User Tag List

Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 68
  1. #1
    New Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Posts
    4
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Question about towing and GVWR

    Hello!

    We're looking to upgrade our camper, just need a bit more space than we currently have. We're looking at purchasing a Grand Design 2600RB.

    Tow vehicle:
    2018 RAM 1500
    Curb Weight: 5378.50
    GVWR: 6900
    GCVWR: 13,800
    Towing Capacity: 7990
    Payload: 1200


    The GD 2600RB is:
    UVW: 5795
    GVWR: 7850
    Hitch: 594


    So I know the GVWR is pushing our limits of what we can tow, which with that comes safety concerns. The issue I'm having trouble getting a straight answer on is does the GVWR matter if we're not loading it up 100%. We know from our current camper that we added about 431lbs of cargo (CAT scale pre-trip minus the UVW of our current TT).

    With that being considered rounding up to 500LBs, even 600lbs for error puts us at 6,395 lbs. Which is 1,595 lbs below our towing capacity.

    The easy answer is get a 250 or 2500. Unfortunately just not in the cards at this moment. We just got the 1500 last year and then the camper. At the time with the market it was hard to find trucks and campers due to demand (more people camping due to COVID). We camped nearly every weekend last year and learned we need a bit more space and function.

    All that to say I understand the point of the GVWR, but if we're not planning to load up, does it really matter in this case?
    Open to any additional feedback.

    Thanks in Advance!
    Last edited by silvestravel; 02-15-2021 at 11:17 AM.

  2. #2
    Site Sponsor NB Canada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Woodstock
    Posts
    3,635
    Mentioned
    60 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    The weight police will start commenting very soon


    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew 1840 payload
    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crew 1840lb payload

  3. #3
    Site Sponsor Capt Bob's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2020
    Location
    Tallahassee Fla
    Posts
    246
    Mentioned
    7 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Well using your numbers you do indeed have a nice safety margin in "towing capacity" so....
    Guesstimating tongue weight we'll use 12.5% x your trailer weight of 6395 lbs and that leaves you with 800lbs +/-.
    What you don't know (at least in the post) is what your TV weights by itself, fully loaded.
    We do know it has about 800lbs in it via the tongue.
    Weighting the truck when full up for camping will get you a lot closer to the answer you seek, all "comforts/safety/opinions" aside.
    Robert and Chris
    2021 Imagine XLS 22MLE
    2024 2500HD Silverado 6.6L gas
    Blue Ox Sway Pro


  4. #4
    Site Sponsor sande005's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2017
    Location
    White Bear Lake, MN
    Posts
    1,483
    Mentioned
    21 Post(s)
    Tagged
    1 Thread(s)
    You've got four potential limits to consider, more or less in this order:

    1. Hitch capacity - usually a sticker on the bottom of the hitch. Essentially how much weight it is rated for. This would be the max tongue weight permissible. There are different amounts for dead weight vs using weight distributing.
    2. Truck payload - the GVWR of the truck, minus what it currently weights for travel (without trailer). Includes all passengers, snacks, tools, etc., etc. Will be less than the "Payload sticker" due to the things added since it rolled off the factory floor. You hitch weight and tongue weight count against this, too.
    3. The CGVWR - actual weight of the truck and trailer combined, all loaded with all passengers.
    4. The towing capacity. But if you're good for the above three, this will be fine, also. The closer you get to this limit, the more you may struggle up steep hills.....
    2017 Imagine 2670MK
    2012 F-150 SCrew, Eco, 4x4 6.5 box
    Max. Tow, HD Payload, Airbags, ProPride hitch
    (Previous: Jayco 26.5RLS Fifth, Revolution Pinbox)

  5. #5
    New Member
    Join Date
    Feb 2021
    Posts
    4
    Mentioned
    0 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by sande005 View Post
    You've got four potential limits to consider, more or less in this order:

    1. Hitch capacity - usually a sticker on the bottom of the hitch. Essentially how much weight it is rated for. This would be the max tongue weight permissible. There are different amounts for dead weight vs using weight distributing.
    2. Truck payload - the GVWR of the truck, minus what it currently weights for travel (without trailer). Includes all passengers, snacks, tools, etc., etc. Will be less than the "Payload sticker" due to the things added since it rolled off the factory floor. You hitch weight and tongue weight count against this, too.
    3. The CGVWR - actual weight of the truck and trailer combined, all loaded with all passengers.
    4. The towing capacity. But if you're good for the above three, this will be fine, also. The closer you get to this limit, the more you may struggle up steep hills.....
    1. Hitch says 1,400 lbs.
    2. Estimating 650 - There's just two of us and a small dog. We load most of what we have in the camper not much other than wood in the truck bed.
    3. Using what we had from our last CAT weigh in and subbing the Grand Design looks like we'd be about 13,720. Which puts us only 80lbs short of GCVWR

  6. #6
    Site Sponsor NB Canada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Woodstock
    Posts
    3,635
    Mentioned
    60 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)

    Question about towing and GVWR

    Quote Originally Posted by silvestravel View Post
    1. Hitch says 1,400 lbs.
    2. Estimating 650 - There's just two of us and a small dog. We load most of what we have in the camper not much other than wood in the truck bed.
    3. Using what we had from our last CAT weigh in and subbing the Grand Design looks like we'd be about 13,720. Which puts us only 80lbs short of GCVWR
    How are you arriving at 13720??

