nathan w. collier

certain posters on different RV boards suggest that a dodge dually is
capable of far more than the posted gvwr, suggesting that its set based on
the load rating of your tires. anyting to this? will higher rated tires
increase your gvwr?
thanks,

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://InlineDiesel.com
http://CollierWelding.com
http://BighornRefrigeration.com
http://ConcealedCarryForum.com

miles

I've often wondered what the formula is that manufactures use to compute
GVWR. Or is it that each manufacture has their own formula with a fudge
factor depending on market?

td

GVWR is easy; GVWR shall be specified by the manufacturer as not less
than the sum of: curb weight, dealer installed options weight, occupant
mass, luggage.

Another way to look at it each manufacturer determines the maximum
acceptable weight limits for each vehicle by considering the combined
weight of the strongest weight bearing components (the axles) and the
weaker components (vehicle body, frame, suspension, and tires).

So you need to upgrade the body, frame, suspension and tires to safely
increase GVWR. Or just move some load to the trailer to reduce GVWR;
just keep it within GCWR.

steve lusardi

The problem isn't just modifying the vehicle to increase the GVWR, it is
the certification of the increase for liability purposes. It is simply not
within the economic capacity of an individual owner.
Steve

nathan w. collier

certification with who? when i registered my truck at the dmv i licensed it
to 18000#.

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://InlineDiesel.com
http://BighornRefrigeration.com
http://ConcealedCarryForum.com

mike simmons

Nate:

Nothing can change your vehicles GVWR. It is set by Dodge and cannot be
changed. It is certified to FMVSS standards at the time of manufacturer.
You "can" do mods that will increase the weight carrying capacity, but this
will do nothing to change the GVWR as certified.

The GVWR is determined by the manufacturer through testing and is determined
in part by the load carrying capacities of various components. The
component(s) that has the lowest weight rating is usually the primary factor
is GVWR. Look at it like a barrel with staves of various heights. Even
though some staves are quite high, the total water carrying capacity of the
barrel is determined by the shortest stave.

Mike

steve lusardi

Nathan,
If you are involved in an accident and the insurance company found you had
exceeded the manufacturer's GVWR and in their opinion contributed to the
accident, they are no longer liable. You just let them off the hook. Just
imagine the hassle with the courts, the lawyers, the cost, your time and
possible bankruptcy. Do you think for a single moment that you could defend
your self modifications over the factory recommendations successfully? Are
you sure you want to do this?
Steve

nathan w. collier

i guess its time to go look at an F550. :-( i want to add a toolbox
utility bed to my truck so that i can have both the utility capability and
the slide-in camper while pulling a trailer. i HATE to think that there
isnt a cummis powered pickup capable of this in the dodge line....and id
have to step up to an F650 to get the cummins in a ford.

--
Nathan W. Collier
http://UtilityOffRoad.com
http://7SlotGrille.com
http://InlineDiesel.com
http://BighornRefrigeration.com
http://ConcealedCarryForum.com

td

Found this quote:

According to Harry Thompson, chief of the NHSA's Vehicle Crash
Avoidance Division, modifying GAWR is much easier than changing the
GVWR of a vehicle. Upgrading the axel rating can be as simple as
changing out the tires. Modifying the GVWR is a difficult thing to do,
requiring modifications such as the addition of frame stiffeners or
augmenting the vehicle's structure in other ways, he said.

Looks like the poster to that RV board must have got confused; tires
increase GAWR. This link is also worth a read even though it is about
adding mods for disabled people it looks like fines would be involved
if the mods are not consistent with motor vehicle safety and the
Vehicle Safety Act:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/...23087.rbm.html

ramman

Steve hit the nail on the head here. If you exceed the manufacturer's GVWR
(or GCWR) and are involved in an accident where it can be forensically
determined that exceeding manufacturer's weight specifications contributed
either to the cause or the severity you will be in some expensive trouble.

Just because you're not a commercial hauler does not absolve you of
liability for exceeding vehicle ratings. You can be fined just as severly
and shown to be criminally negligent.

When we were investigating the 5th wheel RV thing last month and looking
into suitable trucks to haul it with, the Dodge 1-ton dually + CTD was
only marginally legal and questionably safe with a 37-footer (Holiday
Rambler Presidential Suite) as we would be operating right up against the
wall of maximum ratings with virtually no margin for safety. True people
do it all the time, even with less truck and get by, but that doesn't make
it safe or wise. Idiots are born every day. In our opinion the FL50 was
the more appropriate truck for that specific RV.

In article <dumf4m$lls$00$1@news.t-online.com> "Steve Lusardi"
<stevenospam@lusardi.de> writes: