I'm a newbie on this forum and am not trying to start a firefight between the Weight Police and the Right to Tow anything with anything group. I do have questions about Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating.
The Certification label on the door post shows front and rear GAWR and the GVWR, but nowhere is the Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating shown.
Is the GCVWR a Manufacturers recomendation? Is it a legal requirement? Is it only a CYA for the Manufacturer and to use in evaluation of warrantee claims?
Am I legally required not to violate this weight? Since it is not on the certification label, how would anyone know what it actually is?
Thanks in advance for your information
Mike
Mike and Terry
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GCWR Is usually listed in your owner's manual, or sales brochure. It is formulated as a "combination" of tow vehicle weight, and trailer weight. If your TV is rated to tow 10,000lbs, it maybe actually only capable of towing 9,000lbs after adding several optional equipment add-ons to the TV, and still remain within the GCWR.
GCWR is, by definition, a rating. Nothing more. It literally stands for Gross Combined Weight Rating.
It is not a limit, not a law. Just a rating. On this forum it is highly controversial exactly how it is determined since NO known vehicle manufacturer has ever disclosed their actual method for determining it.
As best it can be explained, GCWR is supposed to be the maximum weight that a truck and trailer can weigh hitched together ready for travel. In some cases GCWR is the sum of the "Maximum tow rating" and the vehicle's base curb weight. In other cases it isn't.
I searched high and low, and the closest I ever came to an actual statement regarding how GCWR was determined was in an old towing guide published by GM. It stated (to my best recollection) that "GM determines GCWR by incrementally increasing the towed weight until such time towing performance is no longer acceptable". These days you can't even get that much out of them.
Basically GCWR is a powertrain performance specification designed to give a basic method by which to determine the towing ability of a vehicle. Exceeding the GCWR could lead to reduced performance or even mechanical failure. It takes a lot of research and understanding to figure out which.
Some believe that GCWR in some way relates to how much a person can safely tow. That is debatable since it can vary on identical models of vehicles just by changing an axle ratio or increasing motor size. Also, there are many other factors to consider besides weight when hitching up a tow vehicle and trailer such as wind resistance and stability, neither of which are addressed by GCWR.
I'll leave it to others to decide just how important GCWR is. These are just the facts.
'04 Ford Freestar (Primary tow vehicle) '05 Subaru Forester (Backup tow vehicle) '65 Bethany popup (best popups ever made!) Looking for a tow vehicle Minivan towing
Look for the information on a label in the rig on a door or somewhere. Or call the mfg.
Unfortunately the post by Engineer9860 is incorrect. You should never exceed either the GVWR or GCWR. When equipment is added by the dealer or you the CCC is reduced. The total weight including passengers, full fluids, optional equipment and cargo should never exceed the GVWR. GCWR - GVWR is the maximum you can tow. You cannot change the GCWR or GVWR by adding or removing weight.
Quote:
Am I legally required not to violate this weight? Since it is not on the certification label, how would anyone know what it actually is?
You are not legally required to do anything. But should you be in a serious accident you may then have to explain you actions to a judge. The chances of that may be small but it has and will continue to happen.
It is not a law. you can't be given a ticket. It is simply what the maker will warranty the truck to do. Go over. The warranty is dead, IF they can prove it.
No warranty. No problem.
Should you do it? It is up to you, and what you expect your towing experiance to be.
Speaking of FACTS;
The GCWR of my truck, according to the Owner's Manual, is 18,000 lbs. with the Cummins engine, 4.10 rear end ratio, and 5 speed transmission.
The one time I weighed the truck/fifth wheel combination, the actual combined weight was 21,160 lbs.
At no time have I ever had any performance problems, either going or stopping.
Later models of my truck, basicly identical, have a much higher GCWR.
It would appear to be primarily a marketing numbers game.
The only number I really should worry about is on the truck registration slip, where it says "GVW 14000". If I was ever weighed, and exceeded THAT number, I would probably get an overweight ticket.
The GCWR does not appear on ANY label. That is why I question any legality pertaining to this number.
Mike
I think we can all be held accountable for our actions. I think the fact that the mfg didn't supply the label or someone removed it would be a minor point in a serious court case.
BTW Besides the police specialist are called when required. Not only will they know the vehicle weight but they will know road radius, angles, grade or whatever the correct terms are.
Second BTW I'm neither the weight police or a legal person. Rather just trying to give you information so that you can make an informed choice.
I do have questions about Gross Combination Vehicle Weight Rating. 
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