Maximum Towing- Real World Maximums
Thread Starter
|
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Hampstead, NC
Maximum Towing- Real World Maximums
I know what the book says my truck can tow, and I tow a lot more than that. My question is this- Does the Government care what the manufacturer says the truck can tow? or are they only woried that I am plated and licensed to carry that amount.
I just added up what I tow for work on one trailer, and it should tip the scales at ~19,000 lbs, plus the weight of the truck.
When I went to the scales with my smaller trailer, I was 25480 lbs loaded.
I will be buying an F550 in the near future, but for now I have 2 F250's, and they seem to tow the load fine.
I geuss I am looking for some reassurance that I am not going to be ticketed based on manufacturers recomended tow capacity........
I just added up what I tow for work on one trailer, and it should tip the scales at ~19,000 lbs, plus the weight of the truck.
When I went to the scales with my smaller trailer, I was 25480 lbs loaded.
I will be buying an F550 in the near future, but for now I have 2 F250's, and they seem to tow the load fine.
I geuss I am looking for some reassurance that I am not going to be ticketed based on manufacturers recomended tow capacity........
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,498
Likes: 3
From: Windsor, Colorado
i know others will dispute this, but in my experience as long as you have enough axles on the ground and the wieght distributed correctly among them the dot will not mess with you. When I hauled cars i was legal in 48 states to gross 42000 with my f350.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
If your truck is registered for the weight, You're set. If your truck is registered for 6000 pounds like I've seen some in IN. then you are OVERLOADED even when empty and can get a ticket. And by the logic here, you must be unsafe if you are overloaded.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by Leader
If your truck is registered for the weight, You're set. If your truck is registered for 6000 pounds like I've seen some in IN. then you are OVERLOADED even when empty and can get a ticket. And by the logic here, you must be unsafe if you are overloaded.
The weights giving by FORD are recomended weights has nothing to do with legal weight.
Bottom line is you should know what your limits are and what weight you feel confortable towing. If it feels unsafe get a bigger truck .If it feels safe to you than don't worry about it. If the numbers on the door sticker make you feel good by all means tow that weight.
Guys want to play the weight police game but more drivers are killed or hurt by speeding or drunk drivers than OVERLOADED drivers .
Last edited by firesoutmatt; Feb 24, 2007 at 08:49 AM.
Postmaster
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 3,283
Likes: 2
I'm a concrete carpenter, structures mostly. It seem like were always taking out an over loaded trailer, the work truck is a F250 cc 4x4, 2004 v10, I try to drive as safely as possible, traffic allowing, I've never been stopped in 10 year's, truck doesn't know the loads back there,except breaking! When i bought my F350 2006, I spent a year going though GVW for towing a 37ft presidencial 5th wheel,@18000 loaded. It seems in Nevada I have to get an amended licence to haul that weight. I guess it all depends on where your from!
Lead Driver
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,782
Likes: 221
From: Huntington Indiana
The only problem I could foresee is - IF -that is a big IF - you are in a really bad accident and they recreate it and your over max GVWR for the vehicle they might consider you liable -even though you was in the right , traffic wise.
Trending Topics
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Originally Posted by bigredtruckmi
The only problem I could foresee is - IF -that is a big IF - you are in a really bad accident and they recreate it and your over max GVWR for the vehicle they might consider you liable -even though you was in the right , traffic wise.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Senior User
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 217
Likes: 1
Does any one have an idea what margin Ford has in their recommended numbers? I'm looking at being somewhere in the 5% range over on GCVW, 4% on the truck GVW, and 2% on the rear GAWR. Ford says for my 06 F350 SRW 4x4 PSD that the numbers are 23000, 11400, and 7000. I'll probably be in the 24/24.5, 12, and 7300 range.
I think the engine and transmission should be fine, and understand that I will need to watch the brakes (must likely will need to replace pads earlier then otherwise) but I'm worried about being over on the rear axle.
I think the engine and transmission should be fine, and understand that I will need to watch the brakes (must likely will need to replace pads earlier then otherwise) but I'm worried about being over on the rear axle.
Posting Guru
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,353
Likes: 1
From: Nothern Indiana
Originally Posted by paul100
Does any one have an idea what margin Ford has in their recommended numbers? I'm looking at being somewhere in the 5% range over on GCVW, 4% on the truck GVW, and 2% on the rear GAWR. Ford says for my 06 F350 SRW 4x4 PSD that the numbers are 23000, 11400, and 7000. I'll probably be in the 24/24.5, 12, and 7300 range.
I think the engine and transmission should be fine, and understand that I will need to watch the brakes (must likely will need to replace pads earlier then otherwise) but I'm worried about being over on the rear axle.
I think the engine and transmission should be fine, and understand that I will need to watch the brakes (must likely will need to replace pads earlier then otherwise) but I'm worried about being over on the rear axle.
Elder User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 898
Likes: 0
Fords numbers are for performance, not safety. Lighter loads are "safer" then heavy ones but that is Natures law not one of mans. If you get tires that are rated at higher weight, the rateing on your rear axle will go up to the total of the rateings of your tires.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: sticksville (Walsh AB. CA
I was recently pulled over and sent to the scales.I was pulling my new 20ft beavertail with my new (to me) 95 f250 PSD.after a complete inspection at the scalesI was told that I was 3700lbs over on my trailer alone.The cop did accept that I was driving slower than most and had everything including the trailer doublechained he said it was a dicresionary call and let me go as I only had 30 miles to go .However, the inspecter went to the trouble of pulling 1 wheel and drum to check my truck brakes.thats the main issue!
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: sticksville (Walsh AB. CA
Sorry , I should also say that we've had some problems around here with comm. trucks losing,tires,axles ect. They now want all private trailers with lge. loads to go by the axleweights not the tire wghts. alone.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 239
Likes: 0
From: sticksville (Walsh AB. CA
Sorry , I was in the middle of moving to my new (to me) house.I had my safe on the trailer as well as some heavy boxes of parts and tools.I did go to the trouble of removing the outer double drs. from the safe but its heavy!!! I had to get a 16ton picker to load it because we didn't know the weight.(thanks to DOT I now know its over 8000 lbs. It used to be the main safe of a dept. store before Walmart bought them out and replaced it. It's still on the trailer and the drs. are still on my truck as it was to cold to do the work (according to the friends I've lined up to help me manually remove them)