day, the vehicle has a rating for a reason, meaning that it can handle up to a certain amount safely and mechanically. I had an avalanche with a 5.3L, rated for 7200, was pulling about 6700, the motor could not handle the weight, traded up to a ram 1500 with a Hemi, and feel much safer and more controlled on the road.

[Dodge Guy]

You'll be fine. Have you actually weighed it. If so what are your loaded axle weights? Those are the ratings you want to be under! IIRC I'm about 300 lbs over my GVWR on my X. But under on everything else. And also the GCWR may be more with a lower gear ratio. My GCWR is 17k lbs with 3.73's and 20k lbs with the 4.30's which is what I now have!

Don't worry and have a good trip.

[Dodge Guy]

Originally Posted by tjerrard

IF you are in an accident and your insurance finds out you were overweight do you think they will pay out?

Yes! Just like when you get in an accident and get a DUI!

[Dodge Guy]

Originally Posted by Oakman

I’ve been reading various RV Forums since 2002 and I have yet to hear of anyone having been denied their insurance claim because they were overweight. Nor have I heard of any insurance company impounding a truck and trailer so they could take it to a scale. In a really nasty accident to get the actual weight they would have to go out and weigh all the pieces. Sorry but I consider the insurance scare nothing more than a “urban wives tale.”

Attachment 112493

Exactly! Ain't going to happen. and when it's such a small amount they would first have to believe you were over. And 500 lbs isn't enough to go that far. Now if you were towing say my TT with an Explorer there may be a red flag, but again they will pay and maybe drop you!

[JustB_Rad]

If you're going to keep doing it against what people have recommended (at your request), then why did you even bother posting the question? Only worried about a breakdown seems kinda selfish. When you're SHARING the road, it's not only about you.

You're overweight, that is a fact.

Answer these 3 questions and you have your answer.

Are you going to do anything about it like lose some weight?

Are you going to change your tow vehicle?

Are you going to continue to drive overweight?

Those are the 3 options I see.

[mrpep]

I have weighed it and it's gonna be approx 500 over gwcr and the I didn't weigh the gear axles but I should be fine since I'm not loading the van itself and we are under the gwvr of 6600.
The van weighs 5890 and can weigh up to 6600 so add my family about 500 and were up to 6390

The trailer weighs 4890 so add about 50 and were at about 5000 . Which equals at about 11500 with a full tank of gas.

My gwcr is 11000 so I'm about 400 to 500 over.
I worry about rear differential gear and maybe trans but I do have a cooler and gauge on trans and it runs really cool at about 170 on highway.


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[SeaDog]

There is wiggle room built into the max weights a MFG lists for their vehicle. You have gauges for the trans and as long as you are not hearing clunking from the reared or Ujoints I wouldn't worry about it. I would make sure my tires are up to the task and properly inflated. JMHO

[Dodge Guy]

And as I said, some manuf have different GCWR with nothing more than different gears! So as long as your under axle weights without being crazy, such as trying to tow a 10klb trailer 500 over is OK by me.

[NMWildcat]

I always wonder how some of the more weight conscious folks ever make it out of the driveway

[mdstudey]

Originally Posted by mrpep

The trailer weighs 4890 so add about 50 and were at about 5000 . Which equals at about 11500 with a full tank of gas.

Only 50 pounds of weight in the trailer? I don't know how many are in your family, but just clothes could easily add more than 50#. What about cooking utensils and food, toys, etc. Every time I get something for the trailer (or want to) I am reminded about weight and how little things can add up.

[mrpep]

I weighed with everything in except for clothes so food utensils are on there and blankets and pillows and things etc


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[JustB_Rad]

Originally Posted by NMWildcat

I always wonder how some of the more weight conscious folks ever make it out of the driveway

By making sure you have plenty of leeway to begin with

[thebrakeman]

Originally Posted by mrpep

My TV a 2001 chevy express 1500 conversion van v8 5.7 L which weighs 5890 dry is rated for 11000 lbs gross combined weight and I am pulling a combined 11500 so am about 500 over and wonder just how bad this is ? The engine seems fine, the trans runs cool at 170 on the highway on a hot summer day. I get no swaying with the center-line TS husky WDH. Does all f this mean I should be OK ? I plan to take it out on a 180 mile trip in 2 weeks and am a bit concerned since I only hauled this once for 60 miles each way and traveled a bit lighter than I will be this next trip, about 200 pounds lighter. Should I be ok ?

So, it sounds like you feel 500 lbs is not too much. Fine. Good luck to you. But if you are looking for somebody to justify your decision, at somepoint, a decision about how much is too much will need to be made. 600? 700? 1500? What do you think?

I'm an engineer. And I know that engineers already bake in safety factors. Sure, some will say these ratings are generated by marketing. Reality is that marketing tells the engineers the targets, and we have to ensure that the parts hold up to those targets, WITH SAFETY FACTORS.

At the end of the day, you have to decide where the limit is. My recommendation to you is to obey your owner's manual. Any other statement here is simply an opinion that can't be backed up with anything.

[thebrakeman]

Ps - I did not read any of the comments after the OP. So my statements have nothing to do with any other comments. I simply know how these threads usually go. But nobody should take my comments as being directed towards them. I didn't read any comments.

[bikendan]

I'm sure glad those that are fine exceeding weight specs, aren't airline pilots.

[northstar1960]

plus or minus a bit won't hurt in the short haul but may bite you later with trans repair or engine work . i do believe all tv's have a bit of built in safety .TT's no built in safety and max there can be to much . those that think your causing danger to others because your 500 or even 1000 over have nothing better to do with themselves but nitpick every OZ