Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity

[Leroux]

On the calculator I found on this site for towing capacity, I put in my information and came up with a -224 for the Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity, what does that mean? I assume negatives are bad?

Im looking at getting a 2006 Nash 26X, will be towing with an '04.5 Ram CTD.

[Leroux]

On the calculator I found on this site for towing capacity, I put in my information and came up with a -224 for the Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity, what does that mean? I assume negatives are bad?

Im looking at getting a 2006 Nash 26X, will be towing with an '04.5 Ram CTD.

[RustyJC]

Are you referring to iRV2 member Ken Lenger's calculation spreadsheet HERE (link at bottom of page)?

Rusty

[Leroux]

Yes, thats the one?

[RustyJC]

Yes, a negative number in Row 58 indicates how much you are exceeding the truck's rated GVWR. With a 5th wheel, this is more common with SRW (single rear wheel) 3/4 and 1 ton trucks because of their lower GVWR compared to a 1 ton dually and results from the higher hitch/pin weight of the 5th wheel RV (~20% is typical) in comparison to a TT (~12% is typical).

Rusty

[Leroux]

So then by having the cargo capacity being a negative number, I am overloading the truck weight capacity, correct? If so, then I have to much trailer for my truck?

[RustyJC]

That's what it's telling you. Too much RV pin weight for the GVWR of the loaded truck. Of course, I don't know what numbers you've loaded into the spreadsheet, so I can't comment on specifics.

Rusty

[Leroux]

Here is the info I put in.

Description Weight
Tow Vehicle Specifications
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 8,510
GCWR (Gross Combination Weight Rating) 20,000
Curb Weight (Empty Weight) 6,813
Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity 1,697
Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR) 13,187
Tow Vehicle Options, Cargo, Passengers
Driver 220
Passengers 135
Fuel (gas 6.2 lb/gal, diesel 7.0 lb/gal) 210
Hitch 125
Other ( ) 200
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Weight Added (Total) 890
New Tow Vehicle Weights w/o Trailer
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight - Total) 7,703
Gross Trailer Weight Rating (GTWR) 12,297
Trailer Specifications
GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating) 10,000
Axle Weight 5,765
Hitch Weight 900
Weight Calculated (Total) 6,665
Hitch (Pin) Weight % 14%
Trailer Options, Cargo, Accessories
Fresh Water (8.35 lb/gal) 167
Gray Water No. 1 20
Gray Water No. 2 20
Black Water 20
Water in water heater 80
Water in accumulator 0
Propane (4.22 lb/gal) 168
Batteries 124
Generator 0
Other ( ) 600
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Other ( ) 0
Weight Added (Total) 1,199
Calculated Trailer Weights
GVW (Gross Vehicle Weight) 7,864
Optional Hitch (Pin) % Adjustment (Note 4) 14%
GAW (Gross Axle Weight) 6,802
Hitch (Pin) Weight 1,062
Reserve Trailer Cargo Capacity 2,136
New Tow Vehicle Weights w/ Trailer
GVW w/ Trailer (Total) 8,765
Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity -255
GCW w/ Trailer (Gross Combined Weight) 15,567
Reserve Towing Capacity 4,433

[RustyJC]

Are you sure about your 8,510 lb GVWR? Check your door sticker on the driver's door jamb. I've never seen a Dodge Cummins rated lower than 8,800 lbs since it has to be a 3/4 ton truck as a minimum, and I thought the 3rd generation trucks like yours were rated 9,200 lbs (3/4 ton) to 9,900 lbs (1 ton SRW).

Rusty

[Leroux]

Thats the odd thing, the door sticker says 9000lbs, but if I go to Dodges site at www-5.dodge.com and put in my information it says the GVWR is 8510.

[RustyJC]

Go with the 9000 lbs. Dodge's websites often contain errors like this.

Rusty

[Leroux]

Thats good then, so that makes it

Reserve Tow Vehicle Cargo Capacity 235

Still closer then I would like, but it works.

[TXiceman]

As Rusty had one truck that was awfully close on GVWR, he can give real good advice...He told his wife, Madame Boomer, ANYTHING extra had to be loaded to the rear of the trailer axles.....

Ken

[RustyJC]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">Originally posted by TXiceman:
As Rusty had one truck that was awfully close on GVWR, he can give real good advice...He told his wife, Madame Boomer, ANYTHING extra had to be loaded to the rear of the trailer axles.....

Ken </div></BLOCKQUOTE>



Rusty