Upgrade TV Tow Rating

[SuperGewl]

How do yo go about getting the Tow rating of your TV upgraded. We do all of these things to make our TV tow better have more power, better suspensions but how do make it legal so if I get stopped I want get a ticket?

[Ray,IN]

There are specialty shops that perform this work. It can be done. The next issue is it worth the considerable cost, or more practical to purchase a larger truck? Phone around to large truck repair facilities and inquire, when you locate a shop it must be certified by U.S. DOT to change the weight ratings.

This may involve replacing the entire suspension system, drastically altering the drive-train, braking system, wheels and tires, etc., because the rating is limited by the weakest link.

[450Donn]

As I understand things the only place in north America that can/will stop you is BC Canada. Then unless you are exceeding the GVWR there is no problems. No where in the USA is it illegal to tow overloaded or exceeding the GVWR/GCWR. Unless of course you are towing commercially.

[JIMNLIN]

Stay under your trucks axle/tire capacities and you will have no legal issues pertaining to being over weight. As 450don says GCWR/GVWR is a commercial "combined" weight registration thing. Your 3500 SRW Dodge has a 6500 RAWR for carrying loads. That equates to 3000-3500 lbs determined by the truck actual axle weights.

I approached a certified alterer about changing the certification label on a 3500 SRW truck that someone made it into a 3500 DRW. It been over 25 years ago and NHTSA may have different regs now. The alterer says he couldn't uprate a vehicle GVWR/GAWR but he can recertify them at a lower capacity. See NHTSA web on

"Make inoperative prohibition "
Scroll down about halfway to the part thats says ;

"Issues pertaing to load carrying capacity".
Heres what NHTSA says about GVWR/GAWRs..........

".......This information should then be used to calculate whether the modification would cause the vehicle to exceed the manufacturers Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) or Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR) when in normal use. If it would, the vehicle should not be modified. Note: The "make inoperative" regulation requires modifiers to notify consumers of a vehicle's new load carrying capacity, if the load carrying capacity has been reduced by 220 pounds or more".

Some folks claim just adding higher capacity tires and wheels can quailfy their trucks at a higher capacity. Heres what NHTSA says on that point....

"Alterer means a person or business making changes to a certified vehicle. These changes do not include the addition, substitution, or removal of readily attachable components, such as mirrors or tire and rim assemblies".....

Contact a certified alterer or vehicle modifier near you and see what he can do for you.

[FastEagle]

Quote:

Originally Posted by 450Donn As I understand things the only place in north America that can/will stop you is BC Canada. Then unless you are exceeding the GVWR there is no problems. No where in the USA is it illegal to tow overloaded or exceeding the GVWR/GCWR. Unless of course you are towing commercially.

That’s not an accurate statement and I’m surprised more posters have not already chimed in.

Here in SC my truck’s GCWR (23,000#) is printed right on my vehicle registration. SC DOT is very active in policing vehicles that appear overloaded. When stopped for their investigation all of your TV axles and trailer axles will be individually weighed. If the weight exceeds your TV’s GCWR you are parked and ticket(s) are issued.


FastEagle

[TEX-CTD]

ill second that. that is an inaccurate statement about only worrying about the GCWR.

u can be inder that # and be way over the GAWR(axle rating)

like said stay under axle and tire rating and u will be fine.

as far as changing the actual ratings of the TV u really cant. u can add all the stuff in the world to make it tow better/handle the wt. w that said there might be a way to have a DOT shop do it but a bigger truck would be most cost effective IMO