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Truck & Trailer

17 years ago

All the numbers and all the acronyms have me confused. I have a 1999 454 Chevy dually crew cab with heavy duty trailering package. I'm trying to match to a suitable flatbed gooseneck. The manufacuter's label says the truck has a GVWR of 10,000lbs. The truck weighs 6640lbs. The GVWR of the rear axle is 7500lb. From what I remember when we ordered the truck, it had a GCVWR of 23000lbs. If the GVWR of the truck is 10000lbs. and the truck weighs 6640 that would seem to mean that the truck could handle a fifth wheel with a "bed" weight of around 3360lbs. Assuming the weight of a gooseneck trailer is distrubited evenly on the trailer's axles and the rear axle of the truck, that would seem to indicate that the GVWR of the trailer would be 6.7K (2 times 3360), basically a 3 ton trailer. This obviously is wrong, but I don't really understand trailer dynamics. Should I assume that the truck can "bed" its rear axle GVWR, meaning it could handle a trailer with a GVWR of 15000 (twice the 7500 GVWR of its rear axle)? Or, since the GCVWR (weight of vehicle towing, plus vehicle/trailer towed, plus weight of cargo) is 23000, does that mean the it can tow a 16000lb trailer (23000 minus 6640 - the unladened weight of the truck). The answers all seem logical, but some are obviously absurd. Given what I've described of the truck, can any one point me in the right direction of how large (trailer GVWR of 10k, 12k, 14k?) of a flatbed gooseneck I can mate with my truck?

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Comment (1)

flgargoyle
17 years ago
Alphabet soup! Your calculation that the truck can handle a 16K trailer is correct- with a few conditions. You can't exceed the cargo capacity of the truck in doing so. I'm not sure on goosenecks, but on a regular trailer, I try to figure a tongue weight of 10% minimum. You could go up to 20% without exceeding the trucks weight capacity. Most trucks will handle more weight and more trailer than factory specs- there should be a considerable safety factor included. But heavy trailers can be hard to stop, and can also 'wag the dog', having more affect on the handling than the truck itself. Also, a truck w/ excessive weight in the back will handle very badly. Any trailer over 3500 lbs. should have its own brakes- make sure they are functioning properly. So- you can get a 16K trailer, provided you load it in such a way that you don't go overboard on the tongue weight. I've always thought there should be a trailer tongue jack with a built-in scale, so you can get a rough idea of tongue weight.
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