In the years I've spent here I've learned a lot about how to calculate the weights when you tow. My first set up ended up #3100 below my towing capacity and 100# over my GVWR so I guess I've always been "over". I'm as skeptical as anyone about the guy who's got a big rig behind a 3/4 ton SRW and says "oh I've never weighed it... but it tows fine".
I guess I'm soon to be one of those who will attract more attention from the closet weight police though. We ordered a triple axle hauler and intend to give it a try with my 3/4 ton SRW diesel. A good friend who recently heard about our plans turns out to be a closet weight policeman though! Out of interest he looked up the rig we ordered and just told my wife that he's pretty concerned about trying to tow it with our current truck.
I can understand his point. The hauler grosses at 19,000#, which I'm guessing is the number that caught his eye. However, we are buying it for the floorplan, not to actually load up -- so there's more to it than just that one big number we will not hit for sure.
I cannot get it weighed in advance but it's spec'd to be 10,900# dry, so I'm expecting it could be as much as 12,000# optioned. I'm further expecting it to weigh 13,000# loaded with our stuff and have a pin at as much as 2600#.
My truck is spec'd to pull 13,100# so I'm OK there AFAIK.
I'm sitting at 9100# now with my 1400# pin (technically 100# over) however as near as I can tell the diesel version of my model is really a 1Ton for all intents and purposes, so I'm taking the 9900# number for the 1Ton SRW to be OK. Still I could end up at 10,300#... 400# over that, so a set of airbags are in my garage and about to go on. That should give me margin for the suspension. My Michelins are supposed to be good to 3190# each and even with a 2600# pin they will "only" be carrying 2850# each... I may be looking for wheels and tires rated for more to give me margin there.
After we pick it up we will be stopping at a scale soon and that's when I'll know. If the numbers look too out of range or if it does not tow well I'm prepared to trade my truck for a dually - but right now that's not my plan.
However I do now realize that towing a triple axle behind a 3/4T-SRW will surely taunt many closeted weight police to say something (btw - my buddy should talk... I'm sure his rig is over the published limits on his 3/4T Chevy and I know he needs the airbags to keep from squatting too much).
Should be interesting. Let's see how long it takes this post to collect the predictable assortment of responses. Though hopefully sorting through it I may learn something new too...
Dave Lindemulder
Tammy, Mark & Kirsten
04 Dodge 2500 4x4 SLT QC/SB
HO-CTD/48RE - Graphite: Raptor SS nerfs, Prodigy, Reese 16K Kwik-slide, BD X-Monitor, PML Trans pan, PML Diff cover, Firestone Airbags
09 Heartland Cyclone 3210
There are many overloaded rigs on the road that haven't had a problem - yet. You acknowledge that you will be marginal at best.
Once you load your new fiver for a typical trip and take it to the scales, you will have the answers. It is up to you to heed or ignore the information.
You know your over the ratings for a SRW 1-ton and you have a 3/4 ton.
You're going to do it anyway so nothing anyone here can say will change that.
Just be careful.
Keith J, Retired from GM Engineering
2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD SLE 2WD/CC/SB/DA.
1999 Sunnybrook 27RKFS Fiver
Bilsteins, Line-X, Westin steps, Prodigy, Retrax, 16K Superglide, 5th-Airborne pin-box, Multi-vex mirrors.
At least you accept the possibility going in that if you feel too far over that you will upgrade, that sounds more responsible to me than "I know I am way over but I don't care"!
kaydeejay wrote: You know your over the ratings for a SRW 1-ton and you have a 3/4 ton.
You're going to do it anyway so nothing anyone here can say will change that.
Just be careful.
There are many things that people here could say that would change my plans. Just nothing that begins with the sentence "so you think you know better than the people who print brochures for the truck" or something along those lines. Something like "I used a 2004 CTD SRW to tow xxx# and _____________ happened because..." would influence me a bunch.
H4Adventures wrote: you accept the possibility going in that if you feel too far over that you will upgrade
absolutely. In fact if the newer trucks got better fuel economy than the one I own now I would probably buy a new dually now - I just can't bring myself to buy a new truck and get worse fuel economy. If I do need to upgrade the truck I'll probably try to do a swap for another 04 to 06 CTD DRW. The other option is tires and transmission upgrades to the truck I've got. Beyond the possible advantage in lateral stability I don't see how a set of G rated or better tires is any different than putting 4 E rated tires under the same load on the same axle with the same springs, same frame and same brakes.
For the tranny - if it has issues I'll feel it slip and see it heat up and there are a few things I can do about that... btw I'd ALSO be looking at tranny work on the identical tranny sitting in front of the dually if this load is an issue for the SRW.
Lets see now,
Dodge 2500 GCWR 20,000 pounds
3500 dually GCWR 23,000 pounds
Your trucks ready to camp weight? I will guess 7000 pounds to be consertative
New trailers GVWR 19,000? I assume this is a fiver so that seems to indicate a pin weight of what? Something like 3800 pounds?
No matter how you slice this up, that trailer is squarely in the realm of an MDT.
But you already have your mind made up and are obviously here looking for confirmation. Lots of which you will get.
Dave...there are many of us out there that are over weight at least one way or the other. Acknowledging this is half the battle, however as others have pointed out i also sense you like myself will be shopping for a bigger truck in the future.
2007 Toyota Tundra Sr5 DC 4x4 8'bed 5.7 tow package 4:30 gears
2007 Keystone Outback Sydney 32BHDS
2006 HD Street Glide
1997 Yamaha YZF1000r
1995 Honda CR500r
Well to put it this way, I'm not a member of the weight police but a 19,000 lbs GVWR is an aweful lot for a SRW truck - 3/4 ton or 1 ton.
Since the only difference is springs and possibly tires between a 3/4 ton and a SRW 1 ton, I would be looking toward a DRW diesel truck.
Now you can turn your current truck into a DRW and add some springs and more capable tires to give it the same capability as a 1 ton DRW, but the weight police on this sight will point out that the sticker won't change. From my point of view, the sticker doesn't do the work, the truck does and if you add the appropriate parts it will do the same job a new truck will do.
If you are looking to spend less money and keep your current truck, this is an option. The cummins you have in that truck is, in my opinion, superior (and has less moving parts) to the new motor they are making so I might be looking into a DRW conversion before I made any final decisions on a new (expensive) truck. Remember that is just my opinion and you know what that is good for.
Don't let the weight police on this sight spend your money for you. Remember also that toy haulers once a toy is loaded in the rear get lighter in front. It will not have as heavy of a pin as some are trying to convince you above.
You have a lot of options - don't let the folks here limit your options.
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