Ballast New truck: weights, towing capacity

[rback33]

I think we all agree that the key to eveything is safety. We can agree to disagree about where the lines for that are, but we all are moving towards the same goal. If people didn't care, this thread would have died (probably mrecifully(is that a word)) days ago...instead we got to hav fun with Highbeam . I can say, PERSONALLY, I would not feel comfortable hauling much with a half ton. I rode to CO and back last month with someone pulling a two horse trailer with a 1/2 ton 'burban. It has the tow package and everything, but I DID NOT like the way it pulled. It did it safely, but there was not enough "margin" there for ME. On the other hand, I have my 03 Ram 2500, Longbed, Quad Cab, 4X4, Cummins, Auto that will drag ANYTHING I have. It was built to do that. On a slightly different note... and this is purely conjecture... I would bet that my 3/4 would last MUCH longer than your half ton if we were BOTH loading to the MAX all the time. Simply because mine is truly made to pull #10,000 of horses, feed, tack, equipment, beer.... you name it. And that's a solid number. I have weighed my rig loaded with three horses, not quite all the way to the gills, but average load, and it weighed in at #10,000. It's barely even notices that it's there. Now I DO NOT ADVOCATE DOING THIS..... I also think.. you could put a 30' triple axle with a tractor on it and if properly balanced safely pull it with a half ton. You would rely on the TRAILER to hold the weight and have the brakes to stop it. I wouldn't, but it could be done. Again.. I don't care WHAT you do so long as YOU are safe and I don't have to worry about getting run over.

Wow... I am running at the mouth today...

Lastly, I am sorry Highbeam missed all the fun. It really was fun. I kept hoping you would interject...

have a good one an be safe... if you don't want to be safe, stay out of Kansas.

 

[Dargo]

I constantly see people suggest outright dangerous activity on TBN, and while you may get away with it, you may also have an accident and kill yourself (at which point I will nominate that person for a Darwin Award), or worse yet, you may kill an innocent person when your truck/trailer/load collides with them.

That's why I like the new "ignore" feature here. It's just a scary thought that somebody might not realize how foolish some suggestions are and actually believe them.

You'll have to excuse me now, I've taken all the good information I've picked up here and adapted a gooseneck hitch to my moped, and now I need to hook it up and haul my tractor and equipment to my other property...

 

[Bob_Skurka]

That's why I like the new "ignore" feature here. It's just a scary thought that somebody might not realize how foolish some suggestions are and actually believe them.

I don't care WHAT you do so long as YOU are safe and I don't have to worry about getting run over.

It never ceases to amaze me as I read the towing threads how dangerous and downright stupid some of the advice is that I see.

Then again, about 2 weeks ago I was in traffic behind a guy in a small pick up pulling a single axel trailer with a lawnmower & 2 ZTRs on the trailer. None of the equipment was strapped or chained down!!! He simple wedged them together by turning the ZTRs until they hit the sides of the trailer (and I presume he then set the parking brake?)

Anyone who talks to me about "safety factor" being built into most of the angle iron trailers or pick up trucks deserves to be ignored. You might get away with it, but you could just as easily kill someone. Wrong is wrong. It is a shame that some people are too stupid to see that doing the right thing is necessary for their own safety as well as the safety of others.

 

[Highbeam]

Let me summarize to be sure that I understand: A half ton has ratings on a label which are false, a 3/4 ton or one ton truck has ratings on a label which are accurate. What makes you think this? Why is it so? Apparently it is, otherwise all you folks wouldn't say so. I don't mind being the bad guy but if I really am missing something that is more than just somebody's opinion or justification for purchasing their truck then I want to know. I really don't intend to be unsafe and I stick to my rated limits as well as most folks on the road.

I see a lot of opinions on this thread and very little factual information. Lots of grunting about how big your trucks are and how anything else is too small "just because". Please enlighten me. I need an excuse for a macho truck and if it really is a safety issue to work within the ratings of a half ton truck, more so than a one ton, then I am interested. Consider it your good deed to remove my unsafe but legal load from the road.

Chest thumpers need not reply. Show me the money.

 

[rback33]

No no, no temper flaring. My other great passion, besides machinery, is trucks and equipping them to do real work. I only post to two forums this one and pickuptruck.com.

Well, I take it this is no longer true

Furthermore, I am glad you were able to pick up my opinions. Especially since I openly stated that they were just that.

As for the chest thumping.. are you THAT jealous of Skurka's new goosneck for his moped?

Jeez... Messick takes a ribbing better than this...

No one has accused anyone in this thread of being unsafe.

 

[Bob_Skurka]

are you THAT jealous of Skurka's new goosneck for his moped?

Let me say it one more time, it is a scooter, not a moped, only children and sissies have mopeds!

 

[daTeacha]

In other words, treat the machinery like you should treat your mate:

Respect its limits. Don't abuse it. Don't ask it to do more than its intended to do. Use it to its maximum only rarely so it will be happier and last longer. And last but not least, be nice to it often.

 

[rback33]

In other words, treat the machinery like you should treat your mate:

Respect its limits. Don't abuse it. Don't ask it to do more than its intended to do. Use it to its maximum only rarely so it will be happier and last longer. And last but not least, be nice to it often.

Amen... and why does a message have to be at least 5 charcters? lol I had to lengthen it

 

[Farmwithjunk]

Amen... and why does a message have to be at least 5 charcters? lol I had to lengthen it

I kept getting that message yesterday. I thought it was a shot at my LACK of character(s).

Or the number of characters on TBN.

 

[Highbeam]

We
No one has accused anyone in this thread of being unsafe.

Oh, I thought I read about "someone" making stupid and unsafe recommendations. I thought I was the stupid one and needed to be taught. There's ribbing and then there's ribbing.

I honestly try to be safe. I weigh my load and know what each axle is carrying. I even know my ratings and thought that those are maximums to be respected and not bogus. So if I am missing a huge wink from GM about ratings then I would like to know about it.