Just slightly over payload capacity
10-19-2017, 10:28 AM
#31
Payload capacity is nothing more than a legal requirement, nothing to do with reality. I think I've exceeded "payload capacity" in nearly every vehicle I've owned, truck, car or SUV at some point. I remember as a kid loading up a '77 F150 Supercab 8' bed, the entire bed was loaded to at least 6' tall, everything strapped down, and the entire supercab was stuffed full. We drove 200 miles without issue. Today's trucks are infinitely more capable than a 1977 model.
10-19-2017, 01:07 PM
#33
Senior Member
Payload capacity is nothing more than a legal requirement, nothing to do with reality. I think I've exceeded "payload capacity" in nearly every vehicle I've owned, truck, car or SUV at some point. I remember as a kid loading up a '77 F150 Supercab 8' bed, the entire bed was loaded to at least 6' tall, everything strapped down, and the entire supercab was stuffed full. We drove 200 miles without issue. Today's trucks are infinitely more capable than a 1977 model.
Either way, "nothing to do with reality" is a stretch. If Ford (or GM, or Toyota, etc.) could get away with claiming more payload on the same trucks, I'm sure they would. Not saying that I haven't operated vehicles at or over their rated payloads, but handling is definitely affected when you add a substantial amount of weight to any vehicle (heck, I could feel the handling difference in my Golf when I had an adult in the passenger's seat).
Re: riding in the bed, I remember taking Driver's Ed in Maine in the late 90s and being very amused by the section in the Driver's Ed manual that indicated that to carry passengers in the bed of your pickup truck, you must first make use of all seatbelts in the cab, and secondly, you should drive with extra caution. Somehow I don't think that same instruction is likely to show up in a lot of states.
(just checked, apparently the current manual only requires that passengers under 19 be in the cab, p. 37, with certain exceptions; state law at title 29A, section 2088)
And AAA has a state-by-state summary of seatbelt laws, including legality of riding in the back of a pickup truck: http://drivinglaws.aaa.com/tag/seat-belts/
I was hoping to find a decent photo of riding in the back of a truck during road-assisted ski season, but apparently none of the ones I tried to take came out. There are a number of ski runs on the Beartooth Pass where you can enjoy the snow without as much hiking by hitching or shuttling, and I've ridden in more than a few pickup beds in the process. The only time it felt scary was when I was riding on an open tailgate with another guy and I don't think the driver was 100% aware of how much the back end of his truck was swinging on the hairpins, but neither of us fell off, so it's all good. I was definitely more worried crammed three wide in the pack of a Prius with a tourist driving who definitely was not used to mountain roadways.
The following users liked this post:
Scotsskier (10-19-2017)
10-19-2017, 02:29 PM
#34
Well, I wouldn't say the payload rating has "nothing" to do with reality, but if people think that's some kind of hard limit and going 100lbs over that is going to cause failure or a rollover or something, they're buying into nonsense. I mean, hell, I remember my uncle putting a load of gravel in the bed of his '82 Ranger 4cylinder and the bumper nearly hit the ground, but he made it home and nothing on the truck broke.
10-19-2017, 06:35 PM
#35
Originally Posted by B-ManFX4
That is ridiculous. It is none of your business how someone else uses their insurance - especially insurance that they pay for. Don't feed me the line about your rates being high because of people riding in the back of trucks. That's BS. Rates are high because of lawyers, the insurance companies themselves and the sue-happy mentality that is so prevalent in this country nowadays.
If you aren't comfortable riding in the back of a truck, don't ride there. If you are afraid to ride without a helmet, wear a helmet. Telling anyone they have to sign a form and give something up because you think they are doing something wrong is a great example of what is wrong with this country today.
Is it as safe as riding in the cab with a seatbelt on ? Of course not. Is it as dangerous as selling bacon in Iran ? Hardly...
Why is it that more and more people think we need to legislate every facet of life ? He and his riding buddies are adults. As adults, they made a decision to travel in the back of the truck. As an adult, he made a decision to drive in a manner that is reflective of having a passenger in the back of the truck.
Those guys riding bicycles where they were is an inherently risky activity. If they get hurt doing it should the insurance company be absolved of paying because they chose to do something that wasn't "necessary" to life, like driving to the office or going to the grocery store ? Where does it stop ?
We don't need more laws and government - we need more people who think for themselves and act responsibly.
As far as overloading the truck, because he has a brain he drove accordingly and there was little to no risk to the truck, the passengers or the public.
If you aren't comfortable riding in the back of a truck, don't ride there. If you are afraid to ride without a helmet, wear a helmet. Telling anyone they have to sign a form and give something up because you think they are doing something wrong is a great example of what is wrong with this country today.
Is it as safe as riding in the cab with a seatbelt on ? Of course not. Is it as dangerous as selling bacon in Iran ? Hardly...
Why is it that more and more people think we need to legislate every facet of life ? He and his riding buddies are adults. As adults, they made a decision to travel in the back of the truck. As an adult, he made a decision to drive in a manner that is reflective of having a passenger in the back of the truck.
Those guys riding bicycles where they were is an inherently risky activity. If they get hurt doing it should the insurance company be absolved of paying because they chose to do something that wasn't "necessary" to life, like driving to the office or going to the grocery store ? Where does it stop ?
We don't need more laws and government - we need more people who think for themselves and act responsibly.
As far as overloading the truck, because he has a brain he drove accordingly and there was little to no risk to the truck, the passengers or the public.
Of course your logic and reason will be glossed over by many simply because you can't sell, persuade, or subjugate anybody with that kind of infallible statement. (Education)
If I had a quarter for every time I've heard someone say they are "gonna sue!!"... lol ... but they usually don't... Geeee, I wonder why?
Probably because the short lived attention span, coupled with the complex strain of day to day liabilities (choices) most people face will distract them or lull them into another day of zero realistic action. Never mind the unrealistic actions they ponder.
I completely agree that education is the answer.
A LAW is just way to deal with a problem that nobody has solved yet. Sometimes the law even prevents or tactfully delays the solution from ever occurring....
The following users liked this post:
B-ManFX4 (10-20-2017)
