overweight, may trade fw for tt - Montana Owners Club

ray fischer · 10-18-2006, 04:15 PM

went to scales, I'm 1450 lbs over on gvw. My 2005 dodge 2500 QC CTD has gvw of 9000, gcwr 20000, tow capacity 13000. I weighed in at 10450 gvw and 19550 gcwr, and 5940 on rear axle. When I bought my 2005 Mountaineer 348 RLS its dry wt was listed as 10250 and hitch at 2250. I concentrated on the 13000 and the 20000 and failed to give proper consideration to the pin wt and 9000 GVW. I can't trade up to bigger truck right now, and I can't find a fw that I can tow legally. My gvw without fw, just me, dw, full tank and 50 lb tools was 7910. That allows 1100 lbs pin wt. PS I was traveling light when I weighed fw. Thinking about Mountaineer TT 31RLD. We don't travel much, seasonal site and 2 or 3 small trips a year. Opinions about this situation welcome. I can't think of any alternatives. My concerns are, I'm unsafe towing this much over GVW, and if in accident, could be negligent just because of GVW. Otherwise, my CTD tows FW so effortlessly I forget its back there. I would be over GVW on a 3500 SRW also. I'd have to get a dually to be legal, which I can't do anyway. Thanks and God Bless, Ray

Trailer Trash 2 · 10-18-2006, 04:47 PM

I'm over weight and I wont get rid of my FW, as are many others out there pulling way more than the TV is supose to pull. Sure I'd love to get a new TV, but as it is now all I'm paying for now is the trailer and my home, another bill would make me uncomfortable.
I go up the hills slower than some but I eventually get there. keep your TV go the speed limit and enjoy your FW.

mallardjusted · 10-18-2006, 05:30 PM

I believe most 3/4 tow vehicles are over one of the listed max weights (gvw, payoad, or tow weight, etc).

How about doing an in-depth inventory of all you carry? Determine how often you use everything, and take out the stuff that you could get along without. Also, if you weighed the trailer with your water tank full, tow with it almost empty and fill up when you get to your destination: that will save several hundred pounds (would be 500 lbs in mine). Talk to a Dodge dealer and see if there is something that can be done to raise your allowances ...... etc, etc.

Wrenchtraveller · 10-18-2006, 05:32 PM

Ray, this is a personal choice and many on this website tow overweight on a bigger scale than you do. Someone has posted a 3300 pound pinweight on an F250 Ford. I am a Ford man but your Dodge is every bit as capable. If your unit handles well and you are a good careful driver , you are probably as safe as any unit on the road. If involved in an accident, it still must be proven in a court of law that being overweight caused the accident. Dealers sell these units to 3/4 ton owners. Why are they not liable? Having argued in your favor, I choose to stay in the specs and that is why I drive an 05 F350 SRW with an 11200 GVWR and I own a 2955RL. Any of the larger Monties would overload my truck with the way I want to pack it. Good Luck and think about keeping your unit if you can be comfortable being overweight as many are.

ray fischer · 10-19-2006, 01:35 AM

I was traveling light, empty tanks, very little clothes, and I had moved some weight back over the axles and on my rear bike rack. At best I could eliminate 50 to a 100 lbs of additional stuff. I run Load range E tires at 80 psi. Would going to load range G tires help at all. I asked Dodge service if rims could handle, they didn't know. I may go to tire dealer and ask.

ols1932 · 10-19-2006, 02:24 AM

Ray, I wouldn't worry too much about it. As has been said before, there are a lot of us who are exceeding the weight limits. Also, changing things mechanically does not change the GVWR/GVWCR as far as the truck's construction is concerned. Changing to G-rated tires allows the tires to carry more but the axle ratings remain the same. Also, I checked once on getting G-rated tires for my Montana and was told by the company that supplies the wheels and tires to Keystone, that the wheels have to be 8-lug wheels. Mine are 6-lug. My axles on my Montana have been changed to Mor/Ryde 7,000 lb axles and my axle weight is 12.500. Sounds good, right? Well, the tires still only carry 6,084 per axle. So you see, right there I'm overweight. My truck is also overweight and according to RSVEF, the last time I weighed it was over by about 1000 lbs with the Montana hooked up. Empty it was okay but my pin weight is higher than normal because of what I'm carrying in the front end.

Orv

sreigle · 10-19-2006, 02:55 AM

Ray, I'm the one who had the 3300 pinweight on an F250 but my F250 has higher numbers than your 3500. Keep in mind, the GVWR is NOT a legal requirement for a private hauler. It does expose you to potential litigation should you have an accident where the fault is deemed to be because you were over the ratings. Otherwise, it is NOT a legal situation. That's per both my insurance agent and an attorney. I have only checked in the one state, however. It comes down to whether you are comfortable your rig can handle the weight safely.

