YOU NEED TO SEE THIS PIC

shum02 wrote:

Nvr2loud wrote:

Dog Trainer wrote:

Nvr2loud wrote:
Capable and legal are two different words.

Obviously any 1/2 ton can pull up to it's maximum rated weight provided that tongue weight, payload, max axle ratings, and combined vehicle weight ratings are not exceeded.

GENERALLY speaking I have found that most 1/2 ton trucks can pull about 6000 lbs maximum travel trailer with the proper WDH. Obviously some can pull much less, others can pull much more.. but 6K is a pretty good rule of thumb.

So please explain where it is illegal to tow The average and maybe not so average TT with a 1/2 ton. Remember that towing beyond the stated maximum of the door sticker is not illegal. Maybe not smart but not illegal.

Let me understand your question... are you suggesting that exceeding the maximum axle rating on ANY vehicle is legal?

I can't speak for every state, but here in Ontario the door sticker is the bible for the weight police (Ministry of Transportation Roadside Inspection). Only the original equipment manufacturer (GM, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, ect) or an upfitter that starts with an incomplete vehicle (specialty shops that create customized for work, disabilities, special vehicles) can create / rate the vehicles final axle ratings. The addition of any device (extra springs, air bags, ect) by any person or business can not increase the maximum axle ratings. The only effective way to increase payload, is to decrease existing weight (removing bumpers, back seats, spare tires, ect)

In Ontario, you can and you will get a ticket for exceeding any axle rating.

For a private citizen towing a RV, not for business? Never happen, regardless of being illegal or not. If that was the case every minivan in Brampton would have to be pulled over on a Saturday afternoon and tagged/towed away. Private cars and trucks are constantly overloaded.

I stay away from Long Weekend MTO RV inspection blitz's. Usually a bunch of auxiliary OPP officers with no clue about what it is they are looking for outside of obvious vehicle defects. Been through one, 2 hours of my life I'll never get back and it killed my Friday evening :M

I agree that the probability of a private citizen being asked to weigh the vehicle(s) while travelling in Ontario is very slim (I also have only had to do that once in my private truck) and much more likely in a commercial vehicle (that happened several times to me) however the argument is about legality, not probability.

I have a 2011 Sierra 4x4 Crew Cab rated to pull 9500 lbs, with available payload of 1420 lbs. Once I hook-up my 6006 lb trailer, my wife, my three young children (roughly 60, 50, and 35 lbs), bikes, dog, and firewood.... I have exceeded my 1420 lb payload by a little bit and am over the rear axle rating. I'm not afraid of getting caught, and I'm not very concerned that I will have a massive mechanical failure due to the slight over-loading.

What I said in my original statement was CAPABLE (clearly my truck is capable since I do it without any issues) and LEGAL are two different words. If I was involved in a serious incident, my overloading MAY be held against me legally. Not likely, but possible.

Since it appears that most 1/2 ton trucks fall in the payload range of around 1200 - 1600 lbs (with extreme exceptions above and below) and a 6000 lb travel trailer uses approx 800 lbs of that payload (plus hitch component weight)then it is generally true that 6000 lbs is the average limit. Reduce weight in the truck, and increase trailer max weight or vice-versa and reduce max trailer weight.

Nvr2loud wrote:

Dog Trainer wrote:

Nvr2loud wrote:
Capable and legal are two different words.

Obviously any 1/2 ton can pull up to it's maximum rated weight provided that tongue weight, payload, max axle ratings, and combined vehicle weight ratings are not exceeded.

GENERALLY speaking I have found that most 1/2 ton trucks can pull about 6000 lbs maximum travel trailer with the proper WDH. Obviously some can pull much less, others can pull much more.. but 6K is a pretty good rule of thumb.

So please explain where it is illegal to tow The average and maybe not so average TT with a 1/2 ton. Remember that towing beyond the stated maximum of the door sticker is not illegal. Maybe not smart but not illegal.

Let me understand your question... are you suggesting that exceeding the maximum axle rating on ANY vehicle is legal?

I can't speak for every state, but here in Ontario the door sticker is the bible for the weight police (Ministry of Transportation Roadside Inspection). Only the original equipment manufacturer (GM, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, ect) or an upfitter that starts with an incomplete vehicle (specialty shops that create customized for work, disabilities, special vehicles) can create / rate the vehicles final axle ratings. The addition of any device (extra springs, air bags, ect) by any person or business can not increase the maximum axle ratings. The only effective way to increase payload, is to decrease existing weight (removing bumpers, back seats, spare tires, ect)

In Ontario, you can and you will get a ticket for exceeding any axle rating.

For a private citizen towing a RV, not for business? Never happen, regardless of being illegal or not. If that was the case every minivan in Brampton would have to be pulled over on a Saturday afternoon and tagged/towed away. Private cars and trucks are constantly overloaded.

I stay away from Long Weekend MTO RV inspection blitz's. Usually a bunch of auxiliary OPP officers with no clue about what it is they are looking for outside of obvious vehicle defects. Been through one, 2 hours of my life I'll never get back and it killed my Friday evening :M

centracom wrote:
When I posted this thread I thought most would agree with my opinion. To the contrary. I always side with caution and don't push the limits of my tow vehicle as maybe it were intended. I guess every persons tow situation is different. I tow long distances and often in mountainous areas. On two lane, curvy roads with with 6% or higher grades. Some people may only be towing 30 miles each way on flat, straight roadways. I may think different if I towed short distances on straight, flat roadways.

