I'm Calling the Cops on the weight Police

[hoovercab]

Originally Posted by goduc

Are U.S drivers clueless? I would suspect a lot are judging by what I read on forums and see in CG's. Also isn't there a 55mph speed limit over there when towing? People tow 60-70mph over here. Would you want some goofball 1st timer towing 6,000lbs with a Kia Sedona running 65-70mph?

You are so right, we don't like going over 60 with ours. Things just happen to fast. We were heading home form Bar Harbor Maine( 9 hour drive)and this Pick up with a 5th wheel went flying by us, they must have been doing 70 to 75. Guess where he was farther down the road. In the ditch on his side both the truck and the trailer. We just hoped that no one was serious hurt. People need to realize that towing something like this and driving at a safe speed is not something to take lightly. Its not just your life a crash can effect!!!! Hey we have a Sednoa!!!! LOL

[BigBaron]

It all scares me. I'm similar to old coot, towing since '77 (15+ years old) and have seen some crazy stuff. I should say stupid, but I don't want anyone to think I am talking about a particular person.
Being from the Los Angeles area, speeds of trailers were amazing. I had an '82 Suzuki GS1100E that had the wonderful 85 MPH speedo, and it was almost always near 85 on So. Cal. freeways. Getting passed by a trailer at those speeds tells you how fast they were going!
This is what I worry about. Does anyone know where or how this happened?

[Rugged Brown]

That doesn't look good. Hope all is well. Could it have been a fellow forum member?

[bakken]

Look at where that flatbed is from, that pretty much explains it.
I have driven through the Dallas to San Anton corridor, and the drivers are simply stupid. This poor guy probably got caught up in something not of his own making.
We just came back from a 3000 mile trip to northwest Wyoming, and I didn't see any campers speeding. In fact, I don't think I saw even one doing the speed limit of 75.
The vast majority of camper accidents are caused by anything but speed, so the speed police can drop it.
I am much more worried about the over-loaded campers, those who don't have the proper equipment, or don't maintain things like tire pressure. They are the real problem, no matter how slow they drive.

[OldCoot]

IMO, the slow driving doesn't cause the accidents, but those that speed are the ones that have the accidents by blowouts and not being able to take evasive action to avoid something. Never heard of a camper wrecking at slow speed. I don't condone driving 20-30 under the speed limit anymore than driving 10-15 over. Those that overload are just tearing up their own equipment, not mine and they don't scare me at all as I'm not riding in their vehicle. Alcohol & speed cause the majority of the accidents.

[bakken]

It must be a great burden to be right all of the time.

[Rugged Brown]

For your reading pleasure.

The 6 Most Common Causes of Automobile Crashes

http://rvtravel.com/publish/Insuranc...ccidents.shtml

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by bakken

It must be a great burden to be right all of the time.

No one is claiming to be right all the time, we here in the US of A have the freedom to express our opinions. You may not agree with mine and I might not agree with yours, but it doesn't require snide comments either. I'm outta here! Enjoy camping!

[BigBaron]

Coot - It is a great burden, isn't it? You have to tolerate all those that think they know, but really don't! LOL
I wish I could sit around a campfire with you and talk. I can only imagine the stories you could tell...
Until then, stick to your guns!
BB

[GlacierGus]

Happy Independence Day!! Today let us celebrate the incredible freedoms that we have as Americans. Especially the freedom to freely express our opinions anywhere including forums like this. And agree that others can express their opinions. And do so peacefully. Happy July 4th!!!

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by BigBaron

Coot - It is a great burden, isn't it? You have to tolerate all those that think they know, but really don't! LOL
I wish I could sit around a campfire with you and talk. I can only imagine the stories you could tell...
Until then, stick to your guns!
BB

Never claimed to be right all the time, in fact I have plenty of scars proving I was wrong a lot of the time, but I sure learned from my mistakes. My experiences have taught me that self appointed experts are just that, self appointed and should be taken with a grain of salt.

[Davidceder]

Hey CZNEDY;

Last week my ordered F-350 arrived and it is an awesome truck. I went the entire route, 150 to 250 to 350. Once I decided on the F-250 and it's payload numbers compared to the F-350, I made the leap up. I strongly suggest you test ride a F-250 (or 2500) Vs a (F-350 (3500) and make the decision from an informed point of view instead of assuming you will need dialysis.. In my opinion there was not much difference between the two. Does it ride like a Lexus, well no, but it isn't bad and I gained over 1000 pounds of payload over the diesel 250.

Just sayn.......oh yea, the electronics are something else if you are into that sort of thing.

[prof_fate]

Coming back from virginia 2 weeks ago on the PA turnpike there were a few a-holes. No other word for it.
Limit is 55, i'm doing 65-70 (in a car, no TT) in the fast lane passing tractor trailers in teh slow lane - and being tailgated.
About the fourth time this is happening it's on a left hand turn and the TT in the right lane creeps over a bit and i"m just at the front of his trailer - perhaps he can't see me? I don't know. I tap the brakes and the tailgater goes around me on the left - ON THE BERM OF THE ROAD beside the jersey barrier and me....and vanished down the road doing what, 80 to 90 mph?