    5400+6400= 11800


    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew 1840 payload
    Last edited by NB Canada; 02-15-2021 at 11:57 AM.
    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crew 1840lb payload

  7. #7
    Seasoned Camper Calnca's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2018
    Location
    Bella Vista, AR
    Posts
    206
    Mentioned
    3 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by sande005 View Post
    The closer you get to this limit, the more you may struggle up steep hills.....
    Most any truck can "pull" a lot of weight........the size and capacity of your TV comes into play when braking and making that 50 mph turn at the bottom of a 7% downgrade road.......it's not just about "can I pull it up the hill"

    In this case, overkill is much better than the alternative.......

    So does this make me part of the "weight police"?
    Cal, Marsha and Bear the Labradoodle
    2019 F350 Platinum DRW, 6.7 PSD, 4:10, Firestone Airbags
    Pullrite Superlite
    2019 Momentum 376th
    Aprilia RST1000
    Evelo Aurora E-bikes

    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

  8. #8
    Site Sponsor NB Canada's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2018
    Location
    Woodstock
    Posts
    3,635
    Mentioned
    60 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by Calnca View Post
    Most any truck can "pull" a lot of weight........the size and capacity of your TV comes into play when braking and making that 50 mph turn at the bottom of a 7% downgrade road.......it's not just about "can I pull it up the hill"

    In this case, overkill is much better than the alternative.......

    So does this make me part of the "weight police"?
    Maybe. But some half tons have bigger brakes than 3/4 tons
    Trailers also have brakes to aid in stopping

    A 2500 with worn brakes won’t stop faster than a 1/2 ton with new brakes
    My Sierra also has down hill assist. I think every truck uses this technology
    Driving through Fundy national park I only have to use the brakes slightly. The truck does the rest
    As far as “reaching max” and climbing a hill?? It doesn’t really go together
    I am quite positive “if I wanted too” I could crest a grade just as fast as a 2500 with a gas or a diesel loaded up
    It is okay to rev a gas engine. 4000 rpms doesn’t hurt them


    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew 1840 payload
    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 Crew 1840lb payload

  9. #9
    Site Team Ynot4me2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    ON & QC Canada
    Posts
    4,767
    Mentioned
    38 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by silvestravel View Post
    Hello!

    We're looking to upgrade our camper, just need a bit more space than we currently have. We're looking at purchasing a Grand Design 2600RB.

    Tow vehicle:
    2018 RAM 1500
    Curb Weight: 5378.50
    GVWR: 6900
    GCVWR: 13,800
    Towing Capacity: 7990
    Payload: 1200


    The GD 2600RB is:
    UVW: 5795
    GVWR: 7850
    Hitch: 594


    So I know the GVWR is pushing our limits of what we can tow, which with that comes safety concerns. The issue I'm having trouble getting a straight answer on is does the GVWR matter if we're not loading it up 100%. We know from our current camper that we added about 431lbs of cargo (CAT scale pre-trip minus the UVW of our current TT).

    With that being considered rounding up to 500LBs, even 600lbs for error puts us at 6,395 lbs. Which is 1,595 lbs below our towing capacity.

    The easy answer is get a 250 or 2500. Unfortunately just not in the cards at this moment. We just got the 1500 last year and then the camper. At the time with the market it was hard to find trucks and campers due to demand (more people camping due to COVID). We camped nearly every weekend last year and learned we need a bit more space and function.

    All that to say I understand the point of the GVWR, but if we're not planning to load up, does it really matter in this case?
    Open to any additional feedback.

    Thanks in Advance!
    Keep in mind that the UVW is without propane tanks and battery and that number advertised by GD might not be what the actual tt will be. Our 22mle weight sheet was a couple of hundred over the advertised UVW. Most of the folks here with Imagine and Imagine XLS run an average tongue weight of 12.5 to 13%.
    So add maybe 100lbs for lp tanks and group 24 battery to the UVW plus what you figure you'll have for cargo and your wdh. There's plenty of true weight calculators on the web that you can use to paint a real picture. Our 22mle loaded fir camping with 1/3 fresh water comes in at 6000 lbs and 760 tongue weight. Our truck payload is at 1426 and we are close to our limit once people are loaded, geny, some tools and beer cooler are loaded. Personally I think you'll be over. Can you tow it, yep. Should you [emoji848] thats up to you.

    Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk
    Steph & Lise
    2019 F150 Lariat 2.7 EB
    2020 Imagine XLS 22MLE

  10. #10
    Site Team Ynot4me2's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2020
    Location
    ON & QC Canada
    Posts
    4,767
    Mentioned
    38 Post(s)
    Tagged
    0 Thread(s)
    Quote Originally Posted by NB Canada View Post
    The weight police will start commenting very soon


    2021 Imagine 2400 BH
    2018 GMC Sierra 4x4 crew 1840 payload
    Really? Thats real constructive advice.

    Sent from my SM-P610 using Tapatalk
    Steph & Lise
    2019 F150 Lariat 2.7 EB
    2020 Imagine XLS 22MLE

Page 1 of 7 123 ... LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

DISCLAIMER:This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Grand Design RV, LLC or any of its affiliates. This is an independent site.