Quote:
Originally Posted by JB_AOL
I take it you work for a shop? I've heard of this in the states, but not here (learn something everyday). Out of curiousity, how do you determine your new GVWR?
(It's not that I don't believe you, but I'm curious what the limiting factor becomes).
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i havent pulled wrenches for a few years now. hated it every day and the money sucked.
to determine the new numbers, i started with learning what the customer needed in regards to his truck and trailer, and where he fell short. twice guys wanted to do something that i wasnt willing to do and i told them no. for the ones i did....they were all less than 1500 kg away from where they needed to be. in all cases, it was simply adding springs and upgrading brakes. one truck had rear discs. for that one i installed permium brakes and rotors with calipers that had larger cylinders. for the drum brakes, it was larger cylinders with upgraded performance shoes. the brakes were the kind of thing you would find in performance magazines, mostly racing applications. these mods were definitely a less expensive alternative long term than going to a 3/4 ton. i would think even more so now that you cant get a 3/4 ton with a smaller engine than the fuel sucking 6.0 liter.
once my work was done, the customer took my invoice with explanation to registries where the numbers were changed. a note was always made to have a requirement of properly load rated LT tires. the first time i did it, i was on my way to registries as i didnt know that was legal. our company lawyer had a look as well to determine if liability would be an issue. i was assured we were fine.
as for the limiting factor?.....i dont know. i asked registries, and they said it was up to me. that always struck me as odd. im not an engineer, and asking me to make those decisions made me uncomfortable. like i said....i told 2 guys "no!" for the other 4 i helped out, i recommended to registries to make the new numbers only 200 kg above what they needed so not to encourage them to push limits. i guess the answer would be "my common sense" was the limit.