Tires and rear axle

[TylerRam]

Does this make sense my Trucks GVWR is 10000 lbs my axels together are rated at 12500 front 6000 and rear 6500. My tires are LT285/60 R 20E and they are rated for 3640 lbs each. That would not my rear tires at 7280 lbs. I guess my question is how is my GVWR 10000 lbs and and my pay load only 1833. When my rear has over 6500 lbs to work with in the rear of the truck. When I but it on the scale the rears weight was 3320. How is this all make sense

[WanderMore]

1. The GVWR includes the weight of the truck
2. If the truck were rated at a GVWR of 10001 pounds your registration would be higher and you would have to stop at many more weigh stations

See: https://www.yourmechanic.com/article...weigh-stations

[IvoryHemi]

Front GAWR + Rear GAWR does not always equal GVWR

[koller1509]

Originally Posted by WanderMore

1. The GVWR includes the weight of the truck
2. If the truck were rated at a GVWR of 10001 pounds your registration would be higher and you would have to stop at many more weigh stations

See: https://www.yourmechanic.com/article...weigh-stations

You might want to read the title of that article, he isn't driving a rented van or a commercial vehicle. My truck is rated at 14,000 pounds and I have never been required to stop at a weight station because it is a personal vehicle. On a side note in PA I do have to sign a waiver that states that it is for personal use only when renewing the registration.

[WanderMore]

Originally Posted by koller1509

You might want to read the title of that article, he isn't driving a rented van or a commercial vehicle. My truck is rated at 14,000 pounds and I have never been required to stop at a weight station because it is a personal vehicle. On a side note in PA I do have to sign a waiver that states that it is for personal use only when renewing the registration.

Which is why I included the link. States vary on who and why they weigh vehicles. Not all are just commercial.

[TylerRam]

I am writing this because I hear all this talk about rear weight and tire ratings and 5th wheels. Plus a lot of people say not to go by door stickers go by the scale and your rear axel weight and your tires. If I go by that I can haul over 3000lbs. What are your thoughts?

[WanderMore]

GVWR and tow rating are different. If you have a “3/4 ton” truck and want to put 3000 pounds in the bed that may not work out well for you. If you want to tow 10000 pounds with that same truck you may be ok.

[frozen]

The solution to this predicament is to always buy more truck than you'll ever need. I just relearned that expensive lesson as I traded a perfectly good 2500 for a 3500, 1950 lb. payload up to 3750 lbs. I suppose if I was smarter I'd have gotten a dually, but no, I'll do that next time.

[TowPro]

and don't worry about what that web link says about weigh stations. unless someone is paying you to deliver that RV, you don't have to stop at weigh stations.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by IvoryHemi

Front GAWR + Rear GAWR does not always equal GVWR

That's because of convoluted registration fee regulations in different states.

As WanderMore pointed out, register the truck over 10,000 lbs and it's a different "Class" as far as registrations go (varies by state).

You aren't going to break anything as long as the spring and tire capacities add up to the same, or larger, weight rating of the axles.

You DO have to take into consideration the weakest link when doing this which is often the springs.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by TylerRam

Does this make sense my Trucks GVWR is 10000 lbs my axels together are rated at 12500 front 6000 and rear 6500. My tires are LT285/60 R 20E and they are rated for 3640 lbs each. That would not my rear tires at 7280 lbs. I guess my question is how is my GVWR 10000 lbs and and my pay load only 1833. When my rear has over 6500 lbs to work with in the rear of the truck. When I but it on the scale the rears weight was 3320. How is this all make sense

This is very common with 3/4 ton trucks. They are stickered at 10,000 lbs to help with registration needs.

Most (but not all) people pulling fifth wheels are commonly over on the truck’s total GVWR but under on the axle weight ratings. You have to make a decision of which ratings matter to you.

For me, it’s all ratings. Heck I upgraded my dually when I upgraded to a heavier fifth wheel.

[ependydad]

For anyone who claims it’s illegal or an insurance liability to tow over your ratings, please quote specific regulations and/or cases.

(Again, I’m on the side of ratings matter BUT I also can’t stand the claims that both sides make.)

[boogiejack75]

Originally Posted by TylerRam

Does this make sense my Trucks GVWR is 10000 lbs my axels together are rated at 12500 front 6000 and rear 6500. My tires are LT285/60 R 20E and they are rated for 3640 lbs each. That would not my rear tires at 7280 lbs. I guess my question is how is my GVWR 10000 lbs and and my pay load only 1833. When my rear has over 6500 lbs to work with in the rear of the truck. When I but it on the scale the rears weight was 3320. How is this all make sense

The 10000 lb thing, as others have noted, is strictly for tax purposes. Ford makes a 9900 GVWR F250 for the Canadian market. Why? They have a tax break point of 4500 kg GVWR (9900 lbs).

As for the rear axle rating this is what I BELIEVE to be true. Someone correct me if I am wrong.

On my former F250, the rear axle rating was 6300 lbs or so. This was at 60 psi cold tire inflation pressure. I was putting 6800 lbs or so on the axle with my 5th wheel. Yikes right? I did some research and found that my rear axle itself was rated for something like 9500 lbs. I looked at the inflation chart for the tires on the truck, and the rear axle rating and tire loading for 60 psi were the same. 80 psi gave me 3750 lbs per tire, which made me feel a little better. So, in my mind, I believe the rear axle rating has more to do with tire loads than anything else. Like I said, I could be wrong.

Now, I don't advocate doing what I described above. In fact, I now have an F350 DRW with plenty of payload (5320)! I feel better towing an even heavier 5er than the one I pulled with the 250. See you down the road.

[TylerRam]

Thanks everyone for all your help!