Yes, you do understand what I'm getting at. Put another way; running at payload would be the 100% of rated payload rule.

I agree, the numbers are there for a reason, and you should know where your at. If your truck is rated to tow a 8800 trailer, and had a GCWR of 14500, that would leave 5700 which is basically you and the truck, no cargo. I'm with you on this one, who goes camping by them selves with no cargo?

at 1690 payload, plus 6900 trailer, plus 5700 truck, your running close to 100% GCWR at 14290. I'm looking forward to hearing the numbers when you hit the scale.

 

pmason, that is a good question. The toughest thing about pulling a trailer that light is the chance that you'll forget it's back there, but with those wheels and 355 axle, you will notice it more.

It will be interesting to hear what your opinion is after you do the haul, but I would think you would be fine using OD when pulling that 1200 empty trailer home with the 20s. However, I would not even consider using OD when the quads are loaded with your 23s on that 355 axle. I doubt you would gain much because your RPM should be low anyhow.

You don't want it shifting out of OD on every hill. I think you have an Edge, and you can watch the temp, but it's more than a heat problem. It's also the pounding it takes shifting under load.

 

Greencrew, I have only 2 points. Running at GVWR is not the same as running at 10% over it. Some types of wear are accelerated, other types just break. Bolts break, springs and shocks wear out for example. Just because people do it does not make it right or safe or wise.

 

The difference is 10%. For a GRWR of 7200 that would be 700lbs, which is quite a chunk of cargo. I don't recall any suggestion to run 10% over GVWR. That certainly was no intent of mine. My point was to run at GVWR instead of running 10-20 under it.

I agree wear is accelerated, but I have two points. First, the suspensions is not going to fall off the truck because we decided to go camping for the weekend, and loaded the truck up to GVWR. Second, loading the truck to full GVWR is very different than loading it to full GCWR.

As a disclaimer, I will admit that even though I think I have traveled hundreds of miles at GVWR, I've never really weighed the truck. Also, I have never pulled an 8000lb trailer. The most I have ever pulled is about 5000lbs, with only me in the truck. I do know that a 5000 lb trailer affects the handling of the truck more than 1400 lbs of cargo. I just wondering if loading the 800 lbs of cargo helps the truck handle the 6000lb trailer any better.

I don't know all the answers, just thought it would be fun to jump in on the conversion and learn a little bit about doing the load math. It may be a dumb question, but I would rather ask it and have some clue when I'm towing.

 

I have no problem staying at/near/undert/near) all the OEM ratings. My point was just that 20% under GCWV is often close to GVWR of the truck for most properly adjusted trailers and tow vehicles. I think there are a lot more people 10% over GVWR than we think. I know what my truck suspension looks like @ GVWR and at 20% over GVWR. Too many other F-150's on the road look like the latter while towing.

No one has all the answers. I'm not reprimanding you, just open discussion.