Does This Make Anyone Else Nervous Besides Me?

[rjkobbeman]

Let's look at it this way...

If we are say 500 lbs over a GCWR of 5000 lbs, that is 10% over. Add a 500 lbs fudge factor and we could be 20% over.

When dealing with low ratings like this, small amounts by weight are large amounts by proportion.

Then we get into axle ratings. I would put money that the rear axle would be overloaded. 10-15% of trailer weight is a good tongue weight. Let's assume that the BX, accessories and trailer weighs 1800 lbs. That would mean 180-200 lbs on the tongue, which is almost 50% of the payload capacity of 675 lbs. Which, once you figure in the leverage of it being at the end of the vehicle will be significantly more on the rear axle. I would guess this is an underestimate of the tongue weight considering the trailer and load. Add in stuff, passengers and such, and there is no way you can even come close to the mfg ratings.

The element is on the CR-V platform, which is a beefy Civic. I wouldn't trust the brakes on that to be able to handle a trailer that is 50% of the vehicle weight.

Basically, that is a rolling hazard.

And since it is 2000 lbs over GCWR, that is 40% over GCWR. I also wouldn't trust those brakes to handle a trailer that is 50% of the vehicle weight. I really, really wouldn't trust those brakes to handle a trailer that is 75% (4000 * .75 = 3000) of the vehicle weight.

 

[scootr2d]

Duffster,
Yes Grossly

Thank you rjkobbeman, wvpolekat, and bp fick.

Rolling Hazard is very succinct way to put it.

Those that disagree feel free.
As for me .. It's clearly Black and white the numbers don't lie.

 

[some zilch]

no different than some overloaded 3/4 ton with 20,000 lbs behind him on a gooseneck. or some SUV pulling some 8000lb RV....
chances are the Element driver knows hes rideing the safe line and is going to be vigilante about his driving and stopping distances vs the guy who "tows every day" that thinks nothing of having his rig overloaded "cause i do it every day just fine"

you wont hear me giving these guys a pass either. every dope and their brother think their f250 can tow the earth off its axis. the bulk of the people buying f250/f350/f450 pickups these days have no business behind the wheel of one, much less with a trailer behind it. i'll stop before i hurt any ones's feelings.

The Honda Element has an optional Class III hitch available (which I believe we are looking at the shiny pin in the picture, pinheads). The tires are obviously well sized for that load so its never going to jackknife. All manufactirere load ratings are stated with the vehicle fully fued, loaded with passengers in all seats and with luggage space ballasted. If the Honda is empty, then there's legally no issue with this rig.

I sure wish more armchair process types would get up and move around a bit. All these exspurts without an ounce of experience or follow through for checking out the experiences of others: check your aprons, the knot's coming untied.

Now I ain't got no experience with this, but a gravel driveway is a sure way to kill your family and the dog at the same time. Red 'bout dat once on the innernet. Time to pull the trigger. Gotta flush, 20th century is coming, don't know how to tell the horses...

those tires are garbage. they are for snowmobile trailers. i have never had good luck with them, and you hardley ever see them used on anything other than light duty happy-homeowner trailers. how does tire size have anything to do w/jack-knifing? the trailer wanting to keep going and coming around the tow vehicle causing jack-knifing.

and i do have experience with towing things, especially big ones. on a daily basis i gross 175klbs, and can go to 228klbs. my trailer has 5 axles and 20 tires, and my rig weighs 71klbs empty. not all of us are of the "armchair process type without an ounce of experience".

 

[radioman]

very overloaded trailer for sure. no brakes on trailer? I am glad I am not in front of the guy. Good thing he is far, far , far away from me and my family.

 

[scootr2d]

I think most people don't understand the relationship beween GVWR, GAWR, tongue weight, payload and GCWR. They read their little owner operators manual , buy into Mfg and salesman puffing and think just cause their specs say Max towing capabilities are 1500 lbs , they think they can tow a 1500lb loaded trailer.

I think the majority of the people just don't take the time to educate themselves regarding Tow characteristics so in turn become a hazard on the road for themselves and others. Additionally most folks don't understand or take the time to learn the physics and relationship of short wheelbase tow vehicles and trailer lengths (tail wagging the dog ).

Dumb means learning limitations , so maybe a dumb person can be forgiven. But most are not dumb , they choose to remain ignorant and not educate themselves and that's just negligence and has no excuse at all.

 

[mjncad]

I wouldn't do it, and I'm no towing expert. Notice the ballast box is not lowered to the deck either.

 

[Bedlam]

A tire blowout is definetly a concern. Either way a dual axle would cut down on the bad result from a blown tire.

 

[NuBota]

As this topic has been so thoroughly debated, I will keep my opinion to myself, as it would amount to just a "me too"

I did find it interesting that further down in the thread on the other forum the OP added some additional detail about another one of his towing experiences.

"When I first purchased the tractor, I rented a U-Haul tandem-axle galvanized steel float-trailer to bring the Tractor, FEL, Snowblower, etc. home. It must have weighed 1500+ lbs empty! But it did have surge brakes. Again, the Honda was great. Pulled the load very capably. Just had a little trouble with long uphill grades (power deficiency.)"

http://www.mytractorforum.com/showpost.php?p=1105025&postcount=18

 

[Duffster]

I think most people don't understand the relationship beween GVWR, GAWR, tongue weight, payload and GCWR.

Have to wonder the same thing when you figure tongue weight against the tow rating.

 

[brokenot]

I'm not advocating what the Element/Kubota owner is doing by any means, but I see far worse stuff than this going down the road every single day. Contractors and farmers show up daily at my workplace with undersized vehicles, junky trailers, etc. The majority of them don't have operational lighting.....let alone functioning braking systems. Trailer balls and their receivers are overloaded to 2 or 3 times their rated specs. Proper chains or straps? Nope.


I just wonder if the owner of this rig would be cut any slack if he posted up here and cited the often-used, "I've always done it this way and never had a problem" when it's obvious that the equipment isn't being used as spec'd by the manufacturer....