Weighed my truck today... Now I'm panicing.

[DustyRoads]

Maybe I missed it but I didn't see what your transaxle was. We almost bought a 2013 Avalanche with lower capacity one. We had dealer show us build sheet on each Avalanche we looked at. I believe we had a 3.79. Which allowed us to tow up to 8,500lbs max. With our new trailer put us a max so we upgraded truck to 2500HD 4.10.
I am looking forward to a better year of pulling our Surveyor 251rks.

[dustman_stx]

Originally Posted by Ron045

Something just does not seem right. I'm a big guy and run 260. I have had 3 other adults in my truck at a time... many times.

So every time I've carried 800 pounds worth of passengers, I've been over my GVWR?

That does not say much for the truck.
Ron

Did the truck break? If not, then it says nothing about the truck. It does say something about the legal and marketing departments that got hold of that sticker after it left the engineering department, though. Now every time I see a 1/2 ton crew cab loaded full of large people, I think to myself, "I wonder if they went across the CAT scales to find out if they are over their GVWR?"

[HDU]

I had an Avalanche and loved it. Mine was 1/2 ton, I am assuming yours is too. Part of the lower tow rating is due to the very soft suspension that gives the AV its wonderful ride. I installed airbags inside of the rear coil springs, and they helped the Av's stability and tongue weight capacity tremendously (I could no longer spot raccoons in the trees at night). I pulled heavier loads than yours routinely without issue (not saying that you should). The 5.3 and tranny struggled, but the vehicle itself was quite stable. I have also had 3/4 and 1 tons, no comparison as far as towing capabilities and safety vs the Av, but as others have suggested, if you use the Av, just be very cautious and aware that you are at the upper limits of that vehicles capability.

[hondo]

If you use the Av I would think you should replace the P tires with LT tires.

[SpringerPop]

My biggest concern wouldn't be towing weights, it would be STOPPING performance in an emergency situation.

"How can you tell a salesman's lying to you? His lips are moving."

Good luck.

Pop

[Teetime]

I don't think you have a real concern about the GVW or towing what you have. There are certain margins built in to the recommendations which allow for different terrain. If your typical route is on flat land it is one thing. However, if you are continually pulling in rough or steep roads, you will be causing more wear and tear on the drive chain.

The big concern is the weight and stability of the tow vehicle in relation to the load. It is critical that you have good brakes on both your tow vehicle and the camper. Have a good brake controller, and know how to adjust it!

Then it is common sense to drive carefully on steep grades, keeping your speed in check, and allowing plenty of room for unexpected traffic congestion to safely slow down and stop.

I've had the experience of towing machinery on a wet road, and you don't want that load pushing you down hill or having to stop suddenly.

Good luck and drive safely.

[JerW]

I believe the biggest risk associated with "going for it" regarding running an overweight rig is that you are more at risk of greater % liability in the event of an accident. Even if the other party is clearly at fault, a sharp lawyer will figure out that you own a part of the liability as a result of ANY infraction of law and good practice on your part. And you and/or your insurance company will own part of the liability. This is particularly so if there is injury or death. Chances of such an event are small, but that's the part to worry about. If there's a serious accident, someone will drag out the scales or worse, question you under oath about your knowledge of an overweight condition.

Your decision; you own the risk.

[SilverArrowPro]

1134-760=374-110 for passenger allotted 150 = 224 - equalizer at roughly 150 = 75 pounds... Doesn't seem too far off.

[Crusadernoob]

Originally Posted by 5er_tom

We have all towed "over the limit" and we are still here. Perhaps some extra load on the TV but no major problem. Don't drive like a fool. Take it easy and go for it.

There's no way we've towed "over the limit" we haven't hit the scales yet!

[Cumminz]

LBRjet, you made a comment that I don't quite understand. You said something about the equalizing hitch transferring l
Tongue load back to the trailer. That is impossible. A load equalizing hitch thru taking up chain length placing stress on the equalizer springs (torsion bars) transfers more load to the front axle. My concern with any tow vehicle is how much load is transferred to front axle with normal vehicle loading +++ the load transferred up front by your hitch adjustment. Most tow vehicles reach their front axle capacity first.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by HDU

I had an Avalanche and loved it. Mine was 1/2 ton, I am assuming yours is too. Part of the lower tow rating is due to the very soft suspension that gives the AV its wonderful ride. I installed airbags inside of the rear coil springs, and they helped the Av's stability and tongue weight capacity tremendously (I could no longer spot raccoons in the trees at night). I pulled heavier loads than yours routinely without issue (not saying that you should). The 5.3 and tranny struggled, but the vehicle itself was quite stable. I have also had 3/4 and 1 tons, no comparison as far as towing capabilities and safety vs the Av, but as others have suggested, if you use the Av, just be very cautious and aware that you are at the upper limits of that vehicles capability.

Adding air bags does not increase a vehicles capabilities. Yes it levels you out but no it does not increase your load carrying capacity.

[asquared]

Originally Posted by Cumminz

LBRjet, you made a comment that I don't quite understand. You said something about the equalizing hitch transferring l
Tongue load back to the trailer. That is impossible. A load equalizing hitch thru taking up chain length placing stress on the equalizer springs (torsion bars) transfers more load to the front axle. My concern with any tow vehicle is how much load is transferred to front axle with normal vehicle loading +++ the load transferred up front by your hitch adjustment. Most tow vehicles reach their front axle capacity first.

