โApr-26-2015 07:15 AM
โApr-26-2015 11:32 AM
ramgunner wrote:Phydeauxman wrote:
I am trying to find out what the real potential consequences are from continuing to tow with the truck I have.
Wear and tear on components that were not designed to take it.
If you get into an accident, especially an injury accident, then LE and your insurance company, the other parties insurance company, and their attorneys may and will look at everything. If you are over your rated weights, then it could lead to civil and/or criminal charges involving the term "negligence". That means that someone knew better and did something anyway that endangered, injured, or killed someone or caused damage. Civilly it can mean a loss of a lot of money. Criminally it can mean a loss of a lot of money and/or freedom.
โApr-26-2015 11:24 AM
Wildwilly101 wrote:
So then there is never a reason to purchase a 3500 truck? This is the type of advice that gets people into trouble. I wanted to believe that too since the 08 2500 and 3500 both shared the same front axle, all I needed to do was beef up the rear. The air bags allowed it to set level, but did not provide enough stiffness to manage the dynamic load experienced on the highway. Implying that I donโt know what Iโm talking about is ludicrous since you did not experience my circumstance, and are suggesting running an overloaded truck is safe and prudent as long as you put on air bags. No I do not trust you or anything you claim, Trusting peopleโs claims is what caused this near disaster in the first place. Yes I knew better but didnโt want to spend the bucks on a new truck so I had to find out for myself. There are limits to what air bags can do in a dynamic loading situation as experienced at highway speeds. Suggesting the rear suspension on my 08 is the same as the one on my 3500 discredits everything you claim. A blind man can see the difference. Enough said
IDman wrote:
Let us know when you will be hitched up and traveling because I don't want to be anywhere in front of you when you try to stop!
Just because "others do it" doesn't mean it is safe, legal, or right!
โApr-26-2015 11:10 AM
โApr-26-2015 10:59 AM
โApr-26-2015 10:35 AM
Wildwilly101 wrote:
Really? New truck is rated 14K GVW old truck 9K gvw. Enormous spring packs compared to very small spring packs. Not even close. Payload rating of 6K compared to payload rating of 2K. Loading of unit was fine, truck suspension simply couldn't handle the weight. No other factors involved. I was well beyond reasonable design parameters.
โApr-26-2015 10:28 AM
โApr-26-2015 10:17 AM
Wildwilly101 wrote:
I forgot to add, new Bilstiens too. Loading was fine, truck was way too light for the job. See sawing was caused by too much pin weight for the truck suspension, not bad shocks and too little pin weight. I was foolish enough to follow peopleโs advice who claim that simply โbeefing upโ your truck will be fine, just go camping and enjoy. There are physical limits to the ability of a truck based on design parameters. Some beefing up may very well work in some situations. Mine was not one of those situations. As I said before, I should have known better, but had to find out for myself.
โApr-26-2015 10:13 AM
โApr-26-2015 09:36 AM
Golden_HVAC wrote:
Hi,
The engine, transmission, brakes and probably the rims are the same as a 2014 F-350. The SRW F-350 came with a 11,400 GVWR, and 18" rims rated for slightly more weight than the factory standard 17" rims on a F-250.
That said, you might have the upgraded 18" rims already, or might have some 20" or other silly size rims. Changing to the 18" rims will not increase your GVWR any, but if your rear axle or tires are overloaded when towing, it might help prevent tire failure.
You really need to go back to the scale with full tank of fuel and the fifth wheel. Check the front and rear axle weights. You might be surprised that the fifth wheel is a lot more weight that you expected. Many times the 'estimated pin' weight is just that, a lie. So you might be anywhere from 700 - 1,500 pounds over the GVWR.
That said, I know someone who did the same thing back in 1983 and bought a LTD wagon thinking of towing a camping trailer, only to get home with the car and find out it's tow rating was only 1,000 pounds. Then he bought a F-150 still thinking of towing a travel trailer, and did not like any of those layouts, bought a 24' Wilderness fifth wheel, and towed that home. I have no clue how much weight was on his truck, or it's rating with the 175 HP 351" engine. Eventually he traded up for a dually F-350 with 460" engine rated around 225 HP.
