How important is GVWR?

[Clutch]

.

All this being said....What “weak link” would you fix, address or change on my build? I have my future mod list, what would yours include???

While yes, your new springs can handle the weight, it is the rest of the truck you have to worry about.

My suspension is upgraded too, but I still go by the factory specs. I have had it over loaded a few times hauling firewood, towing a trailer of dirt or rock... while it certainly looked like it wasn't overloaded by the way it sat, but you could feel it through the drivetrain. Those were only a couple mile trips. Would never do a long distance one like that. You're just asking for trouble.

Future mod list, start with a bigger truck. Cheaper solution is take less crap in of what you already have...the amount of **************** that people need to go camping in the dirt amazes me. Though we keep on having these payload discussions over and over....

Seems to me people desperately want the Tacoma to work, while they should be in a bigger a truck. Sure there is that whole size thing. I could see the argument if we were talking about the 1st gen Tacomas or earlier Pickups. (which have better payloads BTW) but the 2nd and 3rd gens are pretty damn big. No reason a competent driver couldn't put a fullsize where a new Tacoma can fit.

 

[68camaro]

GCWR - Gross Combined Weight Rating. That's the combination of truck, cargo and trailer.

Number 2, you can be 11,000 lbs in the truck plus a 5,000 lbs trailer. Or you can pull a 9,200 lbs trailer + 6,500 in truck + 300 lbs in cargo (which is essentially just a driver).

Thank you and double thanks for making it clear & understandable......

 

[Over The Silent Planet]

The GCWR has almost zero to do with carrying a load on the truck. It assumes there are additional axles in the form of a trailer carrying a significant portion of the weight. If you are not pulling a trailer, you can literally forget that the GCWR exists.

This was my point on a different thread with Tim...being under GCWR does not mean that you are ok being over GVWR, regardless of your mods. Swapping out suspension and tires and then speculating the difference it must have made in the truck's payload capability is a gamble, to me. And yes, it is speculating as Toyota hasn't released any definitive information regarding how factory components (tires, suspension, frame, axles, bearings, etc...) limit the payload numbers.

 

[Dalko43]

GAWR is just want it is, the amount of weight the vehicle can put on that axle. It doesn't have to be higher or lower than anything, that's just how much the chassis, axle, hub, wheels, tires and brakes can tolerate. The individual axle weights and the total combined weight are the only two things you can measure with any consistency by driving on a scale and those will both be static numbers. The real dynamic forces will be a lot higher than a few hundred pounds implied in the GVWR vs GAWR differences.

Okay, but do you understand that you can still load up certain vehicles in a manner that exceeds GAWR without exceeding GVWR? Both GVWR and GAWR are ratings that the OEM puts in place to provide safety guidelines for the owners/operators.

You can make an assumption and try to overload beyond those ratings or you can go by the OEM recommendations (backed by R&D and engineering experience). Those are the two options; unless I have a very compelling reason to do otherwise, I'll always pick the latter option.

And to be honest, I've yet to see a compelling argument to knowingly exceed those ratings. Some Tacoma owners with FWC's do exceed those ratings just because...

 

[Bayou Boy]

Future mod list, start with a bigger truck. Cheaper solution is take less crap in of what you already have...the amount of **************** that people need to go camping in the dirt amazes me. Though we keep on having these payload discussions over and over....

Seems to me people desperately want the Tacoma to work, while they should be in a bigger a truck.

Quoted for emphasis.

Tacoma's got popular way back when because Toyota reliability was better than domestic trucks and they were cheaper than domestic full sizes. Neither of those is the case today. All trucks are reliable today and discounts on full size trucks are immense.

 

[plainjaneFJC]

Quoted for emphasis.

Tacoma's got popular way back when because Toyota reliability was better than domestic trucks and they were cheaper than domestic full sizes. Neither of those is the case today. All trucks are reliable today and discounts on full size trucks are immense.

I was just looking at another "build" on this site. First thing on my mind was why didn't this guy go fullsize, but I guess different strokes and all. The 35 to 40k guys are spending on new tacos will buy a nice fullsize.

 

[Bayou Boy]

$35-40k will buy a fairly recent Powerwagon...

 

[Clutch]

Quoted for emphasis.

Tacoma's got popular way back when because Toyota reliability was better than domestic trucks and they were cheaper than domestic full sizes. Neither of those is the case today. All trucks are reliable today and discounts on full size trucks are immense.

