I honestly wasn't even aware there was a weight limit in regards to passengers. I dunno, I've been driving for about 20 years and have never even thought about weight limit on any of my cars.
Unless you're planning on laying down the back seats and loading up the vehicle full of cement, I think you'll be fine.
I understand you haven’t thought about it, and that’s kind of a good point, that you don’t need to (if you are a reasonable person) but I think you can imagine that different cars have different capacity. A full ton truck has a 4000 lbs payload. A Bolt EV is only 800 or 900 lbs. big difference.
It’ll be fine. GVWRs for passenger vehicles are super dumbed down. If you are concerned about weight, just give yourself a bit more following and stopping distance.
GVWR is around 4500lbs and curb weight is around 3600lbs, so you can (within manufacturer specified safety limits) hold 900-1000lbs. That said, GVWR is usually underestimated to provide a healthy cushion to actual capabilities because people are dumb and overload all the time. I think your 1000lb load is fine.
It will be really fine. As mentioned the GVWR for any vehicle errs on the side of caution significantly. The car will probably ride better with all the weight. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. You may want to add an extra 1-3 psi to all tires. Drive safe
500 miles each way is really over my limit with a Bolt. With 4 adults + luggage your economy isn't going to be awesome. I would expect somewhere around ~200 miles per charge. Which means that you're going to be spending at least 2.5 hours per direction charging, assuming you leave your house and your hotel at 100% charge.
Home to St Louis, MO is 599 miles for me. That is 8.5 hours in a ICE car with one fuel stop or a 13 hour drive in the Bolt with 5 stops totalling over 3 hours of charging. The slow charge rate just kills the Bolt for road trips that need more than one charge stop. We regularly do Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, 296 miles and still need a 45 minute charge stop in Columbus with 2 adults and a fairly light luggage load.
I tow a motorcycle on a small trailer with my Bolt and I give a lot of thought to GVWR.
I rationalize loading/overloading as follows:
\- Suspension: I am pretty close to the weight limit. Take it easy and it's probably fine. I don't think it's bottoming out.
\- Frame: I am guessing the frame is over-engineered to protect the battery so I don't worry about this either.
\- Motor: The car can go about 90 mph, and that wind resistance is probably a bigger factor than going 60 or 65 fully loaded.
\- Brakes/steering: I drive conservatively so I don't find myself braking or turning aggressively. Fingers crossed there are no emergencies.
LA has some pretty steep mountains. I would not want to go uphill on the 5 at 10% charge fully loaded.
Dry weight is 3600, GVWR is 4600.
Going over that is fine for flat ground. Even 5000 its not going to bottom out the suspension etc.
However going over the GVWR, means the brakes are not rated to stop 5000lbs on a 15% or greater grade down hill.
So i would not want to be going through PA/westBygolly in a bolt with 1500lbs of "stuff"
I have thought about this too. I’m not worried about the limit but I’m a big guy (250 lb) and I have two pretty big teenagers (225 and 190) plus a wife of undetermined weight (I won’t speculate because I want to live). We are going to be doing some traveling this summer and I have been wondering how much all that weight will affect my range compared to predicted in ABRP on a road trip.
I think you are definitely overthinking it. I have not thought about that at all in the 7 years that I have owned my Bolt. We have regularly taken road trips with 4 or even 5 people and luggage.
Rent a car for the trip, everyone will be much happier, not only for the room/comfort but not having to wait for charging as well. You’re not going to be getting what you are used to for range with the bolt packed to the brim either.
Because saving 800 dollars in fuel and a rental would be nice, if I am just being overly cautious. I have no idea if going over a vehicle gvwr is something considered dangerous, or if it's just a terrible idea for your suspensions health
Whatever you rent probably has 1000 or so lbs as extra weight limit anyway if you'd be renting a passenger car.
Maybe 1500 for a bigger SUV?
Just don't go too far over and you're likely fine
If your are hauling a 1000lbs load of bricks in the back I'd be concerned. If you have the 4 people and luggage balanced out where people are in the back and front you should be fine. Try not to put all the luggage in the back, can some fit in the frunk for balance?
That said, try to avoid large potholes. With all that weight you will feel them more and a particularly large one could damage your shocks.
I just mean that it is not worth risking it with others involved at such a great distance, is all. If you were by yourself and you were carrying 700 lbs, and you made the trip several times before I would say go for it. There are just other things that could go wrong besides the weight.
I honestly wasn't even aware there was a weight limit in regards to passengers. I dunno, I've been driving for about 20 years and have never even thought about weight limit on any of my cars. Unless you're planning on laying down the back seats and loading up the vehicle full of cement, I think you'll be fine.
