F350 payload dispute

TomG2 wrote:
Simply install bigger rear tires and disregard the rest of the vehicle if you are going to ignore the GVWR like some have suggested. Add a couple of leaves to the rear springs while you are at it. Ford has no idea what "Should never exceed" really means. It is "just a guideline".

I don't think anyone is saying that Ford or any manufacturer has no idea what "Should never exceed" really means. However, what influences those "Should never exceed" ratings is a different story. It could be the actual limitation of the truck, EPA/USDOT regulation limitations, or even just to save save customers money.

I have already covered the EPA/USDOT regulation limitation on most 250/2500 trucks earlier in this thread so I will just comment on how they would decrease GVWR just to save the customer money and will use the SRW F350 that has different GVWR options as an example. You can option a SRW F350 to have a lower GVWR even if it is the same exact truck as higher GVWR rated F350.

Why do they do this? Mainly to save fleet customers money on registration, licence requirements and insurance. It has nothing to do with safety or actual vehicle limitation. This also happens a lot in the medium and heavy duty world. Since each class has it's own regulations, some customers opt to have the factory GVWR of their class 8 truck lowered to a class 7 GVWR so save on taxes, registration fees and such. These types of customers generally use more than the GVWR off road, but are less than their GVWR on road.

Then there is the F450 which goes from a class 4 to a class 3 truck by Ford lowering its GVWR just so they can put it in the same class as a Ram 3500 and say it is "class leading" in comparison. So you see, there are those that follow every rating of a truck to a T, while others know better and what really influences the GVWR rating on their truck opting to use their GAWR long with other things to judge what the truck can actually safely handle.

Also, most of these GVWR's are in fact "just a guideline" since they cannot be enforced legally.

Me Again wrote:
The reality check on all of this is what hotshot haulers do legally with pickup trucks. They are subject to stopping at weight stations, complying with the bridge weight laws and vehicle registrations such as the correct tonnage purchased for the load. They haul loads more that most all RV's would ever dream of, and do it legally. Or they are parked!

As forum member Jimnlin who does this says, the hotshotters have a good laugh about the RV weight police.

Chris

Having a good laugh on my account doesn’t faze me one bit. I’ve been called worse by better..... I’m a spec freak due to my Engineering jobs.. can’t help it. I’m one of the fools you laugh at, but it doesn’t bother me because I know all my weights, and am under all of them. -also meaning I’m WELL under my trucks axle weights and tire ratings... so I really don’t worry about any of these issues. I really worry about my wife and my traveling and being safe..That’s my only logic behind me going by Manufacturers specs, as BenK has stated. I’ve worked with a lot of engineering safety specs in manufacturing that is critical to safety, ie, brake calipers and ABS systems, underground mining equipment ( methane monitors and many safety features) and Hercules, DOD, (explosives and solid fuel propellants for missiles). THUS”, the reason I’m OCD for manufacturing specs, whether you and others laugh at me or make fun of me. I might think differently if I hadn’t spent 44 years in manufacturing.... Guess I’m stupid, but am a firm believer in KISS and, “ better safe than sorry”. I don’t have to beef up anything, my truck is all OEM.

Jim

Bedlam wrote:
Reading the previous posts would have addressed what you had written. You are welcome to cover GVWR again, but may not get as many responses if it is assumed by others that the thread already holds sufficient answers.

If you took this personally, that was not my intent.

Here is the deal. If you don't want to read the same old stuff over and over, get off the forums. Telling me to not post repetitive material is like telling all of RVnet to shut down. This subject is covered every two weeks for those who want to look it up. There are a dozen posters that I can predict what they will post every time. Do I tell them to quit posting? No. I block some, ignore others, and try to pick up a few crumbs along the way. Sorry if my post wasted your time. That was not my intent. What makes you the one who decides when, "this thread already holds sufficient answers"? You? Certainly not me. Merry Christmas

TomG2 wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
Please read the previous posts before responding. GVWR has been covered more than once in this thread from multiple angles.

Sorry, I did not know the rules. Or the rule maker.

Reading the previous posts would have addressed what you had written. You are welcome to cover GVWR again, but may not get as many responses if it is assumed by others that the thread already holds sufficient answers.

If you took this personally, that was not my intent.

TomG2 wrote:

spoon059 wrote:

I'm starting to see the problem...

What did you do? Look in the mirror? The guy told me to shut up and I did not like it.

Back to the subject. Engineers build safety factors into almost everything. I have loaded 16 tons of hot mix asphalt on a dump truck rated for 14 tons and it did not fall to pieces on the way to the paver. What did I prove? People on here state as fact that ratings can be exceeded and they are right. It does not take an engineer to figure that out. How much overloaded and for how long? It's your dollar. To me, I wanted to get the paving done as soon as possible. You set your own priorities and limits.

Tom,
You're wasting your time on someone who's wrapped too tight around the axle if you know what I mean. :W

spoon059 wrote:

I'm starting to see the problem...

What did you do? Look in the mirror? The guy told me to shut up and I did not like it.

Back to the subject. Engineers build safety factors into almost everything. I have loaded 16 tons of hot mix asphalt on a dump truck rated for 14 tons and it did not fall to pieces on the way to the paver. What did I prove? People on here state as fact that ratings can be exceeded and they are right. It does not take an engineer to figure that out. How much overloaded and for how long? It's your dollar. To me, I wanted to get the paving done as soon as possible. You set your own priorities and limits.

TomG2 wrote:

spoon059 wrote:
He said PLEASE. Hardly a rule or a rule maker. Might want to pump the brakes on that attitude there Tom...

What difference does "Please" make? He was telling me that my comment was not welcome, needed, or germane to the discussion. If someone wants to spend their time telling all people that their contributions are silly or a waste of space, they are going be really busy. Merry Christmas

I'm starting to see the problem...

spoon059 wrote:
He said PLEASE. Hardly a rule or a rule maker. Might want to pump the brakes on that attitude there Tom...

What difference does "Please" make? He was telling me that my comment was not welcome, needed, or germane to the discussion. If someone wants to spend their time telling all people that their contributions are silly or a waste of space, they are going be really busy. Merry Christmas

TomG2 wrote:

Bedlam wrote:
Please read the previous posts before responding. GVWR has been covered more than once in this thread from multiple angles.

Sorry, I did not know the rules. Or the rule maker.

Really...? He said PLEASE. Hardly a rule or a rule maker. Might want to pump the brakes on that attitude there Tom...

Bedlam wrote:
Please read the previous posts before responding. GVWR has been covered more than once in this thread from multiple angles.

Sorry, I did not know the rules. Or the rule maker.