TT Weight limits: theory and reality

westend wrote:
On brakes: Could a guy assume that since a mfg makes a truck that has a hitch and could also be used for towing, that the size and construction of the vehicle brakes are sufficient to stop a loaded trailer. Perhaps there is a target amount of weight towed that is used as a parameter in that meeting room when all of the axle and brake engineers get together and hash it out.

FWIW, in MN there is no requirement for trailer braking until the trailer exceeds 3000 lbs. In fact they get real specific about the rate of deceleration for trailer braking. I wonder if motor vehicles equipped with a hitch are required to meet any similar standards.

I'M 99.99% sure that is not the case. I have had numerous conservations with a senior engineer who works for Fed Mogul in their Ford SD brake testing division that does the independent FMVSS certification brake testing for FOMOC and even when discussing brakes in towing situations he never indicated any other number but that they test and certify to a specific GVWR number. What I'm not sure of since that was a number of year ago is if a specific brake configuration is say the same between vehicles if the manufacturer can specify a GVWR on the FMVSS sticker for a number less than what that referenced brake testing number was. I also don't know or remember how all the different tire combos effect those numbers such as say a base number of test results then augmented with additional substests with different tires, etc.

What most folks don't realize is that there is a HUGE impact on the specific effectiveness of specific brake rotor and pad compositions on brake performance and sometimes even getting replacement pads from the OEM might in fact not be exactly the same as those provided on the original equipment and brake performance can be actually less.

The bottom line is that what I took away from all these conservations is that the brakes you have currently on something less than a brand new vehicle would probably not even meet the full testing standards listed on the FMVSS certification label and IMO that says loads about the MORE is BETTER thoughts .... i.e. the brakes on a 12K GVWR F350 that is say 5 years old and has had brake work done might only actually be as effective as that F150 8K GVWR brand new truck. Once you understand and appreciate these types of nuances you are given the secret handshake and password to become a certified, card carrying "MORE IS BETTER" club member.:B

Larry