Towing Capacity Worksheet???

[crispyboy]

Wanted to get a few opinions on the "Towing Capacity Worksheet" that I found perusing the net. Has anybody used it? Does it seem accurate? My lovely bride has been hinting that she would like to have a pickup that has more interior room - ok I get the hint. Sometime in the future I'm sure I will be looking for a tow vehicle that will pull double duty - Daily driver and occasional towing. I drive a minimum of 40 miles a day during the workweek.
The tow vehicle under consideration will be 2003 or newer 3/4 ton diesel or 2006 or newer 1/2 ton. I know the late model half tons have quite a bit more capacity than in the past.
Anyway if I use this worksheet - do you think it is a good predictor of an adequate tow vehicle?

TowingCapacityWorksheet - J - pickup.xls

[2airishuman]

no comment on the FORM cuz' i'm not opening it.

it's in exxxx'el format.

there are always risks associated with downloading and OPENING documents...

that MAY have code imbedded.

plus i tossed out the MSoft spreadsheet software on this puter....

maybe U wanna open it, then take a screen shot of the relevant column/rows for the rest of us to view...

cheers
2air'

[crispyboy]

I have used the xls version a few times with no trouble but here is a jpg and pdf format.
Sorry I use spreadsheets daily and sometime's one forgets about the virus possibilities.



TowingCapacityWorksheet - J - pickup.pdf

[arcamedies]

Originally Posted by crispyboy

Wanted to get a few opinions on the "Towing Capacity Worksheet" that I found perusing the net. Has anybody used it? Does it seem accurate? My lovely bride has been hinting that she would like to have a pickup that has more interior room - ok I get the hint. Sometime in the future I'm sure I will be looking for a tow vehicle that will pull double duty - Daily driver and occasional towing. I drive a minimum of 40 miles a day during the workweek.
The tow vehicle under consideration will be 2003 or newer 3/4 ton diesel or 2006 or newer 1/2 ton. I know the late model half tons have quite a bit more capacity than in the past.
Anyway if I use this worksheet - do you think it is a good predictor of an adequate tow vehicle?

Attachment 107028

Although the newer vehicles show better numbers manufacturers struggling with CAFE regs and various things the public doesn't know about give ratings that are the absolute MAX under IDEAL circumstances.
The older vehicles always had a fudge factor and many folks knew awww you can add another 10% to 20% and be ok.

Being in the auto industry a gazillion years I always saw real world test mules (customers trucks) that when choosing the lesser equipment the vehicles always had more problems with something letting loose. The big boys with overkill trundled along with nary a problem grinning from ear to ear.

If you can go for a heavier application with more room you'll be much happier and loving life streaming down the road. Besides resale is usually better.

[arcamedies]

Originally Posted by crispyboy

Wanted to get a few opinions on the "Towing Capacity Worksheet" that I found perusing the net. Has anybody used it? Does it seem accurate? My lovely bride has been hinting that she would like to have a pickup that has more interior room - ok I get the hint. Sometime in the future I'm sure I will be looking for a tow vehicle that will pull double duty - Daily driver and occasional towing. I drive a minimum of 40 miles a day during the workweek.
The tow vehicle under consideration will be 2003 or newer 3/4 ton diesel or 2006 or newer 1/2 ton. I know the late model half tons have quite a bit more capacity than in the past.
Anyway if I use this worksheet - do you think it is a good predictor of an adequate tow vehicle?

Attachment 107028

Underkill and overkill photo attached

[2airishuman]

thanks crispy, MUCH easier 4 the rest of us to view now.

this is a GOOD starter.

similar calculators are available on several towing/hitch websites.

THIS one makes some assumptions...

for example "90%" is suggested as the point where equipment issues happen.

while many other suggest 80% is 'safer' or 100% is ok, that's why the limit is there.
________

the various items that ADD weigh are useful to list,

but there is NO reference to actually WEIGHING the rig...

or checking ft/r axle loading or actual tongue weights.

imo those are ALL important.

for example the 'dry weight' is suggested for use.

i recently purchased a new truck with a SPECIFIC dry weight, listed by the maker and "official" in many references.

took the truck DIRECTLY to a scale from the dealer

and the ACTUAL curb weight was nearly 900 POUNDS more that the officially listed dry weight...

so as ronny many times said "trust but verify".
_________

the spread sheet also infers TC is basically gcwr MINUS curb weight...

there is MORE mystery to how TC is derived than that,

and optional equipment, tires or GEARING tweaks that figure significantly.

a couple of related thread to consider ...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...ath-40318.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ath-23572.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...res-37009.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...ers-36389.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...0-a-36718.html

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f463...150-37837.html

cheers
2air'

[arcamedies]

i recently purchased a new truck with a SPECIFIC dry weight, listed by the maker and "official" in many references.

took the truck DIRECTLY to a scale from the dealer

and the ACTUAL curb weight was nearly 900 POUNDS more that the officially listed dry weight...

so as ronny many times said "trust but verify".
(quote)

Yikes what a difference, all manufacturers use a common base weight and accessories will add to it, but 900lbs, did you get the snow plow and cast iron bed cover option? that's scary.

[2airishuman]

yeah i was totally dumbfounded.

SOME of that was a nearly full tank of diesel (7-8# per gal) but i consider that part of the base weight of a truck.

since fuel is an essential part of the machinery. for GOING newhere.

so 200-300 lbs for diesel juice.
_________

initially i argued with the scale master, since i had the curb weight figure in hand...

so we ran it through again, as a 1 dollar REweigh and got the same figure.

factory running boards, lariat package, glass moon roof and so on...

went back to the dealer who made a few calls...

the base weights include NONE of the upgrades/options many of which are sizable things and heavy.

(tire/wheel packages, running boards, skid plates, leather, stereo, consoles, package trim...

clearance lights, sliding windows, moon roofs)...

it's not clear that the factory RECEIVER is/isn't in the base or considered with the options...
_______

the take home message being vans and suvs or trucks trimmed out with common GOODIES

may be significantly heavier than published figures.

so weigh the thing nekked when new....

with a MARGINAL payload on some rigs u can use up a LOT of it with 'curb items'...

cheers
2air'

[richinny]

i think the weight of the spare tire is also omitted. the plates in ny are by weight, please don't tell the gov, the rates have skyrocketed already.

[Aviator]

After making a trip through the CAT Scales, I agree that there is no substitute for it. My 2009 F150 is really a 6020# truck. That included all the options on it (it is a loaded Lariat), and the stuff I carry for a trip.

If you are considering multiple vehicles, freak out the salesman and spend $12 on a CAT Scale reading as part of your "test" drive.

That will give you a much more realistic set of numbers to work from.

FWIW, I am very pleased towing our 1997 34' with a 2009 F150 2X4.

[Road Ruler]

Cat scales have value.

[retraite]

Originally Posted by Road Ruler

Cat scales have value.

Cat fur too - 'specially when he/she is cuddled up next to you and purring.

Cheers.

[slowmover]

My rule of thumb is -- be it Honda Accord or pickemup -- add 450# for driver and full fuel as a minimum increase over "published shipping weight" (which I believe is just a bookkeeping entry for vehicle transport be it by train or truck).

7-800# over isn't a great surprise, but it is irritating, causing one to have to recalculate what the truck can do and still be within spec.

I also hit the scale on the way home from the sales lot. Driver, full fuel and otherwise empty.

.