jmtandem wrote:
I don't understand why you would think that erring on the safe side is something that bothers you. I would think a prudent person would encourage it. Even the Bible says that there is wisdom in the counsel of many.
Buying an oversized truck to pull a small trailer doesn’t make you any safer than someone taking full advantage of a trucks capacity. There are far too many variables to make such an assessment.
And do you know what wisdom is? I can tell you what its not. It is not arbitrarily picking a tow vehicle based on one trailers gross weight rating assuming that’s that safest option.
Most put all these weight ratings together with safety, and while they sure can be related, there is no direct correlation that I have ever seen. If there is data stating otherwise, let’s see it.
donn0128 wrote:
How many people can "estimate" the stuff they load into their RV within 500 pounds? Darn few. I see nothing wrong to take a trailers GVWR as your starting point. While is may be unlikely that a person will hit the GVWR ( but I do) trying to guess how much your stuff weighs is going to make a person crazy.
To me your post is a lot of smoke and mirrors designed to help people justify overloading their TV instead of addressing the real issue and having the correct tool for the job.
You’re joking on both accounts right? It is extremely easy to estimate weights of cargo. And if you know yourself well enough, you know how you chose to pack. My family packs light, per trip. Others pack heavy and are ready for any trip or event at the drop of a hat.
Smoke and mirrors? Clearly that was my intent. That's why I spent significant time posting less opinion and more copy/paste from other major sources.
APT wrote:
No one buys the "Base Curb Weight" vehicle.
Yes you do. We all do. Curb weight is all fluids and anything as shipped from the factory. No passengers or cargo. OEM's state different curb weights for every option package they offer. I've scaled two prior (new at the time) TV's and weights were just over 100lbs over the OEM curb weight specified. Of which, the 100lbs+ could easily be accounted for.
sch911 wrote:
There is no 80% rule. You can run right up to the maximum ratings. .
I have stated the same thing on here often enough. It’s a “rule of thumb” only for those who feel they need to be very conservative and have a big reserve. The "need" should be justified fairly with complete information of what the drivers and family needs really are.
LarryJM wrote:
While there might not be any "WRITTEN LAWS" directly related to GVWR issues I can easily see how operating a vehicle outside the FMVSS certified limits could easily be considered "NEGLIGENT" or "RECKLESS" operation of a motor vehicle in a CIVIL and even a possible CRIMINAL legal proceeding
Larry
The thread took a turn towards commercial law, but none-the-less, I want to put out a call to anyone who can provide a CIVIL TRIAL example of someone who was sued for being over any given automotive or trailer manufacture’s weight rating. No commercial driver examples. I’m talking private citizens being sued in CIVIL court for towing while over a weight rating.
Another challenge which I found no results; Show us actual police reports that found the driver of an accident negligent (got a ticket) for towing while over any given weight rating.
For the record, just because I’m asking challenging questions doesn’t mean for one minute I am trying to justify abusing any given rating, for any product.
