This is an interesting development in recent 3/4 ton specs. It "used to be" that all 3/4 ton trucks were limited to 10,000# GVWR. This meant that with a diesel powertrain, the truck might weigh close to 8,000# empty, leaving only 2,000# for payload. It is interesting that both GM & Ford appear to have recognized this and raised the GVWR with a diesel to allow a more reasonable payload. Ram appears to be holding on to the original limitation. I wonder what this does in jurisdictions where the 10,000# limitation is important for vehicle registration and/or driver's licence limitations?

Rob

GM manufactures specific 10K GVWR trucks where the payload is slightly different when comparing the same truck to the normal distribution of vehicles. If a customer buys a rig that falls outside of the 10K GVRW limits of the truck, they simply need a higher capacity truck and would have to register it accordingly.

https://www.gmc.com/trailering-towing

https://www.gmc.com/content/dam/gmc/...ng%20Guide.pdf

Jim

Basically 3/4 ton trucks are class 2 (hence the 250 or 2500 designation) which is federally limited to 10,000 lbs. GM and Ford have realized that the combined axle loadings is more than the GVW and do't really classify the truck as a Federal 2 any longer by the sounds of it. (I have not watched the video). Likewise, my 2004 GM 2500 4WD has a higher capacity than my 2018 GM 4WD truck. Both sill have a 10,000 GVW but the base weight of the trucks are different. So over the years as self weight increases, payload decreases.

I don't have the link to the weight classifications handy right now, but that has been the limit on 250 and 2500 class trucks for a long time.

F250 and 2500 Trucks fall into a Class 2b where these trucks can also be purchased to fall into a class 3.

GM produces a specific 2b class of 3/4 ton trucks (10K GVWR or Less) as seen in the towing guide on page 5. The payload values paint a clear picture in comparing 2500 and 3500 series trucks from GM.

https://www.gmc.com/content/dam/gmc/...ng%20Guide.pdf



Jim

Guest Jim, It was my understanding GM was upping the GVW from 10k on the 2500's to match the axle capacities. Maybe they changed their minds, but its easy to see that its completely possible to be under axle capacity, but over gross on the truck.

There is much more that goes into this than axle ratings alone. If we were basing this on axle ratings alone wouldn't the gas truck have a higher front axle rating? The increase has more to do with being competitive than anything else since manufacturers will look at the market, sales, etc and will accommodate what the market demands. Various ratings are designed to prevent folks from loading a truck to unreasonable limits while being under the axle rating. For instance, could we load up a TT to the axle rating of the truck? No. We would exceed the hitch limits, and adversely affect handling and braking. This system of checks and balances are in place to keep the truck safe in all aspects of towing. This is not based on the axle rating alone.

GM has an actual towing group where they test the entire system on the truck under various scenarios. The rear axle ratings may be the same but the 3500 uses a 12" ring gear where the 2500 uses a 11.5" ring gear, with the exception of the 6.6L gas which uses a 12" ring gear. Commonality in parts can make the axle load rating the same, while the trucks overall can be different.

I see these discussions as a way for folks to gain acceptance to overload a truck where its never acceptable to do so. It can be done, but it does not make it right. I'm not a spokes person for GM but I've seen what goes into this stuff and realize the limits are posted for the safety of the owner, occupants and others on the road.

Jim,

As far as laws go In Texas, there are 2 things to consider with vehicles that have a GVWR rating above 10,000# and GCVWR rating over 26,000#: CDL license, and/or DOT number registration.

If the tow vehicle GCVWR is over 26,000# (mine is 30,000#) and you are using the vehicle as a "for hire" or have transporting cargo for commercial enterprise, or are transporting more than 15 passengers, or transporting hazardous material (kids??), or are a citizen from another country you must have a DOT number.

If the tow vihicle has a GCVWR of over 26000#, the GVWR of the tow vihicle is UNDER 26000# and the towed vehicle has a GVWR UNDER 10000#, you do not need a DOT number, and can legally tow with a class C license. However, if the toe vehicle GCVWR is over 26000# and the GVWR of the tow vehicle is under 26000# but the towed vehicle GVWR is over 10000# you must have a class A CDL license.

So, it isn't just the tow vehicle GVWR, it is the tow vehicle GVWR, the tow vehicle GCVWR, the towed vehicle GVWR, type of cargo, number of passengers and purpose of transporting that determine DOT number and/or CDL license requirements.

This is why many 3/4 ton trucks stick to the 10000# GVWR, even if the combined axle rating exceeds 10000#, and many trailers have a GVWR of under 10000# when the axle setup exceeds 10000#.

However I do agree with Jim (MidwestCamper), we should be careful not to overload tow or towed vehicles just because the axle ratings exceed GVWR rating. The majority of us are not experts, we do not have CDL's, we just enjoy the RV lifestyle. It's better to stay within limits set by manufacturers than to push boundaries in my opinion.

EDIT: If any of this information is incorrect, **please correct me and provide the correct information**

We went to the camper place today and decided to get the camper. Take ownership next Sat. If I keep my same camper camping is not going to be fun anymore due to my mom wants to go with a us all the time and glad she does! Spoke with the service manager about doing a test drive with it before I buy it. He said sure can not a problem. Then I asked if I can get it weighed and he said probably not due to the scale place is to far and I understand. He also said if it tows bad or don’t like the ride bring it back and get my camper I was trading in But he said air bags work great even if your truck squats an inch. He told me 1300 for air bags and installed. Then after I get the camper I will weight it then load it up and weight again and check my numbers. If I am over we decided to go to a one ton truck this year. So thoughts on my decision and what type of air bags do y’all recommend?? I had many different type of air bags on my other Ford’s but like to hear who is running what.

I’ve had both Firestone and Airlift bags, both times I used the Airlift wireless compressor and had no complaints.

I’d suggest you wait to install the bags until after you weigh, no sense spending that money if you’re going to replace the truck anyway.

Mmm true. I will put them on my self. Amazon has air light for 300 bucks. But I will not be able to weigh it until I have sign on the line for it. So I might them and put them on and if or when I change trucks I take them off and put on the new truck. But like I said it will couple of months before I will get another truck if I have to. I looked at my tires today and they was 3370 per tire the service guy was talking about how much weight tires can hold. He really didn’t explain that can anyone here help me understand why he asked? Thanks