Worried about getting too heavy

[oceanblue2019]

As I'm planning my build, I'm starting to get concerned about weight. I took my Jeep to the scales today to get an idea on baseline. For reference, this is a 2019 JLR, soft top, plastic bumper, no tow, full fuel with ~50 pounds of tools/misc. on board. My only weight changing mod thus far is wheels, which add MAYBE 35 pounds. It weighed in at 4450 without me in it. I already purchased a Motobilt Crusher stubby front bumper (+75 pounds), Smittybuilt X20 Synthetic line winch (+75), and ROAM sliders (+50). My plans include 37" tires (+100 for KO2s, +150 for Ridge Grapplers), tire carrier rear bumper (+100 minimum), lift/upgraded suspension bits (+~50), and assorted skids (+~150). By my math, with just me in the Jeep (I shop in the "husky" section of Sears), I'm at or over GVWR. As I look around at the many awesome builds on here, it seems like many folks must be busting GVWR. Is this a concern? Am I over-analyzing? I'm not terribly concerned about 0-60 times or fuel economy, but I am concerned about safety. Looking forward to anyone's perspective.

The easiest way to save some weight is aluminum bumpers front and rear and aluminum armor. Will cost you more but can shave 150lbs or so off those 3 items versus steel.

The other option you are onto - finding some lightweight wheels.

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[8flat]

Towing weight effects GCWR not GVWR

Yes but they both effect braking distance, since we cannot rely on trailer brakes to assist.

 

[VA72mlibu]

What are you saying? It’s ok to be overweight if you only travel on surfaces with a high traction?

No I’m saying that traction/braking effectiveness is a constantly shifting variable that you consciously or unconsciously take into account every time you drive. I’m asking about the stress to the chassis that being overweight could potentially induce and if it is likely to lead to a failure in vital components.

 

[Joe98]

Your vehicle manual will give you the maximum weight allowed.
The 4 door will obviously be greater than the 2 door.
Your maximum weight is measured assuming the fuel, oil, coolant and wiper water are all full.

The other point is that if the vehicle is overloaded and you are involved in an accident, the insurance company might use this as an excuse to not pay you out.

I am sure you are a safe driver but everybody else is poor. Even if you are stationary at lights and someone hits you that still is an accident.
.

 

[Toycrusher]

The payload rating is incredibly conservative. Upgraded tire size (I run 37s) has a huge affect on braking performance.

All that being said, the JL is very over built. I have no problem stopping in the mountains while towing even with my big tires. Many 4-door Ram 1500s have only a 1200 lb payload rating which is easily maxed out with five passengers yet they drive just fine with five passengers AND a bed full of junk.

Don't worry about it, mod your Jeep and go enjoy it. If your in an accident, lawyers will do their dirty work whether your squeaky clean and within ratings or not. Don't lose any sleep over it

 

[entropy]

Wheel and tire weight has a larger effect, since it has rotational inertia in addition to translational.

I see. but thats for stopping distance right? whats their effect on suspension?

 

[Pig-Pen]

Your vehicle manual will give you the maximum weight allowed.
The 4 door will obviously be greater than the 2 door.
Your maximum weight is measured assuming the fuel, oil, coolant and wiper water are all full.

The other point is that if the vehicle is overloaded and you are involved in an accident, the insurance company might use this as an excuse to not pay you out.

I am sure you are a safe driver but everybody else is poor. Even if you are stationary at lights and someone hits you that still is an accident.
.

not to argue but there is no way an insurance company can get out of paying a claim by stating that you overloaded the vehicle. You would have to have egregiously overloaded your vehicle to the point of being unreasonably reckless. A reasonable person would not know that what their vehicles gvwr is or if they have exceeded it unless it’s ridiculously obvious like the back end is dragging on the ground or something. Even then, car insurance covers stupidity every day.

 

[digitalbliss]

not to argue but there is no way an insurance company can get out of paying a claim by stating that you overloaded the vehicle. You would have to have egregiously overloaded your vehicle to the point of being unreasonably reckless. A reasonable person would not know that what their vehicles gvwr is or if they have exceeded it unless it’s ridiculously obvious like the back end is dragging on the ground or something. Even then, car insurance covers stupidity every day.

