How much can I tow

[RustyJC]

Mike,



This is a situation I face frequently as a moderator on iRV2.com. The manufacturer's ratings are the only numbers a newbie has available when he or she goes out to purchase that first RV - probably having never towed a trailer in his/her life. Do I tell them that it's OK to go 10% over the ratings of their F-150? 20%? 50%? If manufacturer's ratings don't matter, then where does one draw the line?



(By the way, manufacturer's ratings DO matter in civil court!)



Rusty

 

[BigMike]

Can't argue your logic Rusty. I always enjoy reading your posts. I'll say this: the next truck I buy will be a 3500. Then I won't need to be as concerned. In the mean time, I'm feeling ok with my current setup. I hate truck payments.

 

[Sarge]

For any lawyers lurking here, now or in the future, I am 500 under my GVWR when I'm towing. I'll be sure to repost this once a month to make sure they see it.

:-laf :-laf :-laf

 

[tgrfan2]

GCWR

I have a friend with a 2003 3500 HO 48re 3. 73 4x2 SRW that is grossing 20,700 and his truck pulls and handles it very well. I will admit to being a "little" over gross myself, but my truck handles the fiver better than it did the 9K 31 ft TT we had. I think you might want air bags to level the truck depending on your pin weight. As far the illegal part, we had a F350 crew cab deliver steel to us a few weeks ago pulling a 24ft gooseneck. I asked him how much he weighed. He said slightly over 26K. He was from Alabama so I knew he had passed several weigh stations into Columbia, SC. He said all the weigh stations were concerned with was his tag. He is legal to 26K GCWR. He said he had been fined in NC at a scale for grossing over 28K, but they let him proceed after he paid the fine.

 

[RustyJC]

Re: GCWR

Originally posted by tgrfan2

As far the illegal part, we had a F350 crew cab deliver steel to us a few weeks ago pulling a 24ft gooseneck. I asked him how much he weighed. He said slightly over 26K. He was from Alabama so I knew he had passed several weigh stations into Columbia, SC. He said all the weigh stations were concerned with was his tag. He is legal to 26K GCWR. He said he had been fined in NC at a scale for grossing over 28K, but they let him proceed after he paid the fine.

You are confusing 2 separate issues here. I have a cousin who ran an F250/40' gooseneck hotshot rig that carried Texas apportioned plates good for 39,999 lbs. Obviously, DOT/state licensing regulations are concerned with (1. ) revenue generation and (2. ) roadbed damage potential, not vehicle ratings and safety.



If one finds himself in civil court after an accident, however (regardless of who was at fault), operating over the manufacturer's ratings makes an easy case for anything from contributory negligence all the way up to reckless endangerment.



Rusty

 

[Peter Campbell]

A 3rd gen HO SRW 3500 is good for 21,000 GCVWR with 3. 73's and 23,000 GCVWR with 4. 10. He was not overloaded until he weighs more than 300Lbs ( the driver ). My 1998. 5 is only rated for 18,000 with auto and 4. 10's. That is why when I got a gooseneck I got a new truck - plus it is purty!

 

[Ron Bissett]

You can never have to much truck for your trailer . You can have to much trailer for your truck . Lighten the load or get bigger truck . or take your chances. Ron Bissett in Metro Louisville KY P. S the dummies are waiding now in Churchil Downs infield now waiting for the big race for the roses.