Truck ratings
Prompted by Jim Twamley's post on a classy medium duty tow truck, I thought I'd share an excerpt from my book, The Fifth Wheel Bible:
Truck classifications and ratings
Trucks are divided into light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty classifications depending on hauling capacity, defined as gross vehicle weight rating (the same GVWR that we saw for trailer weight ratings). GVWR is the maximum load the vehicle is rated for, including fuel, passengers and any cargo, plus the weight of the payload, in our case the pin weight of the trailer (more on this shortly). The GVWR ratings for light, medium and heavy-duty classifications are as follows:
Pickup trucks, the most common fifth wheel tow vehicles, are all light duty trucks by this rating – even one ton models. You will see medium duty trucks towing many of the largest fifth wheels and heavy duty trucks used as tow vehicles are not uncommon. Although these larger trucks get lower fuel mileage, their increased towing capacity and braking capabilities, especially on grades, make them attractive tow vehicles. — Jerry Brown
Check out "The Fifth Wheel Bible" at RVbookstore.com
Truck classifications and ratings
Trucks are divided into light-duty, medium-duty, and heavy-duty classifications depending on hauling capacity, defined as gross vehicle weight rating (the same GVWR that we saw for trailer weight ratings). GVWR is the maximum load the vehicle is rated for, including fuel, passengers and any cargo, plus the weight of the payload, in our case the pin weight of the trailer (more on this shortly). The GVWR ratings for light, medium and heavy-duty classifications are as follows:
| Class | GVWR | Examples |
| Light duty | Up to 14,000 lbs. | Most pickups and vans up to 1 ton |
| Medium duty | 14,000 – 33,000 lbs. | Cargo and larger delivery trucks |
| Heavy duty | Over 33,000 lbs. | Big rig tractors, dump trucks |
Pickup trucks, the most common fifth wheel tow vehicles, are all light duty trucks by this rating – even one ton models. You will see medium duty trucks towing many of the largest fifth wheels and heavy duty trucks used as tow vehicles are not uncommon. Although these larger trucks get lower fuel mileage, their increased towing capacity and braking capabilities, especially on grades, make them attractive tow vehicles. — Jerry Brown
Check out "The Fifth Wheel Bible" at RVbookstore.com
posted by jerryriverguy at
1:07 PM
2 Comments:
Someone is not keeping up with GVWR ratings of newer 1-ton and the Class 5 trucks. In fact, this is too simplistic, with Class 5 through 8 truck ratings out there. Trailer Life has the tow ratings of modern pickups and the latest Fords in particular are more than this. Dave
By
Anonymous, at 5:22 PM
Tow ratings and GVWR are two different things. My 07 f350 with the tow boss option has the highest one ton GVWR available at 13,000 lbs and a tow rating of 18,000 lbs.
By
Anonymous, at 4:12 AM
Post a Comment
<< Home