Know your limits.

[LT.]

I found this on another site but, thought it was relevant to us as well. I had this talk with another member and low and behold he bought a bigger tow rig.
http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/index.php?showtopic=24262

LT.

 

[mbryson]

Cliff notes?

F250, WW 3000, 4 quads, accident, unfortunate outcome for people he hit, bankruptcy from civil suit, etc.

(I just read the first page...what'd I miss on the other 15 or so?)

 

[Tacoma]

Probably a lot of conjecture, "it's not too much trailer", "I tow overweight all the time and nothing happens", "you're a dumbass", "so's your mom", etc.

towing "too much", however you want to define it, is dangerous. Too high, too wide, too long, too heavy, etc.

 

[Corban_White]

Also important to know "your" limits in addition to the vehicle's.

 

[Toad]

Is is sad that this has to happen for people to recognize their own stupidy. You see lots of stupid stuff just down I-15.

 

[BlackDog]

the one thing I loved the most about towing in Cali, was the 55 mph mandate. Don't care what it is, F150 wiutha catamaran, or semi pulling triples, 55 is safer, with more control time.

I lost a trailer once, no one was hurt, but my pride.. well under the limits of the truck, just improperly loaded, my arse hole still puckers when I am hitched now, and that was 18 months ago.... checking my mirrors like a tweaker looking for the fuzz, finger hovering over the "panic" button on the brake controller the whole trip.

Aint wrecked nothing since, or had a close call, just more cautious now.

 

[LT.]

the one thing I loved the most about towing in Cali, was the 55 mph mandate. Don't care what it is, F150 wiutha catamaran, or semi pulling triples, 55 is safer, with more control time.

I lost a trailer once, no one was hurt, but my pride.. well under the limits of the truck, just improperly loaded, my arse hole still puckers when I am hitched now, and that was 18 months ago.... checking my mirrors like a tweaker looking for the fuzz, finger hovering over the "panic" button on the brake controller the whole trip.

Aint wrecked nothing since, or had a close call, just more cautious now.

Good advice. I really like this saying, "checking my mirrors like a tweaker looking for the fuzz, finger hovering over the "panic" button on the brake controller the whole trip."

LT.

 

[turbosniper1]

If you stop and think about it, the people that are stepping up to the plate and buying the medium duty trucks to tow or haul their rigs are not only covering their proverbial a$$e$, but they are covering their assets, as well as the safety and lives of themselves and others. True the insurance companies are going to be the first ones to walk away if there is an accident if you are driving a 3/4 ton truck, towing 20,000 lbs, and you lose control of your trailer and heaven forbid the worse happens. But it all comes down to the person behind the wheel. That person ultimately makes the decision to use that particular tow rig, that particular trailer, that load, that route, that speed, and on and on and on....
Yes the argument can be made that a medium duty truck only has one purpose. It is not the kind of truck that you can drive to work everyday, nor would you want to drive it to work everyday. Parking would be a Witch, fuel cost would add up fast. They are kind of a single use vehicle; however they serve that purpose extremely well!!
- Matt

 

[LT.]

True that Turbosniper. However, just because you have a truck that CAN haul the extra weight does not make it legal. You also need to have a license to move that much weight. Even driving a semi on a regular license you can still only have your tow vehicle, trailer and load weigh no more than 26,000 lbs. After 26,001 lbs you need more license. A medium duty truck weighs more than a regular one ton truck. It may have more capacity than a one ton but, it also weighs more. Let's say that a medium duty truck like Sprueitt and ChestonScout have weighs somewhere in the neighborhood of 10 to 12,000 lbs by itself. Add to that the camper weight and we are getting close to 13 to 15,000 lbs. Trailer, T-Rex and the over grown Scout are no light weights either. Now, it is also possible to have your regular one ton moving that much weight as well but, the one ton may weigh less.

What is really important here is that we are more aware of what it is we are trying to move. Make sure it is within your tow rigs abilities and to make sure we have enough license to move the loads. Basic safety is the rule we need to work within.

LT.

 

[Unimog]

True that Turbosniper. However, just because you have a truck that CAN haul the extra weight does not make it legal. You also need to have a license to move that much weight. Even driving a semi on a regular license you can still only have your tow vehicle, trailer and load weigh no more than 26,000 lbs. After 26,001 lbs you need more license. A medium duty truck weighs more than a regular one ton truck.
LT.

This is not necessarily true in Utah at least. For recreational or personal use, a CDL is not required. Copy from page 1-1 of the Utah CDL manual:
"The following are exempt from the CDL requirements:
farm, firefighter, etc, etc...
• Recreational vehicles that are not used in commerce and are driven solely as a family or personal conveyance for recreational purposes."

That being said, I wouldn't recommend operating a class 7 or class 8 truck if you don't understand all of the safety aspects of running air brakes, etc.

 

[turbohaulic]

Another thing to consider is the tire rating you use. You can have a truck fully capable of hauling damn near anything you want but if you don't have the tires rated for the load it can and will be just as dangerous.

 

[LT.]

This is not necessarily true in Utah at least. For recreational or personal use, a CDL is not required. Copy from page 1-1 of the Utah CDL manual:
"The following are exempt from the CDL requirements:
farm, firefighter, etc, etc...
• Recreational vehicles that are not used in commerce and are driven solely as a family or personal conveyance for recreational purposes."

That being said, I wouldn't recommend operating a class 7 or class 8 truck if you don't understand all of the safety aspects of running air brakes, etc.

My ignorance is showing as far as Utah laws goes. Sorry about that. Living here in New Mexico just about anything goes, until it is too late. I have over loaded my rig many times and have never been in trouble with the law for it. But, I am unfamiliar with Utah law. I think we are on the same page here. Good points.

LT.

 

[LT.]

Another thing to consider is the tire rating you use. You can have a truck fully capable of hauling damn near anything you want but if you don't have the tires rated for the load it can and will be just as dangerous.

Another great point. Of all the things use towing only one makes contact with the road. So really it all boils down to choosing the right rubber when it meets the road.

LT.

 

[LT.]

In an effort to keep myself legal I just bought a newer truck. My new setup was a little too heavy for the old capacities of the 2006. Now I am back within the manufactures specs.

LT.

 

[Brett]

Since I'm not a full size truck person, what's the differences between say a F-250 and F-350? Heavier duty springs or something else?

 

[EROK81?]

Good advice. I really like this saying, "checking my mirrors like a tweaker looking for the fuzz, finger hovering over the "panic" button on the brake controller the whole trip."

LT.

I agree on the check your mirror thing. We went on a trip once to somewhere in Colorado. We arrived at our hotel the same time as this guy/family driving a huge motorhome. He went back to check on the jeep that was in tow....well it wasn't there. Somewhere between his last stop and this one it had come unhooked and he never noticed or knew where it came off.