4k tow package Drive ratio, cooling and radiator fan percent difference recource/discussion

[The Real Maverick]

Your wrong, any law enforcement officer can stop you for weight, the issue is having a certified scale available and the specific forms (and training) for the fine calculations.

Prove it.
Put up documentation, or you know it's only urban legend.

I have talked to highway patrol in several western states that state you are wrong. Are you in the USA?

Sponsored

 

[m5040]

Prove it.
Put up documentation, or you know it's only urban legend.

I have talked to highway patrol in several western states that state you are wrong. Are you in the USA?

I only wish I could show you in person. You will have to settle for reading it. Just some advice, don't go the guy who's job it is to change oil and ask him a about engine rebuilds then quote it to everyone on the internet like he is an expert.

https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-14/chapter-248/section-14-267a/

 

[Joe Strummer]

If you are right with the importance of this weight rating, where would a police officer find it on the vehicle? The VIN and data sticker on the B pillar only list GVWR and each axle weight rating, which is routinely enforced.

If not listed on the vehicle its a stretch to enforce a generic spec that can change with any modification.

You find it here:

2025 Ford Maverick Towing Information

If I can find it, I'm sure an insurance company can (much more important than a police officer).

 

[m5040]

You find it here:

2025 Ford Maverick Towing Information

If I can find it, I'm sure an insurance company can (much more important than a police officer).

If it is not on a VIN specific document, you can't enforce it. Generic manuals won't stand up in court. Has to be on the vehicle, for example with the axle and gross weight ratings, which like I said are routinely enforced.

I don't think an insurance company has much ground to stand on here either. They would need the actual weight of your vehicle at the time as determined by a certified scale.

 

[Joe Strummer]

If it is not on a VIN specific document, you can't enforce it. Generic manuals won't stand up in court. Has to be on the vehicle, for example with the axle and gross weight ratings, which like I said are routinely enforced.

I don't think an insurance company has much ground to stand on here either. They would need the actual weight of your vehicle at the time as determined by a certified scale.

People are slightly missing the point. The police won't charge anyone (other than commercial vehicles) with towing a load that is too heavy. They will charge you with dangerous driving or driving with undue-care-and -attention since these charges, even though subjective, are enforceable.

In terms of Tort Law, the evidentiary threshold is a preponderance of the evidence. If you tow over Ford's recommended limit, you may win in Criminal Court but will lose in Civil Court if, for example, you rear-end a car on front of you and the driver gets severe whiplash.

Under Tort Law, only the lawyers win.

 

[m5040]

The police won't charge anyone (other than commercial vehicles) with towing a load that is too heavy

Don't screw with these people, if trained law enforcement officer, has the time, and a scale, and sees a Maverick dragging the rear bumper with the tires compressed almost to the rims, he will stop you and fine you high dollars for weight violations. You may be getting confused by the Federal Motor Carrier program that pays for each commercial vehicle inspection and the Maverick won't count for that, but that won't keep you from getting stopped if you are grossly overweight.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I only wish I could show you in person. You will have to settle for reading it. Just some advice, don't go the guy who's job it is to change oil and ask him a about engine rebuilds then quote it to everyone on the internet like he is an expert.

https://law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-14/chapter-248/section-14-267a/

Thank you.
You took the time to post. And I took the time to read. Like an hour of reading. Because I am genuinely interested.
Connecticut (the state you referenced) was a bit vague. Maybe intentionally. And it's just about as far from me as one can get.

That said:

A) Connecticut is weird. Their statutes describe anything that propels a vehicle as "gasoline". Anti-German or what? Almost no uses of the word "diesel". So why call out gasoline at all? Why not just used the word "fuel"?

B) CT says no gasoline station shall be allowed in a town with fewer than 10,000 residents without special permission of the commissioner. WTF? But I digress. I just wanted to give another example of weirdness.

C) while a very nice try to support your view and I highly respect that you went to the effort, I found some problems...

D) CT neither spells out that non-commercial vehicles are included or excluded. However, the section(s) you cited use the terms TRACTOR, TRAILER, and SEMI-TRAILER throughout. Mentions weights of 26,000 lbs, 73,000 lbs, 80,000, and 100,000 lbs limits. Mentions when calculating penalties a 500 lb grace shall be used. Uses language as "The weight on any single axle" Sounds very "commercial" to me.

