I found it on another site does it make any sence to you?

"Be careful choosing the truck. If you pick a 3/4 ton diesel with 4x4, crew cab, and all the fancy accessories and gadgets, you'll have very little payload left to tow a trailer. Especially with the family on board.

Trucks have gotten obscenely heavy, as I stated in another thread. The OP in that thread bought a new F350 crew cab diesel that weighs 8440lbs!!! That truck should have over 4000lbs of payload capacity, but because it's so heavy it's only got 2760lbs of payload.

An F250 equipped similarly will have 2000lbs lower GVWR (9200 IIRC), and weigh practically the same. That leaves you with a whopping 760lbs of payload! Not enough for much of a trailer, especially with the family on board"

 

No it doesn't.
I had my truck weighed empty and it was 7,000 even with a full tank of fuel. Really less than I thought it would be. On 4 X 2's there is only 500 lbs. diff. in GVW between the 250 and 350. Mine is a Lariet with everything minus sunroof.
4 X 4's will weigh more and thusly take less payload but how much less I'm not certain about.

 

I am taking it, rolling off the show room floor full od adults you will only be able to carry 760lbs. That cant be right. Or these trucks would be worthless.

 

I understand his point, but his numbers may be off. Although, some of the '03 - '04 trucks had very low GVWR. Some people have complained about payload on specific trucks. But still not that bad.

Using '06 specs:

The heaviest F250 CC LB PSD has a curb weight of 7,197# and a GVWR of 10,000#. Net = 2,803#. Real world, the truck will be a little heavier with options and people.

The heaviest F350 CC LB PSD has a curb weight of 7,299# (only 102# more than an F250) and a GVWR of 11,500#. Net = 4,201#.

No stock F250 has a curb weight of 8,400#, but some are certainly loaded up that way. Some F250's only had 8,800# GVWR, so it is something you have to watch out for when shopping.

The above is SRW only. Obviously DRW is different.

 

My 04 F250 CC SB 4WD weighed 8100 pounds on a CAT scale with full fuel, 2 adults, my 3500 watt generator, B&W Hitch and the dachshund. GVW on that truck was 8800 pounds. My new truck has a GVW of 11500 pounds. I will know tomorrow what it all weighs. There is a CAT scale right next to where I am camped.

 

How you liking that new signature?

 

I agree I just can't get used to seeing that from a guy who knows his 6.0's....

 

how much does that dog weigh??

 

Payload and Towing are not the same. They each have their own weight limits. I didn't look them up before I posted but I'm sure someone will...it's getting late...lol.

 

They are not, but with 5th wheels and goosenecks, payload can be a critical component. Not so much with tag trailers.

 

Head over to the RV.net forum and do a search for "over weight" or "weight police". There are folks who would never exceed their payload or towing ratings, those who tow right at the weight ratings, and those who regularly exceed the stated weight limits while they tow. I think the most important piece of equipment when towing any load is sitting right between your ears.

One of the interesting things I read was that the weight ratings can go up, (for instance in response to a competitors new truck) from model year to model year, with no changes to the vehicle. In other words sometimes: weight rating is suggested by engineers, but decided by lawyers and marketing types.

 

If I understand your point correctly, you think that weight limits are just suggestions, and as long as you use the stuff between your ears you will be okay. Is that about right?

I'm sure this guy agreed with you, right up until yesterday:
Trailer full of all-terrain vehicles overturns, closes parts of 57 Freeway in San Dimas - Whittier Daily News

To summarize for those who don't want to visit the news site, this was a Ford Expedition, pulling a 30' Toyhauler, loaded with five (yes 5!) ATV's. Crash and burn.

I can't say I would never tow heavier than the manufacturer "suggested", so I can't rag on you too bad. But I do think it is irresponsible to go around the internet encouraging folks to do exactly that. After all, if someone is asking if they should do it, they are probably exactly the ones who should not.

 

No, you must have misunderstood my point. My point was that there are people that exceed these weight ratings, and the sun still sets and rises, we all still pay our taxes, and the world does not stop revolving. I personally am not a member of this club.


1. Non commercial vehicles are not required to be weighed in most states while towing.
2. What percentage of people weigh thier trailer and adjust the tongue weight? Or, visit the CAT scales before leaving for vacation to check not just the GCWR, but also to check the distribution of that weight so that an axle (or tires) aren't overloaded?

These two points should shed some light on the weight issue. Many people (too many IMO), are over weight. How many? You and I will never know until we force them to pull over and weigh each axle.

BINGO! Ya nailed it. If you don't have the knowledge, have not done your homework, and are not sure of what you are doing, stay off the road. If Mr. Ford Expedition in the article that you linked to, had done those three things, he never would have left the driveway. I'm not even sure why you brought up that article, as it is pretty obvious that the driver did not use his brain muscle.

No need to rag on me, rickatic and I are the only ones that even gave a little clue to the OP of how to set up his rig for a heavy tow. And speaking on irresponsibility, I guess we will have to throw FTE and any other forum under the 'irresponsible' bus if they allow users to post "trophy" pictures of their trucks grossly overloaded.

 

My apologies for misunderstanding.

Yes, I see many just like Mr. Expedition traveling in the Sierra's, often passing me on downgrades.

Intelligence, or brain muscle as you put it, has little to do with it, and experience has a lot more to do with it. You obviously have experience and know the limitations of your rig. My point is that if someone is searching the internet seeking to learn how much his new rig can handle, which is probably the worst possible place to find a safe answer, that is the person who by definition has little experience. I would rather my words not be googled up suggesting that a little overloading is okay. I would consider that irresponsible on my part.

I don't think the OP, or anyone else, asked anything regarding how to set up his rig. In fact, you are the only one I see in the thread who suggested exceeding weight limits.

Maybe not FTE, but the users who post those kind of things. But they usually are strung up by the "weight police" that you mentioned. I guess I may be guilty of being a weight cop, but not like some out there. If nothing else I think it is good that some caution is suggested by others when those kind of topics show up.