GCWR and load weight question

Discussion in 'Expediter and Hot Shot Trucking Forum' started by fuzzyhutch, Dec 4, 2017.

  1. Dec 4, 2017 #1
    fuzzyhutch

    fuzzyhutch Bobtail Member

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    Dec 4, 2017
    SE of Oklahoma City
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    Hello, FNG here and I have a question (imagine that) :)

    I bought a 08 F350 Dually 6.4 about 1 year ago to pull an RV but it was in the back of my mind when I bought it to start doing some hotshot work. I live in Oklahoma so there is an abundance of it. I am in the process of getting my CDL now. I own another small business but I have some great employees and it pretty much runs itself.

    OK, back to my question. GCWR. I have read till my eyes have bled and I thought I understood it but the numbers and post I am seeing in the "So you wanna be a hotshot driver" thread are not adding up for me and I want to be SURE that I understand it.

    OK, I have a 2008 F350 Superduty and its a peach with only 34K documented miles, very nice truck.

    Its GVWR is 13000 lbs. In the Ford towing guide that I found online it says the the GCWR for this truck is 23,500 lbs and the maximum loaded trailer weight is 15,300 lbs ????? The tow boss package can get you up to 26,000 GCWR

    Now my door plate does not list a GCWR, just the GVWR of 13,000 lbs.

    But by reading through this forum I see most of the guys are pulling 35-40 foot goosenecks which weigh between 7000 - 8000 lbs.

    This only leaves 7000 pounds for the actual load. Thats not much, my tractor with a front end loader weighs that much. Much less the guys that are pulling 2-3 cars on a 40' GN

    What am I missing here?

    In the sticky thread at the top of this forum fladbedcarrier talks about when register your truck under IRP you add the GVWR of the truck and trailer together to get the combined weight rating. Which in my case 13K for the truck and 24K for a 40' gooseneck which would be 37000 lbs. which if this is the registered weight does that mean that is the legal weight I "could" haul?

    My truck weighs 8000 lbs. The trailer 7500 lbs. Another 500 for chains, straps & such. That would give me 20000 lbs for cargo, . This trailer with a GVWR of 24K is almost double what ford says is the maximum towing capacity of this truck is. (if it was fully loaded)

    I am just confused I guess. Do you guys go by the manufactures GCWR 23500 that is on the towing guide (but not on the door sticker) and only haul 7000-8000 pound loads? I understand that i am not realistically going to load to the max and run down the road at 40K.

    But what is actually legal? What is the law? What is actually safe? Are you subject to being sued if you excede Ford's GCWR for the truck which is 23500 and you have an accident?

    What weight of loads are you guys actually carrying on the 1 ton duallys and 40' gooseneck?

    If you have read this far I appreciate your time (and hopefully your knowledge)

    Hutch in Oklahoma
     
    fuzzyhutch, Dec 4, 2017
    fuzzyhutch, Dec 4, 2017
    #1
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  3. Dec 5, 2017 #2
    emeraldladdie

    emeraldladdie Bobtail Member

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    Dec 8, 2014
    Rochester,NY
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    emeraldladdie, Dec 5, 2017
    emeraldladdie, Dec 5, 2017
    #2
  4. Dec 5, 2017 #3
    emeraldladdie

    emeraldladdie Bobtail Member

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    Dec 8, 2014
    Rochester,NY
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    Great question Hutch, I could use that explanation myself......
     
    emeraldladdie, Dec 5, 2017
    emeraldladdie, Dec 5, 2017
    #3
  5. Dec 8, 2017 #4
    Dubbs

    Dubbs Bobtail Member

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    Dec 31, 2015
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    I hope this helps, When I ran a hot shot I had a dodge 4500, I went strictly by axle weights, it had a 7,000 front and 12,000 rear plus a 44’ pj with 2x 15,000 axles for a total of 49,000 lbs, irp registration at 48,000. I ran the lower 48 and never had any issues at the scales. DOT only ever cared about axle weights.

    My tare weight was right at 24k and I could carry 24k.

    With that, there are some smoke and mirrors here, I had a 30k trailer that weighed 11k and put 24k on it, but put the weight over the trailer axles (and you need to try and balance the weight on the trailer axles as much as possible) that would give you a tongue weight of ~9,000, so the truck is only carrying (not pulling, just holding up) it’s own weight (13,000) plus 9,000 lbs for the trailer for a total of 22,000, and that’s all totally legal.

    Beyond that, you need to check the ratings of your drivetrain. Most of the guys I know that have been doing this for any leingth of time have replaced their transmission a couple times and upgraded brakes and suspension, and that ups your vehicles gvw.

    As for average weight, I would estimate 18k, but like anything there were some light loads and way more heavy loads.
     
    Dubbs, Dec 8, 2017
    Dubbs, Dec 8, 2017
    #4
    tc3500 Thanks this.
  7. Dec 11, 2017 #5
    tc3500

    tc3500 Bobtail Member

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    Dec 10, 2017
    0
    Great explanation from Dubbs
     
    tc3500, Dec 11, 2017
    tc3500, Dec 11, 2017
    #5
    Dubbs Thanks this.
  8. Dec 13, 2017 #6
    flatbedcarrier

    flatbedcarrier Medium Load Member

    667
    827
    Jun 8, 2005
    Southern California
    0
    The GCWR that the mfgr states, in the fine print of the original window sticker it stated that it was a recommendation. And that recommendation is based on the type/size trailers that the mfgr used during testing. For instance a dual axle gooseneck horse trailer, bumper pull trailers, etc. In that fine print it also said , Unless Optional Equipment has been added. Meaning heavier duty trailer axles, more braking axles, etc.

    Under IRP you register the truck for the total weight of the truck, trailer,,and load. The weight chosen, like Dubbs is saying is what you're total axle ratings ad up to. For instance my last Peterbilt was registered for 80,000 lbs on the IRP truck plate. The 3 axle truck by itself could never weigh out at 80,000 lbs legally.

    I hope this helps.
     
    Last edited: Dec 13, 2017
    flatbedcarrier, Dec 13, 2017
    flatbedcarrier, Dec 13, 2017
    #6
    tc3500 Thanks this.
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