So I just noticed yesterday that my tow hitch says max 3500 lbs. With my tow dolly and car, I'm going to be up around 4200 lbs. Is that too much? I know there has to be some wiggle room in that 3500 number, but I'm not sure how much. My 454 should be more than capable of the weight. My Tow Dolly has brakes, so that should help with stopping the vehicle, and I'm not going to drive it like I'm headed to the races. Let's hear your thoughts.Tom

That is 20% over. How much are you going to tow? A couple times a year to the local lake? Or thousands of miles over the country?If I was doing more than just a little bit, I would not want to be 20% over for more than just the occasional tow.Over time, it may tend to crack or over stress the hitch.

Yes it's too much. Why would you think there is wiggle room? Numbers are numbers. Your hitch is rated at 3500. Period. And that's max. You also have to consider your coach weight. You could actually be less than that.

I think you're living a bit close to the edge. Besides over loading the hitch there's also concern for the coach frame from the rear axle back.Another concern is where you contact the dolly safety chains. Normally most of us just connect to the points provided on the hitch but with the overloading of the hitch if it fails or pulls lose from the coach the dolly and car are going somewhere you don't want them to be.Either get a lighter toad, a newer coach or replace the hitch and beef up the rear frame by boxing it in, additional cross members and a good lawyer on a retainer.

I'm going to be towing the vehicle for a move, so it's not a normal tow vehicle. The move will take us about 1500 miles, but after that I won't be towing it any longer.Effy, I hear what you're saying, but numbers are based on "safe" weight or capacities. I put nearly 2500 lbs of shingles in a 1/2 ton truck. The numbers said I couldn't haul over 1000 lbs in my truck, so at a 1001 pounds, the truck should have broken apart. With 2500 lbs, it struggled, but made the 15-mile trip. That is why I don't always just go by the numbers.

Dachristianman wrote:I'm going to be towing the vehicle for a move, so it's not a normal tow vehicle. The move will take us about 1500 miles, but after that I won't be towing it any longer.Effy, I hear what you're saying, but numbers are based on "safe" weight or capacities. I put nearly 2500 lbs of shingles in a 1/2 ton truck. The numbers said I couldn't haul over 1000 lbs in my truck, so at a 1001 pounds, the truck should have broken apart. With 2500 lbs, it struggled, but made the 15-mile trip. That is why I don't always just go by the numbers.Just because you made a 15 mile trip overloaded by 1500 lbs and the truck didn't fall apart doesn't mean you did it safely. You put yourself and everyone on the road around you in danger.

Overweight Toad? | Good Sam Community

jfkmk
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
What I find the most disturbing with all this is some people's willingness to put other's lives in danger because they are too stubborn/stupid/pig headed/cheap, whatever you want to call it to do things the right way or legally. Unless you have a design background you cannot rationally reinforce a hitch properly, and you certainly can't ensure safety by "keeping an eye on the welds". The laws aren't in place to protect you. They are in place to protect me and my family from people like you.
wny_pat1
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Lets see, a 454 engine and a P30 chassis. Lets throw some metal fatigue on the issue!!!

And on the subject of frame extension reinforcement, did you get it DOT certified? Is the welder certified? I know welders, and I know welders. They are not created equal!!!
OhhWell
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
BobandShaz wrote:
This is crazy

Which part? :B
BobandShaz
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
This is crazy
OhhWell
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
CA Traveler wrote:
I think that a LEO stopping someone for over weight is minor and that would not be my concern.

But in the off chance an accident occurs and especially a serious accident everything including weights will be checked. I have assets that I don't want to have to defend in court for any reason but especially being overweight or worn tires or...

Do you really want to be in court defending any structural changes? Who designed the changes and who fabricated the changes and what are their certifications? And even so it will keep coming back and back and back as to how the manufactures specifications can be safely exceeded.

But we all make decisions and take risks...

If anyone should have ever been stopped it was me pulling a huge boat with a 65 Falcon and with no trailer brakes. That was an accident waiting to happen.

I can't really argue with that angle because I believe an insurance agency would do anything it could to avoid paying a claim. I am still waiting for a report of weights coming into play in this manner though.

I made a dumb trip with a 88 1500 suburban filled to the windows with clay soil once. I didn't really think it would weigh THAT much. I admit that I was a fool and completely should not have been on the road in that case. Luckily, I wised up and crawled home at about 10 mph.
CA_Traveler
Explorer III
Apr 21, 2014
I think that a LEO stopping someone for over weight is minor and that would not be my concern.

But in the off chance an accident occurs and especially a serious accident everything including weights will be checked. I have assets that I don't want to have to defend in court for any reason but especially being overweight or worn tires or...

Do you really want to be in court defending any structural changes? Who designed the changes and who fabricated the changes and what are their certifications? And even so it will keep coming back and back and back as to how the manufactures specifications can be safely exceeded.

But we all make decisions and take risks...

If anyone should have ever been stopped it was me pulling a huge boat with a 65 Falcon and with no trailer brakes. That was an accident waiting to happen.
OhhWell
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Bumpyroad wrote:
OhhWell wrote:

I imagine a LEO would have some discretion in stopping what he or she may deem to be an unsafe towing situation but would a car on a dolly 500 lbs over the hitch rating really fall into that category? .

if you are going thru emporia, VA, it might.
bumpy

Good to know. Admittedly, I do live in a state that at times reminds me of the road warrior.

In reality, I would have to think the darn thing would need to be out of control to garner the attention of a LEO unless he or she knew the curb weights of most passenger cars and could read the hitch rating on a motorhome as it is driving along towing a car on a dolly.
OhhWell
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
Bumpyroad wrote:
an interesting new thread, " Frame extension re-enforcement and tail sag "
bumpy

Yes, this got me to thinking about that. I could kill two birds with one stone so to speak. What is your point?
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
an interesting new thread, " Frame extension re-enforcement and tail sag "
bumpy
Bumpyroad
Explorer
Apr 21, 2014
OhhWell wrote:

I imagine a LEO would have some discretion in stopping what he or she may deem to be an unsafe towing situation but would a car on a dolly 500 lbs over the hitch rating really fall into that category? .

if you are going thru emporia, VA, it might.
bumpy

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