Duramax 6.6L 4X4 actual axle weights look wrong

[Lvn2tvl]

I am getting ready to look for a newer 5er and this time I want to know my TV weight capacities before looking at trailers. The sales brochure says my 2015 Duramax 6.6L 4X4 has these numbers: GAWR F= 4800lbs. and the GAWR R= 6200lbs. making the tow vehicle weight 11,000lbs. total. My actual payload is 2214lbs.

I went to the scale today to get solid wet (loaded) numbers for my tow vehicle with full fuel, 300lbs dead weight, 75lb generator and the hitch in the bed. The numbers I got were 4920lbs steering and 3580lbs drive and 8500lb gross. HUM

What the heck this is not what I was expecting?? Why is my steering appear to be 120lbs over the GAWR F rating of 4800lbs? Is it possible the guy made a mistake at the scale? Or am I the one that doesn't know what I'm suppose to have? It seems the old saying "we are learning more and more about less and less" is holding true for me for sure. I need some help figuring out what I'm doing wrong or what to do next. I left all the weight listed in the truck just in case I need to go back to the scales to confirm these numbers.

[TURBS]

Look at your door sticker


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[Lvn2tvl]

The only sticker on the door beam is the one that shows the max payload of 2214lbs. I may need to check the VIN with the dealer to get the certified label numbers that the owners manual mentions. I have looked every where and cannot find the certified label. During my search I found the max camper weight in the glove box is 1485 lbs, which I didn't know until now.

[rracer5]

Looks to me that the front is heavy right now because of 1- you in the front seat, 2- full fuel tank (forward of the rear axle) 3- generator in front of rear axle too?

Now, if you put your max payload in the bed (ie; hitch & pin weight) that would lighten the front and load the rear.

So, in my mind, once the truck is equally loaded to max GVW, the axle weights should me more in line with specs.???

[Lvn2tvl]

Originally Posted by rracer5

Looks to me that the front is heavy right now because of 1- you in the front seat, 2- full fuel tank (forward of the rear axle) 3- generator in front of rear axle too?

Now, if you put your max payload in the bed (ie; hitch & pin weight) that would lighten the front and load the rear.

So, in my mind, once the truck is equally loaded to max GVW, the axle weights should me more in line with specs.???

I distributed the 300 lbs equally on the cab floor (100lbs each spot) to balance and simulate 2 passengers, me in the drivers seat (187lbs), generator (75lbs) is at the front middle of the bed and the hitch is clipped in place. You are correct that the fuel and the generator are in front of the rear axle but that is where they are gonna have to be.

[TURBS]

This sticker

Are these numbers the same as book?


2015 Columbus 320RS
2008 2500HD Duramax
2015 nights camped "34"

[Lvn2tvl]

Well I finally found the sticker located straight below the "B" column but facing the outside of the vehicle not in the jam. First time I have ever seen it placed there. So now I have GAWR F of 5200lbs. That is much better. Thanks for all the help

[Eagle2405]

Can somebody explain to me, why on the truck door sticker your read:
GAWR FRT 5200 lbs and GAWR RR 6200, adding the two gives a total of 11400 lbs and the total GVWR for the truck is 10000 lbs. I have the same situation with my Ford, and I am not sure If I am over on payload or not

Eagle
Ford diesel king Ranch 2012
5th Sabre 31 CKTS 2014

[myfirst5th]

Not sure if this helps any, but...
The specs I see on the 2015 4WD 2500 Duramax are:
Max Payload 2793 lbs
Max GVWR 10000
Max 5th wheel Trailer w/3.73 Rear Axle 17100 lbs
Max GCWR w/3.73 24500 lbs
Front GAWR 5200 lbs
Rear GAWR 6200 lbs

Does that help any?
Mike

[Eagle2405]

Mike,

Thanks for your reply, still does not add up, but I am not sure why these figures don't match. All trucks seem to have this issue where axle capacity does not match the total truck GVWR. The sticker on my truck, gives me a payload of 1730 lbs, and my 5th gives 1650 lbs dry for payload. Based on this I am over for payload. One thing is sure, in your case your GM is excellent for payload.

Eagle
Ford F250 diesel King Ranch 2012
5th Sabre 31 CKTS 2014

[seigell]

Originally Posted by Eagle2405

Can somebody explain to me, why on the truck door sticker your read:
GAWR FRT 5200 lbs and GAWR RR 6200, adding the two gives a total of 11400 lbs and the total GVWR for the truck is 10000 lbs. I have the same situation with my Ford, and I am not sure If I am over on payload or not.

Axle Capacities are NOT the same as GVWR, rather the actual Certified Capacity of that Axle.

If you loaded a TT instead of a 5er, the Tongue Weight would lever additional weight off of the Front Axle. But that wouldn't make the Rig, otherwise loaded to the Ratings, any Safer.

GVWR takes into account the Motive and Braking as well as Steering capabilities of the Vehicle. The GAVR does not.

[Lvn2tvl]

I did some more research and found this answer on Titantalk forum and I quoted their answer:

"I found my own answer. Essentially the GAWR is simply the max weight rating for the factory wheels, tires, suspension, axle, etc. Anything that attaches to the axle itself. So this is why you can have a GAWR whose sum is more than the GVWR. GAWR doesn't take the rest of the truck into consideration."

This makes sense to me because my truck was upgraded to a heaver motor, tranny and bigger wheels.

