Tow and Haul Capacity???

My truck (2008 Silverado 1500 Z71) is rated for 7500 lb trailering and gvwr of 13,000 lb. I need 6500 lb of material using a trailer weighing 2500 lb rated for 7500 lb (including the trailer weight). My question is, can I do the following:

Pull 7500 lb trailer (trailer 2500 lb and materials on trailer 5000 lb)
Put 1500 lb material in bed

GVWR 13,000 lb
Less 6400 lb truck weight
Less 2000 lb on the trailer tongue
Less 1500 lb in the bed
Less 250 lb stuff in truck (wife, kid, tools, etc.)
Equals 2,850 lbs to the good

Does this seem accurate?

 

Your math looks ok (not taking into account fuel weight and so on).

I would still consider making two trips if possible. Those ratings are for when everything was new. When new, those ratings where safe and maybe lower then actual max. 5 years after the fact... This would be when you find out what parts are showing their age. Age and condition of the trailer is also a key factor to consider.

A number of years ago, I picked up a load of gravel with my dad's trailer (double snowmobile trailer). I don't remember the numbers, but I made sure I was under 7/8ths the trailer's max (think 500-800lb under).
A 5 mile low speed drive cost me 2 trailer tires. The trailer deck was flexing with each bump causing the tires to rub.

You'll probably be fine however.

 

Trailer is only a couple years old, so I'm good there. Also, my truck has not been used very hard over the years and only has about 40,000 miles on it, so it's still in great condition. If you think the numbers look ok for the ratings, I will be ok. Just wanted to make sure my math was accurately calculated. Thanks.

 

Should be ok. Just drive easy and check everything regularly if doing any distance.

Before hauling this weight, check the wheel bearings on the trailer (bearing buddies are a good idea). I won't tell you how many times I've seen city folks coming up to cottege country with their trailer smoking.

 

That doesn't seem right somehow. Less than 2000 lbs on the tongue? Did you mean 200? And doesn't the tongue weight have to be subtracted from the payload?

I'm feeling a little sick so I could be off base.

If the trailer doesn't have brakes....you better go pretty darn slow with that kind of weight.

 

Honestly I don't know what the weight would be on the tongue but I figured it should not be more than 2000, so that's what I used.

Trailer is dual axle and I do have braking capability.

I actually hauled 4500 lb on this trailer a couple weeks ago, which is 2000 lb less than what I'm planning on hauling and I had absolutely no issues whatsoever. It was smooth.

 

gvwr 13 k

truck 6400 trailer 7500 1500 in bed. = 15400.... Your over the limit....

You may think you can pull that weight but what happens is you burn motor and trans up... All will run hot with this load...from my knowledge anyway....

I have seen many trucks just catch on fire from pulling too heavy a load.

 

My understanding is that you only add the weight of the trailer on the tongue, not the gross trailer weight. Therefore I used an estimated 2000 lb on the tongue, not 7500.

 

GVWR is total weight of truck and trailer combines with one 150 lb occupant...

Oh I forgot about the tougne weight... Add that to my equation...



The internet is your friend...

What does GVWR mean?

 

Tongue weight varies based on the trailer loading. If all the weight is to the rear...then the tongue will try to lift off the ball. All the weight to the front it will apply the full load on the tongue and will need to be subtracted from the payload.

It's been a while...but I believe its normal to have 200-300 lbs tongue weight? Basically you want it well balanced with a certain amount of weight on the tongue.

Another question not yet asked...receiver hitch or bumper? Tow package with aux oil cooler?

An extra 2000lb payload can drastically change the handling and braking characteristics. Imagine carrying almost an entire Honda Fit on the trailer.

As Mike said..total weight of everything is GVWR. Tongue weight must be subtracted from allowable bed payload.

Sure...they show trucks pulling the space shuttle....but that doesn't mean they can take it out on the highway and drive in traffic.

I guess a lot of this depends on how far and what speed you will be traveling. Did I miss that?

10-20 miles at 45 MPH... no problem. 300-400 miles at freeway speeds...sounds very iffy.

 

150lb occupancy weight... better let the wife drive. I'm over that calculated weight.

 

OK on the tongue weight. I will tell the loader to balance it correctly.

Receiver hitch.

Don't know about the oil cooler. Would have to check.

So are we now saying that my math is incorrect in my original post? My owners manual says that I can trailer 7500 lb. If you add the raw truck weight of 6400 lb to that, you are already over the 13,000 GVWR. Not that I am an expert obviously, but I would have to say that lawrosa/Mike is incorrect in adding the full trailer weight to calulate my gross vehicle weight. It would have to be tongue weight or trailering what the manual says is my max would put me over my GVWR by 900 lb.

28 miles each way.

