You guys who tow heavy (over loaded) should read this: http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/...howtopic=24262

 

Bad deal for him, feel sorry just trying to have a good time. I really am blown away by some of the rigs I see. I know the toyboxes are heavy, but on the cover of this weeks cycle trader there is a massive toybox for sale, must be as big as you can get, 40+ feet it looks like. How much do you need, this thing had everything you could imagine and then some. the thing must weigh 10 tons empty. Be modest folks. just cause you can isnt a good reason. BTY, used its $40k. To much to tow IMO.

 

This is becoming more and more of a issue in the RV community (especialy us toybox owners) many have gone to medium duty trucks and even converted tractors, a sad story for all involved

 

Why don't these guys go with a GN? I suppose a toy box is an inclosed trailer?

 

Whats a GN?

the problem is these trailers empty are already pretty heavy. mine weights about 7500-8200lbs empty, add 100 gallons of water, 30 gallons of fuel and 3-4 quads and all your tools gear etc, your pulling a pretty heavy rig! and now it seems alot of guys are pulling 32"+ foot trailers empty are weiging around 11-13k, which is right around max capacity for alot of trucks, now add 2-3klbs of cargo and you see why they have problems,

plus I see alot of guys towing these tripple axle 5ers with 6-8" lifts with 35+" tired trucks, and i dont think people realize how drastically you lower the tow capacity with these monster lifts.
I have been told that i think every " you lift your truck drops your max tow capacity 1000lbs? dunno if thats right but after towing my t28 sierra with my 6" lifted suburban i am inclinded to agree.

It was def a wake up call for me not to lift mine after reading that article! and my truck is stock height! problem I find is i need wider tires to get into places like pismo. I get stuck every time and have to air down and get a buddy to pull that last 100 feet to my camp spot. Its def a dilema to say the least.

 

O GN = Gooseneck duh!

all the toy box manufactures are advertising these "light weight"
toy haulers and picthing that to suv buyers. so every one goes with a bumper pull, they say o this trailer only weights 4500lbs!
not taking into account water, fuel, a generator bikes and tools. and they will pretty much sell you anything if you just show them the cash! I told the sales guy i was towing my 28" with a 3/4 ton lifted suburban and he said o no problem at all. First trip out the tranny practially melted to the ground! next trip out was with the dodge and the cummins!

I think people are now cumming around to the gn like myself but the sales folks are pusihing these "LIGHT WEIGHT" toy haulers to suv owners. thats the problem i see.

 

So, does a leveling kit lower your town rating? I added the 2" leveling kit to the front, but didn't touch the back... I did also add 315s, but I will only be towing in the summer.

 

adding larger tires will, because you are changing the gear ratio, and B the larger tires will flex more, especially with a load, and you encounter wind or uneven road surfaces, the larger tires will make the truck less stable at high speeds due to the larger sidewall of the tire, unless you are running larger rims like 17 or 20" rims, but then instead of flex you will need to worry about stopping as the larger rim is heavier, and will tax your brake system more, causing brake fade.

U will notice that guys with the lowered trucks with 20" plus rims have to upgrade their calipers and rotors not for looks but because of the added weight in rolling mass. It makes it harder to stop. Now add 10klbs behind you and you see why!

These are all things i never even thought much about till i started towing heavy loads.

 

I think the driver plays a primary role in driving his rig correctly, ie stopping/following distance, etc. When I am fully loaded, my gross is a bit over my 20,000 truck/GN trailer combo and my truck is well over its 8800 limit, though my tire limits (the limiting factor) is well within limits. I believe there is a big difference in a HD (3/4 or 1 ton diesel) being overloaded vs. a smaller rig (1/2 truck, SUV, or even a car) hauling a large load. I believe it is similar to the OTR trucks which some are speced at 80,000 entering landfills at 115,000. They are made to haul heavy and the driver more than likely knows how to handle the load

 

Matt, I agree to the extent that MOST drivers know how to handle the load. The problem is the other guy. The article also says that the driver got cited for not having a tow vehicle large enough. I don't know about your truck, but mine is rated (cgvw) for 16,000# with the 3.54 gears. If it had the 4.10 gears it would have a 20,000# rating. That seems to be what the problem that "hung" the guy who lost control. Obviously there was a lot more to the story that we won't hear about, but I wanted some guys and gals to think about the consequences of overloading on a consistent basis.
Tom

 

That's where it would be nice to have a trailer brake controller so you could help straighten out the load when it starts getting crazy. Then again, if I saw things were swingin around I think I'd slow down a bit.

 

I feel the same way. My truck weighs 7350 my 5vr 12,000 that puts me at 19,300. With 3.54 axle it's rated for 16,000 so you get another 2,000 with a 4.10 axle. Where is the saftey factor in that. My payload is rated at 2,230 my pin wght is 2350 my drivers weigh 5350, tire cap. 6830. So I'm over 120lbs on the pin, 3,000 over on the gcwr but 1480lbs under on tire rateing. Do I feel unsafe? No! Am I legal No not according to dodge.
But with 29yrs of driving truck hauling gas, & a vehicle that is properly equipped w/ engine brake upgraded tranny I'm comfortable with it.
For years we hauled 80,000lbs on our big rig. Now we've added a few more tires & axles & hauling 105,500lbs. Nothing has changed on the drive train engine, trans, rear ends. Just more rubber to carry the load.

 

have any of you guys towed your trailers with lifted trucks?

LIfted as in with aftermarket suspension lifts and aftermarket larger tires, 35" plus tall off road mud tires swampers etc?

It also doesnt help the fact that these guys are towing dowing 75+mph down the highway, and alot of guys these days are flipping the axles on their already tall toy haulers, mine is 12' high in the rear.

 

Lifted, Heck no I've lowered mine in the rear so my trailer sits level after airing up my ride rite air bags.

 

it doesnt say anything about how he was driving ?

i pulled well over 20,000 this weekend
im not stupid with a load i drive around 60-65
i get passed by ferds all the time doing around 80
will there only pulling around 5-6k

i think it all depends on the driver