Are You Buying All These Half-ton Claims?
"All-New F-150 Can Tow a Ram, a Silverado & Haul Two Hondas" Tows 12,200, claimed. (Ford Truck Enthusiasts) I guess we can soon do away with our 3/4 & 1-tonners. In a couple years the capacity rac...
Forum Discussion
A few more logs for the fire:
1) Heavier vehicles are safer than lighter ones. My insurance company charges me more insurance for the little Cruze than the F150 because of the increased possiblity of disability, etc.
So a heavier larger 10K GVWR truck should be a bit safer than my 7.5K GVWR F150, as long as they are both loaded under the manufacturer's ratings. Not as big a difference as between the Cruze and either truck. Not enough difference for me to choose the bigger truck for safety reasons. After all, much of our driving is still in the Cruze.
2) Running any truck fully loaded will certainly wear it out faster. And older, even well-maintained older trucks, are less reliable and prone to break-downs. This may lead to safety issues. But at what point is the truck unsafe? A lightly used truck may last 200K or more. A heavily used truck only 150K? The unsafe part doesn't happen immediately. It takes awhile, and you can't just say that a fully loaded truck is immediately unsafe for this reason.
And a worn-out HD truck is probably just as unsafe as a worn-out light duty truck (except for the weight/safety issue above).
3) Is an empty or half-loaded truck safer than when it's fully loaded? Maybe slightly, there may be some small increased probability for component failure, but, according to the manufacturers, you are good-to-go as long as we stay within the weight limits. Do we believe the manufacturers? Uh ... no, I don't. At least not for 150/1500s.
4) Despite their weight ratings, 150/1500 trucks have suspension/tires designed for grocery-getting and commuting. The only exceptions I know of are the F150's HD Payload option and some Off-Road options that include LT tires and HD shocks. When carrying a full load, IMHO, regular 150/1500 trucks need their suspension and tires toughened up. In my experience it creates a much more "stable platform" for tow/hauling up to the max ratings. And I believe this increases the safety of the truck.
The HD duty trucks seem to be designed to carry their max loads from the get-go, although you do hear of people using airbags and other suspension mods with them, so I really don't know.
Summary?
I believe I'm endangering my family much more by going for a ride in my Cruze than in driving my fully loaded (but suspension modified) F150.
I don't doubt that a partially (or even fully) loaded HD truck would be safer, but relative to the other risks we are taking (like driving in the Cruze), not that much safer.
1) Heavier vehicles are safer than lighter ones. My insurance company charges me more insurance for the little Cruze than the F150 because of the increased possiblity of disability, etc.
So a heavier larger 10K GVWR truck should be a bit safer than my 7.5K GVWR F150, as long as they are both loaded under the manufacturer's ratings. Not as big a difference as between the Cruze and either truck. Not enough difference for me to choose the bigger truck for safety reasons. After all, much of our driving is still in the Cruze.
2) Running any truck fully loaded will certainly wear it out faster. And older, even well-maintained older trucks, are less reliable and prone to break-downs. This may lead to safety issues. But at what point is the truck unsafe? A lightly used truck may last 200K or more. A heavily used truck only 150K? The unsafe part doesn't happen immediately. It takes awhile, and you can't just say that a fully loaded truck is immediately unsafe for this reason.
And a worn-out HD truck is probably just as unsafe as a worn-out light duty truck (except for the weight/safety issue above).
3) Is an empty or half-loaded truck safer than when it's fully loaded? Maybe slightly, there may be some small increased probability for component failure, but, according to the manufacturers, you are good-to-go as long as we stay within the weight limits. Do we believe the manufacturers? Uh ... no, I don't. At least not for 150/1500s.
4) Despite their weight ratings, 150/1500 trucks have suspension/tires designed for grocery-getting and commuting. The only exceptions I know of are the F150's HD Payload option and some Off-Road options that include LT tires and HD shocks. When carrying a full load, IMHO, regular 150/1500 trucks need their suspension and tires toughened up. In my experience it creates a much more "stable platform" for tow/hauling up to the max ratings. And I believe this increases the safety of the truck.
The HD duty trucks seem to be designed to carry their max loads from the get-go, although you do hear of people using airbags and other suspension mods with them, so I really don't know.
Summary?
I believe I'm endangering my family much more by going for a ride in my Cruze than in driving my fully loaded (but suspension modified) F150.
I don't doubt that a partially (or even fully) loaded HD truck would be safer, but relative to the other risks we are taking (like driving in the Cruze), not that much safer.
