how much can I tow?

[SmokeyWren]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Yep...Yes dear. Silently to yourself...NOW I get to shopping for a bigger truck....yippieeee.

Yeah, but if you've already maxed out a Suburban 2500, nobody makes a "bigger" SUV. No, the Excursion is gone and probably won't be coming back. Then you must convince her that she really wants a CrewCab pickup instead of an SUV. And if that pickup has to be a dually, then you're probably between a rock and a hard place.

[azdryheat]

Originally Posted by TXiceman

Why do the 3/4 ton users keep throwing up the commercial hauler business? We all know that RVs are exempt from commercial rules, but the laws of physics still apply. The advice is to stay within the publish GVWR, GAWR and the GCWR for the truck.

Going by some of the thought processes often presented here, you can fit 22.5" wheels and tires to a ford Ranger and think you are OK to pull a 40' Teton.

Ken

It's because the dually crowd is always telling us that we can't tow anything with our 3/4 ton trucks.

[TXiceman]

azdryheat, I don;t tell the 3/4 ton owners that they cannot tow anything....but all to many are pulling way over what a 3/4 ton is rated for because they either do not care or do not understand how to properly use the tow rating numbers. Shoot, a 3/4 ton or even a 1/2 ton works fine for the right trailer. But I cringe every time I see someone pulling a trailer like mine with a 3/4 ton truck.

Ken

[JIMNLIN]

Lots of folks with a commercial registered vehicle pulls a RV for recreational activities. I pulled my RVs with my several different commercially registered one ton DRW trucks and a couple of 3/4 ton trucks pulling flatdeck trailers over the years.
Private truck pulling a 15000 lb RV trailer or a same size commercially registered truck pulling a same size 15000 GN equipment trailer all have on thing in common. The truck mfg GVWR or GCWR don't figure in how much loads the axles can legally carry. It goes like this ;

This is in response to your electronic mail dated October 14, 2009.
First, allow me to apologize for the untimely response to your e-mail.
My staff recently received your request and by the date of your e-mail,
it appears to have been lost in the system. You were requesting
information pertaining to state laws limiting the gross vehicle weight
rating (GVWR) and/or gross combined weight rating (GCWR) for fifth wheel
and recreational vehicle owners. I have answered each of your questions
in the order asked.

Q: “Many of the owners travel over their tow vehicle GVWR and /or
GCWR. Are there any state laws against this? Or does the owner just
take the risk if they wish?”


A: The California Vehicle Code (CVC) does not contain a law that
specifically limits the amount of weight a vehicle may tow based on the
towing vehicle GVWR or GCWR. There are, however, laws that limit the
amount a vehicle may tow based on other criteria.

Section 21715(b) CVC prohibits a motor vehicle under 4,000 pounds
unladen from towing any vehicle weighing 6,000 pounds or more gross
weight. This section would apply to smaller pickups and Sport Utility
Vehicles attempting to tow large trailers.
Section 1085(d) of Title 13 California Code of Regulations prohibits
the loading of tires above the maximum load rating marked on the tire,
or if unmarked the maximum load rating as specified in the applicable
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard, or in a publication furnished to
the public by the tire manufacturer. This would most likely happen in
the case of a pickup truck towing a large fifth wheel travel trailer, as
those types of trailers tend to transfer a larger portion of their
weight to the last axle of the towing unit causing that axle to exceed
the tire load limits.

Section 24002(a) CVC prohibits a vehicle or combination of vehicles
which is in an unsafe condition or which is not safely loaded and which
presents an immediate safety hazard from operating on the highway. This
section provides officers the authority to stop a vehicle or combination
of vehicles that is, in the officer’s opinion, unsafe to operate on
the highway. This section could be used to prohibit a driver from
continuing until the unsafe condition is fixed.

Q: “If they were to have an accident would they be cited?”

A: The officer investigating the collision would make the
determination whether to cite the driver based on evidence collected
during the investigation and the determination of the cause of the
collision.

Q: “Would their insurance company pay damages?”

A: Please contact your insurance company to obtain damage claim
information.

I trust this has adequately answered your questions. Should you desire
any further information, please contact Officer Ron Leimer, of my staff,
at (916) 445-1865.
Sincerely,

S. B. DOWLING, Captain
Commander
Commercial Vehicle Section"

Like the commander says it all about axle/tire load ratings that carries the load for a private use truck pulling a RV or commercial registered vehicle.