mich800 wrote:
monkey44 wrote:
Well, there is barely safe, barely under the maximum specs of a 1500/150 ... then there is very safe, right into the middle of the maximum specs of a 2500 / 250.
SO, when you're carting around your family, which truck would you rather drive with three of your kids in the back seat?
And, I'd say brakes is one of the major factors -- not weight capacity.
Could you explain how operating under the mfgs specs is barely safe? Or is this just hyperbole? Is that like driving the speed limit is mostly negligent? If you really cared about your family and others on the road you would drive at least 10 under the speed limit.
Yes, I will. (and, I never speed, ever) In my opinion, operating a vehicle at the maximum of its safety specs continuously over long periods of time is not as safe as running a similar vehicle in the middle of its safety specs ...
That safety specs data are collected under the optimal conditions and very controlled ... and we don't drive our vehicles under those set conditions all the time on the road --
I'd bet if you haul the maximum weight trailer your truck is designed to tow, and haul it up the Rockies day after day, and then down the other side, with the brakes slowing the decent long enough, you will get brake heat and a problem stopping that weight in an emergency.
Or, haul it across the desert in the heat of summer --
My point was, and still is, would you rather travel with your family in a truck at the maxed out level of its specs (even if just barely under specs), or would you rather carry your family in a truck in the mid-range of the safety specs.
Which one is safer -- I never said "it is NOT safe", I said if it was at the maxed out level of safety specs, it is LESS safe than a truck that runs consistently in the mid-range of its design potential ...
In an emergency situation, it is much more likely you will exceed the safety specs in a truck operating at that max level than will a truck in the middle of its specs -- under emergency conditions, I personally would like a little more room in the specs to handle that emergency ... Just sayin' ...
And, it seems lots of folks on here want to look at the numbers and squeeze every single extra drop out of those numbers. I believe that is an unsafe position to take when your family safety is at stake ...
When your truck is sitting sideways, and one of your kids breaks an arm, and your head aches from hitting the side rail on your door -- "But I was under specs" is a ridiculous statement to make.
