2013/2014 SAE J2807 Towing Standard

SAE J2807 Towing Standard

In 2008, Toyota began the process of adopting the newly created Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J2807 voluntary test standard. The new SAE J2807 standard is the first time that the leading OE manufacturers have agreed to adopt a single uniform test methodology developed jointly with an independent agency for determining a vehicle's verifiable, real-world trailer weight rating (TWR, also referred to as tow rating) and overall weight capacity (Gross Combined Weight Rating: vehicle weight + occupants + payload + total tow weight). Because other leading OE manufacturers have yet to adopt the standard, Toyota is in a strong position to leverage SAE J2807 with customers who are interested in using their vehicles to tow.

SAE J2807 History

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) is a U.S.-based trade association that represents the automotive, aerospace and commercial-vehicle sectors. It works on developing industry-wide technical standards based on the recommendations of SAE committees and task forces. SAE's participation in the automotive sector arose out of a desire by automakers to solve common technical and design problems, and to develop uniform engineering standards as the auto industry grew during the last century.

Several years ago, engineers from several OE manufacturers (including Toyota, Ford, Chevrolet, Ram, and Nissan) began consultations with SAE to establish a single, repeatable test curriculum to establish tow ratings for its body-on-frame vehicles. (Prior to that, each manufacturers devised their own test methods and published their tow ratings without any third-party review.)

Eventually, a precise methodology was worked out, and in 2008, the SAE's recommended best practices were published and scheduled to take effect for the 2013 model year for all manufacturers.

Stepping Up to the Challenge: Toyota First to Implement SAE J2807

Toyota immediately started working to adopt the new SAE testing method, with some vehicles being compliant a whole five years before the automotive industry planned to implement the standard. At present, Toyota is the only manufacturer with SAE J2807 certified tow ratings for its entire pickup truck, SUV, XUV and minivan line-up. Because of that, Toyota's ratings can't be compared to other competitors in any segment, because the differences in testing standards make it like comparing apples and oranges. While Toyota is confident in the transparency J2807 provides customers, explaining it to them can potentially lead to confusion if not done correctly. In this Hot Sheet, we'll discuss why this is important information to convey to your customers, and we'll review the test itself: how it's done, and what it means for Toyota buyers. Finally, we'll include all of the latest J2807-certified tow ratings for every Toyota truck, SUV, XUV and minivan.

Why It Matters

• Stay Up To Date: If you are working off an old tow rating and payload chart from a previous model year, you could be providing customers with incorrect tow ratings. One of the purposes of this Hot Sheet is to ensure that you have the most timely and up-to-date information to relay to your customers regarding these tough, durable vehicles.
• Knowledge is power: The SAE J2807 towing standard empowers your customers with the knowledge that their Toyota vehicle can indeed tow up to its stated capacity. Toyota tests each truck and SUV for SAE J2807 certification with two 150-pound individuals seated inside the vehicle to better simulate the kind of real-world conditions most owners will encounter during typical use; the competition doesn't reveal how many passengers or how much cargo weight their vehicles carry during testing, which can affect their claimed tow ratings. With Toyota trucks and SUVs, there's no more guesswork. Besides arming your customer with this useful information, driver confidence may be enhanced by knowing that his or her Toyota has been tested to its maximum tow rating in extreme driving conditions without overheating or otherwise failing.1
• Toyota Leads The Pack: A key selling point to relay to your customers is the fact that Toyota was the first manufacturer to have successfully submitted its body-on-frame vehicles for SAE J2807 certification. While other manufacturers have been reluctant to adopt the SAE standards, Toyota has already been adhering to them for two years, and now has SAE J2807 certifications for its entire line-up of SUVs, XUVs and minivans.
  
  

J2807: How It Works

The new SAE standard (known officially as Surface Vehicle Recommended Practice J2807) actually determines two distinct weight ratings: maximum vehicle Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR), which is total vehicle weight (at max payload) plus maximum trailer weight; and maximum trailer weight rating (TWR). GCWR is an important number to know because it generally reflects the amount of weight that can be carried on or in the vehicle (the higher the number, the higher the payload rating, as a rule), but for the sake of this Hot Sheet, we’re focusing on TWR. Here are a few useful knowledge points to pass along to your customers about the rigors of the SAE test.

GCWR vs. GVWR: How They Differ (new chart)

	Base curb weight	Max payload (incl. occupants	Max trailer weight
Gross Vehicle Weight Rating	x	x
Gross Combined Weight Rating	x	x	x

Extreme Weather Testing

All testing for the SAE J2807 standard takes place on the same stretch of desert road near Bullhead City, Arizona. In order for a truck to satisfy any specified tow-weight rating, the following SAE criteria must be met:

• All tow testing must be conducted in a minimum of 100 degrees (F) outdoor ambient temperature to put the vehicle’s cooling system to the test
• For the duration of the test, the tow vehicle’s climate control system must be set to its coldest possible temperature setting (no recirculation) and the A/C blower must be set on “High” (or its maximum airflow setting) to put maximum load on the system
• Two 150-lb. occupants seated inside the vehicle
• Single rear-wheel trucks must be able to maintain a minimum 40-mph highway speed on a 12-mile uphill grade, with grades ranging from 3 to 7 percent, while towing the maximum specified trailer weight
• The tow vehicle must be able to launch 16 feet up a 12-degree ramp from a standing stop in both forward and reverse gears at a maximum specified trailer weight. Five successful launches in each direction must be achieved within five minutes (Note to Art Director: A visual representation is this feature has been requested.)

For trucks with Gross Vehicle Weight Ratings (GVWR) of under 8,500 pounds, all test units must include any options packages that reflect 33 percent or more of total sales.

Failure is Not an Option

To obtain SAE J2807 certification, no vehicle component failure of any kind is allowed.

• No warning lamps can engage at any time
• No diagnostic "error" codes are permitted to appear
• The engine is not allowed to go into “limp” mode
• The vehicle is not permitted to lose any coolant

In addition, the SAE J2807 standard also sets maximum allowable acceleration times, acceptable levels of front/rear axle load distribution and maximum levels of structural deformation (at the hitch). Needless to say, it’s an exhaustive and demanding test regimen that only a tough, reliable truck can meet.

Maximum SAE J2807 Acceleration Times @ Max Trailer Weight

Acceleration, 0-30 mph (sec.)	12
Acceleration, 0-60 mph (sec.)	30
Passing acceleration, 40-60 mph (sec.)	18

Benefits

Towing + Toughness = Toyota: The SAE J2807 test standard is a comprehensive test of a vehicle's engine, transmission, cooling system, axles and structural rigidity to handle a rated load. Your customers can know that their Toyota truck, SUV, XUV or minivan has survived some of the industry's harshest test methods and is built to pull its SAE-rated tow weight in some of  the most extreme driving conditions. The proven reliability of Toyota vehicles has always been a strong selling point.

Toyota Leads The Way: Toyota's vehicle lineup stands out for another reason. As mentioned previously, Toyota was the first to certify all of its vehicles' tow ratings to the SAE J2807 standard. While other manufacturers claim they were planning to incorporate the SAE J2807 protocols into their pickup truck tow ratings for the 2013 model year, they still haven't, and don’t plan to until at least the 2015 model year. (It is rumored Ford may adopt the standard for the 2015 model year, after which all other manufacturers presumably will follow).

Bottom line: If a customer's Tundra is SAE J2807-certified to tow 10,000 pounds, he’ll know for sure that his truck can handle the job. The other manufacturers? Customers can only take the manufacturer's word for it. For future sales of the Toyota brand, that's a big selling advantage.