Are 250/2500 trucks limited by their Class?
Hello all, first time poster here. Sorry in advance for the long post, but I would like to get your guys input on what you think about this because it is something I have been wondering for a while. ...
Forum Discussion
Depends upon the who or what you want to listen to. From a legal prospective, at least I have found here in Wa st. Your door sticker means squat when it comes to how heavy you can run a 25 series truck down the road at. Max will be around 20K lbs. Or 500 lbs per inch width of tire. Most of these models have 10" tires, so 5000 times 4 is 20K lbs. Chances of one truly getting an over load ticket if you have enough paid for license fee is pretty slim if you use manufactures warranty numbers. Which is what the manufactures ratings are, go over, your warranty may be null and void. OR, as some have pointed out, you may not meet the J2807 towing performance specs.
Reality is, many 25 series trucks, are based on the same basic frame etc as 35 series duallies with a few changes.
Now with this in mind, would I want to be at 20K gvw in a typical class 2 truck.....probably not, nor am I going to recommend it! As you will probably be stuck on the side of the road with a failed braking system. IE here, if you can not stop the rig with in 25' from 20mph, you have a failed braking system, even if it is operating at 100% of its capability! You can not take the truck back on the hwy. This ticket also follows you around as a moving violation. Being overwt per the federal bridge laws, ie the 20K lb or 10K per axle as noted, is a non moving violation, not a jail able offense etc. Nor does the overwt ticket go on your driving record.
I can also change out the specs easy enough on said class 2 truck, by putting a tag, drop, or making the driving axel a tandem! Assuming the person that does the final work, hopefully the truck starts as a cab and chassis, easier to get re-certification this way, I can then up the door sticker gvwr, gawr etc. Most RV motor homes with tag axels were added after the frame was made. So the original door sticker is mute!
Generally speaking tho, a dot class 2b truck, will not have the overall same ability as a dw class 3 truck, no matter how you slice the cake. Possibly equal to a sw35, then again..........
marty
Reality is, many 25 series trucks, are based on the same basic frame etc as 35 series duallies with a few changes.
Now with this in mind, would I want to be at 20K gvw in a typical class 2 truck.....probably not, nor am I going to recommend it! As you will probably be stuck on the side of the road with a failed braking system. IE here, if you can not stop the rig with in 25' from 20mph, you have a failed braking system, even if it is operating at 100% of its capability! You can not take the truck back on the hwy. This ticket also follows you around as a moving violation. Being overwt per the federal bridge laws, ie the 20K lb or 10K per axle as noted, is a non moving violation, not a jail able offense etc. Nor does the overwt ticket go on your driving record.
I can also change out the specs easy enough on said class 2 truck, by putting a tag, drop, or making the driving axel a tandem! Assuming the person that does the final work, hopefully the truck starts as a cab and chassis, easier to get re-certification this way, I can then up the door sticker gvwr, gawr etc. Most RV motor homes with tag axels were added after the frame was made. So the original door sticker is mute!
Generally speaking tho, a dot class 2b truck, will not have the overall same ability as a dw class 3 truck, no matter how you slice the cake. Possibly equal to a sw35, then again..........
marty
