GUIDE TO CHOOSING THE BEST TRUCK FOR 5TH-WHEEL TOWING
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Tow Capacity , Payload , and GCWR : How Big of a Truck Do I Need ?
You may have come across phrases like " weight capacity ," " payload ," and " GCWR " in your truck research , but what do all these ratings mean ?
Towing capacity is , as the name suggests , the maximum weight you can tow . Truck manufacturers differentiate between bumper-pull towing capacities and fifth-wheel towing capacities , with the latter being greater . Check for the specific fifth-wheel tow rating of your truck ' s year , make , model , and options ( this information can generally be found online ). It ' s good to have some wiggle room of a few thousand lbs when choosing a truck to tow your fifth wheel . For instance , if your fifth wheel is 14,000 lbs , you should aim for a truck that can tow at least 16,000 or 17,000 lbs .
Payload is defined as the load weight a vehicle can carry , including people , cargo , and vehicle options . Payload is the downward force of your cargo in your vehicle , or how much it can hold rather than pull . ( This is the rating that usually gets exceeded first , so you want to be careful .)
You can generally find a given truck ' s payload online . Most also list payload capacity on the yellow sticker inside the door jamb . Always make sure your payload capacity is enough to support your cargo , vehicle options , driver and passengers , and loaded trailer .
GCWR is your Gross Combined Weight Rating , which is the maximum combined weight of your loaded truck plus your fully loaded trailer . The truck ' s specifications and towing capabilities should be listed on the sticker inside the driver ' s side door or displayed online . ( Owner ' s manuals and manufacturer ' s websites are a great resource to check for these numbers .)
Check for the Gross Combined Weight Rating ( GCWR ) and subtract your Gross Vehicle Weight
( GVW ), which is the combined weight of your truck , fuel , passengers , and cargo when your vehicle is loaded and ready for towing . The difference between the GCWR and the GVW is the maximum loaded trailer weight the truck can tow .
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