TT Weight limits: theory and reality
There are a ton of threads here regarding the proper matching of TV and TT. Based on what I learned here, I made a very expensive decision to upgrade my brand new 1/2 ton to a 1 ton TV so that I would...
Forum Discussion
Seattle Lion,
Well written thoughts, thanks.
For me, and for some others as well, it's a matter of ignorance regarding hauling/towing recommended limitations. I received my education here on RV.Net.
When I was a farm kid back in the 50's, we never placed any limitation on loading (over loading) the F-100. We just filled up the bed, sometimes until, and the rear bumper was eight inches off the ground and dad would say, "just take it easy". Never had any breakdown....guess we were lucky.
First truck I owned, back in the early 70s, I never had a need to haul anything that weighed much at all. Never had any breakdown.
My second truck, mid-eighties, I hauled around an old and I'm sure quite heavy, 10' in-bed camper...for ten years. Sold the camper long ago and never occurred to me to weigh it but I'm certain I was way over the F-150 weight specs. Never had any breakdown....lucky again.
Fast forward to 2012, bought the truck in my sig and thought, now I can haul/tow anything. I guess for me a truck was a truck was a...truck. Wrong!
I started to read the owners manual for the truck and about the same time, I happened upon RV.Net. Went to school so to speak. Before, yes I was mostly ignorant about such maters as GVWR, GCWR, axle ratings, etc. Now, I know.
NOW I KNOW....better than to overload my truck. Now I know and believe in and will practice operating within the trucks limitations. That's just the way I'm wired. Once you "know" there is no excuse to act ignorant.
I suspect some of those folks running down the road (I too have seen them)...very apparently overloaded....some of them may be ignorant yet as well.
And now that I know better, if I purposely go over the limit then, I must be an....well, Executive said it best.
Dennis
Well written thoughts, thanks.
For me, and for some others as well, it's a matter of ignorance regarding hauling/towing recommended limitations. I received my education here on RV.Net.
When I was a farm kid back in the 50's, we never placed any limitation on loading (over loading) the F-100. We just filled up the bed, sometimes until, and the rear bumper was eight inches off the ground and dad would say, "just take it easy". Never had any breakdown....guess we were lucky.
First truck I owned, back in the early 70s, I never had a need to haul anything that weighed much at all. Never had any breakdown.
My second truck, mid-eighties, I hauled around an old and I'm sure quite heavy, 10' in-bed camper...for ten years. Sold the camper long ago and never occurred to me to weigh it but I'm certain I was way over the F-150 weight specs. Never had any breakdown....lucky again.
Fast forward to 2012, bought the truck in my sig and thought, now I can haul/tow anything. I guess for me a truck was a truck was a...truck. Wrong!
I started to read the owners manual for the truck and about the same time, I happened upon RV.Net. Went to school so to speak. Before, yes I was mostly ignorant about such maters as GVWR, GCWR, axle ratings, etc. Now, I know.
NOW I KNOW....better than to overload my truck. Now I know and believe in and will practice operating within the trucks limitations. That's just the way I'm wired. Once you "know" there is no excuse to act ignorant.
I suspect some of those folks running down the road (I too have seen them)...very apparently overloaded....some of them may be ignorant yet as well.
And now that I know better, if I purposely go over the limit then, I must be an....well, Executive said it best.
Dennis
