Depending on what vehicle we buy, our Airstream will be a 27' twin, or 30' bunk. If we buy the Ford F-250 diesel, will get 30'. But if we are able to safely tow the 27' twin with Tundra, we are going that route. Hitch weight is 781 lbs, dry weight is 5850 lbs. Main usage will be 1-2 weekend trips a month to the nearby Smoky Mountains of NC and Tenn. For us that's 3-4 hours of hwy and 1-2 hours of twisty and steep grades in the mountains. Mostly on paved roads but some secondary gravel roads. Also will be taking a 2-3 week national parks type trip out west each summer. Wife and I weigh 550, kids are just infant and toddler, but growing. Same applies to our 16 week shepherd, Chena. Toyota Tundra Max Cab 4x4 Limited or 1794. We fell in love with it the moment we saw it. Heart wants what the heart wants. Fit and finish of the 1794 model exceeds that of every other truck we saw. The issue, the dang sticker in driver door that said payload 1300 lbs. So, what are the real world risks, warnings, or just plain ole criticisms of exceeding the printed payload by 200-300lbs? I've seen countless images of much heavier campers than what we are considering being pulled by Tundras. I've read enough and talked to enough owners to believe that this is truly an underrated truck. All the 5/8 ton jokes. Etc. What measures, if any, could one take to minimize any handling or safety issues associated with exceeding the printed payload? Would changing springs and/or shocks help? Adding an airbag system? What say you? Any and all opinions or criticisms appreciated. Dan

once you go over weight you put a heck of a strain on the TV. pulling puts a strain on the transmission, the brakes have to work harder as does the engine. suspension also suffers. it is like asking a boy to do the job of a man.

An accident that could kill you. Might be extreme but tire or structural failure could cause an accident. Why risk it. 2-3 hundred pounds over probably not much of an issue, who knows?

I am in the do not exceed specifications camp. I doubt a few hundred pounds over the vehicle's payload rating is that much of an issue, but I would probably want to know what other ratings may be exceeded, like RAWR and tires.

I had a Tundra and a 27' TT. It pulled ok and a few times I had to overload it. It was scary but made it. When I upgraded to a diesel I not only went much safer for my family and other drivers but it was so much more easy and relaxing to pull. Don't stress every time you drive and get a bigger truck. You won't regret it.

I think the biggest risk for me would be how I would feel if something bad does happen. Whether it was due to the 200-300 over or not, I would always wonder if it was what caused whatever problem to happen. I don't like second guessing myself if I can avoid it. That is my personality trait, it may or may not be yours or your wife's.

What is the risk of exceeding payload? | Good Sam Community

59 Replies

blt2ski
Moderator
Jul 27, 2015
CWSWine wrote:
Here some info from a guy that makes a living giving towing advice.

Towing

The one false thing about the article, is the legal mumbo jumbo. It is NOT a required law that I or anyone use a WD if over the hitch limit. IE an LEO will not ticket you. On the other hand, if in an accident, nothing illegal is found, a CIVIL case may be brought up, in which case, this can be a hit against you.

Marty
CWSWine
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
Here some info from a guy that makes a living giving towing advice.

Towing
45Ricochet
Explorer
Jul 27, 2015
The question will be, what will be considered overweight? will it me manufacture warranty numbers? or the road bed design limit numbers?

Just me but I'll stick with the guys who made it not a government agency who really don't give a darn about the average Joe :W
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Jul 26, 2015
"I'll still take a slightly under power rig, that can handle the trailer vs an overpowered rig that is too small in payload!
Marty "

Guess I'm covered then...I DON'T have an under powered rig, (385HP/850TQ), AND my payload is MORE than enough.....Even with toolbox, full tank of DEF, full tank of Diesel, wife, myself and two boxers in the truck, with a pin weight of only 3460...I'm STILL 1300# under my trucks GVWR of 14,000#...WAYYYY under the trucks RAWR of 9750# @ 65 psi.. (AAM rates the 11.8 axle @ 11,500#....Figure if I aired the tires to sidewall max of 80 psi, RAWR would conservatively be good for 10,000# (but I believe more)

OP with 1 ton SRW will eventually realize he made the right choice.
blt2ski
Moderator
Jul 26, 2015
The question will be, what will be considered overweight? will it me manufacture warranty numbers? or the road bed design limit numbers? if the latter, there are very few pickups near that number, nor will there ever be for the most part. Even those that have no issues at being at the axel limits, but over gvwr will not be close to the road bed limits of 500+ lbs per inch width of tire or max 20K lbs per axel, 34K per tandem. That is 20-22K per pickup with singles, trailers in the 16-20K per tandem for a typical tire width rv.

