GCWR Question

[GaRailroader]

When I saw the specs on 6/24 I assumed that the tow rating and the payload were mutually exclusive values meaning a vehicle loaded to the GVWR could tow the 2000 pound trailer. Then I noticed the SUV tow rating was lower than the pick-up and that made me question my original assumption. Below is an exchange I had with Slate on this topic.

PJ:

How come the SUV tow rating is reduced by 176 pounds? It seems like the payload of the SUV is already reduced by 287 pounds compared to the truck so I don't understand why the tow rating is also affected. If I were to put 287 pounds of sand in the bed of the pick-up would the truck not be capable of towing 2000 pounds?

Slate:

That's a really thoughtful question and we can see why the numbers might seem counterintuitive!

Honestly, I don't have visibility into each specific engineering factor that go into those ratings — those are the numbers as they stand, and we want to be straightforward with you rather than guess at the reasoning behind them.

Is there something specific you're worried about not being able to haul or tow? If you share what you have in mind, we'd love to help figure out if the Slate would be a good fit for your needs!

PJ:

I guess when I read the specs I interpreted it as I have a 1550 lb payload capacity AND a 2000 pound towing capacity. When I see this SUV rating it makes me think that I have a 1550 payload capacity OR a 2000 pound towing capacity but not both at the same time. Based on messages from Slate prior to June 24th I thought we would learn what the GCWR was on June 24th but I don’t see where that has been published.

My question is can I have 2 passengers in the cab for a total of 400 pounds, 2 dirt bikes in the bed for a total of 600 pounds and pull a small 1500 pound camper at the same time.

Slate:

You're asking exactly the right question, and we want to be honest with you — we don't have a clear answer on the GCWR or how payload and towing interact simultaneously just yet. We understand that information was anticipated around June 24th and we're sorry we don't have it to share at this time.

Your specific scenario — 400 lbs of passengers, 600 lbs of dirt bikes in the bed, and a 1,500 lb camper in tow — is a great practical example of exactly what that GCWR figure would answer, and we want to make sure you get an accurate response rather than a guess.

We'll make sure to follow up as soon as those specs are published a little bit closer to production. We appreciate your patience and the very detailed question — it's clear you've done your homework!

 

[Skippy]

Sounds like you got someone who either isn't familiar with how GVWR vs GCWR works, or they aren't releasing the GCWR/GCVWR calculations.

The curb weight on the SUV options will be heavier by some amount. That should/could affect both the GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight) and the GCVW/GCVWR/GCVR(Gross Combined Vehicle Weight) ratings.

To simplify, a heavy vehicle payload will impact your overall towing capacity. One is for the vehicle alone, the other is the vehicle plus the trailer and cargo.

 

[Doctors Do Little]

When I saw the specs on 6/24 I assumed that the tow rating and the payload were mutually exclusive values meaning a vehicle loaded to the GVWR could tow the 2000 pound trailer. Then I noticed the SUV tow rating was lower than the pick-up and that made me question my original assumption. Below is an exchange I had with Slate on this topic.

PJ:

How come the SUV tow rating is reduced by 176 pounds? It seems like the payload of the SUV is already reduced by 287 pounds compared to the truck so I don't understand why the tow rating is also affected. If I were to put 287 pounds of sand in the bed of the pick-up would the truck not be capable of towing 2000 pounds?

Slate:

That's a really thoughtful question and we can see why the numbers might seem counterintuitive!

Honestly, I don't have visibility into each specific engineering factor that go into those ratings — those are the numbers as they stand, and we want to be straightforward with you rather than guess at the reasoning behind them.

Is there something specific you're worried about not being able to haul or tow? If you share what you have in mind, we'd love to help figure out if the Slate would be a good fit for your needs!

PJ:

I guess when I read the specs I interpreted it as I have a 1550 lb payload capacity AND a 2000 pound towing capacity. When I see this SUV rating it makes me think that I have a 1550 payload capacity OR a 2000 pound towing capacity but not both at the same time. Based on messages from Slate prior to June 24th I thought we would learn what the GCWR was on June 24th but I don’t see where that has been published.

