Can you tow 38,000lbs with a F350?

[upflying]

Absolutely not with tragic consequences.
Two days ago an owner/operator driving a Ford F350 towing a 44' long cigarette boat on a 5 axle trailer experienced brake fade while descending a 7 mile long 6% grade from Spooner Summit near Carson City. The trucker failed to stop for a red light at the bottom of the grade and collided with 8 vehicles in the intersection. After the collision, the boat and trailer become disconnected and continued rolling for another half-mile.
Tragically 2 people died and many more are in critical condition.
The driver has been arrested on many charges including vehicular manslaughter, felony reckless driving and driving without a license.
Mods, I posted this in General since it involves a boat and not an RV. My intent was to share a story involving towing weights and brake failure.
Please feel free to move it if necessary.
https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/20...dy-felony-rec/

[TowPro]

its tragic about the deaths, I found the article that talked about the weight.


https://www.rgj.com/story/news/2021/...le/6378397001/

Not sure where the 38K came from, 44' cigarette boat should be 10K-12K which is in RV range.


But it is an example where someone is being head accountable for towing (or carrying) over the weight capacity of the truck.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by TowPro

its tragic about the deaths, but where did you read about what boat and the weight?
44' cigarette boat should be 10K-12K which is in RV range.

News reported the weight, could be wrong.
https://carsonnow.org/story/11/10/20...ltiple-charges
https://mynews4.com/news/local/suspe...son-city-crash

[D W]

Originally Posted by upflying

News reported the weight, could be wrong.
https://carsonnow.org/story/11/10/20...ltiple-charges
https://mynews4.com/news/local/suspe...son-city-crash

I would venture to guess the Troopers got the weight from the crane operator.

[upflying]

Another news report with the weight. Seems as if the trucker was hired by a Lake Tahoe boat owner to move it off the lake for the winter.
Driver involved in deadly Carson City crash jailed on multiple charges | South Lake Tahoe - SouthTahoeNow.com

[BigH]

But...but...but...How can he be in trouble for being over weight?

[TitanMike]

Emergency Brake breakaway switch?

Apparently not however if equipped, battery was dead or cable was just considered an annoyance and maybe just jammed behind license plate for looks, etc. Were the trailer brakes even working? Checked before the "haul" or did the towing vehicle have a properly adjusted controller.

This is a sad example of what can happen when towing a trailer and not understanding how to do it safely.

[TowPro]

Overall, the 2017 Super Duty has a maximum conventional towing capacity of 9,525 kg (21,000 lbs), a maximum fifth-wheel towing capacity of 12,474 kg (27,500 lbs)

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by BigH

But...but...but...How can he be in trouble for being over weight?

From the list of charges I think being overweight will be the least of his troubles.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

From the list of charges I think being overweight will be the least of his troubles.

Hmm...I think operation of an unsafe vehicle (overweight) will be a large part of him getting his deserved jail time.

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by BigH

Hmm...I think operation of an unsafe vehicle (overweight) will be a large part of him getting his deserved jail time.

In our State he'd probably be charged with Negligent Homicide or Vehicular Homicide. Much longer jail sentence.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Emergency Brake breakaway switch?

Apparently not however if equipped, battery was dead or cable was just considered an annoyance and maybe just jammed behind license plate for looks, etc. Were the trailer brakes even working? Checked before the "haul" or did the towing vehicle have a properly adjusted controller.

This is a sad example of what can happen when towing a trailer and not understanding how to do it safely.

I have to ask myself this rhetorical question, why didn't the boat owner, boat ramp operator or person paying the bill for the tow step up and say, "you can't tow a million dollar boat with that truck, you need a bigger truck"?

[Homebrew]

This is a perfect example of people saying they can tow anything and how many of us say stopping is the problem.

[ppine]

Thanks for posting. I drove through the intersection yesterday.

[jbflag21ds]

terrible angle of that image to get a real feel for how big that boat actually is.

and is that 19-tons "tonnage", i.e. cargo capacity, trailer rated capacity, or actual dry vessel weight? because 38,000lb of actual weight is very big boat

[TitanMike]

Originally Posted by upflying

I have to ask myself this rhetorical question, why didn't the boat owner, boat ramp operator or person paying the bill for the tow step up and say, "you can't tow a million dollar boat with that truck, you need a bigger truck"?

Someone probably did. Then the the owner or ramp operator realized that the cost of tractor/trailer boat transport would be a lot more money.

Even Millionaires can be cheapskates too.

[upflying]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

Someone probably did. Then the the owner or ramp operator realized that the cost of tractor/trailer boat transport would be a lot more money.

Even Millionaires can be cheapskates too.

Yep, that's how some became rich, you cut costs.
But now the cost difference for a proper tow will be cheap compared to the civil liability.
I found a photo of the tow vehicle, looks like it was a dually.

[D W]

Originally Posted by Homebrew

This is a perfect example of people saying they can tow anything and how many of us say stopping is the problem.

Towing was not the problem in this situation. As often pointed out in this Forum, sure, you can tow it, but can you stop it? In this case he couldn't, and we see the results. Two people dead and nine others injured. Lots of folks make fun of the "weight police". Nothing funny about any of this.

[BigH]

Originally Posted by TitanMike

In our State he'd probably be charged with Negligent Homicide or Vehicular Homicide. Much longer jail sentence.

...in order to get that conviction what do you think will be among the contributing factors?

[oxcamper]

The driving without a license should be a real clue -- don't ya think?