It could also be based on the PAID for license to. IE my C2500 is licensed at 8000 lbs. I am NOT legal to the door sticker of 8600 lbs. I would need to buy a 10K license to do so. THEN I would be legal to 10K also. As the above paragraph points out, with 9.5" tires, I am good to 9500 per axel or 19K total. Not happening any time soon.

Marty
BenK
Explorer
Jul 26, 2015
Not to worry...they now can weigh you without pulling you over....

Just pay attention at weigh stations NOW...there are over head boxes along with embedded
gauges on the pavement that can weigh while moving along on the freeway

Plus....all too soon...each vehicle will have load cells and the ability to "tell" when overweight....
gitane59
Explorer III
Jul 26, 2015
bguy wrote:
I'm not advocating speeding or overloading by any means. Just pointing out the fact that many people speed ( by and large more than 10% over ) and think nothing of it.
Rumor around here was that they were going to start pulling over the overloaded truck/camper combos. I say stop all of the overloaded vehicles.
There's a good many overloaded vans cars and trucks on the road, not just the trailered ones, and there's a good many of them speeding as well.

What irratate me is if LEO's are going to pull over truck/camper combos for overloaded they had better start pulling over Sedans and CUV/SUV's pulling bumper pull TT's while overloaded including overloaded sedans pulling Airstreams. If your overloaded, your overloaded regardless of how the dealer has done the setup.
We have road safety blitzes north of Toronto on the HWY400 where LOE's pulling over almost any vehicle that looks overloaded or unsafe.

Bet they don't pull over sedans pulling triple axles Airstreams though. :R
bguy
Explorer
Jul 26, 2015
I'm not advocating speeding or overloading by any means. Just pointing out the fact that many people speed ( by and large more than 10% over ) and think nothing of it.
Rumor around here was that they were going to start pulling over the overloaded truck/camper combos. I say stop all of the overloaded vehicles.
There's a good many overloaded vans cars and trucks on the road, not just the trailered ones, and there's a good many of them speeding as well.
45Ricochet
Explorer
Jul 26, 2015
Danattherock wrote:
Thanks for the insights. I appreciate it. We spent the day at a few large volume Chevy and Ford dealers in Charlotte, about 1.5 hours up the road.

We are going to buy a silver F-350 or Chevy 3500 HD single rear wheel 4x4.

Where can I buy the sexy lady rear mud flaps:)

Dan
NC

Smart move on your part, you'll enjoy the drive much better and be safer also.
The sexy lady flaps are at most big rig type fuel stations or the local Peterbuilt, KW, Volvo dealerships. I think you'll have a bad time mounting them onto a SRW truck though :W
Enjoy your new ride!
blt2ski
Moderator
Jul 26, 2015
TP,

Too bad your 93 was not an NV4500. GCWR is 2000 lbs lower than a 4l80e equiped truck. the 4l80e Pulls 10 mph slower up a 5-6^ grade, only can go up a 15% grade at 15K, an NV is 30% at 20K. I could pull those 5-6% grades with AC on, most I knew with the 4l80 needed AC off, and the water temp was still some 20F higher than my 96. Not sure what is so special about that 4 spd auto that took some 20 more HP to use vs the NV.

The only white knuckle times I had at 15-16K were not caused by weight issues. ie 30 15-20 passenger vans on a site seeing tour coming the opposite direction as me on a 1.5 lane mtn pass in Utah above Redfords ski area. that was fun. A buffalo walking down the middle of the road in yellowstone......realizing his horn would go thru the door and halfway into me!.......

I'll still take a slightly under power rig, that can handle the trailer vs an overpowered rig that is too small in payload!

Marty

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What is the risk of exceeding payload?

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