Published Date: July 31, 2021
Last Updated on November 30, 2022 by Camper Front
Can I tow more than towing capacity? Wilfully YES, but the ferocity of this act will always come back to bite you. I don’t know how to stress this much but “exceeding your vehicle’s towing capacity could be disastrous”
Normally, those who are acquainted with towing know how critical it is to abide by the vehicle’s towing capacity but newbies do not.
And that is the purpose of this article, to educate you more on your vehicle’s towing capacity – even if you’re not using powerful trucks like Ram 1500 or chevy 1500 to pull.
Can I Tow More Than Towing Capacity? (Clear Consequences)
Have you ever imagined what happens to the donkey straining mightily while pulling a cart? Picture the same case scenario with your truck.
The truth of the matter is exceeding your vehicle’s towing capacity puts additional strain on the engine, transmission, brakes, and chassis.
Having to work extra will shorten your powertrain’s life. Due to the exceeding weight, your vehicle will struggle to adequately stop in the event of an emergency. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.
You will not only strain your transmission but it will go as far as experiencing deterioration due to increased temperatures and friction from the additional pounds.
Moreover, your vehicle’s frame could bend or buckle. And, finally, since you’re sacrificing stability and handling, you’re putting other incoming vehicles at risk.
So, of course, you can choose to tow more than towing capacity, but these fates await you.
If you’ve not read “what happens if you tow over capacity,” I highly! highly!! highly!!! recommend you go check it out because there we discussed everything in detail.
What you should know
You know it; I know it, that the number one priority for every RVer (driver) is to ensure safety –even before hitting the road.
And a large part of maintaining that safety on your way to the park (when towing a trailer behind you) comes down to your vehicle’s towing capacity.
There is a lot of factors that play, but it’s mandatory that all road tripper stays within the limits on every trip they take –short or distant.
To heed this advice from many towing experts, you need to understand your truck’s towing capacity – specifically its GVWR and GVW, which are sometimes referred to as gross trailer weight rating (GTWR) and gross trailer weight (GTW).
Well, you might have heard of it but maybe don’t truly know what it means.
The Gross Vehicle Weight Rating refers to the maximum total weight your vehicle is able to safely hold and transport – as rated by the manufacturer.
This includes counting the curb weight (the weight of our vehicle when empty), plus the weight of your passengers, any accessories added to the vehicle, fuel, cargo, as well as the “tongue weight” of a tow trailer.
Whereas, the Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) is the total loaded weight of a single vehicle –including the driver, passenger, and cargo placed in or secured on top of the vehicle.
Unlike the curb weight of a vehicle, which does not change, the GVW varies depending on items or passengers added or subtracted from the vehicle.
These are one of the most important things you need to know before heading to the great outdoors.
Conclusion
Now the question “Can I tow more than towing capacity?” has been fully answered. If you’re under the assumption that manufacturers underrate their towing capacity, think again.
There are no two ways about it. Failure to heed your car’s towing capacity results in a myriad of problems, which we didn’t hesitate to highlight in the earliest stage.
So if you don’t want to put your life (as well as your family) on the line, ensure you pack your trailer evenly and don’t exceed its weight guidelines.
Safe drive!
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