MotorTrend Tests the 1500's
The article The resident RAM and EcoDiesel haters might not want to read this.
Forum Discussion
You forgot the reason for all of those lawyers...the most litigious
society on the planet forces the US to have the most lawyers per capita
in the world
Folks sue anybody, everybody...even if it was their fault and worse
yet if they die, their family will sue anyone/everyone...been there
been their target four times
That then forces the hiring of bean counters who only manage paper
and not their product.
That then forces the levels of design & safety metrics....some are of
course very good to protect the innocent and ignorant
Anyone having to ask for advice on these forums will get very
conservative advice from me...as they will, in time, learn where their
own values are in reference to their risk management decisions are
AKA Gambling
This is really one of the rarities of advice where it is "do as I say,
not as I do". I'm lucky to be alive or not harmed badly from my own
decisions 'pushing it', but should I then advise others to also
risk their life & limb because I survived?....They might not be as
lucky as I was...or portions of the equation are different than in
my case
Yes, I do go over the speed limits...often. Would I recommend someone
who has to ask for advice? No, as if they have to ask, they don't
know enough, nor know enough to have the better components...not the
minimum that so many advise to only get
I've towed a approx +14,000 lb utility trailer with the Silverado in
my sig. Up and down very steep dirt roads in the windparks in the
Tehachapi mountains. That Silverado has a GVWR of 6,200 lbs and it was
loaded to approx +7,500 lbs on that trip.
It made it up and down those very steep dirt roads, but it was a struggle.
BUT...when coming back down to the base office...lost the brakes on
the Silverado and the trailers 3 axle brakes. That trailer has a
GVWR of 10,000
Dumped a couple of the 2.4K lb gear boxes and headed off to
Bakersfield on 58 and then to the SF Bayarea
Again, lost all braking on highway 58's downhill run. ON the horn all
the way down and lucky they all got out the way in time for me to pass
them. Yes, also had the emergency brake floored. Yes it was in 1st till
it over ran and had to upshift to second in order to not blow up the engine
Dumped a couple more gear boxes at a place that had a fork lift and
agreed to allow me to come back for those two gear boxes in a couple
of days
Would I advise anyone having to ask if that is okay? Maybe you would
but I'll not...nor would I do that again. In my 30's and still foolish
enough...maybe still foolish now...just not as much so...
That is just one experience along my Hard Knock Schooling...expect
many more and try to avoid them...
Or that on this portal, I got three PMs asking about one advisor who
constantly said a 'half ton can', as his does all the time and have
been for years
One PM wanted to sue that advisor. As he burned up his diff going
to vacation and stuck in the middle of nowhere. Spent thousands of bucks
and lost his deposit on the vacation spots he reserved.
What was missing is that the door labels are different. The advisor
has a fake half ton with +8K GVWR and a +6K RGAWR. Whereas the poor
sucker has a +7K GVWR and a +4K RGAWR. That +2K difference in RGAWR
is what did him in.
society on the planet forces the US to have the most lawyers per capita
in the world
Folks sue anybody, everybody...even if it was their fault and worse
yet if they die, their family will sue anyone/everyone...been there
been their target four times
That then forces the hiring of bean counters who only manage paper
and not their product.
That then forces the levels of design & safety metrics....some are of
course very good to protect the innocent and ignorant
Anyone having to ask for advice on these forums will get very
conservative advice from me...as they will, in time, learn where their
own values are in reference to their risk management decisions are
AKA Gambling
This is really one of the rarities of advice where it is "do as I say,
not as I do". I'm lucky to be alive or not harmed badly from my own
decisions 'pushing it', but should I then advise others to also
risk their life & limb because I survived?....They might not be as
lucky as I was...or portions of the equation are different than in
my case
Yes, I do go over the speed limits...often. Would I recommend someone
who has to ask for advice? No, as if they have to ask, they don't
know enough, nor know enough to have the better components...not the
minimum that so many advise to only get
I've towed a approx +14,000 lb utility trailer with the Silverado in
my sig. Up and down very steep dirt roads in the windparks in the
Tehachapi mountains. That Silverado has a GVWR of 6,200 lbs and it was
loaded to approx +7,500 lbs on that trip.
It made it up and down those very steep dirt roads, but it was a struggle.
BUT...when coming back down to the base office...lost the brakes on
the Silverado and the trailers 3 axle brakes. That trailer has a
GVWR of 10,000
Dumped a couple of the 2.4K lb gear boxes and headed off to
Bakersfield on 58 and then to the SF Bayarea
Again, lost all braking on highway 58's downhill run. ON the horn all
the way down and lucky they all got out the way in time for me to pass
them. Yes, also had the emergency brake floored. Yes it was in 1st till
it over ran and had to upshift to second in order to not blow up the engine
Dumped a couple more gear boxes at a place that had a fork lift and
agreed to allow me to come back for those two gear boxes in a couple
of days
Would I advise anyone having to ask if that is okay? Maybe you would
but I'll not...nor would I do that again. In my 30's and still foolish
enough...maybe still foolish now...just not as much so...
That is just one experience along my Hard Knock Schooling...expect
many more and try to avoid them...
Or that on this portal, I got three PMs asking about one advisor who
constantly said a 'half ton can', as his does all the time and have
been for years
One PM wanted to sue that advisor. As he burned up his diff going
to vacation and stuck in the middle of nowhere. Spent thousands of bucks
and lost his deposit on the vacation spots he reserved.
What was missing is that the door labels are different. The advisor
has a fake half ton with +8K GVWR and a +6K RGAWR. Whereas the poor
sucker has a +7K GVWR and a +4K RGAWR. That +2K difference in RGAWR
is what did him in.
sonora wrote:boocoodinkydow wrote:
The Ed takes a lot of criticism for it's anemic weight & tow ratings & rightfully so. Many have the opinion that it will surely turn into a pumpkin if you put 901# in the bed. For those good conservative individuals that go strictly by the label in the door jam, God bless you; there's surely going to be a special place in heaven for you. It may come as a surprise that there are some of us that don't always obey traffic laws, occasionally don't abide by prescription labels, fudge a bit on our income tax and sometimes use our trucks beyond their advertised limitations. While ram is hampered by a slightly smaller axle diameter & only 5 lugs rather than 6-8, the primary differential in ratings is due to the fact chrysler opted to use sae system prior to other brands following suit. Bad choice on chrysler's part. If I haven't rustled feathers thus far, let me step it up a notch. You're totally naive if you don't realize that these ratings are set by exponentially cautious bureaucratic pencil pushing safety officials & an army of liability lawyers rather than untethered engineers who are aware of the true capabilities!! I've lived long enough to understand when it feels right & when it doesn't & there is where my limitations are set. My sticker warns not to exceed 890#. I've actually made two 40 mile trips through some mountainous tn back roads with over 2300#. The air suspension leveled the load perfectly & the only time I could tell I had a load was when braking. i took a before & after measurement & found a load deflection of only 1 3/8". Another occasion I hauled 1850# for 450 miles @ interstate speeds. It's a truck, use it like one. For those that feel it's true capabilities are rivaled by a minivan, buy a minivan!! Ok weight police, take your best shot!
We have way too many Nancy Boys and Bed Wetters today.
I nominate this post as The Post Of The Year. Thanks for taking the time to write it.
