Concerns about GVWR?

rbeech · 05-05-2006, 12:10 AM

Just got my new Titan SE 4x4 BT a couple weeks ago to replace my 96 Suburban. We have towed our 4000# dry weight trailer plus cargo and passengers quite well with the Sub in spite of it's 6000# tow rating. I really wanted a pickup instead of an SUV to carry our cargo better. A lot of people recommended a 3/4ton truck for towing, but I really liked the size and sportiness of the Titan. A F250 crew cab was almost 2 feet longer. I figured with 9000+ of tow capacity, the Titan would far exceed the Suburban.

I started adding up some weights and am a little concerned. I don't plan on loading up the bed but thought it would be great to carry things I don't like in the trailer(generator, firewood, fishing poles etc). My family of 5 weighs about 800#. Bikes w/rack 200#, generator w/ gas 60#, firewood 100#. By the time I install the hitch and add 450# tongue weight, I am a couple hundred pounds over GVWR, even though I am well below my GCWR.

I do use a Reese WD hitch w/ dualcam sway control, but I don't think this will help to reduce the tongue weight, only redistribute it. Should I be worried about this? Any thoughts?

Thanks

Mr. B · 05-05-2006, 03:39 AM

In the late 80's and into the 90's I pulled a dove tail car hauler with a 3900lbs. stockcar, it had 8 wheels/tires on the tire rack and my Furd F150's bed was loaded to the max with tools and spare crap....I always had at least 6 people in the cab....I stopped by a CAT scale once and the whole rig excluding passengers weighed in at 11,900lbs....I pulled this set-up all over Texas....that F150-302(5.0 liter for you youngins') 5-speed handled it effertlessly.....I have no doubt that our Titans are a better truck than that Furd was and I am of the opinon that a truck ain't loaded untill it's at least 1000lbs. beyond what it's rated for....but be warned, I live life on the ragged edge of insanity.

HighlandTitan · 05-05-2006, 04:45 PM

Can you move the bikes or the firewood to a rack on the back of the trailer? It may make the trailer a little squirrelly, but if the weights are still ok, it might work. What did you do with all this stuff with the Sub? If it was in it, I bet it was overloaded.

rbeech · 05-07-2006, 04:18 PM

You're right Highland, the Suburban was probably overloaded. I did carry the firewood and generator in the trailer though. Chevy never provided me with much as far as cargo capacity, they always show GVWR but since you really don't know the curb weight, cargo cap. was always a liitle vague to me.

It would be great to dangle some cargo off the back of the trailer as far as tounge weight is concerned. My trailer is a Fleetwood Prowler Lite. I took it to a welder friend and he did not think there was enough framework to support any racks. Maybe I will still carry the firewood in the back of the trailer, that should help the situation in more ways than one.

JAFCO · 05-08-2006, 06:59 PM

If you think your a couple hundred pounds heavy, theres a couple things to consider

1. estimates are usually high. you might be closer than you think
2. The payload capacity assumes that all the weight is on the rear axle, passengers tend to distribute the weight to both axles.

Load everything up, and find a scale. Measure the weight of each axle, if you exced the Allowable Gross Axle weight by more than 5% I'd be worried.

Truly the Titan can likely handle it, but it would be good to know

This is Just My Opinion, others will disagree. Personally I am over my Axle weight by 100# , and I don't find it a big problem.

ptgarcia · 05-17-2006, 08:33 AM

I was several hundred pound over GVWR with the setup in my sig. The only problem I had was with the soft suspension. I wouldn't sweat it. If you find you have too much bounce or you bottom the rear on occasion, install a set of Timbrens or a set of air bags and you should be set. I should add, however, that exceeding the axle ratins should be avoided. Good luck!