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
I wasn't trying to dispute what you said and I didn't say or imply the TV's brakes are or should be designed to handle the MCWR. In fact, I respect what you've said from the beginning in this thread.
I was making a generalized comment about some owners (not you) that max. out or go over the total max. TV + TT weight rating and don't even think about their TT brakes and if they are working properly and what can happen to stopping distance. They just assume the TT brakes are going to do what they're supposed to do. Our last TT had bad brakes from new, but we didn't know how bad they were until they took them all apart a year after purchase - so brakes can be bad even from new. Who knows how effective their TT brakes really are working?
That was my point - if TT brakes are only partially working, stopping distance will be increased. Along with that, higher combined weight will result in longer stopping distance. I'd rather be somewhat below the GCWR so that if the TT brakes aren't at 100%, you've got a safety margin for the TV brakes.
And then you've got some (again, not you) that say that limits given to TVs are arbitrary numbers assigned by lawyers and that it's fine to go over the maximums by whatever amount you think is okay. It makes you wonder how well they will be able to stop if their TT brakes aren't functioning very well.
I was making a generalized comment about some owners (not you) that max. out or go over the total max. TV + TT weight rating and don't even think about their TT brakes and if they are working properly and what can happen to stopping distance. They just assume the TT brakes are going to do what they're supposed to do. Our last TT had bad brakes from new, but we didn't know how bad they were until they took them all apart a year after purchase - so brakes can be bad even from new. Who knows how effective their TT brakes really are working?
That was my point - if TT brakes are only partially working, stopping distance will be increased. Along with that, higher combined weight will result in longer stopping distance. I'd rather be somewhat below the GCWR so that if the TT brakes aren't at 100%, you've got a safety margin for the TV brakes.
And then you've got some (again, not you) that say that limits given to TVs are arbitrary numbers assigned by lawyers and that it's fine to go over the maximums by whatever amount you think is okay. It makes you wonder how well they will be able to stop if their TT brakes aren't functioning very well.
Seattle Lion wrote:myredracer wrote:BurbMan wrote:Seattle Lion wrote:
If your TT is set up correctly, it won't contribute any extra load on the truck's brakes. The trailer will stop using its own brakes.
The brakes on the truck are rated to stop the GVWR of the truck, the TT brakes stop the trailer. BUT if you are over the GVWR on the truck, then you are overloading your brakes as well.
I think you may have misunderstood me. The brakes in any TV are rated to stop the MGVWR, NOT the MCWR. Full or partial failure of the TT's brakes will result in longer stopping distances. To my knowledge, no manufacturer of vehicles specs brakes to handle the MCWR.
