By removing the curb weight from the gross vehicle weight, you will find out how much additional weight your truck can handle. The former stands for gross combined vehicle weight rating while the latter represents the gross vehicle weight. GCVWR indicates the total amount for your loaded truck and trailer. Typically, this value exceeds the GVWR because your vehicle can tow much more than its overall weight. Part of the payload capacity is the trailer tongue weight.
For example, if you have a single-axle eight-foot-long trailer , empty, the trailer weighs around pounds. The trailer tongue weight would be:.
This tongue weight only accounts for an empty trailer. The trailer tongue weight is how what you tow can impact the payload capacity of your truck.
You need to know whether to calculate truck payload vs. Improperly secured trailers and cargo contributes to vehicle-related road debris. When AAA conducted a study of accidents from through , it found deaths and 9, injuries each year had direct connections to debris-related incidents.
Out of every 1, crashes, came from vehicle-related debris or fallen cargo. You could also hurt other drivers by causing accidents on the road. These values, however, are the maximums for when the vehicle has only a driver in it and no cargo. Such a scenario is not realistic for most drivers. You will likely have passengers or other goods inside the truck, such as tools for work. These extras add weight to the vehicle, lowering the actual payload and towing capacities.
Additionally, many manufacturers claim a towing capacity for their trucks that the engine and tires would not realistically achieve, though the vehicle could technically support the load. The rigorous process the SAE puts trucks through includes multiple trials, such as the following:. However, even with the SAE J standard, the towing weights are maximums. Do not exceed these values for towing. Also, calculate how your actual cab, bed and towing loads fit into the expected weights.
While most manufacturers calculate payload capacity, you can also do the math yourself. If you see a truck advertised as a half-ton truck, the value indicates an approximation of the payload capacity — or, it did in the s. To calculate the payload capacity, you need to know both the curb weight and the GVWR.
Subtract the curb weight from the GVWR to find the payload capacity. For example, if you have a light-duty truck with a GVWR of 9, pounds and a curb weight of 6, pounds, the payload capacity will be 3, pounds:. Monty Rakusen Getty Images. Types of Towing Capacity As stated by Curt Manufacturing , to wing capacity is the maximum weight that your vehicle will be capable of pulling while towing. Here is some additional terminology related to towing capacity you should know: Braked Towing Capacity: When you see brake capacity listed, it is referring to the maximum weight that a vehicle will be able to tow when the trailer being towed is equipped with its own braking system.
In this situation, the trailer's braking system will connect through a cable to your vehicle. Unbraked Towing Capacity: When the term unbraked towing is used, it is describing the capacity of your car to tow a trailer that does not have its own independent braking system. This capacity is usually less than braked towing capacity.
You will need a tow bar, tow hitch, and recovery point. You will affix the towing device to the chassis of the vehicle being towed when moving another vehicle. If towing a large vehicle, or farm equipment, you should use a tow pin and jaw to provide for needed slack.
Types of Trailers Used for Towing There are two primary types of trailers that will be used for towing purposes. What Is GTW? Other Terms Related to Towing Capacity To ensure that you only tow enough weight that is safe to drive, there are a few other terms that you should familiarize yourself with. TW: Tongue weight or TW is the downward force that can be exerted onto the back of a load or vehicle that is being towed. This is important to know as it can help you maintain better control of your vehicle.
Curb Weight: The curb weight of a vehicle will let you know how much the vehicle weighs when there are no passengers, cargo, or trailer loads. It will account for gasoline weight and the weight of other fluids that are necessary to the operation of the vehicle. Dry Weight: The term dry weight is very similar to curb weight as it includes the weight of your vehicle without passengers and cargo.
Where it differs is it also removes the weight o the fluids that will be in the car for it to operate properly. The tongue weight will be the maximum amount of weight that the trailer can put onto the hitch of the vehicle.
Ford trucks are well known for the amount of weight that they can carry. Most Ford trucks will list the towing capacity of the vehicle. However, you do need to remember that this figure can change.