[Eagle2405]

It makes sense, Thanks !

Eagle
Ford F250 diesel King Ranch 2012
5th Sabre 31 CKTS 2014

[Lvn2tvl]

Originally Posted by myfirst5th

Not sure if this helps any, but...
The specs I see on the 2015 4WD 2500 Duramax are:
Max Payload 2793 lbs
Max GVWR 10000
Max 5th wheel Trailer w/3.73 Rear Axle 17100 lbs
Max GCWR w/3.73 24500 lbs
Front GAWR 5200 lbs
Rear GAWR 6200 lbs

Does that help any?
Mike

Ironically I based some of my purchase reasoning of this same truck on the 2793lbs. of payload. When I got the truck my certified label says the payload is 2214lbs instead of the 2793lbs I was counting on. Lost 579lbs before I even started and it was a real unwanted surprise that decreased my trailer size to less than I was looking at. Another member mentioned you gotta know to check both labels and know the specs for each one to make sure your getting the capacity you are expecting to get. As I am aware now many things can affect GVWR. Even though I lost 579lbs on advertised payload this truck can carry about 774lbs more than my other TV.

[fljl]

Same on my 2015 2500 Sierra, axle weights add up to 11800 lbs. think I read it's a max rating by some law or fictional set max by manufacturers to sell two sizes of truck. The only diff to a 3500 Gmc, is perhaps the rear springs. Does that make sense?

[hunterrick]

I have an '09 Sierra 2500 Crewcab shortbox with Duramax. There's a white sticker inside my door that gives the specs. The GAWR Front is 4860. GAWR Rear is 6084, and the GVWR is 9200. The GAWR is the maximum weight capacity of each axle. However, the maximum weight of the vehicle and payload is not those two numbers added up, it is the GVWR.


I think your front weight looks high. I have a cap on my box. My weights with a full tank of fuel, my wife and I in the truck, two dogs, some firewood and a couple of totes in the back, plus an Equalizer bumper tow hitch are: Front 4440, Rear 4880, Total 8260

[Eagle2405]

This is quite interesting. My F250 is my second truck, the first one I had was a F350. The salesman told me than that the only difference between the 350 and the 250 is on the rear spring. The difference on the GVWR was then 1000 lbs.
Another detail that we should not forget, is the diesel engine is very heavy. It increases towing capacity, but reduces payload. Mike It may explain the 579 lbs difference.


Eagle
Ford F250 diesel King Ranch 2012
5th Sabre 31 CKTS 2014

[emm-dee]

Originally Posted by Eagle2405

Can somebody explain to me, why on the truck door sticker your read:
GAWR FRT 5200 lbs and GAWR RR 6200, adding the two gives a total of 11400 lbs and the total GVWR for the truck is 10000 lbs. I have the same situation with my Ford, and I am not sure If I am over on payload or not

Eagle
Ford diesel king Ranch 2012
5th Sabre 31 CKTS 2014

What the sticker is saying is the maximum allowable weight is 10,000 pounds but you cannot put more than 5,200 on the front axle or more than 6,200 pounds on the rear axle. So...if you have 5,000 pounds on the front axle you are limited to 5,000 pounds on the rear axle. Or, if you have 6,000 pounds on the rear axle then you can only have 4,000 pounds on the front.

Max weight could be limited by many factors, such as braking capacity or some weak point in the frame, or whatever. Axle weight limit seems to me to mean that if the axle were loaded beyond its rated load it might just break even though you are below total allowable weight.

[Lvn2tvl]

Originally Posted by hunterrick

I have an '09 Sierra 2500 Crewcab shortbox with Duramax. There's a white sticker inside my door that gives the specs. The GAWR Front is 4860. GAWR Rear is 6084, and the GVWR is 9200. The GAWR is the maximum weight capacity of each axle. However, the maximum weight of the vehicle and payload is not those two numbers added up, it is the GVWR.


I think your front weight looks high. I have a cap on my box. My weights with a full tank of fuel, my wife and I in the truck, two dogs, some firewood and a couple of totes in the back, plus an Equalizer bumper tow hitch are: Front 4440, Rear 4880, Total 8260

While I don't disagree with you that the front weight appears heavy it is less than the GAWR-F 5200lbs. limit shown on the certification label specific to my truck. I plan to go back to the scale with same weight in cab and bed of the truck but with the 5er attached the next time so I can get hooked and unhooked weights during the same trip. If the unhooked truck weights repeat then I will assume the scales are correct this time. Unfortunately this recheck won't happen until the snow melts enough for me to get the 5er out of the back yard. I will update this thread when I complete the weight recheck results in the spring. Until then I'm glad I can carry my family in the truck without going over the GAWR-F.

[checkmate99]

Lvn2tvl......here's how it was explained to me to get actual payload capacity of your truck. Put nothing in the truck but yourself and a full tank of fuel. Go to your favorite scale and have the front and rear axles weighed. Subtract the actual weights from your listed front and rear axle weight ratings to get your payload. My 2015 Chevy 2500HD with 6.0 gas engine is rated by Chevy to have 3120 pounds payload, but actually I have 3005 pounds using my method. Your figure of 2200 pounds (approx) can't be correct. I would remove everything but yourself and the full tank of fuel, and weigh the truck again. Then you will get your actual payload capacity. Of course, you will then have to consider everything else required in the truck to actually tow a 5er.