Community Forums

Crasher · 06-08-2017, 01:48 PM

I have a 4wd Avalanche with a GCVW rating of 14,000#. I will be towing an open trailer with a modified Jeep on it. I just did a test run with the total weight of 13,900# It handled great with 600# on the hitch and stopped very controlled and in minimum distance. Total weight of the trailer was 7500#. Everything was within the recommended max load ratings. I want to add a storage box, spare tire for the Jeep and miscellaneous tools to the trailer which will add 1000# to the trailer (7800# max trailer rating) and put the GCVW up to 15,000#, or 1000# over the rating. For the long hauls, I will pull it with our motorhome. However, for about six 25 mile trips a year, I will want to pull it with the Avalanche. Never more than 25-30 miles at a time with only mild hills. How critical is the 14,000# GCVW rating? All axles and tires will be below their rating. It has 20# wheels, so the larger brakes and the trailer has brakes on both axles. What's the consensus here??

My option is to buy a bigger truck with a higher GCVW rating, but hate to for a half dozen 25 mile trips a year.

rskeans · 06-08-2017, 02:04 PM

The safe clean opinion is to not exceed the GCVW. For just 25 miles I wouldn't do anything. That distance from Havasu will just get you to the I-40 or to Parker. The risk is if you do have an accident, and the opposing lawyer starts picking, you might have a problem. You'll have more risk in hitting one of the wild burro's on the 95.

Crasher · 06-08-2017, 04:35 PM

I have always thought that the manufacturers build a safety factor into their trucks. A service manager for a Dodge dealership just told me that in a conversation with some company techs, that in order to cover their back sides, they rate the GCVW very conservative. On a half ton, he said that going over by 2000#'s over the stated max rating would not be a problem. I wouldn't start cross country 1000# over the GCVW rating, but guess I feel ok locally on 25-30 mile runs.

MtnTrek · 06-08-2017, 04:56 PM

We're a rough crowd, I personally wouldn’t do it, but I’ve not lost anything out in those washes either. We’re wimps and only go to the Desert Bar once a season.
It’s mostly about stopping that amount of mass.
That 14K# GCVW is predicated on the fact that the load being towed has it’s own adequate brakes and is within it’s own limits of adhesion / friction in a panic stop. The fact that your trailer is also overloaded by it’s designed specifications actually lowers your Vehicles GCVW by that amount. If that makes sense?
Have you actually weighed the total package wet in running form or are these estimations.
W-D hitch?
6x30=180miles, feeling lucky no doubt.
Watch out for those javalinas too.

Be well.

rampowerwago · 06-08-2017, 05:50 PM

pjmarko · 06-08-2017, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

I have a 4wd Avalanche with a GCVW rating of 14,000#. I will be towing an open trailer with a modified Jeep on it. I just did a test run with the total weight of 13,900# It handled great with 600# on the hitch and stopped very controlled and in minimum distance. Total weight of the trailer was 7500#. Everything was within the recommended max load ratings. I want to add a storage box, spare tire for the Jeep and miscellaneous tools to the trailer which will add 1000# to the trailer (7800# max trailer rating) and put the GCVW up to 15,000#, or 1000# over the rating. For the long hauls, I will pull it with our motorhome. However, for about six 25 mile trips a year, I will want to pull it with the Avalanche. Never more than 25-30 miles at a time with only mild hills. How critical is the 14,000# GCVW rating? All axles and tires will be below their rating. It has 20# wheels, so the larger brakes and the trailer has brakes on both axles. What's the consensus here??

My option is to buy a bigger truck with a higher GCVW rating, but hate to for a half dozen 25 mile trips a year.

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I may be looking at this wrong but, your tongue weight for your trailer looks to be 13,900# X .13 = 1,807#. Will that plus any cargo in your truck, along with the weight of all passengers and full tank of gas be more than your load capacity of the truck? My 2016 Ford F-150 SCAB has a load capacity of 1,600#. In most cases the limiting factor is tongue weight.

