Hitch for 3/4 ton TV and 37-ft TT
Greetings - We are soon to become first-time RV travel trailer owners. I would appreciate some wise counsel on what would be the most prudent WD/SC (weight-distribution/sway-control) hitch to purc...
Forum Discussion
Hi Dave,
To your direct question "Is it possible I can just take my truck to my diesel mechanic and have him examine my axles and springs to determine what the actual GAWR is?
Truck spring shops and even some truck repair places who specialize in suspension systems can more then likely measure the thickness, width and number of leafs, read the axle tag along with your truck year/make and possibly back into what rated spring/axle set you have. They may be able to confirm the spring pack.
However, they may not be able to declare a manufactures GAWR if the door sticker says the rating is lower then the spring pack or axle.
Finding out what your suspension is built too could help answer so you know at least if you have one of these older Fords with mislabeled door stickers. That is a good piece of info, as if the spring pack/axle is as the door sticker states, then that is a problem to deal with & to stop chasing the door sticker. If the suspension parts come out rated higher then the door sticker, the issue of the door sticker still remains and then to sort that out.
This is a liability headache. If you hook up a camper/trailer and tow it down the road and one of your weights or setup parts does not comply with the manufactures limits, this may become a serious problem for you in the event of an accident. Even if you did not start the accident but your rig created damage, that door sticker is the manufactures rating. If you are over it, the other parties lawyer or state police only look at the sticker, not that there was a TSB that never was full filled.
This web site, shows what may happen. While this is about the receiver ratings, they talk about the Law of Negligence and the other truck rating at the bottom. Something to think about. Towing the Line
Your local Ford dealer may have struck out, however suggest you try Ford directly. If they messed up and put the wrong sticker on, if you can get to the right person, they may help. Or at least you have the official last word on it. Going in being respectful and not loosing your temper has been known to produce positive results some times. Especially if a TSB was issued.
For what is worth, after all my learning about towing a camper, if I had this problem I would work to get the sticker fixed and then make sure the camper I bought, aligned at or under all truck ratings.
Hope this helps
John
To your direct question "Is it possible I can just take my truck to my diesel mechanic and have him examine my axles and springs to determine what the actual GAWR is?
Truck spring shops and even some truck repair places who specialize in suspension systems can more then likely measure the thickness, width and number of leafs, read the axle tag along with your truck year/make and possibly back into what rated spring/axle set you have. They may be able to confirm the spring pack.
However, they may not be able to declare a manufactures GAWR if the door sticker says the rating is lower then the spring pack or axle.
Finding out what your suspension is built too could help answer so you know at least if you have one of these older Fords with mislabeled door stickers. That is a good piece of info, as if the spring pack/axle is as the door sticker states, then that is a problem to deal with & to stop chasing the door sticker. If the suspension parts come out rated higher then the door sticker, the issue of the door sticker still remains and then to sort that out.
This is a liability headache. If you hook up a camper/trailer and tow it down the road and one of your weights or setup parts does not comply with the manufactures limits, this may become a serious problem for you in the event of an accident. Even if you did not start the accident but your rig created damage, that door sticker is the manufactures rating. If you are over it, the other parties lawyer or state police only look at the sticker, not that there was a TSB that never was full filled.
This web site, shows what may happen. While this is about the receiver ratings, they talk about the Law of Negligence and the other truck rating at the bottom. Something to think about. Towing the Line
Your local Ford dealer may have struck out, however suggest you try Ford directly. If they messed up and put the wrong sticker on, if you can get to the right person, they may help. Or at least you have the official last word on it. Going in being respectful and not loosing your temper has been known to produce positive results some times. Especially if a TSB was issued.
For what is worth, after all my learning about towing a camper, if I had this problem I would work to get the sticker fixed and then make sure the camper I bought, aligned at or under all truck ratings.
Hope this helps
John
