Originally Posted by Pelican
Originally Posted by chrisf8657
I'm hoping you guys can add some sanity back to me. I am arguing with a master mechanic that the weight of my 1994 Chevy K1500, and all vehicles in general, when unloaded (no cargo) is the CURB WEIGHT, and that when fully loaded with cargo to it's maximum safe carrying limit is the GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATING. Everything I have ever read and taught was this.
He is arguing that the truck weighs 6500 pounds just sitting there with nothing in it, saying the GVWR is what it weighs, while I am arguing it weighs about ~4200 just sitting there. I have told him his number is based on the curb weight plus the load carrying capacity (1/2 ton) of the vehicle (GVWR), but he continues to argue with me. It seems like the only way I am going to be able to prove it is take it to a truck scale and have it weighed.
So...who is right - me or him?
You are ! The GVWR is the weight the truck can pull/carry including passengers and fuel
That's not quite right-the weight the truck can pull and carry is the Gross COMBINED Weight Rating (GCWR), which covers pulling a trailer, cargo, people, everything. The GVWR is the loaded truck's max total weight, no trailer. The '93 standard cab C3500 in my sig is just over 5K with nothing in it (except the cap), so 4200 for a K1500 seems a little low, but in the ballpark for curb weight.