3500 SRW Towing 18K Concerns

[TMRoper1669]

I looked in the owners manual before I bought my new Cyclone 4000 Toyhauler but hauling it home made me just a little nervous. I have had several fifthwheel campers and several trucks, I bought this truck because it was a 3500 and I didn't want to go back to a dually. I stopped on the way home and it weights 24,700 lbs without any cargo or water. Is this too much for my SRW?

 

[Deleted member 995608]

In my opinion, that is to much pin weight for SRW.

My old truck was a 2500 SRW and I ended up converting it to DRW after we bought a triple axle, 36' toyhauler. One trip through the north coast of California and Oregon, with lots of twisty turns and grades, I was going to either sell the trailer or buy a DRW. That was not a pleasurable towing trip with my SRW.

 

[SnoKing]

Sounds like you need Rickson 19.5 rims and tires. Snoking

 

[TMRoper1669]

We pulled it 4 HRS home and it pulled ok but felt a little too much. I was hoping i could get air bags on it and call it a day.

 

[JR]

Assuming 25% pin weight your looking at 4500 lbs which I believe is right at the max payload. You'll probably have to get individual axle weights to get a better idea of where your at. Of course, none of this really matters if you don't FEEL comfortable pulling it.

Another thing to consider, the fact that you were empty may have played into the way the trailer felt behind you. They tend to be pin heavy when empty to compensate for the cargo. I have towed my cousins toy hauler empty and loaded and there is a difference in the way the trailer felt going down the road.

 

[TMRoper1669]

The camper I traded in sagged the truck more or the same as this one, the traded in trailer was 15K GVWR but my wife likes to make sure we have everything so I'm not sure what it weighted, I would also pull my RZR on a second trailer behind it so I'm not sure I'm too much different total weight once it's loaded. I just look at the GCVWR of this truck and the specs say 25K and I scaled at 24,700 empty. That makes me nervous.

 

[DAN V]

The camper I traded in sagged the truck more or the same as this one, the traded in trailer was 15K GVWR but my wife likes to make sure we have everything so I'm not sure what it weighted, I would also pull my RZR on a second trailer behind it so I'm not sure I'm too much different total weight once it's loaded. I just look at the GCVWR of this truck and the specs say 25K and I scaled at 24,700 empty. That makes me nervous.

Sounds like you should of went with the dually and Max Tow package. JMHO.

 

[sag2]

In the event you have any accident, especially a serious one you will be in trouble.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=BAqIncXvEjKLvL_C4_4e8w&bvm=bv.77880786,d.ZWU

 

[EGroeneveld]

In the event you have any accident, especially a serious one you will be in trouble.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=BAqIncXvEjKLvL_C4_4e8w&bvm=bv.77880786,d.ZWU

WOW, and glad they are being investigated. Amazing what I've seen going down the highways far to often.....
The District Attorney’s Office will ultimately determine whether Jacobson bears criminal liability for the wreck.

Sloat said this kind of incident is exceedingly rare.

“In 17 years, I’ve never seen anything like this,” he said.

 

[EGroeneveld]

The camper I traded in sagged the truck more or the same as this one, the traded in trailer was 15K GVWR but my wife likes to make sure we have everything so I'm not sure what it weighted, I would also pull my RZR on a second trailer behind it so I'm not sure I'm too much different total weight once it's loaded. I just look at the GCVWR of this truck and the specs say 25K and I scaled at 24,700 empty. That makes me nervous.

I'd be real nervous too. And frankly I personally would not have bought the new trailer.

So I think you have to options, trade truck in for a dually, or trade trailer in for a lighter one. (yes I know both options suck $$$)

 

[Wertles]

Had the same issue. 18K camper on a 3500 SRW. I put air bags on and Rickson 19.5 wheels and tires and it transformed the truck from me worrying every mile to I never gave it another thought. It towed VERY well and I did not go over my rear axle rating or my wheel/tire rating. In fact, there was still room to spare. PM me if you want to discuss.

Does my 13 DRW do better? Yes, but not by much. I only got a new truck because I needed an 8 foot bed and my truck was giving me engine issues. I didn't trade because it didn't pull the trailer well enough.

 

[Dieselnerd]

I towed the trailer in my signature with a 3500 SRW. It has a gross weight of 15,100 and when I had it fully loaded for our annual trip south it weighed 14,750. I was within DOT limits on my tires and axles but just barely.

My SRW was a 2005 and the weight ratings on the new SRW's are higher. I still doubt you can safely haul that much with your new truck. Even with careful balancing you may be overloading your tires. There is a safety margin built in on tires and axles because people do overload and they won't fail if you are a little over but it's a risk.

As mentioned by sag2, the problem arises if you have an accident involving big property damage or human loss of life or limb. If it comes to that and it's determined you were negligent due to overloading, you could face financial ruin. I have heard of insurance companies that wouldn't pay in that situation as well.