Exactly, during a conversation with my lawyer (for insurance claims) brother in law about towing, GVWR, etc.. he said the exact same thing. Basically unless is egregious, like you said, it's already factored in to insurance.

 

[LLANERO]

Have you tried the keto diet?

 

[Jeepdude101]

Have you tried the keto diet?

That is the best post I have seen all week oh so true so true.

 

[Durango]

not to argue but there is no way an insurance company can get out of paying a claim by stating that you overloaded the vehicle. You would have to have egregiously overloaded your vehicle to the point of being unreasonably reckless. A reasonable person would not know that what their vehicles gvwr is or if they have exceeded it unless it’s ridiculously obvious like the back end is dragging on the ground or something. Even then, car insurance covers stupidity every day.

Exactly, during a conversation with my lawyer (for insurance claims) brother in law about towing, GVWR, etc.. he said the exact same thing. Basically unless is egregious, like you said, it's already factored in to insurance.

Thank goodness someone(s) posted these comments - I am pulling out what little hair I have going nuts over all the people who have bought into the hysteria that an insurance company won't pay out if you're involved in an accident and you're found to be overweight. It's all over RV forums, and I see it here too in various threads.
Who among us has actually had an insurance claim denied because we were overweight, or even questioned about our weight as a precursor to that potential? Not me, and I've had a total loss claim. Was I overweight - who knows? I sure didn't, and no one bothered to check, either. So I call B.S. on the whole "if you're overweight you might not get paid" mantra.
There - got that off my chest!
Sorry for the partial hijack - back to the OPs concerns...

 

[D60]

OP at least you're thinking about it and that means you can make better choices.

I see so many here just buy any piece of armor that's offered and throw it on like it's a contest to see who can hang the most on their JL

As others have said, I'd ignore GVWR and instead be conservative in what you add. If you're unsure if you need Widget X, hold off and see what your experience combined with the experience of other board members tells you

 

[SABLE RHINO]

As I'm planning my build, I'm starting to get concerned about weight. I took my Jeep to the scales today to get an idea on baseline. For reference, this is a 2019 JLR, soft top, plastic bumper, no tow, full fuel with ~50 pounds of tools/misc. on board. My only weight changing mod thus far is wheels, which add MAYBE 35 pounds. It weighed in at 4450 without me in it. I already purchased a Motobilt Crusher stubby front bumper (+75 pounds), Smittybuilt X20 Synthetic line winch (+75), and ROAM sliders (+50). My plans include 37" tires (+100 for KO2s, +150 for Ridge Grapplers), tire carrier rear bumper (+100 minimum), lift/upgraded suspension bits (+~50), and assorted skids (+~150). By my math, with just me in the Jeep (I shop in the "husky" section of Sears), I'm at or over GVWR. As I look around at the many awesome builds on here, it seems like many folks must be busting GVWR. Is this a concern? Am I over-analyzing? I'm not terribly concerned about 0-60 times or fuel economy, but I am concerned about safety. Looking forward to anyone's perspective.

"Worried about getting too heavy"

Sweat pants?

 

[roaniecowpony]

Lighter is always better for everything from braking and acclerating to handling and avoiding breaking parts. If you just look at some of the things available like rock slider power steps, full under frame skidplates, bumpers, winches, etc., you can add half a ton easily. Buy aluminum.

 

[D60]

Lighter is always better for everything from braking and acclerating to handling and avoiding breaking parts. If you just look at some of the things available like rock slider power steps, full under frame skidplates, bumpers, winches, etc., you can add half a ton easily. Buy aluminum.

Half a ton is exactly right. I weighed at the gravel pit scales in Moab with a "fully loaded" JKUR who had everything - full steel bumpers front and rear, full skids underneath, Poison Spider rear quarter armor, power steps, etc etc and he was at 6k while I was 5k (both numbers after subtracting passengers)

OTOH I guess the JL benefits from aluminum body panels. Has anyone ever seen how much the Al saves?

On the F150 Ford was pretty loud about 800# but I've never seen any numbers thrown around on the JL (and yeah it'd be a lot less than 800# due to less sheetmetal and length on a JL). Maybe a couple hundred pounds at best considering our rear tubs are still ferrous? Or did JKs get some Al panels, too?

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