New high (or low?) in overloading

Update on the Tacoma guy. Early yesterday morning he set out for a 55 ish mile trip to Lake Isabella on Route 178. This road goes over Walker Pass, about 5,000 feet elevation, starting from our town's 2,300 foot elevation. Not a steep grade by my definition, but I do not know the percent of grade off hand. About two thirds of the way up,he lost his transmission. Apparently the vehicle was only able to achieve 14 mph in first gear at wide open throttle heading up. Way too much trailer for his truck, like I told him prior to his trip. He called his neighbor, who is a friend of mine, and in turn called me. I went to his location, and we blocked and unhooked his trailer. Then I pulled his truck out of the way. He called for a tow truck for his pickup when he saw me coming up the road. I hitched his trailer to my 2004 F-250 in my signature. He, his Wife and two under 10 year old kids, along with Lucy their French Bulldog got in my truck. We waited a while for the tow truck to come for his Tacoma. After he exchanged information with the tow truck guy, we headed for home. That trailer is LONG, but my truck did an awesome job and it was a great trip home. The gentleman and his Wife were very impressed with the power and stability of my truck. I educated them as best I could during the ride back about having the right truck for the trailer they are towing, and I could tell it was sinking in to them. He said outright that when he gets his Tacoma back from having the transmission rebuilt or replaced, he is going to sell it, or trade it towards a 3/4 or 1 ton crew cab 4x4 pickup. In a way I look at it as a blessing that their rig did not make it to the top of the pass, as it has sharp and steep switchbacks going down the west side. The trailer could have possibly pushed him around those like a rag doll, which could have easily resulted in them losing control and crashing. Grateful for the happy and safe ending for them, though. P.S. My signature seems to have vanished. My truck is a 2004 F-250SD Super Cab short bed 4x4, V-10 with 4R100 transmission.