[rhagfo]

Originally Posted by aaron_huber

You can look up the SAE J2807 standards the numbers are based on to explain the difference between the "payload" and "tongue weight". A good summary is at https://fifthwheelst.com/SAE-J2807-Tow-Tests.html. For example, this says it's calculated with these adjustments for Ram trucks:

Trailer Weight Rating and Tow Vehicle Trailering Weight are calculated as specified in SAE J2807.
Passenger Weight = 300 lb.
Options Weight = 100 lb.
Trailering Equipment Weight: 75 lb. for Conventional Hitch, 70 lb. for Gooseneck and 250 lb. for 5th Wheel.
Tongue weight: 10 percent of the gross trailer weight for Conventional Hitch, 15 percent of the gross trailer weight for
a 5th Wheel or Gooseneck hitch.
Payload and GAWR should never be exceeded and must account for all of the above weights, including the appropriate
trailering equipment and tongue weight.
Box Off Body Completion Weight = 80 lb. per foot from end of cab to end of frame.

So those weights are being deducted from the total payload to get the tongue/pin weights that they tested with. It would be nice if all HD trucks had that sticker in them so you didn't need to go search for a PDF somewhere.

That is a step in the right direction as long as GVWR and GAWR are to only true weight factors. That new GM tag gives some real world pin and tongue weights that the sticker payload number can deal with. Even at that 15% pin is awfully light for a pin weight percentage.