Skip426 · 06-08-2017, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

I have always thought that the manufacturers build a safety factor into their trucks. A service manager for a Dodge dealership just told me that in a conversation with some company techs, that in order to cover their back sides, they rate the GCVW very conservative. On a half ton, he said that going over by 2000#'s over the stated max rating would not be a problem. I wouldn't start cross country 1000# over the GCVW rating, but guess I feel ok locally on 25-30 mile runs.

When you reach GCWR , with the trailer added , be it a TT, flat deck or fiver. You'll probably be at or over the RAWR on the truck , and at the limits of the tow vehicle cooling system .
How do I know you ask .

I attended a wedding in Calgary AB. from my then home of Kelowna BC. Towing a 5er at the GCWR of my V-8 Dakota P/U . Trip over temps in the low 80s no problems . Trip back 104

Had to shut the A/C off to stop the truck from overheating, in the first 10 mins of the trip, 8 1/2 hours with no A/C . DW was less than impressed. Second day back , she threw an ad for a used 3/4 ton under my nose, and said " Will this tow the trailer without overheating ? " When I said yes , she said " Buy it ! "

BTW: I know that summer in LHC. 104 would be nothing for temps , sometimes that's the over night low. Towing at high temps you could over heat , going from London Bridge up the hill to Sara Park. Or going north , Walmart to the summit on 95 before the downhill to I-40.
Be careful out there , blowing a rad or cooking a transmission is no fun , even if your only 25 miles from home.

Crasher · 06-08-2017, 06:33 PM

The trailer has GVW of 10,200# and will be loaded to 8500#. That's 1700# below rating. The Avalanche will be at 7500 or 300# over it's GVWR. If I were to add the braking capacity of the trailer 10,200# to the 7200# GVW of the Avalanche, I get 17,400# of braking ability. The total loaded combination will be 15,000# or 1000# over the GCVW of the Avalanche, but 2400# below the braking ability of the two. As far as stopping ability, it should be pretty good. It was very good today with a 14,000# combined weight. In all of this, I had a 600# tongue weight. I know it should be 10-15% of the trailer, but it was stable and handled well. I have a WD hitch which allow the tongue weight to go up to 1100#.

Crasher · 06-08-2017, 06:43 PM

I'm not concerned about overheating. We are in LHC only from Nov till May. We're back in our WI home for the summer. I will only be hauling the Jeep down to Parker and back a few times in 75-80* temps.

Crasher · 06-08-2017, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MtnTrek

We're a rough crowd, I personally wouldn’t do it, but I’ve not lost anything out in those washes either. We’re wimps and only go to the Desert Bar once a season.

On the way into the Desert Bar you go right past Presidents Choice, The Duke, Deliverance, Rio Lobo, True Grit and other trails that will challenge the best of them.

theoldwizard · 06-08-2017, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crasher

All axles and tires will be below their rating.

When you are beyond the limit, these 2 would likely fail first.

Brakes second.

Crasher · 06-09-2017, 05:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by theoldwizard

When you are beyond the limit, these 2 would likely fail first.

Brakes second.

I appreciate your concern, but when loaded with 600# dead weight on the hitch, the rear axle weighs 4000# (max rating is 4100#) and with a WD hitch I can transfer 300-400# of that back to the front axle if needed. The tires are still below their max load too. After talking to a couple of service managers that I trust, I should be ok as long as I do not exceed the individual component limits. Thanks for your comments.

**Spdracr39** · 06-09-2017, 05:26 AM

If you exceed your GVWR the earth will explode and if there are any lawyers left they will sue you for it.

No really those are legal factory recommendations and should be adhered to however like anything's "max recommended limit" there is wiggle room. It is safer to stay under that figure and exceeding it is a risk of premature wear on your vehicle or a potential lawsuit if there is an accident. Your real issue is going to come with drivabilty under emergency conditions and being overweight could cause a loss of control to be more likely when that event occurs. If it feels ok and you take it easy the world won't end but I wouldn't go cross country that way.

Crasher · 06-09-2017, 07:55 PM

I don't think I will have any problems. If I feel unsafe, I'll just drive the Jeep down to Parker. I'm putting on the softer sticky tires and they do not like highway surfaces at speed. They would probably wear out in 2000-2500 miles and at $500+/ tire, it gets pricy, so hope the trailering works out.