Is J2807 worthless?
A recent thread was locked due to brand bickering. Before I got a chance to respond to the latest turn of the conversation. It was stated that J2807 a worthless standard by a few people... Primaril...
Forum Discussion
I personally do not think that the J2807 does enough. For one, I think the minimum speed limit going up the Davis Dam grade is too slow and should be raised to a more reasonable and safer speed like 55 mph. Raising the speed limit will more than likely decrease some of the current tow ratings of certain vehicles, but at least you will know it can pull that lower number at a more reasonable speed than 40 mph for SRW or 35 mph for DRW vehicles.
I also do not think the J2807 does enough in braking ability tests. The current brake tests are just short 20-0 mph stopping tests and are not long distance tests. They have a test standard going up Davis Dam, but they should include one coming back down Davis Dam as well for a long distance braking ability. It is one thing to be able to stop a loaded vehicle from 20-0 mph, and it is another being able to keep that loaded vehicle at a safe speed going down a long 8 mile grade without any brake fade, over heating, or other issues.
I think that manufacturers should be required to publish their J2807 test numbers. I don't think they should have to put it on the window sticker, but should make it readily available upon request or on their website.
Another thing, just because a truck is rated at say 10,000 lbs by J2807 test standards does not mean that the manufacturer has to give it a 10,000 lbs tow rating. They can give it less then that if they wanted, but they cannot exceed the 10,000 lb rating if they want to advertise that their ratings are J2807 certified. Nor does it mean that a truck with a higher advertised J2807 rating can outperform a with a lower advertised J2807 rating. Like I said in the last thread about the Ram 1500 Ecodiesel being J2807 rated higher than the F150 2.7 Ecoboost even though in every review of the two vehicles from Motor Trend, PUTC, and TFL to name a few, the 2.7 EB outperforms the 3.0 ED in every towing performance area that is tested by the J2807. So if someone were just looking at the J2807 numbers thinking that a truck with a higher number will perform better than one with a lower number, they would be sadly mistaken.
I also do not think the J2807 does enough in braking ability tests. The current brake tests are just short 20-0 mph stopping tests and are not long distance tests. They have a test standard going up Davis Dam, but they should include one coming back down Davis Dam as well for a long distance braking ability. It is one thing to be able to stop a loaded vehicle from 20-0 mph, and it is another being able to keep that loaded vehicle at a safe speed going down a long 8 mile grade without any brake fade, over heating, or other issues.
I think that manufacturers should be required to publish their J2807 test numbers. I don't think they should have to put it on the window sticker, but should make it readily available upon request or on their website.
Another thing, just because a truck is rated at say 10,000 lbs by J2807 test standards does not mean that the manufacturer has to give it a 10,000 lbs tow rating. They can give it less then that if they wanted, but they cannot exceed the 10,000 lb rating if they want to advertise that their ratings are J2807 certified. Nor does it mean that a truck with a higher advertised J2807 rating can outperform a with a lower advertised J2807 rating. Like I said in the last thread about the Ram 1500 Ecodiesel being J2807 rated higher than the F150 2.7 Ecoboost even though in every review of the two vehicles from Motor Trend, PUTC, and TFL to name a few, the 2.7 EB outperforms the 3.0 ED in every towing performance area that is tested by the J2807. So if someone were just looking at the J2807 numbers thinking that a truck with a higher number will perform better than one with a lower number, they would be sadly mistaken.
