It is likely that many drivers of trucks or cargo vehicles do not know the difference between hauling and towing. Known here how to know how much I can towhere you can find out with a simple formula what the load capacity is, do not risk the vehicle suffering damage to its main important parts such as the frame, enginetransmission and even the tires, due to an overload.
Haul or tow?
The difference between payload-carrying capacity and towing capacity is very simple. When you talk about payload is the number of pounds of cargo a truck or van can carrywhile tow refers to the number of pounds a van or truck can carry.
Payload capacity: how much a truck can carry
The payload capacity of a truck, this is all the cargo weight it can safely carry, plus the empty weight of the truck (also known as weight in running order). A “payload” can refer to any object or materialfrom the truck bed full of garden mulch to the number of five occupants with their luggage for a week. Payload capacity is calculated by the vehicle manufacturer, and is listed in the owner’s manual. However, the payload capacity of the truck can be calculated by applying a simple math formula.
The maximum total weight that the truck can support is taken into account, is known as Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR). Likewise, the GVWR is determined by the manufacturer, and appears in the owner’s manual. To know the useful capacity, the following formula must be applied:
Payload Capacity = Gross Vehicle Weight – Curb Weight
As an example we have the following case:
- If the GVWR of a truck is 9,000 pounds, and it weighs 5,000 pounds empty, the payload capacity is 4,000 pounds. Which means it can hold 4,000 pounds of people or objects in the truck.
- Result = 9,000 pounds – 5,000 = 4,000 pounds to bear
Below are some payloads that a truck can carry:
- A quarter cuerda of firewood (1250 pounds)
- Half cubic yard of sand (1,300 to 1,500 pounds)
- Half cubic yard of gravel (1,200 to 1,450 pounds)
- 1/2 cubic yard of mulch (300 to 400 pounds)
- Half cubic yard of soil (1000 pounds)
Towing capacity: How much a truck can tow
Now they are talking about towing capacityis refers to the amount of weight you can safely pull behind a tow truck. Generally, the towing capacity of a truck exceeds the payload capacity as expected, it’s all because the weight rests on the trailer axles, and not on the vehicle axles.
The towing capacity of a truck is listed in the owner’s manual, and can be calculated by yourself. To find the towing figure for a truck, you must have the vehicle’s curb weight, taking into account the gross combination truck weight ratio (GCVWR).. GCVWR refers to the maximum weight of the loaded truck and the weight of the attached trailer. To know the towing capacity, only you should apply the following formula:
Towing Capacity = Gross Combined Vehicle Weight – Curb Weight
- We have as an example: a truck with a GCVWR of 15,000 lbs. It weighs 5,000 pounds empty, and it has 4,000 pounds of cargo in the truck bed. The load capacity does not exceed 6000 pounds.
- Result = 15,000 pounds – 9,000 = 6,000 pounds
Below are some items you can tow, along with their normal weights:
- Car (2800 pounds)
- Car trailer (1,600 to 2,000 pounds)
- Boat (2,500 pounds)
- Boat Trailer (300 to 1,500 lbs.)
- Camper (5,200 pounds)
Payload vs. Towing Capacity
Below is an example of payload vs. towing capacity for a 2018 Chevy Silverado.
The payload capacity of a 2018 Chevy Silverado pickup ranges from 1,739 to 2,028 pounds. Important to note, this figure refers to how much weight you can add without a trailer.
The useful towing capacity of a 2018 Chevy Silverado truck is approximately between 7,600 and 23,000 pounds, it will depend on the configuration of the truck, according to the house chevy.
But, if equipped with a 5.3-liter EcoTec3, with a V8, the 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 pickup is capable of safely towing up to 9,800 pounds. While, the Chevy Silverado 2500HD The 2018 Gas has a towing capacity of 14,500 pounds, and the Chevy Silverado 3500HD Duramax® 6.6-liter Turbo Diesel, V8, can tow up to 20,000 pounds.
Even Chevy’s version, the 2018 Chevy Colorado Small Truck is capable of towing up to 7,700 pounds, provided it’s properly equipped with a Duramax®2 2.8-liter Turbo-Diesel engine.
It is best to obtain information before towing
Leaving aside the importance of knowing the payload and trailer capacity of a truck results in putting the frame, engine, transmission and tires at risk. The first thing to do in these cases is to consult the owner’s manual before agreeing to transport or tow any type of load..
He correct transport is based in part on load stabilityIt can also prevent accidents. According to a study carried out by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety I found that between 2011 and 2014 in the United States, road debris, including incorrect loading, was involved in an average of 50,658 annual accidents, resulting in 9,805 injuries and 125 deaths.
Writing Gossipvehicle
