The term GVWR – or Gross Vehicle Weight Rating – might sound like something only professional truck drivers need to know, but it’s something every driver of a pickup truck, SUV or crossover needs to be aware of to stay safe while carrying cargo and/or passengers.
How do I find the GVWR in my vehicle? It’s easy – just look on the label that’s located on the inside of the driver’s door jamb. The GVWR tells you the combined weight of passengers, personal effects and cargo, along with the weight of the vehicle itself, as well as the tongue weight of the trailer. (See last week’s blog on the importance of proper tongue weight in safe hauling.)
Why do you need to know the GVWR? Knowing the GVWR will prevent you from overloading your vehicle which cause damage to your vehicle and create unsafe driving conditions such as, broken springs and suspension components, unsafe braking, overheating and damaging the transmission and other driveline components, difficulty controlling the vehicle due to strain on the suspension and danger of tire blowout due to an increase in tire temperature.
How do you figure out how much weight the vehicle can carry? Follow this example:The weight of the #2016GMCSierra1500 is 5,216. By subtracting the weight of the truck from the GVWR you know you can carry 1,884 pounds without exceeding the GVWR. Make sure you take into account the weight of your passengers, as well as cargo. If you have two 150-pound passengers, your available hauling capacity is 11,584 pounds.
It’s important to always stay within the GVWR limit set for your particular truck, SUV or crossover to avoid damage to your vehicle and to keep your passengers and your belongings safe.
The New Jersey State Auto Auction’s team cares about your safety. We’re always happy to answer any questions you might have. Our family-owned business looks forward to helping you purchase your ultimate vehicle and drive it safely. Visit our website at www.njstateautoauction.com.
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New Jersey State Auto Auction
406 Sip Avenue
Jersey City, New Jersey 07306
Phone: 201.355.4138
Website: www.NJStateAuto.com