In my case, the axle, bearings, tires, are identical on the F250 as the SRW F350. The springs on the F350 have one more leaf. I added airbags to allow mine to handle additional weight. That does not change the ratings on the sticker, it does provide ability to hold more weight with truck level.

Ratings. My F250 has the following ratings.

GVWR: 10,000
Tow: 15,400
GCWR: 23,000

richfaa · 10-19-2006, 03:47 AM

It is your decision on if you wish to carry the extra weight or not. It is a crap shoot..you roll the dice and you takes your chances. The extra weight you mention will present a certain degree of risk to you and your family.Those numbers are assigned to a truck for a reason. We are all risk takers..you choose the degree of risk that is acceptable to you. That others do it all the time with no problem should not be a factor in your decision Our choice was to stay within all specified limits. I for one would agree with your thought of downsizing to a camper within the specified limits of your truck.

Glenn and Lorraine · 10-19-2006, 03:49 AM

I have never weighed my rig but I would be willing to bet that I am also overweight but the 2500HD is doing the job so I am not too concerned.
BUT if I were wanting to get the weight under better control I would move up to an MDT rather than give up my 5th wheel. No offense to those pulling TTs but going from a 5er to a TT in my opinion would be a step backward.

lightningjack11 · 10-19-2006, 03:51 AM

Guess I am lucky. When I bought mine it was in the blind because I didn't compute anything. To my surprise after several fully loaded weigh in's I am within my GVWR of 8800. Problem is there are no more 2850s being produced.

Wrenchtraveller · 10-19-2006, 04:00 AM

Tom, you are also furtunate to own a 97 F250 which is a much lighter truck than the new heavy Superduties. Having a 10000 GVWR means nothing if the new F250 weighs 1200 pounds more than your 97 which it does. They both have the same payload.

stiles watson · 10-19-2006, 04:12 AM

I would rather be overweight on my rig pulling a fifth wheel than underweight pulling any TT. Fivers are much more stable than travel trailers. Snowballs in July in South Texas before I trade my fiver unless I trade for another.

Dustytuu · 10-19-2006, 08:54 AM

We also are over weight. Our truck does great. I have also towed our Monty and don't feel it back there. Have not had any trouble stopping or taking off. Have had it in the mountains. We do not travel with fresh tank full or not even half full.

Ronnelly · 10-19-2006, 09:37 AM

What if you ever had an accident, how would that work as far as Insurance Companies paying for the damage? Just wondering??

Quote:

quote:Originally posted by ray fischer

went to scales, I'm 1450 lbs over on gvw. My 2005 dodge 2500 QC CTD has gvw of 9000, gcwr 20000, tow capacity 13000. I weighed in at 10450 gvw and 19550 gcwr, and 5940 on rear axle. When I bought my 2005 Mountaineer 348 RLS its dry wt was listed as 10250 and hitch at 2250. I concentrated on the 13000 and the 20000 and failed to give proper consideration to the pin wt and 9000 GVW. I can't trade up to bigger truck right now, and I can't find a fw that I can tow legally. My gvw without fw, just me, dw, full tank and 50 lb tools was 7910. That allows 1100 lbs pin wt. PS I was traveling light when I weighed fw. Thinking about Mountaineer TT 31RLD. We don't travel much, seasonal site and 2 or 3 small trips a year. Opinions about this situation welcome. I can't think of any alternatives. My concerns are, I'm unsafe towing this much over GVW, and if in accident, could be negligent just because of GVW. Otherwise, my CTD tows FW so effortlessly I forget its back there. I would be over GVW on a 3500 SRW also. I'd have to get a dually to be legal, which I can't do anyway. Thanks and God Bless, Ray

Mudchief · 10-19-2006, 02:00 PM

Ray, just enjoy your unit. Like others have said most of us are over weight. The weak link is your tires. Keep good 10 ply's inflated to 80 PSI.

LonnieB · 10-19-2006, 02:39 PM

I agree, keep the FW and enjoy it. As stated above, keep your tires and brakes in good shape, and exercise a little caution.

ray fischer · 10-19-2006, 03:34 PM

Thanks everyone for the replies and encouragement. Looked at TT's today and there's no way I can go back. I'm sure I can eliminate some weight. Too many tools and supplies that we only use at the seasonal site, but keep in the FW all the time. Time to clean house. Can't travel until next June anyway. God Bless, Ray

mallardjusted · 10-19-2006, 03:57 PM

Good decision, Ray. I'll bet you'll surprise yourself with how much you can take out!!!!!

JH Sechelt · 10-19-2006, 05:34 PM

Good call Ray,

Unload some weight, move some things around... who knows, you might get it close.

J&D

bigred715 · 10-19-2006, 07:21 PM

I'm within my weights finally. Thats why I went to a 3500 SRW instead of a 2500HD even if it wasn't the color I wanted. With the 2500HD I would have been about 200# over. Now with the 3500 I have 480# to spare with my 2880RL. Too expensive to change to bigger trailer and satisfied with the one we have.

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