Towing Capacity and vehicle upgrades for towing
08-24-2016, 09:02 AM
#101
If you want to be stupid, then be stupid. If and when it happens, it is on you and no one else. If you want to be stupid, please have your passenger hold up a big red flag saying "I'm with Stupid" so the rest of us can get out of your way.
http://www.randolphwolf.com/blog/tow...rweight-loads/
http://www.personalinjuryclaimsblawg...ity-for-rvers/
I'm sure if you just do a little Google you will find plenty of people who in fact did get mailed for being overweight!
Not even going to go into licensing, be careful there too.
http://www.randolphwolf.com/blog/tow...rweight-loads/
If you tow beyond the manufacturer’s limits you are treading on very thin legal ice. Understanding your responsibilities differences is critical if you intend to tow in a safe and prudent manner. Towing beyond any vehicle’s manufacturer’s weight ratings-or without regard to the properly equipped limitations a vehicle’s manufacturer places on the towing vehicle relates directly to the law of negligence and places may expose you to liability.
Towing in excess of the vehicle manufacturer’s weight limits could not only prove dangerous, but could even be considered negligent. In the event of an accident with an overweight personal vehicle, you could be held responsible for higher awards in a lawsuit for damages to other people, vehicles or property.
Not even going to go into licensing, be careful there too.
The following 2 users liked this post by acdii:
Ricktwuhk (08-24-2016),
Velosprout (08-24-2016)
08-24-2016, 04:26 PM
#102
Senior Member
you guys are hilarious. licensing? nowhere in Canada do you need a special license to tow a recreational travel trailer, regardless of how big or heavy it is.
you guys act like I'm advocating people go over their payload by 1000lbs or something...
my rule of thumb is do not exceed axle ratings or GCWR. go over your payload by 50 or 100lbs? no big deal. you guys act like the world is going to end if someone goes over that magical payload number.
if people listened to the weight police, anyone with a trailer bigger than 4500lbs would be towing with a F350 dually and an F150 would be only good for picking up kids or groceries.
you guys act like I'm advocating people go over their payload by 1000lbs or something...
my rule of thumb is do not exceed axle ratings or GCWR. go over your payload by 50 or 100lbs? no big deal. you guys act like the world is going to end if someone goes over that magical payload number.
if people listened to the weight police, anyone with a trailer bigger than 4500lbs would be towing with a F350 dually and an F150 would be only good for picking up kids or groceries.
08-24-2016, 10:10 PM
#103
Not everyone pulls an RV trailer, and that is where you need to be aware of licensing. This is where DOT, SP and others can nail your *** to the wall for being overweight. In fact some states require the driver of certain RV's to have a CDL. In some states your plates exempt towing an RV trailer regardless of weight, but tow a trailer that exceeds your plate rating and you can get nailed, and they do pull over pickups with non RV trailers. In Illinois you can have B truck plates on a 1 ton dually, but if you pull a non RV trailer and exceed 8K on the truck, regardless of the trailer weight, you can get nailed for being overweight and go through the hassle of paying fines and offloading the trailer until you meet the weight restriction. Thos who have CDL Class A and have driven semis know how this works, and I have had mine since '88, and well aware of how the SP can be real PITA over this.
In Colorado and Nebraska the scales have weight plates built into the road bed along with cameras, and they will direct pickups with trailers to the scale house if they see the weight is questionable. I was following a 2500, not sure if it was a dodge or gm, that was pulling a large enclosed trailer, and it was directed to the scales, while I was allowed to pass. There are signs just past the weight plates that direct trucks to either enter or bypass. So beware of weight restrictions if towing non RV trailers, and this can include enclosed toy haulers and horse trailers.
This is why weighing is so important, more for your protection than anything else. RV's are for the most part exempt from weight restrictions and licensing, unless you have an at fault crash, and even more if there is a major injury or death.
In Colorado and Nebraska the scales have weight plates built into the road bed along with cameras, and they will direct pickups with trailers to the scale house if they see the weight is questionable. I was following a 2500, not sure if it was a dodge or gm, that was pulling a large enclosed trailer, and it was directed to the scales, while I was allowed to pass. There are signs just past the weight plates that direct trucks to either enter or bypass. So beware of weight restrictions if towing non RV trailers, and this can include enclosed toy haulers and horse trailers.
This is why weighing is so important, more for your protection than anything else. RV's are for the most part exempt from weight restrictions and licensing, unless you have an at fault crash, and even more if there is a major injury or death.
The following 2 users liked this post by acdii:
Ricktwuhk (08-25-2016),
Velosprout (08-25-2016)
08-25-2016, 09:10 AM
#106
For the most part RV trailers are exempt(within reason) from weight restrictions. RV Motor homes are also exempt, the exception to this is states like Wisconsin require drivers of Class A's to have a CDL, but that I believe is only for in state drivers.
The thing though, you will find that out of state, only the hardass cops look for overloaded pickups pulling non RV trailers, most wont waste their time on small game. The majority of them don't know out of state licensing restrictions for towing non RV, it's the ones that do that you have to be wary of. Those are the guys sitting at the scales, they know their stuff!
I forget which state I passed through, Colorado or Nebraska where the signs clearly state ALL trucks, including pickups with trailers use right lane when approaching the scales, and if they catch a pickup with a trailer in the left lane on camera, they may go after them if they see it is pulling something other than an RV. Why risk it?
Moral of the story, it is best to be within your trucks capacity than beyond it, even if you know the truck is safe.
08-27-2018, 10:14 PM
#107
While you might not get Ford to increase your rating by upgrading your truck I don't think you would have a hard time getting them to say the current ratings are null and void if you make any modifications.
As a matter of fact I have been told as much by customer service.
As a matter of fact I have been told as much by customer service.
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BlackBoost (08-29-2018)
