Almost every time I tow our big f26' flatbed I grossly exceed the GCWR of my '88 F-250. This is with a gooseneck trailer, with good brakes and the truck handles the weight well and stops just fine. Are there any legal issues surrounding the GCWR or is it just a manufactuers recomendation? I can't see any safety issues with GCWR ratings, as they increase dramatically with lower gears (my GCWR would be 26,000lbs with 5.13 gears). Thanks for any input.

 

Several people have cited not so much legal issues, as insurance issues. Evidently there have been instances involving overweight accidents where insurance companies have refused payments.

Don't know how to do it myself because I've never been able to get the search function to work, but if you can manage it, search for "insurance"

 

If you look at the tow rating charts you can see the results of the rear axle ratio on GCWR. Since you state that a 5.13 ration really increases the GCWR then you can see what I'm saying. Also the size of the engine and transmission are all factors in determining the GCWR.
The GCWR is not listed on the truck rating plate either and you can register a truck with any GCWR that you are willing to pay the taxes for. This is why the hotshot rigs can legally gross over 30,000# on a one ton truck, day in and day out.

On the Chevy Truck website they have a statement in small print that states that the GCWR is based on acceptable perfomance of the vehicle. I think that it says it all.

There's always someone that will say that Joe Blow got sued after having an accident while operating an over weight vehicle but when it comes time to state the actual facts then they back off because they really don't know. They just heard it somewhere and passed it on as a warning to all those involved. On one of the RV forums a challenge was set forth to post actual verifiable information on accidents of this type where there was litigation...the result was that not one factual incident came up.

If an insurance company decides to deny a claim they will use any excuse to do so but since GCWR is a manufacturers recommendation they would have a hard time using it.

The deal is to not be grossly negligent, like 50,000#s.
To listen to some of these naysayers I'd be afraid to even get behind the wheel of a truck for a trip to Wal-mart.

 

I think what some people are reading is for heavy trucks. Such as a semi which with a tandam- tandam setup with a spread, in Michigan on a freeway can be legal up to 80,000 lbs. If you go over the legal limit. The driver is liable for any accident wheather caused by them or someone else. This is probably where it gets confusing on what "truck" is stated.

 

bigred, I think in all states 80,000 lbs rigs are legal and run 18 wheels. Aren't all of those over 80,000 rigs in your state rolling 42 tires?

000-F, Good post

John

 

I have seen as many as 13 axles under some of these rigs running 140,000. On the freeways and most state and local roads here you are legal if the truck is plated for the gross weight and there are no posted weight limits on trucking maps or on the road entrance.

 

50 tires to keep check on, that is a full time job in itself.

John

 

Thanks for the info yall. We are probably going to step up a few notches for our farm tow rigs and get a International 7300 4x4, GCWR of about 50K. So, pulling our 'little' 20,000lb. trailers shouldn't be a problem any more

 

Big red... I think you will find that 11 axles is all you can register & plate in MI without getting a permit. (11 axle rigs have a permit but it doesn't have to be issued for each load)
I have been with 19 axle rigs grossing over 500k but you don't find many scales that will handle a load like that.
Just pay your $$$ & get the permit. being legal means you are safe right ??