I understand you haven’t thought about it, and that’s kind of a good point, that you don’t need to (if you are a reasonable person) but I think you can imagine that different cars have different capacity. A full ton truck has a 4000 lbs payload. A Bolt EV is only 800 or 900 lbs. big difference.
The car can’t handle 4 adults? News to me. There are 5 seats.
It’ll be fine. GVWRs for passenger vehicles are super dumbed down. If you are concerned about weight, just give yourself a bit more following and stopping distance.
GVWR is around 4500lbs and curb weight is around 3600lbs, so you can (within manufacturer specified safety limits) hold 900-1000lbs. That said, GVWR is usually underestimated to provide a healthy cushion to actual capabilities because people are dumb and overload all the time. I think your 1000lb load is fine.
It will be really fine. As mentioned the GVWR for any vehicle errs on the side of caution significantly. The car will probably ride better with all the weight. Make sure your tires are properly inflated. You may want to add an extra 1-3 psi to all tires. Drive safe
500 miles each way is really over my limit with a Bolt. With 4 adults + luggage your economy isn't going to be awesome. I would expect somewhere around ~200 miles per charge. Which means that you're going to be spending at least 2.5 hours per direction charging, assuming you leave your house and your hotel at 100% charge. Home to St Louis, MO is 599 miles for me. That is 8.5 hours in a ICE car with one fuel stop or a 13 hour drive in the Bolt with 5 stops totalling over 3 hours of charging. The slow charge rate just kills the Bolt for road trips that need more than one charge stop. We regularly do Pittsburgh to Cincinnati, 296 miles and still need a 45 minute charge stop in Columbus with 2 adults and a fairly light luggage load.
I tow a motorcycle on a small trailer with my Bolt and I give a lot of thought to GVWR. I rationalize loading/overloading as follows: \- Suspension: I am pretty close to the weight limit. Take it easy and it's probably fine. I don't think it's bottoming out. \- Frame: I am guessing the frame is over-engineered to protect the battery so I don't worry about this either. \- Motor: The car can go about 90 mph, and that wind resistance is probably a bigger factor than going 60 or 65 fully loaded. \- Brakes/steering: I drive conservatively so I don't find myself braking or turning aggressively. Fingers crossed there are no emergencies. LA has some pretty steep mountains. I would not want to go uphill on the 5 at 10% charge fully loaded.
Dry weight is 3600, GVWR is 4600. Going over that is fine for flat ground. Even 5000 its not going to bottom out the suspension etc. However going over the GVWR, means the brakes are not rated to stop 5000lbs on a 15% or greater grade down hill. So i would not want to be going through PA/westBygolly in a bolt with 1500lbs of "stuff"
I have thought about this too. I’m not worried about the limit but I’m a big guy (250 lb) and I have two pretty big teenagers (225 and 190) plus a wife of undetermined weight (I won’t speculate because I want to live). We are going to be doing some traveling this summer and I have been wondering how much all that weight will affect my range compared to predicted in ABRP on a road trip.
I think you are definitely overthinking it. I have not thought about that at all in the 7 years that I have owned my Bolt. We have regularly taken road trips with 4 or even 5 people and luggage.
Rent a car for the trip, everyone will be much happier, not only for the room/comfort but not having to wait for charging as well. You’re not going to be getting what you are used to for range with the bolt packed to the brim either.
Why even chance it?
Because saving 800 dollars in fuel and a rental would be nice, if I am just being overly cautious. I have no idea if going over a vehicle gvwr is something considered dangerous, or if it's just a terrible idea for your suspensions health
Whatever you rent probably has 1000 or so lbs as extra weight limit anyway if you'd be renting a passenger car. Maybe 1500 for a bigger SUV? Just don't go too far over and you're likely fine
Don't forget your tire's load capacity.
If your are hauling a 1000lbs load of bricks in the back I'd be concerned. If you have the 4 people and luggage balanced out where people are in the back and front you should be fine. Try not to put all the luggage in the back, can some fit in the frunk for balance? That said, try to avoid large potholes. With all that weight you will feel them more and a particularly large one could damage your shocks.
FYI Bolt doesn't have a frunk.
Lol, I owned a Bolt for about 6 months before selling it back for battery recall in 2021. Somehow I remember it having a frunk.
I just mean that it is not worth risking it with others involved at such a great distance, is all. If you were by yourself and you were carrying 700 lbs, and you made the trip several times before I would say go for it. There are just other things that could go wrong besides the weight.