ajriding wrote:
If you are at the age where you are shaking your fits and saying, "you kids get out of my yard?", then it is right to panic about all this. In reality, people go way over the rating all the time and it works. Diesel p'ups sometimes tow 30,000lbs which is way way over the rating. When Dodge says, 6,000lbs rating, they will likely assume you are not adding the weight of the passengers or stuff you have in your truck/suv already. They reduce the tow rating by what they assume will be in the truck because people sue so readily over things that are the drivers fault, and win. So, Dodge says to themselves, this suv can tow 9,000 lbs, but we know people will over load a 6.000 dry weight trailer and not know it is heavier than the stated 6,000 lbs, and they will also over load their suv with weight and not consider this weight either, so let's state the tow rate at 3,000lbs less so it is dummy proof...
Stay within reason with weights, and your trailer is within reason, drive carefully, get a good feel for what you cannot do with the trailer and enjoy your trip.
Pretty arrogant statement with lots of broad paint brushes used and not to mention "arm chair/ keyboard engineering".
A lot of Diesel pickups towing 30K lbs? Yeah, I suspect that statement is not being 100% truthful because you LEFT out the small fact that THOSE pickup trucks are in the 1.5 Ton class and higher (F450/4500 and up). Not a fair comparison to the OPs vehicle. You certainly would not see a 1/2, 3/4 ton with Diesel towing 30K lbs, 30K lbs would mean they have 4,500 lbs of hitch weight which IS going to easily exceed the tires, axles and spring ratings to the point of self destruction..
The manufacturers do not simply and arbitrarily pull numbers out of thin air. No, they take in account not just engine grunt but transmission strengthen, brakes frame, axles, all suspension parts like steering, ball joints,tie rods, springs rims and tires. They look at the WEAKEST part in the chain and the max rating will not exceed that weakest part.
They also take into account use, longevity of heavy use and how much they are willing going to warranty your use provided you did not OVERLOAD any of the weakest parts in the chain.
The manufacturers must CERTIFY that at the towing numbers they give it is SAFE to use up to that number. After that number, it is up to you the driver to determine if you are feeling LUCKY and "safe" to exceed that number.
Just because you can, does not mean you should.
Stay within your numbers and chances are things will be fine, exceed the numbers and you are saying you will take that responsibility..