The Ford Ranger is Rated for 3, lbs of Towing capacity. When Ford quotes a towing capacity for their vehicles, it is on the assumption that there is just a single driver with no cargo inside of the vehicle. If you do not know the towing capacity for your Ford Truck, you will need to look for the VIN sticker inside of the vehicle.
You will need these numbers:. If you subtract the curb weight from the GCWR, this will tell you the maximum amount of weight that you can add to the vehicle. This includes passengers, cargo, and whatever you are towing.
This means that the more you have inside of your vehicle, the lower the towing capacity of the Ford will be. You also have to remember that the hitch on your vehicle can only hold so much weight.
When you are considering the towing capacity for your Ford, you need to think about the amount of weight that your hitch can hold. If the hitch capacity is lower than the weight that you want to tow, then you will need to replace the hitch. Finally, you will also need to consider the tongue weight limit of the Ford. This is the amount of weight the trailer can place upon the vehicle.
While Ford will give a maximum tongue weight on the VIN sticker, you will need to subtract the weight in the back of the vehicle from this figure. Ideally, you should never really be towing anywhere close to the max capacity for your vehicle. If you go beyond this, then try not to do it for long periods of time, nor too frequently. Anybody that is regularly towing heavier loads with their vehicle is advised to carry out regular maintenance to ensure that everything stays in perfect working order.
If you are towing at maximum capacity, then you will also need to ensure that you have as little weight inside of the vehicle as possible. This means no cargo or passengers that are not needed. If you exceed GVWR, heavy trucks can cause damage to the roads as it is. The heavier your truck is, the more damage you will be causing to the roads. For many, the main issue is that exceeding the GVWR can cause damage to the components of the truck.
This means that your truck will end up having a far shorter lifespan. Curb weight is the weight of the vehicle as delivered by the manufacturer. However, the curb weight is not the completely empty weight. While it does not include the weight of any passengers, etc. Basically, everything that is required to operate the vehicle and nothing else! Does Curb Weight Include Driver? Curb weight does not include any driver in the vehicle.
There is a misbelief that it does include the weight of a small driver. However, we can assure you that it does not.
If you want to know the curb weight of your vehicle, then you need to weigh it without the driver inside. You could always consult the instruction manual for your vehicle. This will likely list the weight of the vehicle. However, do bear in mind that you need to add the weight of any fluids e. Perhaps the simplest way to know your curb weight is to weigh the vehicle with no passengers or cargo inside.
You just want the pure weight of the vehicle. The weight listed inside of the manual for your vehicle is not the weight of your vehicle. Well, it is. However, it is only the factory weight of your vehicle. It does not include passengers, drivers, or any cargo. So, where can I find the weight of my vehicle? The only way that you are going to be able to work out the weight for those is to physically weigh the vehicle at a weigh station.
Is Towing Bad for Your Truck? Towing is not bad for your truck. However, you have to remember that the additional weight being added to the vehicle is going to put more stress on the components. Trucks are built for towing. Although, this does not necessarily mean that your vehicle is not going to be impacted by the towing. This means that a truck that is regularly towing will need to undergo a lot more maintenance than your average vehicle. Bigger tires will reduce your towing capacity. Vehicles that have smaller tires attached will likely be better towers.
This is because those smaller tires transmit a lot more force into the ground. This allows the vehicle to have a greater towing capacity. You do not need Light Towing LT tires for towing. However, most people recommend that you get them anyway. If your vehicle is going to be used for a lot of towing, then the LT tires will be far harder wearing for you. They will also do a better job at helping you to pull your cargo.
What Percentage of Towing Capacity is Safe? Once you start getting above this, the risk of causing damage to your vehicle will increase drastically. In theory, anything up to the towing capacity of your vehicle should be safe. Ideally, you should always be trying to tow as little weight as you possibly can with your vehicle.
A tow package is for people that want to tow anything e. Tow packages will often include some rather substantial upgrades to the vehicle, as a result.
0コメント