weighed my 2002 Chevy 2500 HD and 2014 3155RL

[troutbum53]

Posted*-*Jul 02 2014*:* 4:53:04 PM***********Well, I took my outfit loaded ready to camp ( 2002 2500HD and 2014 3155RL ) out to the local Farm Bureau and weighed it. The numbers are as follows...pin weight is 3180, camper by itself is 13060 and total weight of 20600. The truck pulls and handles it just fine and sets pretty well perfectly level. I still only have 9-10 inch of clearance between road surface and the front legs which I assume is normal. It is close to max for my truck but no money in the budget for newer truck right now.

[JandC]

I had a little time in Kansas yesterday after fueling up and weighed my combination all hooked up for travel. Total for truck/Montana (full fuel, 2 passengers) was 23,980. We will arrive at our summer "home" base tomorrow and I am going to get truck weighed by itself. The breakdown on my steer, drive, and trailer axle was all within limits so I was happy. I am glad I finally took a minute to get weighed. I had suspected after purchasing this new Montana that my combination was getting close to 25,000 total. Not even close.

[pineranch]

Joe,
What rear end did your SRW Come with?
Mike

[Hooker]

troutbum53...here's a suggestion for you. Add the weight of everything in your truck...you, passenger(s), hitch, tools, coolers, extra fuel (if you carry any), cargo, and anything else you carry. Add that total to your PW of 3,180. Then look at the Tire and Loading Information sticker on the driver's side door pillar and find the maximum cargo allowable for that truck. Compare that number with the total above.

[JandC]

quote:Originally posted by pineranch

Joe,
What rear end did your SRW Come with?
Mike

3.55 SRW. On my truck specs (came with 11,300 GVWR Package) is shows a maximum 5th Wheel Towing weight of 16,400, payload weight max of 4,400 I think. I wanted to get exact weight of truck, loaded for travel, so I would have exact trailer weight because I suspected I was getting close to my max. The breakdown on the scale ticket for my steer axle and drive axle made me feel pretty good about the limit on my truck tires, but I wanted to subtract the exact difference. Didn't get to scale due to 4th of July weekend yet.

[Phil P]

Hi

I congratulate you on your endeavors.

I have spent a lot of time and a few dollars making sure my weights are correct because we are towing at 23,300 Lbs. And the truck rating is 23,500 Lbs.

It is quite an education when you get the actual figures.

I still weight twice a year regardless of how much my wife complains about it. LOL

Phil P

[JandC]

Finally got the truck weighed by itself:

Total combination weight (truck & Montana): 23,580
Truck alone (full fuel plus 15 gallons, 2 passengers, 2 bikes): 8.680
Total Montana weight: 14,900
Total of Montana without personal stuff: 13,332
Extra personal stuff in Montana: 1,568

I feel pretty good because the maximum towing for my truck (towing a 5th wheel) is listed as 16,400. So after weighing everything I am 1,500 (fully loaded) under my maximum capacity for 5th wheel towing. Knowing these numbers was well worth two trips to the scales ($10.00 each weigh).

[TLightning]

JandC...what is the GCWR for your truck? Your actual tow capacity is the GCWR minus the weight of the truck when fully loaded ready to go. Some times the tow capacities listed by the manufacturer are a bit unrealistic.

[JandC]

quote:Originally posted by TLightning

JandC...what is the GCWR for your truck? Your actual tow capacity is the GCWR minus the weight of the truck when fully loaded ready to go. Some times the tow capacities listed by the manufacturer are a bit unrealistic.

Good point. It looks like I am 80 pounds over for GCWR. I wonder what a stock F350 tailgate weighs. I had replaced mine on the road and had my stock one in the basement when I weighed. Maybe with that out of there now and one or two less cases of beer I will be right on!

[troutbum53]

quote:Originally posted by Hooker

troutbum53...here's a suggestion for you. Add the weight of everything in your truck...you, passenger(s), hitch, tools, coolers, extra fuel (if you carry any), cargo, and anything else you carry. Add that total to your PW of 3,180. Then look at the Tire and Loading Information sticker on the driver's side door pillar and find the maximum cargo allowable for that truck. Compare that number with the total above.

Hooker, I am running Michelin LT 265/75R16 load range E, rated for 3415# (single), as stated when I weighed my outfit it was loaded and ready to camp, (except my wife), I am not allowed to list her weight seperately....lol...but she does not add too much to the total, my truck empty was 7700, (I added my bride in to that number...lol)....GVWR is 9200#, so I am at 10,180# truck wgt.( with the pin added) , my tires add 800# to the 9200# cap. (I think)....I also added a spring that made a big difference with the truck....I know that doesn't change the numbers tho, but I do think the tires make a difference...I may be wrong tho.....never the less, this is what I got to roll with for the time being.

[JandC]

Another good point by Hooker reference weights. My BFG Rugged Terrain (load range E) are only good for 3305 each. On the scales when hooked up to fully loaded Montana my drive axle shows a weight of 7020, so each tire is carrying 3510. So I guess I am 410 pounds over on my drive tires. I know I am 80 pounds over on my GCWR. All other weights are within specs for what Ford shows for my truck. So if my Montana lost 80 pounds and I went with a set of tires that were rated for 3510 each, everything would be good. Or I could trade my 2012 off for a new 2015 F350 Dually.