A few years ago coming back from disney we were just about to get on 95 when up ahead a car did something - not sure what started it - but I saw him passing a TT - at 60mp - on the berm and in the grass on the right side of the road while throwing things AT the tractor trailer.

Repeatedly in VA we'd be cruising along at 65-70 and all traffic would come to a sudden stop. No clue why, never saw an accident or broken down car. I'd not want to be speeding, overloaded, on strange roads with such idiots as above and need to suddenly stop.

As to self appointed experts - all we are doing is quoting the specs that some true expert puts on vehicles. You are free to self appoint yourself supreme expert that knows more than all other humans and do as you please of course. That many of us think you're full of crap and have an ego bigger than will fit in a campground let alone a camper, well, we're free to feel that way.

[prof_fate]

Ok, since you've had them all perhaps you can answer this then - How do they ride? MPG? Daily use of a 350 or 250 compared to a 150?

Many folks use the 'excuse' that since they use the truck daily the 150 is a better 'car' than the other options. What has been your experience?

We sorta did the same - our 1500 is near max in payload when we're ready to go. But of the 6800 miles we've drive it so far about 400 was towing and half of that a cargo trailer (2200lbs) and half our TT. The other 6400 miles is back and forth to work

Originally Posted by Davidceder

Hey CZNEDY;

Last week my ordered F-350 arrived and it is an awesome truck. I went the entire route, 150 to 250 to 350. Once I decided on the F-250 and it's payload numbers compared to the F-350, I made the leap up. I strongly suggest you test ride a F-250 (or 2500) Vs a (F-350 (3500) and make the decision from an informed point of view instead of assuming you will need dialysis.. In my opinion there was not much difference between the two. Does it ride like a Lexus, well no, but it isn't bad and I gained over 1000 pounds of payload over the diesel 250.

Just sayn.......oh yea, the electronics are something else if you are into that sort of thing.

[bakken]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

As to self appointed experts - all we are doing is quoting the specs that some true expert puts on vehicles. You are free to self appoint yourself supreme expert that knows more than all other humans and do as you please of course. That many of us think you're full of crap and have an ego bigger than will fit in a campground let alone a camper, well, we're free to feel that way.

X2

[BigTJohn]

OK, 1500 vs 2500 I have had both, driven them daily and towing (same TT for a bit) and I LOVE the 2500 over the 1500. Equal mileage unloaded, (granted the cost of the fuel is different but not that much) but while towing waaayyy better with the 2500. In fact, the ride is almost similar, not quite the cush of the coil springs w/1500 but not at all bad. MPG, same trip, same weather, 1500 = 8.5 mpg, 2500 13.7. Both traveling at 58 mph. With my 5th I get 12-12.5 mpg at 58 mph. Not in a hurry, nobody stays behind me, I move over for Big Rigs or flash when safe to pull back in after passing. So far - very enjoyable.

[bakken]

Originally Posted by BigTJohn

OK, 1500 vs 2500 I have had both, driven them daily and towing (same TT for a bit) and I LOVE the 2500 over the 1500. Equal mileage unloaded, (granted the cost of the fuel is different but not that much) but while towing waaayyy better with the 2500. In fact, the ride is almost similar, not quite the cush of the coil springs w/1500 but not at all bad. MPG, same trip, same weather, 1500 = 8.5 mpg, 2500 13.7. Both traveling at 58 mph. With my 5th I get 12-12.5 mpg at 58 mph. Not in a hurry, nobody stays behind me, I move over for Big Rigs or flash when safe to pull back in after passing. So far - very enjoyable.

Did you really pull your Columbus with the 1500? Wow.

[Davidceder]

Hey Prof-Fate;

Not easy to put things in writing. I was not clear, my apology. I didn't own all 3, I just spent months with the numbers and what I could pull. When I thought the 250 was the beast & configured it on Fords web site I noticed a more than 500 pound drop in payload with the diesel Vs gas engine so I test drove the F-350 and didn't notice much difference in the ride. (just to clarify, I have not towed with it yet. My Sabre 32RCTS is due next week) I expect it to ride better with the tow. The numbers on the 350 just gave me much more room than the 250. From a liability standpoint I wouldn't want to have an accident, kill someone and be over loaded. The lawyers will eat you up. I still say drive what you think you want thats meets the task and make a decision. I am happy with the way my 350 rides. Yes harder than a sedan but than again a sedan cannot tow my Sabre.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by prof_fate

As to self appointed experts - all we are doing is quoting the specs that some true expert puts on vehicles...

You are making the assumption they are true experts(most assuredly they are lawyers) but we know the stickers are not to protect the consumer, but the company. Nobody said to ignore the stickers, but to use them as guidelines and use common sense if you chose to not take them as gospel. I guess "common sense" is the operative word. I am certainly not an expert, but neither are most on the forum. We are just relating our own experiences.

[cstover]

The stickers are not hard and fast, all the times. I looked at a 2012 Dodge 3500 yesterday that was only rated for 10500 GVWR. The exact same truck can get the 14000 GVWR by selecting the option. Did anything change on that truck...nope, just a different sticker. Some places it is cheaper to register a 10500 truck than a 14000 truck. Same dang truck, different sticker.