Seriously overloaded

Reddog1 wrote:
What I find real unfortunate is that most people do not follow sound advice. More often than not I hear people say things like; "That cost more money.", "I don't want the extra wheels.", "I see other people doing it.". It is always about justifying what they want, not considering what they need. Most people will buy something based on its appearance, with little consideration of anything else.

Wayne

Very well true Wayne. Like the one up man ship thing. My neighbor has a 30 foot 5er so I'm buying a 35 foot because I can with total disregard for what pulls it.

With TC's especially, very few TC's weight rating (on the attached to the camper body label) is even close to the actual weight and it's interesting that the sticker is always light by at least several hundred pounds, never the other way around.

There needs to be more honesty in actual weights, not some 'fantasy' weight that isn't even close.

Being a retired over the road machinery hauler, I learned a long time ago to disregard vehicle position (level or not) and look at the tires. The tires will always give a good indication of how heavy any load is, especially radials.

My big concern (concerning the other guy) is whether he or she can stop in time in an emergency situation and not hit me or someone else or a pedestrian.

I keep my ducks in a row but the 'other guy' is the unknown factor. Being overloaded or pulling a trailer or 5er that is too big for the tow vehicle compromises not only the stopping power but the overall handling in an evasive manuver.

I graduated from the Eaton Corporation's defensive driving school, where you do hands on emergency driving with various vehicles, from RV's to big trucks to passenger vans, with different loads, some overloaded and you get to observe and experience, first hand what they do. Very interesting course and everyone gets sweaty palms.

They always have a wrecker handy. Some students go right off the skid pad and out in the field.