What will initially happen? Nothing! What can potentially happen? Like someone else mentioned, loss of insurance. But the biggie for me is loss of warranty if the manufacturer ever suspects or discovers that you are towing over the trucks GVWR . This does not even take in to account the misery of driving such a load around for a few days.
I wonder why the insurance company will cancel the policy if an accident occurs due to being overweight but yet they don't automatically cancel policies for all of their clients who have accidents speeding, running stop signs, passing in a no passing zone, following too close, or a host of other factors that cause auto accidents. I know the other factors I list cause many more accidents than the guy going down the road at less than the speed limit because his truck doen't have enough power to pull the trailer 70 mph.
Ag Teacher wrote: I wonder why the insurance company will cancel the policy if an accident occurs due to being overweight but yet they don't automatically cancel policies for all of their clients who have accidents speeding, running stop signs, passing in a no passing zone, following too close, or a host of other factors that cause auto accidents. I know the other factors I list cause many more accidents than the guy going down the road at less than the speed limit because his truck doen't have enough power to pull the trailer 70 mph.
Ag Teacher,
Take a look at the "Debunking Myths" topic in the General RV Issues forum. I'm trying to find the answer to this very question (along with a few others). No luck so far.
Bob & Jamie
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- Don't sweat petty things ... and don't pet sweaty things!
- I can't be troubled with your business ... I'm far too busy tending to my own!
- Remember, just because you saw it on the internet doesn't make it so!
What happens?...You run into me, the first thing you will see is notice from my lawyer to get your rig weighed. Then the law suite begins....
Ken
KE5DFR
Vintage 1979 Silver Streak Supreme Rocket toted by a 2002 F350, crewcab dually, 7.3L,4.10 axle,SCMT. Travel with two miniature Schnauzers and one African Gray parrot. Practicing for retirement!
TXiceman wrote: What happens?...You run into me, the first thing you will see is notice from my lawyer to get your rig weighed. Then the law suite begins....
Ken
So what happens if, after your notice from your lawyer, the weigh scale ticket shows that he's under the specs? Does the lawsuit get dropped?
What happens if the weigh scale ticket shows he's over the manufacturer's weight ratings but under his legal registered weight?
What happens if the weigh scale ticker shows he's under the legal weight allowed to travel down the road?
TXiceman wrote: What happens?...You run into me, the first thing you will see is notice from my lawyer to get your rig weighed. Then the law suite begins....
TXiceman wrote: What happens?...You run into me, the first thing you will see is notice from my lawyer to get your rig weighed. Then the law suite begins....
What if I ran into you because you cut me off? Or did you run a red light? Or are your brake lights not working? Sometimes even a Porsche cannot stop in time. Then my lawyer will check your phone records and see if you were on the cell phone. There is usually more to the story than 1000 pounds overweight "causing" an wreck and getting an easy couple million dollars.
Enjoy the popcorn. Drive safe, have fun.
2001 F150 SuperCrew 5.4 Lariat Offroad 4x4 Tow Package 4.10 Truetrac
2006 Keystone Springdale 249FWBHLS
12K SuperGlide, KGE3000Ti 2.3kw rated 2.6kw max
Frank's voltage booster, Prosine 1800 powered by 4 GC2 batteries
I'm still trying to decipher why everyone's so concerned about the 15,500 GVW number as the TRAILER only weighs around 12,000 total dry weight. Is the OP going to load 3,500 lbs into the trailer? I doubt it. Is the pin weight included in the 5'ers GVW numbers? May depend on the individual manufacturer's specs.
GVW is the spected weight of said vehicle as "stand alone" (by it's self), not anything to do with the tow vehicle. CHECK with your manufacturer to see if their GVW includes the pin weight also. Some do and some may not. A physical weighing of the/your truck/trailer/rig individually and combined is the only actual way to know what's really factual. I have actually weighed virtually all our 5'ers, travel trailers, and tow vehicles in combo and individually over the years and know this to be totally and undeniably true.
Perhaps you have noticed in the brochure's specs that a travel trailer of 33 feet in length (30' box structure, 3' for the hitch) is generally lighter by nearly the pin weight amount of the same manufacturer's 30 foot 5'er of the same model level which has a 30 foot box structure. Both RV's have the same identical structure component build, appliances, tanks, furniture, cupboards, slideouts, etc sitting on their respective RV's wheels. Many of you RV owners are in for a surprise.
Are the posters making assumptions that are way off the mark and misleading the OP?
He would be fine with a 2500HD/F-250 with larger tires and suspension upgrades (air bags, Timbrens, Rancho's, etc) or the 3500/350 SRW truck for the model of 5'er in his post. If he feel he needs a 3500/F-350 DRW truck, so be it! Some seem to think it takes a class 6 truck to tow anything or a 3500 DRW to go to the grocery store. How did our parents ever haul those extremely heavy 1960's and later RV units with their passenger cars or 1/2 and 3/4 ton yesteryear trucks with low output engines in them? Seems they did just fine and it didn't kill'em. My parents hauled a 26' heavy (close to 8,000 lbs loaded) TT (one was a Banner and the other was a Holiday Rambler) to South Texas or South Florida from Michigan for years on end with a simple 1960 Chevy 4 door impala sedan with a 283 cu in engine w/powerglide tranny and never had a problem and only replaced the universal joints once. Drum brakes, little passenger bias ply tires, OEM shocks, etc. I know the car had over 100,000 miles on it when traded for a new car but I don't remember the exact mileage. Just amazing according to today's big powerful engines in large strong heavy pickup truck owners worrying about pulling a far less percentage load.
2004 Chev 2500HD D/A crew cab LB 4X4 - Air Bags - Loaded
915 Lance Camper with 2'X 8' rear porch (my own design n build)
29 ft Carri-lite 5th wheel - 1 large slide - specially built
36 ft Carriage - 3 axle 5'er -NOW SOLD- Looking at some new 5'ers
A 1960 Impala probably weighs more than a modern 1/2 ton pickup. It might have a more beefy tranny too...Also the lower your vehicle sits the more stable it is when towing or not towing.
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There is usually more to the story than 1000 pounds overweight "causing" an wreck and getting an easy couple million dollars. 
