Show us your tow rigs!

[CaptRedbeard]

Still waiting for someone to show me an example of this. IMO, telling someone this is fearmongering at least, and an outright lie a worst.

It's just internet lore people keep repeating. Someone knew someone, that heard it happen to someone somewhere one time.

Well, I guess I have to stand (semi) corrected on this. I did some additional reading and apparently it varies from policy to policy and there are stories of over-capacity tow vehicles in accidents both being covered and also being denied coverage. Depends on many factors including policy verbiage and adjusters mood that day apparently. It’s definitely not cut and dry like I stated earlier, though.

That said, I did find this insight from an ex-salesman from State Farm.

I use to sell insurance for State Farm. We had a insured that had an accident while towing. The truck was overloaded beyond the stated capacity. The trail lawyer for the injured party was able thru research and interviews. Establish that our insured both knowingly and willfully exceeded his trucks capacity. Long story short. State Farm denied his claim. I'm not saying they were right for doing that but they had just cause presented to them during the trial.

One thing I have learned in my many professions. How will it sound when you have to explain yourself in court or on an accident report. Will it sound better to say i had taken every precaution or that i cut a few corners. That has thus far kept me out of trouble.

Knowing that, along with the myriad other ways it could damage your vehicle and/or injure other people, I don’t think anyone should want to put themselves in that position. I’m not sure that it’s the best look for you two to seemingly choose to side with someone who is knowingly towing over their vehicle’s capacity and putting others at risk. My two cents.

 

[Babin Farms]

I would think that if you were towing 10k with a vehicle that’s only rated for 5k that they wouldn’t cover damages because of knowingly having yer head up yer a$$, but towing slightly over capacity they’d more than likely cover damages. It’s not like the average Joe takes his truck/boat/trailer down to the CAT scale and get the whole thing weighed and don’t think that it’s expected.

Just my .02

 

[2kwik4u]

I’m not sure that it’s the best look for you two to seemingly choose to side with someone who is knowingly towing over their vehicle’s capacity and putting others at risk.

Let me be crystal clear here.......I'm not siding with anyone that knowingly tows over the limit, or beyond their personal capability.

I am a big proponent of factual information, and appropriate warnings. Spreading misinformation doesn't help anyone.

Also, to continue on the clarity train.......I'm also for tort reform and personal responsibility. Someone tows over the limit, I think their liability insurance should make the others affected whole, and if they did it knowingly, deny any kind of comprehensive/collision/etc. coverage. I'm not saying I disagree with the logic, just how the facts are presented.

 

[Murf'n'surf]

It's just internet lore people keep repeating. Someone knew someone, that heard it happen to someone somewhere one time.

If there is an investigation into an accident and you are noted to be towing above capacity, I see it very plausible that a party will hold you responsible for such. Your insurance company at that point will most likely start to put more of the fault on you but would likely still cover you. If this over capacity non coverage was legit, insurance companies would not cover people who are speeding and involved in an accident.

 

[Emptytemples]

IMO and personal experiences most insurance companies will find reasons to not cover a claim. From personal experiences, experiences in our trucking company with freight claims etc. I think it would depend on the insurance company their verbiage and current year's loss runs .

Also, I love the idea of a diesel for towing but then again being in the trucking industry, the new diesels with the emissions systems and regulations are a complete disaster. Unless the govt scraps the regs and enables deletes or manufacturers to rid trucks of these systems, I would stay clear of daily driver diesels. That's my .02 and hope it helps someone avoid headaches with the newer diesel vehicles. For anyone that has the diesel and for the family with the diesel above, I hope you don't have any issues with them.

I was thinking about replacing my 2016 F250 with a gas engine. I've heard a lot about issues with the 6.2 GM engines, the diesels i'd like to avoid for reasons stated above.

Anyone like the Tundras? I was thinking about replacing my wife's car soon and she likes the 4 Runner which tows a max of 6,000lbs. I'm not sure what options it needs to do so but it could technically then tow the AR250 or be right at/over the limit with trailer, fuel gear, and 10% buffer.

 

[Neutron]

IMO and personal experiences most insurance companies will find reasons to not cover a claim. From personal experiences, experiences in our trucking company with freight claims etc. I think it would depend on the insurance company their verbiage and current year's loss runs .

Also, I love the idea of a diesel for towing but then again being in the trucking industry, the new diesels with the emissions systems and regulations are a complete disaster. Unless the govt scraps the regs and enables deletes or manufacturers to rid trucks of these systems, I would stay clear of daily driver diesels. That's my .02 and hope it helps someone avoid headaches with the newer diesel vehicles. For anyone that has the diesel and for the family with the diesel above, I hope you don't have any issues with them.

I was thinking about replacing my 2016 F250 with a gas engine. I've heard a lot about issues with the 6.2 GM engines, the diesels i'd like to avoid for reasons stated above.

Anyone like the Tundras? I was thinking about replacing my wife's car soon and she likes the 4 Runner which tows a max of 6,000lbs. I'm not sure what options it needs to do so but it could technically then tow the AR250 or be right at/over the limit with trailer, fuel gear, and 10% buffer.

The new 4runner looks great but if you need seating for adults in the back seat forget it, don't know what they are thinking with the new taco and 4runner. Unless you put the front seats all the way forward you aren't getting much leg room in the back.
I thought is was weird with the taco and just figured they would have a crew max option but no the back seat is for golf clubs only i guess.

The tundra lost leg room as well in the back seat but is tolerable. Gas mileage still sucks with the V6 turbo and the "hybrid" turbo still sucks. My neighbor gets a little better than my 2020 tundra with a 5.7 V8 and he has they hybrid.

I was a big fan of Toyota till lately their reliability has tanked dramatically.

 

[Mr. Boh]

... Unless the govt scraps the regs and enables deletes or manufacturers to rid trucks of these systems, I would stay clear of daily driver diesels. That's my .02 and hope it helps someone avoid headaches with the newer diesel vehicles. For anyone that has the diesel and for the family with the diesel above, I hope you don't have any issues with them.

I agree with you fully - You might find the premise of the F150 Powerboost interesting. The transmission has two inputs (a turbocharged gas engine and an electric motor) together they drive the traditional output. Cool thing happening here is electric motors are good at providing torque and low end grunt, where gas engines traditionally struggle. As an added perk you get some pretty cool quality of life features. Ex The gas engine can spin the motor as a generator and you can power your whole house with 7.2kw! Even when driving the hybrid features add comfort etc. if nothing changes drastically to diesel emissions I think Powerboost inspired engineering designs will rule the day.