Gcwr

[klaybus]

On my 99 2500 4x4 I have a GCWR of 16,000# due to the Auto Trans & 3. 5 gears. The same truck with 4. 10 gears has a 18,000 GCWR.

As I have read a million times here & on IRV2. COM in a court of law I could be in a pickle if I was in an accident & was over the GCWR. I know my truck is capable of towing the GCWR of the truck with the 4. 10s & our braking power is equal so how can I get away with pulling more legally without buying a 4. 10 truck?

Any input appreciated.



Clay

 

[Ron Bissett]

We know that you can tow the trailer , but you are stuck with the factory limit for your truck adding any thing will not change the rule made by DC . Sorry to say this but thats the story. If you wan't to be safe from a law suit stay within the limit . There are plenty of trucks over the limit but that is no excuse in the court if you get in accident and it winds up in court. LOL Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY.

 

[Sixpack]

How is it that DC can claim a 16k GCVWR (klaybus's truck) and at the same time, tell you this truck can pull a 9900 lb trailer? By the time you have your truck loaded (8800 GVWR) and add the trailer at 9900 lbs your at 18,700 GCVWR ... . What gives? Phil

 

[Ron Bissett]

Originally posted by Sixpack

How is it that DC can claim a 16k GCVWR (klaybus's truck) and at the same time, tell you this truck can pull a 9900 lb trailer? By the time you have your truck loaded (8800 GVWR) and add the trailer at 9900 lbs your at 18,700 GCVWR ... . What gives? Phil

Some of the weight is transfered to the truck from the trailer. Example truck 6500 actual weight with hitch and two people 6800lbs pin weight 1000 lbs total 7800 trailer ,now less 1000 could be loaded to weigh 8200 and just be at the limit of 16000 . Not good best use a light weight trailer with light load as possible . With tools and extra fuel on the truck easy to over load . Or easy to over load trailer with water ,extra gear ,toys and extra every thing . Just a thaught think light or bigger truck . or ;;;;;. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY

 

[Gray 5.9]

Don't feel bad, my trucks only good for 14,000 GCWR, even though my engine is rated @ 160hp, 3. 54 gears, auto, as for 94'. . a truck with 4. 10 gears is good for 16,000 GCWR. I know that my truck will handle much more than that... . because I've pulled a 25' pintle hitch trailer with a 310 john deere backhoe on it. Of course... with good trailer brakes and nothing over 50MPH in3rd gear OD off.

 

[RichMorris]

You can't legally and I would have second thoughts about trying. Two years ago a lady driving a van pulling a travel trailer got caught in the side wash of a semi and rolled her rig down an embankment. The van caught fire and two of her children died. The highway patrol was going to prosecute her but did not due to the deaths of two of her children.

In reading other RV web sites apparently in some areas the highway patrols are getting more aggressive and if you appear to be overloaded they will stop you and run you rig across a scale. You then will be fined and have to park the rig and call a commercial tow outfit to get you home. That would ruin my day or vacation. I just traded off my 01 (20KGCWR) for an 03 (23KGCWR) just for that reason.

 

[SWC]

If it is not legal to haul more then the GCWR listed for my 01 3500, why can I get a license and insurance up to 25,999 lbs? I haul 5rs and travel trailers and that is the limit on my license.

Stan

 

[RustyJC]

I certainly can't speak to Canadian registration laws. Here in Texas, a hotshot rig can buy apportioned plates for whatever weight (up to at least 39,999 lbs that I know of) that the owner is willing to pay for - the higher the weight, the higher the price.



Obviously, this type of registration has nothing to do with vehicle capacity or safety since the state isn't even looking at the manufacturer's vehicle capacity ratings. It (at least here in Texas) is geared to (1. ) revenue generation and (2. ) limitation of damage to roadbeds and bridges via regulation of maximum axle loadings.



The primary risk the operator of an overweight non-commercial vehicle faces (at least under U. S. law) is in civil or tort proceedings under the concept of contributory negligence. Ignoring the manufacturer's load ratings is prima facie evidence to most juries that the operator of an overweight vehicle has acted in a negligent or even reckless manner and, therefore, bears some level of financial responsibility for damages, injuries and/or deaths incurred in a traffic mishap. Under traffic codes (again in Texas), the operator of an overweight vehicle may also be cited for unsafe load, unsafe or reckless operation or any number of other "general" violations at the investigating law enforcement officer's discretion.



Ignore the manufacturer's ratings at your own risk! In our case, we ordered our truck (see signature) specifically to tow our 13,500 lb 5th wheel without exceeding the truck's 10,500 GVWR or 21,500 GCWR.



Rusty