Mike Up

There is no legality about it. Tow rating is only an estimate based off of the CGWR which has no legal merit. Once the truck is optioned, has accessories added, then has people and gear added, the tow rating is much less than the brochure specified lightest base truck.

The rear standard axle is 3850 lbs on 145" and 157" WB Screw 4WD trucks.

Boulevard

We are not talking about brochure, we are talking about truck to truck. An equally equipped 3.55 and a 3.73 truck will have the 3.73 towing 1700 pounds more, every time. So if the 3.55 can tow 6000lb due to options and load than the very same 3.73 will pull 7700lbs, legally. There are other restrictions other than towing capacity the big one being the Gcwr of the vehicle. This limit is the limit that has the greatest impact on the towing ability of the truck, not the so called published towing capacity. A HD payload package is much better option than a 3.73 gear set as it allows you to load the vehicle to a much more reasonable level but that is not what we are talking about. What we are talking about is 3.55 vs. 3.73 and for these 2 gear sets, truck for truck, the 3.73 can, by law, tow 1700lbs more and FORD backs that in print, in law.


You do realize that there are legal limits to what you can do. You do realize that those limits have been set out for you by FORD and that FORD put a LEGAL document on the door of every vehicle it makes stating what the GCWR for that vehicle is. And you do know that by law you are supposed to abide by it. You also know that GCWR is not exclusive. FORD's published tow rate for my truck is 7500lbs. I cannot strip 1000lbs or weight off of my truck and add that to the towing capacity even though I would still satisfy the GCWR. If you feel that I am wrong and that GCWR has no merit and perhaps no basis in law than please advise me of your court date because I really want to hear how a judge responds to your logic.


For some reason FORD is putting 4000lb rear axles on ALL SC trucks equipped with the 20" wheels. No one knows why but it has something to do with the 20" wheels. My 5.0 SC with 3.55's and 20" wheels has....you guessed it, a 4000lb rear axle. You may want to read a few posts on this or better yet go down to your local FORD dealer and try checking a few doors.


I may be wrong, and I'll gladly admit it, but I'm pretty sure that I am right...on all of it.

Mike Up

Only "LEGAL" limit is set by the license plate. My truck can NOT weigh more than 9000 lbs or I will be ticketed. It is not illegal to go over tow rating or payload. You can't be ticketed unless you go over the plated weight you bought. I bought 9000 lbs plates as the next plate under that weight is only 7000 lbs, less than my GVWR.

Ford can try to deny warranty if they can prove you towed more than their GCWR or loaded the truck more than their GVWR. Their GCWR (tow rating) and GVWR are Ford's safety and warranty weight limits, that's it.

If your are in a wreck because of overloaded hauling under your plated weight or towing more than your maker's recommended GCWR, you MAY get sued because of safety factors ignored but you aren't going to get ticketed unless the officer feels you were driving recklessly.

Mike Up

I'm the one who made a thread about axle ratings before you even were a member here. It was in my thread, other members and myself found that on Super Crews that the 20" wheels demanded a 4050 lbs rear axle. You likely read one of my threads or posts, to get your information.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ford

(4) Vehicles equipped with 20” tires / wheels get 4050 lbs. RGAWR.

packplantpath

Sort of true. Depending on the state. I can go to the DMV and buy tags for my truck with gvwr of 12000 lbs. And I couldn't get a ticket for being over the licensed limit at 8000 lbs.

But an officer could give me a ticket for being over the gvwr as set by the manufacturer. Odds are it would never happen, but most states have laws stating vehicles can't be operated over the manufacturers gvwr limits. I would be interested to see someone fight that by saying that the state shouldn't give them a license paste for it is it isn't legal.

nihilus

DAAAAAAMMMMMMNNNNNNNN!!!!!

Commander316

my truck became a completely different animal going from a 3.31 to a 3.73.. but of course i didn't get that information from a book...

Mike Up

You can not get ticketed for going over GVWR, you do not drive a commercial vehicle. Then on commercial vehicles, it's the axle ratings they go by and the licensed plated weight.

Here's a good read

Mike Up

It wasn't meant to be condescending, although it obviously came off as that. Sorry

packplantpath

Ah, but there is the rub. Some state's require commercial tags to tow basically anything except a utility trailer up to 2000 lbs and there is generally a camper exemption. Anything else is considered commercial and requires commercial tags with all that mumbo jumbo.

That's why I say be careful what you claim. Laws vary by state. I know in NC, you have basically no chance of getting a ticket unless you don't have the proper tag weights.

And here, camper load weight is not included in the tag weight so you don't even need weighted tags for towing a camper, just for the vehicle weight. But a horse trailer will get you nailed if the tongue weight puts you over the tag weight.