What weight can my truck legally pull?

[Diamondpilot]

I just looked at an F350 Lariat CC, 4x4, standard bed, 6.7PS, SRW as a possible tug for a fifth wheel. The one thing these published charts typically do not show is a configured truck's maximum payload numbers. When I am out looking, I take a picture of the manufacture's placard that states this number. The Ford's I've looked at to date are light compared to the RAM or GM 3500 offerings. To get the payload needed for a fifth wheel I need to move up to a F450 which only comes with DRW, an option I do not want. Here are the placards of the F350 I looked at; <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/404493-what-weight-can-my-truck-2014-12-10-13-29-a"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/404495-what-weight-can-my-truck-2014-12-10-13-28-a"/><img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/files/trailers-transportation/404494-what-weight-can-my-truck-2014-12-10-13-29-a"/> The placards numbers would say no to your 5th wheel and a bumper mount trailer would be pushing the maximum payload number. It seems to me the 2500 offerings and Ford's 3500 can pull weight but can't take much of the tongue or fifth wheel weight. If I am reading something wrong please advise.

That is the lightest possible F350 you can get with its GVWR of 10,000#. Ford makes them all the way up to 11,500# for F350 SRW trucks which would yield a 1500# increase in payload over the one you pictured.

That truck has heavy springs giving you a 7000# rear axle and a decent 5600# front. The 20" wheels and tires are probably the limiting factor.

Like stated above my F350 that I ordered to get right has 11,500# GVWR and weighs 7,600# with me in it leaving 3,900# for payload. It's a beast compared to my friends other 1 ton trucks.


Chris

 

[aczlan]

I just looked at an F350 Lariat CC, 4x4, standard bed, 6.7PS, SRW as a possible tug for a fifth wheel. The one thing these published charts typically do not show is a configured truck's maximum payload numbers. When I am out looking, I take a picture of the manufacture's placard that states this number. The Ford's I've looked at to date are light compared to the RAM or GM 3500 offerings. To get the payload needed for a fifth wheel I need to move up to a F450 which only comes with DRW, an option I do not want. Here are the placards of the F350 I looked at;
View attachment 404493View attachment 404495View attachment 404494
The placards numbers would say no to your 5th wheel and a bumper mount trailer would be pushing the maximum payload number. It seems to me the 2500 offerings and Ford's 3500 can pull weight but can't take much of the tongue or fifth wheel weight. If I am reading something wrong please advise.

Looking up that VIN (1FT7W3BT3FEA00009) on VIN Decoder | fleet.ford.com it appears that someone ordered it with the 10,000# GVWR package (possibly so that they would registered as a passenger vehicle or to be under CDL weights?). At the VIN Decoder site, its GVWR range is 6001# to 10,000#.
Compare it to this one: New 2015 Ford F350 in Walnut Creek CA | VIN: 1FT8W3BT8FEA76023 (Vin: 1FT8W3BT8FEA76023 ) which comes back on the VIN Decoder site has having a GVWR Range of 10,001 to 14,000 Pounds.

Aaron Z

 

[LD1]

My understanding is that the chart that the MFG publishes as to what max tow is, is not an end all-be all number.

Infact, those numbers change so much from year to year and with different configurations. LEO's will only enforce what is on the door sticker. And thats what diamondpilot said. GCWR, GVWR, and the individual GAWR's. And as long as you are within all 4, you are fine. Which indeed makes it hard for someone without scales. Simply shifting a load fore or aft by 6" could make the difference of legal or not.

The chart the MFG specs for MAX towing is typically best case scenario of all of the above. IE: your truck is the lightest configuration of what is listed, no additional cargo or people, most possible tongue/pin weight to not overload the truck, and whats left of the GCWR is the max tow.

Best advise is to weight the truck with no trailer, but configured as if you were ready to hook up and tow. Take that weight off of the GCWR and you have the MAX you can legally tow. But again, depending on trailer and load placement, you can easily stay under that number, but overload the GVWR or GAWR of the rear axle.

 

[motownbrowne]

Yes, can't do that. Max GCWR is an absolute max but you must also no exceed the trucks GVWR, any individual axle, or tires.

Chris

I disagree here. The GCWR is a manufacturers recommendation. That's why it changes with different engine hp ratings. GAWR and GVWR are what they'll look at at scales. Those are the legal maximums.

Example, my f-250 has the smallest engine they offered, the 300 6. My GVWR is 10,000 lbs. The GCWR for the same truck with a 460 or diesel is much higher. I have the same brakes and suspension, so I can just as safely tow the same load. As long as you are within the ratings of every component (gawr,gvwr, tire load rating, hitch capacity, etc,) you can definitely exceed gcwr. Just think about it. Gawr and gvwr are listed on the door and gvwr is on your registration, gcwr published by Ford and you have to look it up.

That said, be careful out there, towing at the max doesn't seem like much fun to me. Good luck.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I disagree here. The GCWR is a manufacturers recommendation. That's why it changes with different engine hp ratings. GAWR and GVWR are what they'll look at at scales. Those are the legal maximums.

