Old I know. I'm all for reducing towing capacity to realistic numbers. Numbers that match the payload.
Case in point, my F450 weighs 10,400lbs. Has a legal payload of 3,600lbs. With GN ratings of a light 20%, it is only good for 15,000lbs trailer weight. The book listed it a 37,900lbs. I would have to take the doors off, every seat out but the drivers, chunk the spare, take both bumpers off to even get 5,000lbs of payload. And that may get me to
a 25,000lb trailer without going over payload.
I haul good ol' boy style: under my Axle of 13,600lbs-check
Under my rear tires of 15,000lbs-check
Under my front axle of 7,500lbs-cjeck
Under my front tires of 7,500lbs-check
That leaves me with 9200lbs of payload on the scales. I use every single pound.
Weigh stations look at what it is registered for, axle capacity and tire ratings amoung other things. I play the game.
My truck will roll down the road with 45k on its back and safely I might add with an alert driver. It, like most trucks, run out of payload before they reach half the towing capacity in reality.