My question is can I have 2 passengers in the cab for a total of 400 pounds, 2 dirt bikes in the bed for a total of 600 pounds and pull a small 1500 pound camper at the same time.

Slate:

You're asking exactly the right question, and we want to be honest with you — we don't have a clear answer on the GCWR or how payload and towing interact simultaneously just yet. We understand that information was anticipated around June 24th and we're sorry we don't have it to share at this time.

Your specific scenario — 400 lbs of passengers, 600 lbs of dirt bikes in the bed, and a 1,500 lb camper in tow — is a great practical example of exactly what that GCWR figure would answer, and we want to make sure you get an accurate response rather than a guess.

We'll make sure to follow up as soon as those specs are published a little bit closer to production. We appreciate your patience and the very detailed question — it's clear you've done your homework!

Feeling like you’re Indiana Jones and getting closer and closer to the grail of truth on this, PJ!

 

[TexasSlate]

When I saw the specs on 6/24 I assumed that the tow rating and the payload were mutually exclusive values meaning a vehicle loaded to the GVWR could tow the 2000 pound trailer. Then I noticed the SUV tow rating was lower than the pick-up and that made me question my original assumption. Below is an exchange I had with Slate on this topic.

PJ:

How come the SUV tow rating is reduced by 176 pounds? It seems like the payload of the SUV is already reduced by 287 pounds compared to the truck so I don't understand why the tow rating is also affected. If I were to put 287 pounds of sand in the bed of the pick-up would the truck not be capable of towing 2000 pounds?

Slate:

That's a really thoughtful question and we can see why the numbers might seem counterintuitive!

Honestly, I don't have visibility into each specific engineering factor that go into those ratings — those are the numbers as they stand, and we want to be straightforward with you rather than guess at the reasoning behind them.

Is there something specific you're worried about not being able to haul or tow? If you share what you have in mind, we'd love to help figure out if the Slate would be a good fit for your needs!

PJ:

I guess when I read the specs I interpreted it as I have a 1550 lb payload capacity AND a 2000 pound towing capacity. When I see this SUV rating it makes me think that I have a 1550 payload capacity OR a 2000 pound towing capacity but not both at the same time. Based on messages from Slate prior to June 24th I thought we would learn what the GCWR was on June 24th but I don’t see where that has been published.

My question is can I have 2 passengers in the cab for a total of 400 pounds, 2 dirt bikes in the bed for a total of 600 pounds and pull a small 1500 pound camper at the same time.

Slate:

You're asking exactly the right question, and we want to be honest with you — we don't have a clear answer on the GCWR or how payload and towing interact simultaneously just yet. We understand that information was anticipated around June 24th and we're sorry we don't have it to share at this time.

Your specific scenario — 400 lbs of passengers, 600 lbs of dirt bikes in the bed, and a 1,500 lb camper in tow — is a great practical example of exactly what that GCWR figure would answer, and we want to make sure you get an accurate response rather than a guess.

We'll make sure to follow up as soon as those specs are published a little bit closer to production. We appreciate your patience and the very detailed question — it's clear you've done your homework!

I'm 99% sure that answer was generated by AI. Generally that's fine as this is the kind of thing AI can answer, but in this case, it can't. The AI would need to send an email to someone in engineering, and I don't see that happening anytime soon.

This is probably something a YouTuber, podcaster, or journalist needs to ask a real person at Slate.

 

[electriciantim]

With what you are stating for cargo and towing, it sounds like it would be possible, but close to capacity.

400+600=1000lb
Tounge weight should be 10% of tow weight so another 150lbs off the payload capacity

Puts you around 1150lbs payload and 1500lbs towing. Should get it done, but I'm sure there are more variables in that payload number, so maybe you have 400lb left, maybe more, maybe less.

This is just my opinion.