Got a towing question for yall.

bdbake01 · February 8, 2017

Criminal charges in a civil suit, first time for everything...

EXACTLY my point. Somebody gets killed, the insurance lawyer shows up for the civil suit until the bills are paid (to the extent covered by the policy), and then good freaking luck on the criminal charges! You're on your own.

asilverblazer · February 8, 2017

EXACTLY my point. Somebody gets killed, the insurance lawyer shows up for the civil suit until the bills are paid (to the extent covered by the policy), and then good freaking luck on the criminal charges! You're on your own.

Any criminal case precedents to cite of anything more than a fine? I doubt it, which is my point that I think we are over reacting about the implications and subsequent consequences of the possibility of someone on the internet might overload their truck...

bdbake01 · February 8, 2017

Any criminal case precedents to cite of anything more than a fine? I doubt it, which is my point that I think we are over reacting about the implications and subsequent consequences of the possibility of someone on the internet might overload their truck...

Sure thing, here ya go!

https://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0214.htm

David Wilcox. Class B felony, manslaughter. Facing up to 20 years in prison and $15k in fines. Because he failed to fix the brakes.

Nathan79 · February 8, 2017

The 1/2 tons still have light duty semi floating rear axles whether GM's marketing dept calls them "heavy duty" or not.

asilverblazer · February 8, 2017

Sure thing, here ya go!https://www.cga.ct.gov/2007/rpt/2007-R-0214.htm

David Wilcox. Class B felony, manslaughter. Facing up to 20 years in prison and $15k in fines. Because he failed to fix the brakes.

It was a good read, those laws were limited to commercial vehicles (in Connecticut) and charges were brought against a commercial vehile/operator, not a private operator. I also bet "extreme indifference to human life" is a pretty steep burden of proof for a prosecutor to overcome.

In the case cited the commercial operator was BOTH overweight AND KNOWINGLY in disrepair.

If the OP is driving in an otherwise safe manner and equipment is in otherwise good repair being overweight 20% would, if charged (in Connecticut), be a "Second-degree reckless endangerment is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both."

Which is still limited to commercial operators...

Horacio · February 8, 2017

Last week I had to rent this Mini-ex Bobcat E26 setup. Weight of the Bobcat is 5666 lbs plus trailer, maybe another 1500 lbs. This puts me around 7k lbs. I couldn't imagine barreling down the hwy at 65 with this thing. Talking about vs experiencing the weight you're wanting to tow, I doubt you'll want to go that fast. I had some dipshit behind me, he decided he couldn't stay behind me for another minute. He jumps out and then dives right in front of me to make the next turn. I had to hit the brakes. Let me tell you, it ain't fun to experience even towing 7k lbs.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

bdbake01 · February 8, 2017

It was a good read, those laws were limited to commercial vehicles (in Connecticut) and charges were brought against a commercial vehile/operator, not a private operator. I also bet "extreme indifference to human life" is a pretty steep burden of proof for a prosecutor to overcome.

In the case cited the commercial operator was BOTH overweight AND KNOWINGLY in disrepair.

If the OP is driving in an otherwise safe manner and equipment is in otherwise good repair being overweight 20% would, if charged (in Connecticut), be a "Second-degree reckless endangerment is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both."

Which is still limited to commercial operators...

This is really pointless, I will no longer feed the frenzy.

OP, sounds like you've made the right choice. We thank thee. Happy trailering!

BlackHawkZ71 · February 8, 2017

This is really pointless, I will no longer feed the frenzy.

OP, sounds like you've made the right choice. We thank thee. Happy trailering!

Yep hopefully i will have one at least middle of this year

powerhaulic · February 8, 2017

I have several thousand miles towing on My '17 6.2 NHT.

Trailer is 8000# plus depending on water

I am very happy with the performance of this truck

The brakes are outstanding, have had to use them hard a few times for others stupidity

Running interstate 65-75mph pulls great, stops great

Last tow vehicle was good('11 Yukon XL Denali) this one is great

Bigmac · February 8, 2017

I have several thousand miles towing on My '17 6.2 NHT.

Trailer is 8000# plus depending on water

I am very happy with the performance of this truck

The brakes are outstanding, have had to use them hard a few times for others stupidity

Running interstate 65-75mph pulls great, stops great

Last tow vehicle was good('11 Yukon XL Denali) this one is great

Thank you for the common sense post.