 

I think Mike and I both misspoke. GVWR does not include total weight of truck and it's cargo plus trailer weight and it's cargo. Both truck and trailer have their own GVWR. The trailer with cargo cannot exceed the tow rating (which is normally based on an unladen truck with a full tank and just the driver, no other cargo).

The tongue weight IS included in the trucks max load.

I think it's all moot...since you are only driving 28 miles. Drive slow, anticipate stops and turns and you should be fine.

Heck...I towed a big Bobcat on a big trailer with my old V-6 Dakota. It was real slow to accelerate and way long to stop...but I got there and back with no problems. It was only about 7 miles each way.

On the loading...just center it over the axles just a bit (very small bit!) forward. Just imagine 2 150lb people in the bed...thats about how the truck will drop.

W/o a scale..it's a good test. With no trailer...have 300 lbs of people stand on the bumper..look at drop of truck...shoot for same when trailer is loaded.

I'm guessing you will load the bed before the trailer...so it will be more difficult.

Too much weight in the back and you lose steering.

 

For example, if you have a 6400-pound truck with a 13000 pound GVWR, you can safely carry 6,600 pounds in the vehicle.

If you are towing a trailer with a ???-pound tongue weight, the amount of passengers and gear you can carry decreases to??? pounds.

On your tag in the door though you should have a GCVW... That will tell you the combined rate....

Newer vehicles have this...

 

Yeah, I think GCWR, gross-combined weight rating, is the max loaded vehicle plus loaded trailer.

 

Ok, sorry I am getting here late on this.

The first thing you need to get are your individual weights.

GVWR = Gross vehicle weight rating (one vehicle each.. This is individually for both your truck GVWR & your trailer GVWR)

GCVWR = Gross COMBINATION Vehicle Weight Rating (this is your gross weight of your truck & trailer combined.

Truck:
You need to know the GVWR of the truck
You need to know what the truck currently weighs
Subtract the current weight of the truck from the GVWR of the truck. That will tell you how much weight you can put in/on the truck.

Trailer:
You need to know the GVWR of the trailer
You need to know what the trailer currently weighs
Subtract the current weight of the trailer from the GVWR of the trailer. That will tell you how much weight you can put in/on the trailer.

Usually, you start with the trailer & load the heaviest material over the axle working your way out both ways. You want more weight to the front of the axle than the rear of the axle. This way, the trailer is taking most of the weight. However, you can not put more tongue weight on the truck, than the truck can legally haul. If you put the total weight of the trailer on the tongue, you will over load the truck before the trailer gets full.

In general terms, you can put 5000 lb of cargo on your trailer as you have indicated. However, without getting too technical, you can have the truck carry part of that load by shifting some of that weight to the truck by loading toward the front. If you load it all on the rear, your trailer is toting all the load & your missing out. Its all about distributing your weight. Think of it this way, if you get into trouble or get stopped by the trailer police... they will weigh the truck & trailer at the axles by having you drive up on some portable scales.... you are weighed at the axles of the truck & trailer. If you shift too much of that 5000 lb to the truck, your over & illegal. However, if you shift too much weight to the rear of the trailer, your going to load out before you reach 5000 lb.

After all this, you still have to consider GCVWR. Besides your truck weight & trailer weight, you have to be sure you have your gross combination (both vehicles) under gross weight.

I don't mean to make this worse by being so technical but it seems like your trying to make this exactly legal.... so, its going to get technical, if you get every pound on there, how & where you place it will make a difference. Ever heard of a truck driver "sliding his axles"? In short all he is doing is redistributing the weight so that either the trailer or truck is carrying more of the weight. Its the same identical 80,000 lb GCVWR but its how its distributed on the vehicles. If he slides his trailer axles forward, the trailer carries more weight. If he slides his trailer axles to the rear, the truck carries more of the weight.

If your really, that concerned, look at the basic info at the beginning of the post & follow that. But remember to load the trailer first, then load your truck. Once your trailer is loaded, Go to a truck stop or a place that has commercial scales get three weights as follows:
With the truck & trailer connected, drive your truck only onto the scales & get a weight.
Then pull the truck & trailer onto the scales & get a total weight.
Then pull the truck off the scales but leave the trailer on the scales & get a third weight.

At this point, you know where you are on the total weight of the truck, a total weight on the truck & trailer & a total weight on the trailer. From this point, you can either shift cargo around or load more cargo or remove cargo.

Commercial scales usually charge $10 for the first weight & a little extra like $5 or something for each additional weigh. If you go to a truck stop, you will have to tell the scale clerk you want three weights & tell her each time your ready as she sometimes cant see the scale. You will have a speaker like a drive through at McDonalds.

Again, I apologize for the lengthy post & confusing information but if you need it very accurate.... there ya go
However, I do hope this helps.

 

Just to update I put 5000 lb on the trailer and 1200 on my truck. My truck handled it just fine. Had no issues driving or braking.

 

Good deal! I'm glad it worked out for you