[TLightning]

quote:Originally posted by troutbum53

....GVWR is 9200#, so I am at 10,180# truck wgt.( with the pin added) , my tires add 800# to the 9200# cap. (I think)....

Sorry to tell you, but you cannot change the GVWR with tires, extra springs, etc. You are stuck at 9200#.

[bigred715]

After reading posts for several years I realize a lot of us are over our truck weights and pushing our gross combined weight. Me included on my 3500 Chevy with a 9900# GVW. The newer trucks have much more carrying capacity. I have yet to hear anyone having an accident or breakdown because of running over capacity. Either our trucks are UNDERRATED (which I believe) or we are all very lucky. I think the factory underrates our trucks because they know we will overload them. Just my opinion!

[Tom S.]

quote:Originally posted by bigred715

After reading posts for several years I realize a lot of us are over our truck weights and pushing our gross combined weight. Me included on my 3500 Chevy with a 9900# GVW. The newer trucks have much more carrying capacity. I have yet to hear anyone having an accident or breakdown because of running over capacity. Either our trucks are UNDERRATED (which I believe) or we are all very lucky. I think the factory underrates our trucks because they know we will overload them. Just my opinion!

The newer GM line has a higher rating because they boxed in the frame and made it much stronger. They also redesigned the rear springs. I can't speak for Ford and Chrysler, but I'd bet they made similar changes. While I'm sure there is a safety margin built into these trucks, I wouldn't want end up on a witness stand in court trying to defend why I was over weight. In fact, that's why we bought a new truck this year, because the trailer we got put us over it's weight rating.

[Virginia Young]

When I got into horses (about 100 years ago), all I knew was that I needed a truck and a trailer. I bought a really nice 1/2 ton Chevy extended cab and a 4-HORSE, COMBINATION, GOOSENECK, STEEL trailer!!! I have no idea what it weighed, nor what the hitch weight was. Hauled that joker several thousands of miles with 2 horses and nary a problem. Granted - I had to get up speed going down hills in order to make it up the next one, but I didn't know anything different. Imagine my surprise when I traded that truck (4 years later) for a 1 ton dually. The little 1/2 ton still ran great and was mechanically sound. Of course, we always stay on top of maintenance. I'm ALOT smarter now and wouldn't think of doing that again (well, unless I HAD to) Barrel racers are daredevils. LOL

[troutbum53]

quote:Originally posted by TLightning

Sorry to tell you, but you cannot change the GVWR with tires, extra springs, etc. You are stuck at 9200#.

[troutbum53]

I realize that everything we have done to our truck doesn't change the 9200# as far as the law goes, but it has to be way better than it was stock....we will eventually get a newer heavier built truck but until then the little 2500 HD will have to do. I don't push hard when pulling our rig, we all have to stay mindful of how big of a load we are hauling (and stopping) no matter what the tow vehicle is....

[Irlpguy]

troutbum53, as you have noted you are definitely over the GVWR of your truck and as has been previously mentioned, the addition of higher capacity tires does not change the GVWR rating (legally). As you have also mentioned there are a good number of Montana owners who are somewhat over the GVWR of their trucks and it is up to the individual to decide if he is happy with that, it is not my place to judge.

JandC, You do not mention the weight on your trailer axles, nor your pin weight. I would not be concerned about the capacity of the tires on the TV as long as you are under the GVWR of the truck.

You say your truck weighs 8680 loaded and full of fuel, if you subtract that from the GVWR of 11,300 for your truck you are left with only 2620 for a pin weight without being over the GVWR of the truck. The factory spec for your trailer shows a pin weight of 2815, therefore if you add the 1500 lbs you have said as personal items and take a conservative 20% of that for additional pin weight you are now up to 3190 lbs on the pin. When you add that to your scaled truck weight of 8680 your truck is carrying 11,870 lbs, making it a fair bit over the GVWR of the truck.

If you know the weight of the truck alone and hooked up you will know the true pin weight by subtracting one from the other.

I have found it best to weigh the steering axle alone, the drive axle alone, not hooked up, together this gives you your truck weight, if you then scale the same axles hooked up and loaded, you then know the additional weight on the steering axle and the drive axle because of the pin weight. At the same time weigh the trailer axle and you have all the information you will ever need for determining where the weight distribution is and if you are within the GVWR of the truck and the GAWR of the axles and know exactly how much your trailer axles and tires are carrying.

My 2012 - 3402RL and 2012 Dodge 3500 DRW combined weigh 24,140 loaded and ready to head down the road. My pin weight is 2800 lbs, when added to the truck weight of 8884 lbs = 11,680 so that would put me over the 11,300 GVWR of your truck, my truck however has a GVWR of 12,300 so I have a little to spare.

As long as you are within the GVWR of the truck you do not have to worry about the capacity of it's tires, the GVWR is determined by several factors including the factory installed tires, so they will always be within the rating of the truck.

You see the big three all competing for the most amount they can tow, that does not mean diddlysquat if the wight of the load on the truck including the pin is over the GVWR and you had to cross a scale. It is all hype and in my opinion the GCWR or maximum tow load mean very little in the world of our RV's. That of course is only my opinion.

All I am concerned with is being under the GVWR of the truck and being under the GAWR of the trailer axles and their tires.