diesel "upgrades"

[Storm56]

They may be treated like a station wagon, but that doesn't mean it doesn't have a GVW & GAWR. But then, they don't carry cab cards either.

Perhaps I should have a bit more precise in my wording.

Suvs' etc have NO GVW ON THE REGISTRATIONS - therefore you cannot be fined for being overweight like a P/U.

God you guys get way too technical! I thought my post was clear in that I was referring to a "legal" weight.

 

[Storm56]

I know this is a sticky subject. My neighbors nephwey bought a 99 F-250 diesel. With him in it we weighed it at the scales and it left 800# for payload. Pretty pathetic but its what is legal.

I am no saint. I have overloaded every truck I have owned so far with the exception of my 08 Titan. Not that it cant do it, just have not needed too having Big Nasty sitting in the garage next to it (my 06 F-350 4x4 Diesel). This particular F-350 has towed 9,000# more than its limit for well over 600 miles without a complaint, 25,000#. I have had over 2,700# in a 5.5' bed on a 01 F-150. It was nearly twice the legal load and it handled it fine. Squatted it a lot but did not look like it was going to break.

We all take our chances. Advertised versus legal versus safe is a fine line.

Chris

Finally! Someone gets it! Can ANYONE that has read this thread HONESTLY tell me that the an F250 is only "safe" with a payload less than 800 lbs???? That is ABSURD!


LEGAL vs REAL LIFE CAPABILITY is what I have been trying to get through to you guys.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!

 

[Storm56]

Not true! If I were to take the wife's Jeep Liberty and stuff a yard and a half of 21AA gravel in it, the citation sure wouldn't be for double parking or a bad tail light.

Yes,this post definitely got a little off track. I probably wouldn't buy the truck either.

I GUARANTEE you that in PA there would be NO FINE for a WEIGHT PENALTY like they can do with a P/U. Because there is NO GVW on your registration.
They may nail you for being unsafe or something like it but NOT for a weight penalty. NOT in PA.

Are you guys not reading what I am writing?

 

[crashz]

I seem to remember some issues regarding the Banks programmers and tranny slipping just enough to cause the truck to go into limp mode. Something to check out if you are still considering the truck.

If it were me, I'd pass.

To de-rail a bit more:
I can't speak for any other state, but here in MA, the vehicle is registered for the GVWR as stated by the manufacture. The registry here has a database that is queried using the vehicles VIN. No way to increase or decrease the registered weight. And even though we are plagued with a plethora of foolish laws in this state, I can stand by this one. We don't need the lowest common denominator registering his vehicle for what ever he wants.

 

[Storm56]

In PA they go by the certificate of origin. Other than trucks, the gvw is not on the certificate. That is how IN PA you have no gvw on your registration for cars and suv's, and they in this state are a flat $36. Anything with an open bed DOES have a gvw on the certificate of origin. So even something like a Chev Avalanche is registered as a truck, thus is licensed by gvw. The higher the gvw the higher the registration.

 

[Ford tractor]

Found a used 06 chevy 2500 4x4 crew like I want w/ 50k. Dealer is giving me GOOD money for my 1/2 ton pickup.

One problem though, truck has a lot of crap on it.

Here is a list of the stuff in question.

"Banks Power components (Banks Ram-Air Intake System, Banks Six-Gun Diesel Tuner, Banks Monster Exhaust, Banks DynaFact Instrumentation with Boost and Exhaust Temperature gauges), Hensley TrailerSaver TS3 Air Ride 5th wheel hitch with SaverSlide, Tekonsha Prodigy Trailer Brake Control."

I wanted a brake controller anyway, but is the other stuff good or bad? I generally tend to be of the opinion "if it aint broke dont fix it".

Run away or jump on it for 30k?(really 25k, they offered me 23 for a truck worth 18k)

The big question is about the warranty. I think GM will void it out on any systems that "might be affected by aftermarket parts that overstress them".
Basically that would only be the engine, transmission, differential, brakes, suspension, steering and cooling. You would still have warranty on the body and interior.

The sales guy will probably try to blow smoke up your skirt if he does, have them add to the contract that the truck as sold is fully covered by the factory warranty --> and the dealership will pay for any denied warranty claims.

 

[Highbeam]

I agree with everything you said with the exception of the NO GVWR on SUV's. Every vehicle has a max GVWR and ratings for each axle.

I know this is a sticky subject. My neighbors nephwey bought a 99 F-250 diesel. With him in it we weighed it at the scales and it left 800# for payload. Pretty pathetic but its what is legal.



Chris

So Diamond which is it? You say you agree with Storm but then you say that your legal payload for the F250 was 800#. Are you saying that you can load whatever weight you want so long as you pay extra for the tonnage on your registration or do you believe the truck is overloaded once the 800# is exceeded? Are you having cake or eating it? I've come to respect your opinion.

The hole in storm's logic is that you can license that saturn/avalanche for more than 10,000#. If you carry that much and cause a wreck you are obvisouly at fault and liable. You will have exceeded the ratings but not the registered weight.

I don't see the registered weight as being of any value at all except to collect tax money.

 

[Storm56]

The hole in storm's logic is that you can license that saturn/avalanche for more than 10,000#. If you carry that much and cause a wreck you are obvisouly at fault and liable. You will have exceeded the ratings but not the registered weight.

I don't see the registered weight as being of any value at all except to collect tax money.

Your getting close on the first paragraph. Of course I did not use a Saturn/Avalanche as that example because the Saturn does not have a gvw. The Ave does so yes you could up the weight on that one.

Second paragraph you pretty much got it. Spoke to a bud of mine today and he thinks you can move up 2 weight classes or down 1 on a truck in PA. I did not verify that statement.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Finally! Someone gets it! Can ANYONE that has read this thread HONESTLY tell me that the an F250 is only "safe" with a payload less than 800 lbs???? That is ABSURD!


LEGAL vs REAL LIFE CAPABILITY is what I have been trying to get through to you guys.

IT'S ALL ABOUT THE MONEY!

I may get it but I am as illegal as you are. What is legal is what is on the door sticker.

Chris

 

[Diamondpilot]

So Diamond which is it? You say you agree with Storm but then you say that your legal payload for the F250 was 800#. Are you saying that you can load whatever weight you want so long as you pay extra for the tonnage on your registration or do you believe the truck is overloaded once the 800# is exceeded? Are you having cake or eating it? I've come to respect your opinion.

I am simply stating that the GVWR on one particular truck, like my neighbors nephew's F-250 Diesel, can be a major thorn in the side. His truck had 8,800# GVWR and with him in it, the lift kit on it and big tires plus other things that take away weight, his truck weighed 8,000# with him in it. That left a wimpy 800# payload available.

When I order my trucks I make sure to get them built right, with high GVWR's. My F-250 has 10,000# GVWR and weighs 7,500# with me in it leaving a honest 2,500# payload. Same thing with my SRW F-350. It weighs 7,600# but has 11,500# GVWR leaving a nice 3,900# payload.

I guarantee you will not find a pre 07.5 GM with that type of rating in a SRW truck. The 05 SRW 3500 GM Dmax I had had a 9,900# GVWR and weighed about 7,300# leaving it 2,600# payload or about equal to a properly equipped F-250 of the same era. Granted all these loads are well over the 3/4 ton (1,500#) and 1 ton (2,000#) rating so there is no deception by the manufactures. It just means to get the big payloads advertised you need a light truck, ie; Plain Jane, and a high GVWR package.

Chris