Example: if your truck was rated for 12,000lbs. 10,000lbs trailer, 1,500 cargo, 500lbs of livelihood in your tow vehicle, 100lbs of firewood, 100lbs generator, 250lbs fuel = 12,450.

POINT BLANK a 1/2 ton truck is not a safe way to tow a 10,000lbs trailer, with all the amenities needed to take a trip.

Not when loaded up with batteries, 2 tanks of propane, water if you tank up your fresh at the last stop before setting up for camp, food, all the foo foo stuff the wife loaded in the trailer, plus all your hunting and fishing gear, lead weights, ammo and targets for practice, and on, and on, and on.

The guy with the 1/2 ton pickup and a TT is the last guy you'll ever see on the scales to see if they are overloaded while they plan to drive on public highways and interstates.

The guys with the 3/4 ton or 1 ton dually, and the 5th wheel is more likely, due to the amount of weight involved and getting it all safely stopped, to hit the scales and check to see if they are within limits. There's a lot of 2 lane roads and steep grades once you get into the Rocky's and further west to contend with, stuff that makes engine brakes on diesels and such nice added features to prevent you from burning up your brakes going down hill.

I have a 2007 Lincoln LT, that is rated at 8900 of course that has decreased because 20" tires has been added and a hard cover on the bed it has the 373 gears, now I won't even try to tow that much. 1680 payload GVWR 7050. Roy

Dog Trainer wrote:

Nvr2loud wrote:
Capable and legal are two different words.

Obviously any 1/2 ton can pull up to it's maximum rated weight provided that tongue weight, payload, max axle ratings, and combined vehicle weight ratings are not exceeded.

GENERALLY speaking I have found that most 1/2 ton trucks can pull about 6000 lbs maximum travel trailer with the proper WDH. Obviously some can pull much less, others can pull much more.. but 6K is a pretty good rule of thumb.

So please explain where it is illegal to tow The average and maybe not so average TT with a 1/2 ton. Remember that towing beyond the stated maximum of the door sticker is not illegal. Maybe not smart but not illegal.

Let me understand your question... are you suggesting that exceeding the maximum axle rating on ANY vehicle is legal?

I can't speak for every state, but here in Ontario the door sticker is the bible for the weight police (Ministry of Transportation Roadside Inspection). Only the original equipment manufacturer (GM, Ford, Dodge, Toyota, ect) or an upfitter that starts with an incomplete vehicle (specialty shops that create customized for work, disabilities, special vehicles) can create / rate the vehicles final axle ratings. The addition of any device (extra springs, air bags, ect) by any person or business can not increase the maximum axle ratings. The only effective way to increase payload, is to decrease existing weight (removing bumpers, back seats, spare tires, ect)

In Ontario, you can and you will get a ticket for exceeding any axle rating.

PAThwacker wrote:
I saw someone on FB trying to sell a 90's k1500. He said "its a HD Chevy with 6200gvw":B

Because that's what they were called.From Ford in 1975..F150 F151 : "heavy" 1/2 ton (6,050–6,200 GVWR max)..These came with a maximum payload of 2,275 lb (1,032 kg) when properly equipped.

PAThwacker wrote:

jaycocreek wrote:
4X4Dodger has it spot on!

Maybe it's just internet forums or just the new breed of Rver who over thinks everything he does or just plain lack of experience with actual hands on the subject in which he is posting,speaking third party not from boots on the ground.

I guess the funny thing to me is,all the wrecks lately with an RV involved around here were 8 lug rigs showing lack of experience or driver error "not" with ratings involved at all.

Never in 50 years of towing have I seen an RV wreck based solely on tow ratings or especially payload numbers..Not 1 but I have seen a lot of them based on road/weather conditions or operator error!

End the comments about towing 50 plus years ago!

:B Really?

Why..Things were better 50 some years ago.Spanking wasn't a crime and a Coke was a coke not a drug and towing wasn't rocket science.There weren't long debates or even much talk about payload or passenger weights or exceeding manufacturer ratings..Those that towed pretty much new what to do to make there towing experience safe and there vehicle last.

Where do you think the Tow package and WD hitch came from..It wasn't present time it was the old timers and trial and error or the Camper Special (heavy duty cooling, camper pre-wiring, and larger alternator).

None of this existed back in the day as well as Good Sam and has everything to do with today's towing mentality!

So No..I'm not going to loose the 50 some years ago knowledge some of us have and how we did it prior to so called modern towing.

centracom wrote:

If that is dry weight then probably overloaded. If 10,618 is the GVWR it may well be within the truck specifications. GM would call that good to go.

nomad297 wrote:
Where on the picture does it state that the truck is a 1500? Am I missing something?

Bruce

6 lug wheels, and the wheel design, are clear indications that it's a half ton.

Also, the 2500 series new body style trucks have a completely different front end / grill than the 2014 1500 GM trucks

bhall wrote:

nomad297 wrote:
Where on the picture does it state that the truck is a 1500? Am I missing something?

Bruce

I have a 2500 (new style) and that is definitely not a 2500/3500 as the grille, hood and bumper are different. Also appears to lack 2500/3500 badging on the doors as well as lacking 8 lugs.

Number one identifier is the 6 lug rims. I saw someone on FB trying to sell a 90's k1500. He said "its a HD Chevy with 6200gvw":B