Ever use your wagon to max GVWR

[tonkota]

So, the owners manual states that the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating is 8000#. The wagon is supposed to weigh in about 4500#, plus my rack at 120+/- and camping gear for four. I don't think that we pack light.

I'm going to borrow the neighbors 17' boat (open bow fiberglass hull) when we go camping. I think that I will be fine, just slow. I guess we'll see how the 2F-E handles it.

I don't think I'm too close to the max, I'm estemating 6500-7000#

Any one else really load down their cruiser?

I'll take some pics before we head out, just for poser status

 

[WHITCHCOCK]

It will pull it, but I'd be more concerned about brakes - if the trailer has electrics no biggie - but the cruiser has just enough for itself IMO as is.

I've towed bigger with mine, but in town and only for 10-20 miles max low speed (35-45 mph) otherwise I'll grab a work truck.

 

[fourand20]

towed a 97 dodge stratus es from corpus christi tx to winchester va on a tow dolly...had zero probs starting from a dead stop to highway speeds and back to stop, in town towing, or hills & moutains on I81, in TN or VA......mileage didnt change much either..

 

[lunyou]

i dont' know exactly about toyota but i do not most manufacturers(not just automobile) plan for about 40%-50% of actual ability. Thus when they say GVWR is 8000lbs it might be closer to 10,000 or 12,000 but i wouldn't plan on it.

lunyou

 

[Jan-78FJ40]

i dont' know exactly about toyota but i do not most manufacturers(not just automobile) plan for about 40%-50% of actual ability. lunyou

huh?

 

[lunyou]

Manufacturers don't rate something at maximum. Basically they know someone will inevitably load something to the maximum alloted weight capacity. So they will rate the (insert object here) at a lower amount usually around 80% of actualy ability so that when someone over loads the "max rating" they still have a bit of safety room.

So in others words: When they say 400 lbs it will really probably hold around 500 safely.

lunyou

 

[Mat60]

Drove from Victoria BC to Southern Ontario with w/ a 2 axle u haul, filled with my bike, and everything else we owned packed into the truck and trailer. Reciept from the dump when we started out said we were 4800KGs
=~ 11,000 lbs???
Drove like hell through the rockies, prairies, n.ontario(mountains, flat, and alot of hills) Never had a problem with braking/stearing/control in any way at all.
Only got about 8mpg though...

 

[nuclearlemon]

my cruiser weighed in well over 5k when i took it to the scales and i've pulled a car trailer, with a 40 loaded full of extra parts, including a complete powertrain ...damn scary...decided i would never do that again. i've since pulled my 40 minus the trailer and extra powertrain and parts and that was ok, but i wouldn't want more than that.

 

[GLTHFJ60]

Manufacturers don't rate something at maximum. Basically they know someone will inevitably load something to the maximum alloted weight capacity. So they will rate the (insert object here) at a lower amount usually around 80% of actualy ability so that when someone over loads the "max rating" they still have a bit of safety room.

So in others words: When they say 400 lbs it will really probably hold around 500 safely.

lunyou

This is called a factor of saftey. Another example is in elevators. Look in one next time up above the buttons, and it will probably say a weight limit. The factor of saftey on an elevator is usually around a 2, meaning that if the elevator says that it's max is 5000 lbs, than it can hold 10,000 lbs before breaking.

 

[rove_mcanus]

I flat-towed a 3.2 tonne bus (7000lbs) with my hj60 one. that would be a total combination weight of about 5.4 tonnes or just short of 12000 pounds. it was a rather slow trip. second gear up the hills at 30kph. It pulled allright on the flat though.

 

[tonkota]

Thanks for posting guys. I feel better loading down the wagon. I won't be going far anyway, maybe 200 miles round trip.

 

[YODA 88 62]

i have pulled around 6000lbs on a 150mi trip twice. The tranny overheated a couple times.

 

[lunyou]

This is called a factor of saftey. Another example is in elevators. Look in one next time up above the buttons, and it will probably say a weight limit. The factor of saftey on an elevator is usually around a 2, meaning that if the elevator says that it's max is 5000 lbs, than it can hold 10,000 lbs before breaking.

you are exactly right, and explained it alot better than i did.

lunyou

 

[tonkota]

i have pulled around 6000lbs on a 150mi trip twice. The tranny overheated a couple times.

I have a big tranny cooler installed:
http://www.steelnthings.com/landcruiser/transmission/cooler.jpg

That should help too right?

 

[Ryan S.]

I pull my 2500+ camper trailer regularly on long trips. The 60 pulls nice and straight, but I don't go over 60 mph. At that speed I'm about at max comfortable rpm (3000) and if I go too much faster sway can become an issue. Braking is excellent with the trailer brakes adjusted properly, stopping distance is about the same. MPG's around 13. I pull this with my wife and kid in the 60, and feel completly safe as long as I don't push it. I drive like a grandpa.

 

[lunyou]

you mean a 60 series will travel at over 60 mph? .....i have to get out and drive mine i guess.


lunyou

 

[euclid]

I recently towed a 2000 Passatt on a double axle trailer across town. Engine and tranny did fine. Brakes, not so great.

Most I've ever loaded the back with was 20 bags of quick crete and 5 sheets of plywood. Drove fine. Brakes, not so great.

My truck weighs 6200 packed for a weekend camping trip. Beer included. It does fine. Brakes, not so great.

 

[YODA 88 62]

I have a big tranny cooler installed:
http://www.steelnthings.com/landcruiser/transmission/cooler.jpg

That should help too right?

absolutely

 

[lunyou]

I recently towed a 2000 Passatt on a double axle trailer across town. Engine and tranny did fine. Brakes, not so great.

Most I've ever loaded the back with was 20 bags of quick crete and 5 sheets of plywood. Drove fine. Brakes, not so great.

My truck weighs 6200 packed for a weekend camping trip. Beer included. It does fine. Brakes, not so great.

there seems to be a pattern emerging.....you tow random things...

lunyou