Yep, one of the main reasons I started buying them 26+ years ago. Wanted something small, good on gas...and nimble after a long day of operating heavy equipment, hauling and towing heavy.

Now-a-days...there is no clear advantage of a Tacoma over Fullsize, especially the prices Tacomas are commanding. Though...as far as i can remember we always said Toyotas were a little over priced for what they are...but they are a Toyota! Is what we told ourselves...(meh, who cares anymore... )

I was just looking at another "build" on this site. First thing on my mind was why didn't this guy go fullsize, but I guess different strokes and all. The 35 to 40k guys are spending on new tacos will buy a nice fullsize.

I am a fairly die hard Toyota fan, but won't buy another Tacoma....love my old 1st gen beater, but the new ones don't make much sense to me anymore. Don't get much truck for the money.

If you go look at the specs size-wise. A F250 Super Cab 6.75' bed, it isn't all that much bigger than a Tacoma. Super Cab has the same maybe a touch more rear legroom than a DC Tacoma...plus you get darn near a 7' bed. If you look...and all not that hard, they can be had for the same price...maybe a smidge cheaper. And a whole lot more truck...you would be hard pressed to overload if your building them out like some of the Tacomas on here. Will take a 35" tire with ease too.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Okay, but do you understand that you can still load up certain vehicles in a manner that exceeds GAWR without exceeding GVWR? Both GVWR and GAWR are ratings that the OEM puts in place to provide safety guidelines for the owners/operators.

You can make an assumption and try to overload beyond those ratings or you can go by the OEM recommendations (backed by R&D and engineering experience). Those are the two options; unless I have a very compelling reason to do otherwise, I'll always pick the latter option.

Everything you say is valid, I agree in principle. The assumption you are making is that nothing has changed from stock and if it does one can only speculate if the ratings are still relevant and apply. At that point we don't have the original criteria the OEM used so you can only apply best engineering practices. It's your prerogative to use the original GVWR but know that there's no reason to assume deviating from stock doesn't decrease your GVWR, either. So you have make your own decisions ultimately when making modifications.

 

[Timcampsallover]

There's a reason a new Ram HD build thread pops up in the Domestic Forum every week. This thread is that reason.

I was just thinking it might be because you Dodge guys have been hijackin all the other brands threads?

I was just looking back over the thread and was cracking up when a good part of the conversation was RAM guys arguing about RAM stuff. Lol.

I get that you all really like your big trucks. That’s cool. I’m still into my Chevy’s too. In fact, there are 6 GM vehicles, a GTO, and a couple John Deere’s on my property tonight and even 1 genuine Chevy Truck Legend.

But that’s all I’m sayin about the other brands in the Toyota forum.

 

[nosedive]

Since the OP is asking about traveling in Europe. It‘s absolutely illegal to operate a vehicle over it‘s GVWR on public roads in Europe!

Your vehicle won‘t be weighed at border crossings, but the police loves to weigh vehicles on mobile scales along the motorway, especially campers.
Depending on the country you‘re in, you may be 10% over the GVWR. In case you exceed the GVWR (with passengers on board), not only are you getting a nice ticket, the police won‘t let you drive any further until your weight is at the GVWR. This means you need to unload the vehicle, drain the water tank or leave the wife at the gas station.

I‘m surprised there‘s no such law in the US and it kinda frightens me to see how many people on the road exceed the GVWR or towing capacity of their vehicles. Especially when seing those rigs flying down the highways at 80 mph or tailgating me on a mountain road in a 50 zone while I‘m already going 60. They may tow just fine but braking is a whole different story..

 

[Timcampsallover]

While yes, your new springs can handle the weight, it is the rest of the truck you have to worry about.

My suspension is upgraded too, but I still go by the factory specs. I have had it over loaded a few times hauling firewood, towing a trailer of dirt or rock... while it certainly looked like it wasn't overloaded by the way it sat, but you could feel it through the drivetrain. Those were only a couple mile trips. Would never do a long distance one like that. You're just asking for trouble.

Future mod list, start with a bigger truck. Cheaper solution is take less crap in of what you already have...the amount of **************** that people need to go camping in the dirt amazes me. Though we keep on having these payload discussions over and over....