So it is not nearly as unsafe as you might expect it to be when you state 'I am overloaded by 1,000 pounds'.
You should be well under your rear axle weight rating, and probably are under the tire weight ratings too.
Good luck,
Fred.
โApr-26-2015 09:09 AM
Wildwilly101 wrote:
I tried the same thing with my 08 Ram 2500 long bed. Installed firestone ride rites, Helwig stabilizer, upgraded tires to 3,750lb rated, and hitched up the new 5er (upgraded from a 28ft bumper pull) 2,700lb pin weight, yes I was over the weight limits. Towed it from PA to FL and back. When I got home I immediately traded in the truck for a Ram 3500 Dually. The truck simply wasnโt adequate to handle the weight. Yes, it sat level and looked fine, but the suspension was too soft to handle the load without see-sawing. I drove 65 the whole way, hit a well hidden dip in the road that threw us into the left lane, began see-sawing and rocking side to side. Thank God there was no one in the left lane. Iโve been towing bumper pulls for close to 30 years, I should have known better.
โApr-26-2015 09:08 AM
Phydeauxman wrote:
Thanks for all of the great replies. The truck came with the 20" wheels on it. The tires are Michelin LT275/65R20 with a max load (single) of 3750 lbs. The door jamb sticker says the GAWR for the rear is 6100lbs. with those tires.
As far as weighing the truck/trailer together...where can I do that at? I got the truck weight when I took a load of brush to the dump.
Wildwilly101 wrote:
I tried the same thing with my 08 Ram 2500 long bed. Installed firestone ride rites, Helwig stabilizer, upgraded tires to 3,750lb rated, and hitched up the new 5er (upgraded from a 28ft bumper pull) 2,700lb pin weight, yes I was over the weight limits. Towed it from PA to FL and back. When I got home I immediately traded in the truck for a Ram 3500 Dually. The truck simply wasnโt adequate to handle the weight. Yes, it sat level and looked fine, but the suspension was too soft to handle the load without see-sawing. I drove 65 the whole way, hit a well hidden dip in the road that threw us into the left lane, began see-sawing and rocking side to side. Thank God there was no one in the left lane. Iโve been towing bumper pulls for close to 30 years, I should have known better.
โApr-26-2015 09:00 AM
op wrote:
I know I am not alone out there as far as towing more 5ver than the truck is rated for...I think the most popular combo I see on the road is SRW truck with 5ver behind. And even if some of those are 350s/3500s...the GVWR capacity of those trucks isn't different from the 250s/2500s.
Since I can't un-buy the truck or the camper (especially the camper)...I am trying to find out what the real potential consequences are from continuing to tow with the truck I have. I know it is not the limitations of the engine/transmission because they put the same engine/transmission in the 350s and 450s.
Is it the brakes not being able to appropriately stop the vehicle? To make matters worse...I had plan to replace the stock/original fuel tank with a tank that basically doubles the capacity...so I don't have to stop every 250 miles for fuel. Doing this would add another 180 lbs. on top of the weight I detailed above.
โApr-26-2015 08:49 AM
Phydeauxman wrote:
Thanks for all of the great replies. The truck came with the 20" wheels on it. The tires are Michelin LT275/65R20 with a max load (single) of 3750 lbs. The door jamb sticker says the GAWR for the rear is 6100lbs. with those tires.
As far as weighing the truck/trailer together...where can I do that at? I got the truck weight when I took a load of brush to the dump.
โApr-26-2015 08:44 AM
Phydeauxman wrote:Just because others do it does not make it right. I think you will find a lot of those SRW trucks are 1-tons.
............I know I am not alone out there as far as towing more 5ver than the truck is rated for...I think the most popular combo I see on the road is SRW truck with 5ver behind. And even if some of those are 350s/3500s...the GVWR capacity of those trucks isn't different from the 250s/2500s.........
โApr-26-2015 08:11 AM
Phydeauxman wrote:
As far as weighing the truck/trailer together...where can I do that at? I got the truck weight when I took a load of brush to the dump.