Consequences of overloading
Laughing Gas
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 767
Likes: 132
From: Lynden, WA
Too much weight aft of the rear axle. More weight aft then in front of the axle leads to the the camper trying to lift the front wheels rather then transferring weight to the front axle. Hanging bikes on the back only created more aft weight. With the weight of the diesel engine in the front and the weight aft of the rear axle being much greater I can see a lot of stress applied to frame area behind cab.
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2002
Posts: 8,702
Likes: 4,832
From: Itinerant
I'm surpised not to see more of this in my travels. It blows my mind seeing the overhang on some of the trucks carrying these campers and then add in the motorcycle being carried or some long extended towing attachment for a jeep or toy, I've even seen a pull behind camper on one trip. I'm sure the added airbags will handle it.
There seems to be alot of new folks in the outdoor recreation area listening to sales people about what a truck can do or to cheap to buy the proper truck because it cost more to register or it's not convenient to park. These are trucks and built for a utilitarian purpose or aleast use to be.
There seems to be alot of new folks in the outdoor recreation area listening to sales people about what a truck can do or to cheap to buy the proper truck because it cost more to register or it's not convenient to park. These are trucks and built for a utilitarian purpose or aleast use to be.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,191
Likes: 8,080
From: Texas
And as I stated on another forum about this incident…….I have seen the frame of a 7000 lb GVW trailer on those Baja highways break while hauling a side X side. (Way under capacity) Those roads are brutal; and averaging 55-60 MPH as the article says can break anything, overloaded or not.
Cargo Master
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 2,430
Likes: 701
From: Minnesota
And as I stated on another forum about this incident…….I have seen the frame of a 7000 lb GVW trailer on those Baja highways break while hauling a side X side. (Way under capacity) Those roads are brutal; and averaging 55-60 MPH as the article says can break anything, overloaded or not.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,191
Likes: 8,080
From: Texas
Doesn’t even have to be “aggressive”! IDK where in the Baja this incident happened; but once one gets south of San Felipe on the Sea of Cortez side of the peninsula the roads are horrible and they aren’t great from Mexicali to San Felipe either. I don’t know how they are on the Pacific side but I can only imagine!
Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 570
From: Black Hills of SD
This has been a very common problem with Ford trucks as well. GM went to a much stronger fully boxed frame for its 2500/3500 trucks starting in 2011. Ram beefed up the frames on the 3500 starting in 2013 and in 2014 did the same for the 2500 trucks. Ford did not do this for its super duty pickups until 2016.
This was a design defect and not the result of overloading the truck beyond its specified load capacity. For many people wanting to use a truck for a slide in camper the best bet was the Ford F-450 CC this has always had a much stronger frame. Current generation of F-150 now have a fully boxed frame and are better able to support their payloads.
This was a design defect and not the result of overloading the truck beyond its specified load capacity. For many people wanting to use a truck for a slide in camper the best bet was the Ford F-450 CC this has always had a much stronger frame. Current generation of F-150 now have a fully boxed frame and are better able to support their payloads.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,191
Likes: 8,080
From: Texas
Everybody talks about weight, nobody looks at the speed he said he was driving (55-60) according to him. There were likely a couple times he was close to being airborne.
I have been on some of those roads south of San Felipe…….they are not like anything most of these trucks ever see. Some places will tear things up at half that speed.
Another thing not mentioned………how much and what kind of gear and equipment did he have loaded inside the rear portion of the camper, just inside the door for convenience rather than lug crap all the way to the front of the camper while traveling.
As stated, I have personally seen a tandem axle 7000 lb GVW with a broken frame just hauling a Polaris or Can-Am side X side on those roads.
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Fleet Mechanic
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 1,620
Likes: 570
From: Black Hills of SD
I didn't look at where he was driving or the speed he was going, but, if he was airborn, he has bigger problems....
EDIT: After reading the article, it was clear that he was close to being 2000 lbs over payload cap. Not cool at all. A good reminder to always scale what your loading. It just makes sense...
EDIT: After reading the article, it was clear that he was close to being 2000 lbs over payload cap. Not cool at all. A good reminder to always scale what your loading. It just makes sense...
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 10,191
Likes: 8,080
From: Texas
I didn't look at where he was driving or the speed he was going, but, if he was airborn, he has bigger problems....
EDIT: After reading the article, it was clear that he was close to being 2000 lbs over payload cap. Not cool at all. A good reminder to always scale what your loading. It just makes sense...
EDIT: After reading the article, it was clear that he was close to being 2000 lbs over payload cap. Not cool at all. A good reminder to always scale what your loading. It just makes sense...
Next days version made no mention of a short bed, so what else did the writer screw up on?
Too bad Paul Harvey weren’t still around…….maybe we could hear “The Rest of The Story”!!!!!! LOL
Clip from original article
Clip from same article the next day
Notice the discrepancies.
And said camper dry is around 4900LB
Go check out a big Lance, Host, or Arctic Fox that we see all the time traveling our highways and byways.
Laughing Gas
Joined: Apr 2021
Posts: 998
Likes: 608
From: Middle TN
It's Called Torte Reform Folks
Facts to support this guys warranty claim would be pictures of the truck's door stickers and the camper's "as-built" weight tags, but I haven't seen either one. I'm guessing he quickly realized he didn't have a leg to stand on for his warranty claim, and decided to wage a "social media" war against Dodge instead. It wouldn't surprise me if the next step is hiring a lawyer to bring a lawsuit. They won't want an actual trial mind you, they'll just try to be a nuisance long enough to get a "go away" settlement from Dodge.
Most people don't realize it, but the way things work is in this beautiful country of ours is that I can theoretically sue one of you for being ugly because it causes me trauma. If the case actually went to trial and I lost (the court decides you weren't actually that ugly) you would still be responsible for every penny you spent defending yourself! So, when someone says we need torte reform in this country, it simply means "sue me and lose, you pay my expenses". At the end of the day this nonsense isn't free, it becomes part of the cost of everything we buy, including our trucks.
I've been a heavy machinery guy my whole life so this stuff is personal, but I'll get off my soap box now. I don't have any sympathy for this guy though, based on what I've seen so far.
Most people don't realize it, but the way things work is in this beautiful country of ours is that I can theoretically sue one of you for being ugly because it causes me trauma. If the case actually went to trial and I lost (the court decides you weren't actually that ugly) you would still be responsible for every penny you spent defending yourself! So, when someone says we need torte reform in this country, it simply means "sue me and lose, you pay my expenses". At the end of the day this nonsense isn't free, it becomes part of the cost of everything we buy, including our trucks.
I've been a heavy machinery guy my whole life so this stuff is personal, but I'll get off my soap box now. I don't have any sympathy for this guy though, based on what I've seen so far.