Jon A · February 8, 2017

Besides, I don't see where anyone was really harping on brake performance,

Several people were doing exactly that as happens in all of these threads. When people say you'll have trouble stopping because your brakes are too small and they're blatantly wrong, people will tune them out. The next time they say that nobody will listen--even if they happen to be right the next time. Bad information helps nobody.

Besides, I don't see where anyone was really harping on brake performance, and I'd like to point out that you missed one thing. Axle. .....

No, I didn't. While it probably should be, grade braking ability doesn't enter into the tow rating one way or the other at this level. It will have no measurable effect on stopping distances. Non-NHT 6.2's get the 9.76" axle and will grade brake significantly better than 5.3's with the same transmission, but get zero credit for that in the tow ratings.

What's remarkable is how some of these 1/2 tons grade brake better than HD's of just a few years ago. We have two Cummins 2500's old enough they have no exhaust brake and they'll just coast right down the hill making your ride the brakes. Makes me wish I was in my 1/2 ton with a heavy load from time to time.

I'm not sure calling anyone ignorant is the most productive way of providing advice.

Fear mongering (wrongly) most certainly isn't. The OP is not a professional truck driver asking if he can skip maintenance on his truck for a few years and run it severely overloaded while on paid jobs without liability. If you saved the "thrown in jail" speech for guys like that, it would be meaningful. But like the misplaced brake comments above, fear mongering in cases where it clearly does not apply means people will tune you out.

vranasaurus · February 8, 2017

Stopping will not be an issue, like as mentioned, same brakes as the NHT trucks, plus a brake controller will be the most beneficial.

Second, the most weight the trailer is rated for is 11,000lbs (fully loaded with all your crap in it, if he travels light he might be under that amount, at least if he travels without females )

Biggest issues will be wind drag and tongue weight, getting a weight distribution hitch set up properly will be critical. Keeping the speeds down for the wind drag and all will be fine.

Additionally, I'm sure he is insured, and if he is in an at fault accident and if he is taken to court, his insurance will do all the fighting, and the most he would likely end up with is a higher premium.

I go 50 in a 45, if I hit someone and they sued me do they get more money because I was speeding?

No.

50 in a 45 won't likely entitle anyone to punitive damages in a suit but going 75 in a 45 may. But grossly exceeding the tow rating of of your vehicle may. Exceeding it by 100lbs may not result in the any difference in damages but Exceeding it by 1000lbs may. In some states gross negligence is enough to sustain an award of punitive damages. At what point over the tow limit of the vehicle have you grossly deviated from the standard of care a reasonable person would employ? That's largely for a jury to decide.

So yes in some instances the injured party may be entitled to additional damages depending on the nature of the acts involved in causing the injury.

Further, depending on how bad the damages are, i.e. medical bills, future care etc. your insurance company could simply write a check for your policy limits and wish you good luck. Then the plaintiff is free to seek additional damages directly from you. Once your policy limits are paid I don't think the insurance company is obligated to provide you a defense.

It's not hard to imagine a scenario where a conservative estimate of the cost of future care and lost future earnings for someone injured in a car accident exceeds policy limits. In a case where the I surface company feels it's likely going to pay the limits of the policy it will do so instead of paying for a defense and then paying the limits.

Cowpie · February 8, 2017

Watch Lucille Ball's "The Long, Long Trailer"..........

Man, that is one funny classic movie. Haven't seen it in a while. Need to watch again! Thanks for reminding me!

Cowpie · February 8, 2017

It was a good read, those laws were limited to commercial vehicles (in Connecticut) and charges were brought against a commercial vehile/operator, not a private operator. I also bet "extreme indifference to human life" is a pretty steep burden of proof for a prosecutor to overcome.

In the case cited the commercial operator was BOTH overweight AND KNOWINGLY in disrepair.

If the OP is driving in an otherwise safe manner and equipment is in otherwise good repair being overweight 20% would, if charged (in Connecticut), be a "Second-degree reckless endangerment is a Class B misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison, a fine of up to $1,000, or both."

Which is still limited to commercial operators...

Until the DA comes across this discussion and finds out what the OP was checking on and the advice he was given about not doing it. If the OP then does it anyway and problems arise like we are discussing, then it becomes willful intent and the ball game changes.

That is one of the characteristics of how a commercial driver can be nailed so hard. They have the knowledge already that some things should or should not be done. If they then do them anyway, then it is easily argued that the willfully intended to do what they did.