MoreLetters:
Newbie GVWR Questions: I own a GMC 2005 2500hd diesel truck. I am looking to purchase a 30-34 foot 5th
wheel. T e GVWR of my truck is 9,200 lbs. My truck weighs 7,350 lbs.
T is weight includes two people, diesel fuel, luggage, etc. T is basically leaves 1,850 lbs of cargo weight. (Pin weight of a
5th
wheel.) T e max payload is 3,312 lbs but I am assuming part of this
fi gure is already in my 7,350 fi gure above. My rear axle rating is 6,084 lbs which is quite a bit lower than
the 3,312 payload limit. But I guess that doesn’t aff ect the payload limit. I see many of my truck model pulling rather large (2 & 3 sliders) wheels down the road. Most if not all the 5th
5th
looked at have a pin weight of over 2,000 lbs. So my question(s) to all the experienced 5th
wheels I have wheelers: Are most of what I see on the road pushing the limits of what
their truck is designed to pull? Is it common practice to be over the GVWR of the tow vehicle
but within the CGWR of the vehicle and trailer? What is an OK limit to be over on the GVWR of the tow
vehicle? Will my E rated tires take more load than the GVWR? I would
hate to blow a tire. Do any of you 5th
wheelers take your loaded units to a weigh
scale and actually weigh your units or are you just guessing at what seems OK? Here is a website I found that is excellent for all RVers:
http://www.th.gov.bc.ca/cvse/references_publications/pdf/ MV3231(082003)GVWR.pdf.
Jim C. Burnaby, BC
Jim, You will fi rst have to contact your GMC dealer for them to
advise you on the amount the truck is rated to tow. Be sure to have all your truck info at hand before you call. If your payload is 3,312 lbs you must subtract the weight of fuel
and the number of people riding in the vehicle cab. For example: 50 gals fuel + 2 people + hitch = approximately 1,150 lbs. T is would give you approximately 2,162 lbs of pin weight
capacity. You will have to also consider the increased pin weight when
you stock your RV with food, dishes, water and all other items you may load into the trailer. Also do you currently have an endorsement to haul an RV over
10,000 lbs? If not you will be required to take a written test and a road test to obtain one. T ere is no okay limit to be over what the tow vehicle is rated to
pull. Very few RV dealers sell tires therefore you should contact your
local tire facility for advisement. Tires are defi nitely rated for the weight to be carried. If you are looking at purchasing a 5th wheel, your dealer should
have no issues with you taking it across a weigh scale. All licensed RV dealers will be able to help you with any questions that I have spoken about and any others you may have.
10 RVT 140 • MARCH/APRIL 2011
PS. I replied in Imperial rather than Metric measurements, as this was how the questions were sent. Check out
www.changingears.com for a weight calculator form.
Steve Joyce, Service Manager Jubilee RV, Kamloops, BC
Jim, You are correct in your calculations for the 1,850 lb maximum
hitch weight for your 2005 2500HD diesel truck by subtracting your 9,200 lb GVWR from the loaded weight of 7,350 lbs including passengers, fuel and cargo. Legally you must not exceed not only the hitch weight, but the GVWR of your truck including front and rear axle weight ratings, GVWR of the trailer and the GCWR (Gross Combined Weight Ratio) of both units together. A number of people who purchase RV’s either from a dealer or
private purchases do not take the time to do their research properly or actually weigh their RV’s. Failure to do this can lead to a costly mistake down the road. Your warranty on the truck may be voided if you tow an RV that is over the ratings of the vehicle. In the case of an accident, your insurance may be voided if it can be proven that you are towing above your weight limits and this aff ected your ability to brake or control the vehicle. T ere is excellent information available online from the
government of British Columbia for Recreational Vehicle owners at
www.th.gov.bc.ca under Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, Brake Requirements & Driver’s License Types for Recreational Vehicles. Every prospective RV buyer is advised to check their provincial government regulations as each province’s regulations may vary. Barry Goertzen, National Marketing Manager Fraserway RV, Abbotsford, BC
Camping at Walmarts: We were down to Bellingham last week and took the RV like we
have done many times before. We did some shopping and headed on down to Marysville where we boondock overnight at the big Super Walmart. T e next day we returned to Bellingham fi guring we would
park at the Walmart there and head across the border the next morning. No deal! No more overnight parking at the Bellingham Walmart! We asked why at the service desk and they said the new manager
has stopped the practice of letting people overnight there. It may have something to do with the locals who park there permanently with junkers that are all tarped up etc., and that has stopped it for everyone. We went on down to K-Mart and asked the manager there if
we could overnight and were told yes. About nine that evening we got a thump on the door and were told by the parking security we would have to move. T e mall management does not want overnighters. We just returned to Marysville and did more shopping there instead of in the Walmart in Bellingham. T ere are two rest stops between Bellingham and Marysville if
people don’t want to go that far south. Also the new Walmart north of Mt. Vernon does not allow
overnighters. T ere is a campground right beside the store so that is understandable! Looking forward to more good reads from your RV Times. Robin Teshima
mamorut@telus.net
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