How a WDH works (copied from another RV forum):

Edited 9/14/04: A summary of the 150+ posts in this topic has been developed by several of the contributors to explain WHY a weight distribution system might be necessary and WHAT a WD system does to improve a rig's handling:

Without a WD system, the tow vehicle's rear axle load could significantly increase due to leveraging of the tongue weight. Conversely the front axle load will be decreased. These axle load changes will make most tow vehicles unlevel. The decreased load on the front axle can cause a loss of steering control and braking difficulties. The increased rear axle load might exceed that axle's rating, and the load on the receiver might exceed its rating.

A weight distribution system enables a tow vehicle to more effectively handle the tongue weight of a trailer by removing some of the load from the tow vehicle's rear axle and distributing it to the tow vehicle's front axle and the trailer's axle(s). Note - When the WD system is engaged the actual tongue weight does not change. Recommended tongue weight is from 10% to 15%.

Consult your owner’s manual to determine if your vehicle is suited for a WD system.

Several recent posts have discussed WD hitches. One member stopped using his because he felt it was contributing to sway by decreasing the "tongue weight". I hope the following will give a better idea of what the WD hitch does and does not. Questions and comments are welcome.
[image]
Example assumptions:
TV wheelbase = 130”
TV rear axle to ball coupler = 65”
Ball coupler to TT axles = 200”
WD spring bar length = 30”
WD spring bar rear end load = 1000 lbs/bar = 2000 lbs total

How the WD hitch works:

Spring bar tensioner pulls UP on rear end of bar and DOWN on TT tongue. DOWN force of 2000 lbs on TT tongue adds a load of 300 lbs at TT axles.
This is calculated using ball coupler as the fulcrum: 2000x30/200 = 300.

Now, having added a load of 300 lbs at the TT axles, we must balance the TV/TT teeter totter. Using the TV’s rear axle as the fulcrum, to balance the 300 lbs at the TT’s axles we must add some load at the TV’s front axle.
The lever arm from the rear axle to front axle is 130”. The lever arm from the rear axle to the TT axles is 65+200 = 265”.
The required balancing load at the front axle is 300x265/130 = 611.54 lbs.

Or, we can calculate the reaction at the TV’s rear axle by treating the TV/TT as a lever with the fulcrum at the TV’s front axle.
The lever arm for the 300 lbs at the TT’s axles is 130+65+200 = 395”.
The lever arm for the rear axle is the wheelbase = 130”.
Since the TT axles are “lifting up” with a force of 300 lbs, this translates to an “uplift” at the rear axle equal to 300*395/130 = 911.54 lbs.

Summary of axle load changes:
TV front axle 611.54 lbs ADDED
TV rear axle 911.54 lbs REMOVED
TT axles 300.00 lbs ADDED

Now it is interesting to consider what happens at the hitch.

DOWN force of 2000 lbs on TT tongue adds a load of 1700 lbs at ball coupler.
This is calculated using TT axles as the fulcrum: 2000x170/200 = 1700.

The UP force of 2000 lbs on the rear ends of the spring bars produces an UP force of 2000 lbs at the hitch end of the spring bars.
The UP force of 2000 lbs minus the DOWN force of 1700 lbs on the ball gives a net UP force of 300 lbs at the hitch.
The vertical load on the receiver has been reduced by 300 lbs.
The vertical load transmitted through the ball has been increased by 1700 lbs.

It is interesting to note that TT weight and “tongue weight” do not enter into these calculations. The WD hitch does not distribute “tongue weight”. It simply removes load from the TV’s rear axle and distributes it to the TV’s front axle and the TT’s axles.

[Cumminz]

I suppose nothing can be done to legally modify the design or label that states suggested capacities. I am not a person that likes airbags but if you have sagging springs adding airbags will help the capacity. Just a difference in words used.

[Funhaus]

Originally Posted by Cumminz

I suppose nothing can be done to legally modify the design or label that states suggested capacities. I am not a person that likes airbags but if you have sagging springs adding airbags will help the capacity. Just a difference in words used.

Sure there is, open the door, peel the sticker off, and you can tow as much as you like.
Might not be the safest thing to do but people do stupid stuff every day.

[SilverArrowPro]

Originally Posted by Funhaus

Sure there is, open the door, peel the sticker off, and you can tow as much as you like.
Might not be the safest thing to do but people do stupid stuff every day.

Mine wore off, so I'm good!

[Funhaus]

Originally Posted by SilverArrowPro

Mine wore off, so I'm good!

You have a Ram Dually, nothing to worry about there. Heck I think I was told I could hitch all the campers on the lot at once and pull them with out any problems, that's what the good salesman told me anyway.

[SilverArrowPro]

Originally Posted by Funhaus

You have a Ram Dually, nothing to worry about there. Heck I think I was told I could hitch all the campers on the lot at once and pull them with out any problems, that's what the good salesman told me anyway.

LMAO!

[D. J. Schuler]

Something is funky - first, 7,000-6,240=760 no ware close to payload. second 7,000-1,134=5,866, 6,240-5,866=374 payload? What did you add at the dealer. The rear axle has a great load capacity again? Do you know how much you can tow?

[Cumminz]

DJ,

Some things are simple.

If your truck has a labeled 12,000# GVW

Take your truck to get weighed. Say truck weighs 9,000#s

12,000
-9,000 = 3,000#s can be added to your truck as cargo. People, cab-over

camper and fuel.

GCVW is different.. The manufacturer has recommended a GCVW for your truck. They take into consideration your gears, tranny type and actual vehicle design.

Your GCVW maybe 27,000#s. Different than the carrying capacity of your truck. (GVW)

GCVW means total weight of truck & trailer and ALL gear must not exceed 27,000#s.

[ronheater70]

All this panic and mumbo jumbo just seems like a concrete reason why you shouldn't weigh your rig. .