stub-kb-2 wrote:
Gdetrailer wrote:
stub-kb-2 wrote:
Seattle Lion wrote:
We bought the truck in June and the TT later that month. When we bought the truck we didn't plan on owning an RV. Long story. We are not badly over capacity. It is a matter of a few hundred pounds if any. I just wanted to see if I could improve things a bit. The truck never bottoms out with the trailer, never has any overheating (transmission, oil, water, etc) even when climbing, and there is no serious sway (actually none most of the time). It just worries me that I am possibly over a bit.
everyone on these forums, and in the magazines are terryfied of making recomendations that will lead someone to do something stupid and / or dangerous.
NO, I DON'T think "everyone" is terrified of making suggestions however it is really STUPID and a waste of ones money to attempt to COVER UP a potentially bad towing match. You ARE PLAYING WITH OTHER PEOPLES LIVES (IE other motorists included) when you attempt to bolster an obviously overloaded vehicle with helper springs, overloads and airbags.
The result can be deadly.
as it stands, you are towing the trailer you own with the truck you own. period.
The OP feels it is not good and you are trying to talk someone who does not feel "comfortable" with the present overloaded situation.
Wouldn't you feel bad if the OP ends up being the next RVr in the news from flipping their rig?
if you are comfortable doing just that but want to make some improvement (NOT TRYING TO HAUL EVEN MORE), again not to haul more, but continue doing what you are already doing more safely, i say go for it.
No matter how you cut it adding aftermarket "upgrades" simply coverup an overload situation, it does not FIX the actual problem and if for any reason is involved in an accident can raise serious issues with the law and insurance.
a lot of folks on these forums say "buy a bigger truck" like we all have $20k lying around to trade up with.
It is simple, if you don't have $20K laying around you simply SHOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT THE BIGGER TRAILER.
As I see it, the OP has several ways to do this.
Your solution, apply aftermarket parts to cover up and use.
My suggestions are trade the truck for one more capable OR trade in the bigger trailer for a lighter weight one. THESE are the two possible best outcome solutions.
There IS a reason for 3/4 and 1ton vehicles, they simply are more capable, stout and require no aftermarket parts to hide a problem.
i towed with 1/2 tons for years. no different than any other tow vehicle (semis included, which i have 15+ years experience with) you have to be safe, smart, and reasonable.
i have rune firestone airbags, as well as load ratio'd main spring overloads.
if you have a few hundred bucks, the airbags are the way to go.
please don't take this as an endorsement to put another ton in your trailer, just to continue doing what you are doing with coniderably better control, and a safer ride height.
"upgrades" do nothing to fix an overload, period. It is easy to tell someone to simply slap brand x fix and go about your business as usaul. But in the end it is a SLOPPY way to coverup a problem.
YES, I BUY 3/4 ton trucks for a GOOD reason, it is to provide a more stable towing platform whether I am running empty or if I am towing my 7K TT or heck even my 10K flatbed trailer. It just handles the loads BETTER than a patched up 1/2 ton will ever do.
My 3/4 ton truck weighs in at about 1,000 lbs MORE than a 1/2 ton, there MUST be a reason for that?
The right tool for the job gets it done safer.
My goodness aren't we sensitive!
Just to help you lower your hackles, I also have a 3/4 ton, and a 1ton DRW. I'm not foolish, lazy, or stupid.
I also know that my dually is properly sized for my fiver.
However, almost every toy hauler and park model you see exceeds the gcvw of a 1 ton.
By your standards everyone should buy a class 6 truck.
My point was simply HE'S ALREADY DOING IT!
Lets make it more stable.
My 3/4 ton had no factory overloads.
It also has a Dana 70 rear diff, same as a 1 ton of the same vintage.
I put airbags on my truck for handling and stability, not to be "sloppy" as you so ineloquently put it.
If you haven't run air bags, " don't knock it till you try it".
My srw 3/4 ton handles better loaded than my DRW 1ton , both loaded legally.
Don't moan and wail in red if you don't know what you are talking about.
:R
Are you done crying that I pointed out some very obvious flaws in the typical plan that folks have when it comes to making a LESSER vehicle perform like a already better vehicle? Get over it.
At the end of the day, you can add overloads, air bags, extra heavy duty shocks for thousands of dollars in parts and you STILL have a 1/2 ton truck.
It will NEVER, EVER be a 3/4 ton truck even if you used 3/4 ton springs. There is much more than what meets the eyes when it comes to just how much weight a truck can support.
Basically put, overload is an overload whether you put aftermarket airbags, overloads and such. It is only as strong as the weakest part.
Some of the parts that play a great role in determining how much cargo it can carry starts at tires, rims, axles, bolt pattern (5, 6, 7, 8), axles, shocks (and position of the shock mounts), springs, steering parts (ball joints, arms, rods and even gear box), size and strength of frame and brakes.
Many of those parts just simply can not be economically "changed" but yet play a key role in the over all ability of the vehicles performance.
Changing just ONE part does not "help" with an overload situation other than to prevent the overload from dragging the tail end.
Then when you attempt to sell it down the road, folks will NOT "pay" any additional money for said upgrades. In fact chances are many people are going to shy away from a heavily modified truck or low ball you on price since they will get the feeling it was abused to require such mods.
I have personally seen folks dump bunches of money into trying to make a lesser vehicle "perform" better then ultimately toss the white flag of surrender and buy one that is more inline for the loads they are hauling, wasting all the money and time they put into the upgrades.
Pay me now or pay me more later...
