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The RVer's Open Forum / GENERAL RV DISCUSSIONS / GVRW, GCWR, GAWR revisited

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User ID: 1432154 May 10th 8:23 AM
Does anyone know what might be the safety factor built into these ratings. I know the warranty on any vehicle would use the manufacturers specifications, but being in industry all my life every piece machinery had a built in safety factor. Of course it wasn't broadcast by the manufacturer. It would be nice to know, that if I inadvertly overloaded any of these factors that the machine wouldn't collapse or burn up the tranny, etc. Thanks for any input.

Mike
Administrator May 10th 11:21 AM
In other words, you want to know how much beyond the mfgs stated ratings you can push the towing capacity of a particular vehicle and still be safe?

My response . . . none.

As a matter of fact, experienced RVer's recommend towing no more than 80 to 85% of mfgs MAXIMUM stated towing limits.

It's not how much a particular vehicle will tow. It's how much the vehicle will SAFELY tow, and STOP, a given weight.

I doubt that you'll find any experienced RVer here who will encourage you to exceed the mfg's specifications.

Mike

Frank
User ID: 2651734 May 10th 2:51 PM
I just read a brochure by Tekonsha Brake Controller folks and they recommend only 75% of the GCWR, I think it was. This is for truck and trailer, whatever kind you use.

Good Luck.

Mickey
User ID: 0485244 May 11th 10:21 AM
To add a little to Mike's comments, I'd bet those published ratings are also set when the vehicle is new. Add a little time and distance to the vehicle and the safety factor demenishes. Time to replace something, tires, brakes, etc, maybe they don't meet the original specs. Again there goes the safety margin.

Shade tree mechanics (that's us) can't hope to know better than the factory engineers when specification and safety are an issue. We have a clue to what was considered for arriving at the published spec.

Mike
Administrator Apr 18th 5:38 PM
http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/weight/index.html

Roger
User ID: 0492334 Sep 12th 8:58 AM
There have been many discussions on many RV Forums about
staying within your weight ratings with people on each
side of the fence. The discussion seems to go back
and forth between what can be pulled safely, what can
be towed period with any given truck and what can be
towed without damaging various componets of the truck;
bearings, transmission etc. We even have a term for cautious RV'ERS of "Weight Police"

Perhaps the the most important concern should be safety
and whether your insurance will cover you in an
accident if you are hauling a weight in your truck or
towing a weight beyond what you are rated to tow.
This requires actually weighing each axel of the
loaded truck and trailer filled with fuel, passengers
and everything you will have with you going down the
road. I have heard very little about what insurance
companies do if you are in an accident when overloaded
on any forums.

This summer a fellow RV enthusiast told me he heard a
report of an insurance company that denied coverage in
an accident involving an overloaded RV. The insurance
company acually had the rig towed and put on a scale
and weighed and added the weight of the passengers to
that weight. This is a critical concern that all of
us need to be of aware of and we need the correct
information before we are out on the road overloaded
and risk the loss of everything in an uncovered
accident that might cause major damage or death to
ourselves and others. This may not be true, but it would be helpful if someone could post documented factual information that would be
doing a great servive to all of us.

Replys greatly appreciated!

P4jim
User ID: 9161143 Sep 13th 3:06 PM
I have a 1989 ford E-350 with a minnie winnie c motor home on top. There is no combined weight rating that I can find. The ford truck dealer told me not to worry about towing up to 3500 pounds of toad. I know the motorhome itself is not overloaded but it is within 500 pounds according to the scales. Is there a chart somewhere I can use to find the combined rating?

Mike
Administrator Sep 14th 10:43 AM
http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/weight/index.html

www User ID: 1432154	May 10th 8:23 AM Does anyone know what might be the safety factor built into these ratings. I know the warranty on any vehicle would use the manufacturers specifications, but being in industry all my life every piece machinery had a built in safety factor. Of course it wasn't broadcast by the manufacturer. It would be nice to know, that if I inadvertly overloaded any of these factors that the machine wouldn't collapse or burn up the tranny, etc. Thanks for any input.
Mike Administrator	May 10th 11:21 AM In other words, you want to know how much beyond the mfgs stated ratings you can push the towing capacity of a particular vehicle and still be safe? My response . . . none. As a matter of fact, experienced RVer's recommend towing no more than 80 to 85% of mfgs MAXIMUM stated towing limits. It's not how much a particular vehicle will tow. It's how much the vehicle will SAFELY tow, and STOP, a given weight. I doubt that you'll find any experienced RVer here who will encourage you to exceed the mfg's specifications. Mike
Frank User ID: 2651734	May 10th 2:51 PM I just read a brochure by Tekonsha Brake Controller folks and they recommend only 75% of the GCWR, I think it was. This is for truck and trailer, whatever kind you use. Good Luck.
Mickey User ID: 0485244	May 11th 10:21 AM To add a little to Mike's comments, I'd bet those published ratings are also set when the vehicle is new. Add a little time and distance to the vehicle and the safety factor demenishes. Time to replace something, tires, brakes, etc, maybe they don't meet the original specs. Again there goes the safety margin. Shade tree mechanics (that's us) can't hope to know better than the factory engineers when specification and safety are an issue. We have a clue to what was considered for arriving at the published spec.
Mike Administrator	Apr 18th 5:38 PM http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/weight/index.html
Roger User ID: 0492334	Sep 12th 8:58 AM There have been many discussions on many RV Forums about staying within your weight ratings with people on each side of the fence. The discussion seems to go back and forth between what can be pulled safely, what can be towed period with any given truck and what can be towed without damaging various componets of the truck; bearings, transmission etc. We even have a term for cautious RV'ERS of "Weight Police" Perhaps the the most important concern should be safety and whether your insurance will cover you in an accident if you are hauling a weight in your truck or towing a weight beyond what you are rated to tow. This requires actually weighing each axel of the loaded truck and trailer filled with fuel, passengers and everything you will have with you going down the road. I have heard very little about what insurance companies do if you are in an accident when overloaded on any forums. This summer a fellow RV enthusiast told me he heard a report of an insurance company that denied coverage in an accident involving an overloaded RV. The insurance company acually had the rig towed and put on a scale and weighed and added the weight of the passengers to that weight. This is a critical concern that all of us need to be of aware of and we need the correct information before we are out on the road overloaded and risk the loss of everything in an uncovered accident that might cause major damage or death to ourselves and others. This may not be true, but it would be helpful if someone could post documented factual information that would be doing a great servive to all of us. Replys greatly appreciated!
P4jim User ID: 9161143	Sep 13th 3:06 PM I have a 1989 ford E-350 with a minnie winnie c motor home on top. There is no combined weight rating that I can find. The ford truck dealer told me not to worry about towing up to 3500 pounds of toad. I know the motorhome itself is not overloaded but it is within 500 pounds according to the scales. Is there a chart somewhere I can use to find the combined rating?
Mike Administrator	Sep 14th 10:43 AM http://www.klenger.net/arctic-fox/weight/index.html