I had another thread recently talking about how to set this up.Curt/DrawTite both sell a hitch that can be added to a Ford Econoline 1-ton van (e350), but someone told me it's not only illegal but dangeroous to pull something higher than manufacture specs.http://www.curtmfg.com/HitchLookup/find?year=2011&make=Ford&model=E-Seriesorhttp://www.reese-hitches.com/products/,41945Is it illegal / dangerous to use this hitch pull 11,000 trailer rated 10,000 lbs?

Is there a question there somewhere?

Are you saying the hitch is rated higher than the van's max tow rating? If so, I don't see how that makes it "illegal" to sell, unless you're willing to pull 11,000lbs with a vehicle only rated for 10,000lbs, but that's on you, not the hitch seller.

Is it illegal? No. Is it dangerous? Probably not. However, is 11,000 the empty weight of the trailer. If so you will be well over weight with a load.

Ok, so your post is a little confusing. What is rated at 11,000 lbs?what is rated at 10,000 lbs?What is the tow rating of the E350?What is the GVWR of the trailer you want to haul?Do you know what the tongue weight on the trailer is?What does the payload sticker on the E350 say?(the payload sticker is on the door and will say something to the effect of "the maximum load of all passengers and payload shall not exceed x,xxx lbs.)In any event, it is probably not illegal but could be dangerous depending on the answers to the above questions.

I really have no idea about the safety issue. If you are involved in an accident you can bet the other party will try to attribute blame to your being over weight. JMHO

Illegal / dangerous to pull 11,000 trailer rated 10,000 lbs?

darsben
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
Is there a question there somewhere?
phillyg
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
Are you saying the hitch is rated higher than the van's max tow rating? If so, I don't see how that makes it "illegal" to sell, unless you're willing to pull 11,000lbs with a vehicle only rated for 10,000lbs, but that's on you, not the hitch seller.
Tyler0215
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
Is it illegal? No. Is it dangerous? Probably not. However, is 11,000 the empty weight of the trailer. If so you will be well over weight with a load.
bid_time
Nomad II
Apr 12, 2016
Ok, so your post is a little confusing.

What is rated at 11,000 lbs?
what is rated at 10,000 lbs?
What is the tow rating of the E350?
What is the GVWR of the trailer you want to haul?
Do you know what the tongue weight on the trailer is?
What does the payload sticker on the E350 say?
(the payload sticker is on the door and will say something to the effect of "the maximum load of all passengers and payload shall not exceed x,xxx lbs.)

In any event, it is probably not illegal but could be dangerous depending on the answers to the above questions.
kalynzoo
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
I really have no idea about the safety issue. If you are involved in an accident you can bet the other party will try to attribute blame to your being over weight. JMHO
lanerd
Explorer II
Apr 12, 2016
kalynzoo wrote:
I really have no idea about the safety issue. If you are involved in an accident you can bet the other party will try to attribute blame to your being over weight. JMHO

and your insurance will drop you like a hot potato.
SCVJeff
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
lanerd wrote:
kalynzoo wrote:
I really have no idea about the safety issue. If you are involved in an accident you can bet the other party will try to attribute blame to your being over weight. JMHO

and your insurance will drop you like a hot potato.
And they'll prove prior knowledge pointing to this post
bid_time
Nomad II
Apr 12, 2016
It might be a remotely believable yarn if you could only point to one legitimate case of "Overweight Negligence = Liability"
westend
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
I've got a feeling that this is one of those, "I know it's wrong but I'll ask anyway" threads.
Campfire_Time
Explorer
Apr 12, 2016
bid_time wrote:
It might be a remotely believable yarn if you could only point to one legitimate case of "Overweight Negligence = Liability"

Since most civil suits are settled out of court, might be hard to find one. Just because you can't easily find one doesn't mean they don't exist.

What is believable is that we (US) live in a very litigious society. People sue for anything and everything. A friend had a neighbor who lived off of frivolous lawsuits. So honestly, if think you would never be the defendant in a civil liability suit for towing over your limits, you are spinning your own yarn.