Example, my f-250 has the smallest engine they offered, the 300 6. My GVWR is 10,000 lbs. The GCWR for the same truck with a 460 or diesel is much higher. I have the same brakes and suspension, so I can just as safely tow the same load. As long as you are within the ratings of every component (gawr,gvwr, tire load rating, hitch capacity, etc,) you can definitely exceed gcwr. Just think about it. Gawr and gvwr are listed on the door and gvwr is on your registration, gcwr published by Ford and you have to look it up.

That said, be careful out there, towing at the max doesn't seem like much fun to me. Good luck.

This was true at one time but now there are SAE minimum specs for speed on a grade, acceleration, ect

Chris

 

[motownbrowne]

Yes, can't do that. Max GCWR is an absolute max but you must also no exceed the trucks GVWR, any individual axle, or tires.

Chris

This was true at one time but now there are SAE minimum specs for speed on a grade, acceleration, ect

Chris

Not to be disagreeable, but could you explain what you're referencing. I did some searching online, and I found some info about changing the definition of GCWR, and some info about SAE J2807, which is the new unilateral method of determining tow ratings. Still didn't find anything about GCWR being enforceable. Maybe it could happen with new vehicles adhering to J2807 standards, but what about the old ones cooked up by manufacturers trying to sell trucks.

I'm not saying I can go up the mountains as fast with my straight six as someone with the turboed idi 7.3, but I'll make it up the hill eventually, and we have the same stopping and steering capacity for going down the other side, which I think is of greater importance. It makes some sense to enforce GCWR, but the only place I've ever seen minimum speeds posted is on an interstate. If you can meet the minimum, or aren't on the freeway, and all legal numbers are being followed, I don't see GCWR being enforceable. Let me know if there's information to the contrary.

 

[LD1]

I disagree here. The GCWR is a manufacturers recommendation. That's why it changes with different engine hp ratings. GAWR and GVWR are what they'll look at at scales. Those are the legal maximums.

Example, my f-250 has the smallest engine they offered, the 300 6. My GVWR is 10,000 lbs. The GCWR for the same truck with a 460 or diesel is much higher. I have the same brakes and suspension, so I can just as safely tow the same load. As long as you are within the ratings of every component (gawr,gvwr, tire load rating, hitch capacity, etc,) you can definitely exceed gcwr. Just think about it. Gawr and gvwr are listed on the door and gvwr is on your registration, gcwr published by Ford and you have to look it up.

That said, be careful out there, towing at the max doesn't seem like much fun to me. Good luck.

With your logic.....

Are you saying I could hook up my 1-ton to a 60,000lb load and legally tow it as long as the trailer was rated for the weight, and as long as I didnt have so much pin weight as to exceed the trucks GVWR or GAWR?

With my truck weight, I can have up to ~4k pin weight before I overload the truck. So....its legal to tow a 60k load with 4k pin weight behind a 1-ton.

 

[motownbrowne]

With your logic.....

Are you saying I could hook up my 1-ton to a 60,000lb load and legally tow it as long as the trailer was rated for the weight, and as long as I didnt have so much pin weight as to exceed the trucks GVWR or GAWR?

With my truck weight, I can have up to ~4k pin weight before I overload the truck. So....its legal to tow a 60k load with 4k pin weight behind a 1-ton.

Sort of. I maybe forgot to mention tongue weight. You of course need to have ten percent at least of the trailer's total weight as tongue weight. So, if your max tongue weight without going over the GVWR of your truck is 4,000 then you could put a 40,000 pound bumper pull trailer (5th wheel has higher percentage of tongue weight) behind your truck. That's assuming your hitch can handle it as well as everything else involved in the system. I agree that it seems goofy, but can't see where it says it's illegal.

Now there may be other factors in this particular example that don't allow for this setup. For example, 26,000 lbs is a magical number in some situations and may require a CDL. But, as far as I know, gvwr and gawr are law, gcwr is a recommendation from the manufacturer.

 

[LD1]

Sort of. I maybe forgot to mention tongue weight. You of course need to have ten percent at least of the trailer's total weight as tongue weight. So, if your max tongue weight without going over the GVWR of your truck is 4,000 then you could put a 40,000 pound bumper pull trailer (5th wheel has higher percentage of tongue weight) behind your truck. That's assuming your hitch can handle it as well as everything else involved in the system. I agree that it seems goofy, but can't see where it says it's illegal.

Now there may be other factors in this particular example that don't allow for this setup. For example, 26,000 lbs is a magical number in some situations and may require a CDL. But, as far as I know, gvwr and gawr are law, gcwr is a recommendation from the manufacturer.

I could be wrong but I never seen any law about percentage tongue weight either. Again, just a recommendation.

 

[motownbrowne]

I could be wrong but I never seen any law about percentage tongue weight either. Again, just a recommendation.

That's true as far as I know.