sunofabeach

the airbags will help you even if you had lots of payload left over. they do take the bounce out and will make your towing experience better.

Jason_Larsen

I've had them on my last two vehicles. Definitely a must have.

Ricktwuhk

There is that legal thing, that insurance thing, and then of course the MORAL thing. Since you KNOW the limits that you have, if you CHOOSE to exceed them you're knowingly putting others at risk. You should think about the morality of that. And of course you're posting on the internet that you know all this because of course it's not at all possible that law enforcement or your insurance company investigates if something awful happens and someone conjectures "I think he was overweight".

You also may want to examine your insurance contract very carefully to see if they can deny your claim if you're found criminally at fault.

Seems like a risk one shouldn't knowingly take...

RSolberg

I think most people who will act morally do. Most people that seem to buy a TT probably ignore payload and simply think about a commercial that says 11,500 pounds. Even the car dealership says this. The RV dealerships say the same thing.

If there were not morals involved, this question wouldn't be asked...

What is sad here is that people want to continue to say, but but but the laws or insurance...

The stickers on the car are what the manufacturers say. But if you upgrade your entire back end of the truck or change out a suspension, the true capacity of what the truck can handle will change. Ford simply cannot reprint a new sticker without knowing what the truck is setup like.

So for those still reading... What should I do to my truck to bolster and stability so that if I get close to my 7K# GVW I can still maneuver, stop, accelerate without added stress on the truck. And no, saying to buy a bigger truck isn't a good response (but valid).

Jason_Larsen

Heavy duty quality shocks,

rear lift bags or roadmaster active suspension

Best weight distribution hitch you can afford. Have it set up by a experienced technician

D or E range tires.

Keep your truck empty and store all things in your trailer.

Drive 55mph.

Shop for a lighter trailer. Keystone has a light weight model. Look at the cougar half ton as well.

11screw50

To my knowledge, very few states reference the manufacturer's recommendations with regard to towing or hauling. Maybe there is something in the general regulations that I am missing with regard to operating outside the manufacturer's design limitations. So is it a legal issue? Maybe, maybe not.

As for insurance. They cover people who cause accidents while committing traffic infractions (speeding, running red lights, etc) all the time. They cover people who cause accidents while breaking criminal laws (driving drunk, etc) all the time. Somehow people think they're not going to cover you if you exceed the manufacturer's recommended weight limits (which may or may not be a violation of anything)? Somehow, I am skeptical. Also, they cannot reasonably claim ignorance if they insure both truck and trailer can they? I mean if johndeerefarmer has his 10k lb 5th wheel with Farmers and his F150 as well and no other truck...that 5th wheel probably puts him over before he even gets in the truck to drive it.

As I've said before. Show me the weight law because I just don't see it (except in a couple states).

Now, all that said, I do not recommend exceeding the weights indicated on the sticker. Stay safe.

mass-hole

The reason there are laws, and punishment for breaking those laws, is because a lot of people don't have morals so they need to be threatened. I dont think I know anyone on this forum personally so I wont make any assumptions about their morals.

I dont know it if this has been mentioned, but I have heard good things about the rear sway bars folks have been putting on.

RSolberg

Yet not a single person making threats about laws can identify a law specifically that says do not exceed GVWR as recommended by a manufacturer. People here even admit that you can do things to bolster that GVWR despite the sticker not changing... so...

The WDH with sway control seems to be a no brainer and I've not pulled anything yet!

Velosprout

Overloading payload on a truck or making mods to overcome the symptoms thereof is like overloading the Coast Guard engine and weight maximum capacity rating plate on a Jon boat. Both can be done, and both are not wise. Yes, you can attach empty sealed 50 gallon barrels to the boat for added buoyancy, just like airbags on the truck. But, a bigger boat (or truck) is the better option, irregardless of laws.

5.0GN tow

I will say this again, you can increase payload, and get a new sticker. Professional truck upfitters do this every day for trucks used by railroads, utility companies, and other heavy industrial users. It's not cheap or what would be called common for non commercial users, but they will do it, I checked. It would be cheaper to trade for a new truck in most cases, but if you can't there are options.