Towing A Trailer Rated More Than A Vehicle Can Tow

You could tow a trailer rated at 30,000lbs, but empty weighs 7k. As long as you don't go over the ratings of the truck, axle, GVWR and GCWR you'll be perfectly fine.

I've only heard of one place where the manufacture's recommendations have legal status (for smaller RVs and tow vehicles). British Columbia I understand legislates GVWR per the owner's manual.

Tow rating, for smaller vehicles tend to be marketing department dictated, often grossly underestimated to up-sell people to large trucks for cars and SUVs and given they don't know how the trailer is setup for a vehicle sold with not even a hitch let alone a known setup they can never be all that relevant.

A larger pickup truck yes then the engineering department starts to have some say on the true capability, and the penalty for overloading rapidly becomes a bigger issue.

And that NEVER happens. First the trailer in question would have to be weighed at the scene to prove it was over weight. Not a good way to do that.

Ohh but they CAN and DO!

I have seen DOT pull out their portable scales time and time again right in front of my house, when some of the big trucks decided to use our street to skirt the interstate scales.

Portable and can weigh the big boys so my guess is that they can easily weigh a TT if called in to do so.

Easy to answer; just change the word "legal" to "responsible" because legal is an opinion that an attorney and judge will eventually have to answer when you are in court. Being responsible will prevent you from ever having to answer the legal question.

Terryallan wrote:

Campfire Time wrote:
There is another issue here that is often overlooked. Civil liability. We live in a highly litigious society. It's why we all have to carry umbrella policies. Should you get into an injury or death related accident, even if not your fault, if it's discovered that you were towing weight over the manufacturer's set limits, you are setting yourself up to be sued. Yes your insurance will cover you. Then drop you like a hot potato and put you on a blacklist.

And that NEVER happens. First the trailer in question would have to be weighed at the scene to prove it was over weight. Not a good way to do that. Second. manufacturer's weight ratings are NOT law. they are warranty limits only.

Actually there is case precedent. Many cases. Also accident reconstruction vans do carry scales that I've seen. Being legal is only one factor considered for liability. Reference standards are often cited as well (i.e. SAE, ASME, FMVSS etc). Granted, being over on GCWR only is unlikely to be a red flag, but exceeding tire, axle, or hitch ratings could be a violation of one or more of those reference standards.

Here as 6 cases here. Most were work-related, however the last case was recreational.
http://www.hardworkingtrucks.com/improperly-equipped-pickups-costing-businesses-millions-in-lawsuits/

Campfire Time wrote:
There is another issue here that is often overlooked. Civil liability. We live in a highly litigious society. It's why we all have to carry umbrella policies. Should you get into an injury or death related accident, even if not your fault, if it's discovered that you were towing weight over the manufacturer's set limits, you are setting yourself up to be sued. Yes your insurance will cover you. Then drop you like a hot potato and put you on a blacklist.

And that NEVER happens. First the trailer in question would have to be weighed at the scene to prove it was over weight. Not a good way to do that. Second. manufacturer's weight ratings are NOT law. they are warranty limits only. Auto makers do not write law.
And as has been asked on this site a million times. Give a real world example of someone being sued because their TT was too heavy. There are none.

And My brother's wife's brother's friend had a friend that had a friend that knew a guy who had a brother who knew a guy who got sued. That don't count. Has to be first hand knowledge

I did this for a long time (14 years)... Truck rated at 10,000 lbs for a 5th wheel. The 5th wheel was 15,000lbs. It worked but I had to be alert at all times. The biggest problem was stopping especially on a 6% + downhill. Even in first gear going downhill I would overheat the brakes on a long stretch by the time I reached the bottom no trailer or truck brakes to speak of.

Safety and reliability are the biggest concerns.

I will never do that again.

There is another issue here that is often overlooked. Civil liability. We live in a highly litigious society. It's why we all have to carry umbrella policies. Should you get into an injury or death related accident, even if not your fault, if it's discovered that you were towing weight over the manufacturer's set limits, you are setting yourself up to be sued. Yes your insurance will cover you. Then drop you like a hot potato and put you on a blacklist.

Manufacturs GCWR have NO basis in what you can tow etc. You are legal to the axel wt limits. Generally speaking, assuming you have a paid for plate that includes a max tare amount, you will get to 20K per axel, 34K per tandem, and no less than 500 lbs per inch width of tire. THat is how states are supposed to max weight vehicles per the engineer road bed limit of roads, bridges etc.

As noted, if you go over engineers limits, you will have lower handling, performance etc.

BUT, pulling a trailer OVER manufactures limits is legal. Happens all the time, with very few issues. BUT, you warranty from the manufacture may be null and void if you are really over the limits and it can be shown that this caused the part to break. You are not on the hook to pay for repairs.

Simple answer, reasonably simple answer, but not.

marty

32vld wrote:
Example you have a pickup rated to tow 9,500 lb.

You have a trailer that weighs 2,000 lb and is rated
to carry an 8,000 lb load. So the trailer and load is
10,000 lb.

Is it legal to tow the trailer empty?

Is it legal to tow the trailer with 7,500 lb load?

Yes, and Yes.
IF the truck is registered for the weight that it is carrying when the trailer is connected (actual truck weight + cargo weight + trailer tongue weight = truck GVW) That GVW MUST be at or less than the registered GVW to be legal.