Seems to me people desperately want the Tacoma to work, while they should be in a bigger a truck. Sure there is that whole size thing. I could see the argument if we were talking about the 1st gen Tacomas or earlier Pickups. (which have better payloads BTW) but the 2nd and 3rd gens are pretty damn big. No reason a competent driver couldn't put a fullsize where a new Tacoma can fit.

I appreciate what you’re saying and I have experienced the short trip overload with my current Tacoma set up when I was hauling too much sacrete in the bed. Horrible and slow experience for sure. It did give me some perspective on my current build and an example of its limitations regarding weight and payload capacity.

I have bigger trucks..... I’ve had bigger trucks. It’s just not what I’m into right now.

I realize that my Tacoma is a limited platform but it fits with my “less is more” philosophy and perspective on life currently as well.

My quest for capacity really started when I was adding up the weight of my mods then I subtracted all my take off parts weights, then I started adding up my kit, and I either needed to cut out some heavier items or increase my capacity by about 600#. I cut some stuff out and I got a smaller hard sided pop up that’s way under my max towing capacity so I can transfer some heavier things to the trailer. I’m really happy with my mods and the way my truck handles in all conditions. I’m good with the stopping and maneuvering at speed. It’s really much better than stock. I’m going by the scales tomorrow to weigh so maybe I’m under what I’ve been adding up?

Anyway, I appreciate what you’re saying but I’m happy with the Tacoma and will still be looking for increased performance and improvement mods for this truck going forward. Now if you want to talk about the Banks diesel crate engines or the Cummings power plant swap, or maybe even the potential of the ZR2 ....I do confess to having my mind wander in that direction. Lol.

 

[Clutch]

I appreciate what you’re saying and I have experienced the short trip overload with my current Tacoma set up when I was hauling too much sacrete in the bed. Horrible and slow experience for sure. It did give me some perspective on my current build and an example of its limitations regarding weight and payload capacity.

I have bigger trucks..... I’ve had bigger trucks. It’s just not what I’m into right now.

I realize that my Tacoma is a limited platform but it fits with my “less is more” philosophy and perspective on life currently as well.

My quest for capacity really started when I was adding up the weight of my mods then I subtracted all my take off parts weights, then I started adding up my kit, and I either needed to cut out some heavier items or increase my capacity by about 600#. I cut some stuff out and I got a smaller hard sided pop up that’s way under my max towing capacity so I can transfer some heavier things to the trailer. I’m really happy with my mods and the way my truck handles in all conditions. I’m good with the stopping and maneuvering at speed. It’s really much better than stock. I’m going by the scales tomorrow to weigh so maybe I’m under what I’ve been adding up?

Anyway, I appreciate what you’re saying but I’m happy with the Tacoma and will still be looking for increased performance and improvement mods for this truck going forward. Now if you want to talk about the Banks diesel crate engines or the Cummings power plant swap, or maybe even the potential of the ZR2 ....I do confess to having my mind wander in that direction. Lol.

We all have our own personal comfort level. I like to have twice the truck I need. Yes, I do have a Tacoma...so I like to be at about half capacity for traveling. Sure I'll over load it time to time, but that is a run to the tractor supply to buy a load of material of whatever for the house...which is only a couple miles down the road.


That said....people over load these Tacomas all of the time...and rarely do you hear of any catastrophic failures. So you might be ok.

Don't get me started on the Cummins 2.8 swap in a Tacoma. @Dalko43 and I have gone round and round with that one. We have entirely different views on value and what you get for your dollar. Gonna be blunt here and say... think those 2.8 swaps are idiotic, not much gains for your money...be real **********' hard to toss a Chinese built engine in place of a Toyota. Might be ok for custom builders where money is no object, but for Joe Average working class stiff like myself...I don't think so.

 

[Dalko43]

Don't get me started on the Cummins 2.8 swap in a Tacoma. @Dalko43 and I have gone round and round with that one. We have entirely different views on value and what you get for your dollar. Gonna be blunt here and say... think those 2.8 swaps are idiotic, not much gains for your money...be real **********' hard to toss a Chinese built engine in place of Toyota.

What do you mean? A "Chinese-built" engine would be right at home in a Mexican-built pickup.

 

[Clutch]

What do you mean? A "Chinese-built" engine would be right at home in a Mexican-built pickup.

Ha ha! That made me laugh out loud! ?


Think mine was built in California with a Japanese built engine.