For that size trailer you need something like my signature truck. It's probably overkill for me but would be about right for your new trailer. Higher capacity tires and wheels may be your cheapest solution but for that size trailer, 4:10 axles work better too and you can't get that on a SRW.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Sounds like you need Rickson 19.5 rims and tires. Snoking

Don't forget the bags

 

[Wertles]

Can anyone provide any evidence of a lawsuit/ticket/insurance decline/charges brought to a non commercial driver for towing over the limit of their truck? I have heard this for years on this forum yet I have never seen one shred of evidence or proof that it has ever happened. I am not trying to be difficult here, but regulations commercial drivers are held to do not necessarily apply to the regular RV owner. I have never been asked to drive over a scale or show how many hours I have been driving nor is there a law that regulates that. I am all about being responsible for your driving, your load and everyone else on the road, but telling someone they need to buy a new truck because they could face legal trouble may be misleading. If there are documented examples of private RV owners getting into legal trouble, I will be the first to change my opinion.

 

[TCDiesel]

I have only seen criminal charges to RV owners (Speeding improper lane use etc) never sign a DOT or FMCSA violation myself. Recreational use is exempt form commercial rules, even when we Flat-bed the 2 Pulling Trucks (3.0 & 2.6) and use the Semi (Kenworth) the scales just wave us thru, But if we are going to a sanction event We must comply with all FMCSA and DOT in whatever State we are traveling thru. Now if your pulling your RV to promote products at a fair or fee market etc, you are now commercial and need to comply with DOT FMCSA rules.

 

[High Voltage]

That's why I went with the DRW. I pull my trailer 12K and boat 6K. Pulls a lot better then a SRW old truck.. With extra room for bigger TOYS.

 

[Joseph Donnelly]

Your truck is rated to tow up to 16,000-17,000 depending on options, etc.

 

[Brocky]

I had a 2006 F-250, 6.0 MAYPOP Powerstroke, extended cab, short body, 4X4, SRW, 35 gal aux fuel tank and tool box. In 2012 I bought a heavy 32 foot gooseneck hitch Cargo Express enclosed car trailer and loaded my 5000 lb 1949 Diamond T 1 ton pick up in it. I was grossing right on 21,000 lbs with 5500 lb on the drive axle. I was legal as far as axle and tire capacity. Then I added the Firestone air bag helper springs. They helped BUT even though I was legal I was still not comfortable.

This past July I swapped for my 3500 Quad cab, 6.7 Cummins, Aisin, DRW, 2wd, C&C with a built in hitch flat bed, and 60 gal aux fuel. I am now grossing 22,500, full (110 gal) of fuel, with no passengers or luggage resulting in 7260 lb drive weight. VERY comfortable, handles like a dream. Towed from Greenville SC to Winchester VA and back running 65-68 MPH up and down the hills of I-77 and I-81 and barely knew the trailer was behind me..

I definately recommend that you stop at a nearby truck stop that has a CAT scale (big yellow and black sign). Watch where you stop on it as these scales are set up to give you individual weights for steering, drive, and trailer axles as well as a gross weight. The best $10 you ever spent and if you move your load in the trailer around you can go back within 24 hr with your original ticket and reweigh for just $1.

Trailer not hooked just backed under

 

[Bob V]

I towed the trailer in my signature with a 3500 SRW. It has a gross weight of 15,100 and when I had it fully loaded for our annual trip south it weighed 14,750. I was within DOT limits on my tires and axles but just barely.

My SRW was a 2005 and the weight ratings on the new SRW's are higher. I still doubt you can safely haul that much with your new truck. Even with careful balancing you may be overloading your tires. There is a safety margin built in on tires and axles because people do overload and they won't fail if you are a little over but it's a risk.

As mentioned by sag2, the problem arises if you have an accident involving big property damage or human loss of life or limb. If it comes to that and it's determined you were negligent due to overloading, you could face financial ruin. I have heard of insurance companies that wouldn't pay in that situation as well.

For that size trailer you need something like my signature truck. It's probably overkill for me but would be about right for your new trailer. Higher capacity tires and wheels may be your cheapest solution but for that size trailer, 4:10 axles work better too and you can't get that on a SRW.

The old you will be sued if you are over weight again! Anything that you MIGHT do that will cause and accident could get you a ticket and be found "at fault". Speeding, falling asleep, running a red light/stop sign, passing when you shouldn't, crossing the center line, cellphones, DUII, driving with no brakes are all bad things and your insurance MUST pay. In Oregon I can LEAGLY license my truck up to 80,000lbs, as long as I pay the $$$$ they are happy. There are load limits for tires and for axles (20,000 per axle max), basically they use a formula or the max cap on the tires to figure your max weight per axle (up to 20,000). BUT!!!!! RVs for personal use are exempt from all that. Each state is different and Canada has its own rules also, but you don't have to be weighed and they can not force you to scale if you are using and RV. I towed my 40' toy hauler with a SRW and air bags in the rear. I did have to get aftermarket wheels/tires to get the capacity on the rear axle. I have a Dually now, but my SRW did just as good as the dually. IF you have a choice, get the dually, if not make sure the wheels and tires are up to the task, SLOW DOWN, and enjoy the ride.
One last thing, the single most important safety item in you truck is the driver. If you are towing heavy you MUST change your driving style. No more 80+MPH in the fast lane because you have the power, follow the rules that apply to the trucks and take your time and give more room in front of you. Dually or SRW it takes a LOT longer to stop 25,000lbs than 10,000lbs.