E) Furthermore: "No person shall operate any commercial motor vehicle, nor shall the owner or lessee of any commercial motor vehicle allow such motor vehicle to be operated, on any public highway or bridge, when the combined weight of vehicle and load exceeds the gross weight, as registered with the Department of Motor Vehicles, the tire capacity or the axle load, except that the gross vehicle weight shall not exceed eighty thousand pounds, or as provided by statute."

F) Yes. I saw this too. But it is lumped in with all the above commercial stuff which makes it unlikely to apply to private citizens doing non-commercial hauling. "The axle weight on any axle and the gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicle and trailer or vehicle and semitrailer or any other object, including its load, may not exceed the lesser of the manufacturer's axle weight rating, the manufacturer's gross vehicle weight rating or the following axle and gross weight limits: (1) The weight on any single axle shall not exceed twenty-two thousand four hundred pounds or, in the case of axles spaced less than six feet apart, eighteen thousand pounds on each axle; (2) a two-axle vehicle shall comply with the axle requirements specified in subdivision (1) of this subsection, and shall not exceed a maximum gross vehicle weight of thirty-six thousand pounds;

And this little gem if you read deep enough:

G) "The provisions of section 14-267a shall not apply to any four-wheeled motor vehicle equipped with pneumatic tires which is engaged in construction work or in supplying or transporting materials or equipment for public or private construction projects"

Private citizens in CT may need to look over their shoulders more that other states. But look like putting a little extra weight in or on your Maverick isn't going to get you into trouble.

Here's the penalties for CT commercial drivers. No mention of penalties for non-commercial weight.

"(f) (1) The penalties provided for in this subsection shall be assessed against the owner of a commercial motor vehicle when the owner, the owner's agent or employee is the operator, or against the lessee of such vehicle when the lessee, the lessee's agent or employee is the operator of a leased or rented commercial motor vehicle.

(2) Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be subject to the following penalties: (A) For an overweight violation of not more than five per cent of the gross weight or axle weight limits in subsection (b) of this section, a fine of three dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight; (B) for an overweight violation of more than five per cent and not more than ten per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of five dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of fifty dollars; (C) for an overweight violation of more than ten per cent but not more than fifteen per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of six dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of one hundred dollars; (D) for an overweight violation of more than fifteen per cent but not more than twenty per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of seven dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of two hundred dollars; (E) for an overweight violation of more than twenty per cent but not more than twenty-five per cent of either such weight limit, a fine of ten dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of three hundred dollars; (F) for an overweight violation of more than twenty-five per cent but not more than thirty per cent of either such overweight limit, a fine of twelve dollars per hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of five hundred dollars; and (G) for an overweight violation of more than thirty per cent of either such overweight limit, a fine of fifteen dollars per one hundred pounds or fraction thereof of such excess weight or a minimum fine of one thousand dollars.

IN WESTERN STATES PICKUPS are PROHIBITED FROM USING (highway) SCALES. For private or commercial use.

YMMV

 

[RaptorO7]

“Do you know why i pulled you over”
“No”
“I think your trailer is 400lbs overweight”
“Please drive ur vehicle over my state issued trailer scale.

Don't screw with these people, if trained law enforcement officer, has the time, and a scale, and sees a Maverick dragging the rear bumper with the tires compressed almost to the rims, he will stop you and fine you high dollars for weight violations. You may be getting confused by the Federal Motor Carrier program that pays for each commercial vehicle inspection and the Maverick won't count for that, but that won't keep you from getting stopped if you are grossly overweight.

You guysare missing the point. The officer needs evidence to pull you over. They won’t just pull you over for nothing. The Maverick can handle 2000 pounds and 4000 pounds easily and anything in between. I wouldn’t overload over 4000 pounds because then as you said you would be dragging your tail, but there is very little difference between the two packages suspensions.

A 2K Maverick would not be wagging its tail or have any signs of having trouble towing 4000. The only concern would be the longevity of the drivetrain components.

The only reason that you should be concerned is if an officer pulls you over for no coherent reason and decides to do an unwarranted traffic stop

 

[The Real Maverick]

I said from the start:

You can be cited for unsafe driving.
But there needs to be a tangible (observable) reason.

Sagging is not a reason.
Dragging your tailpipe and making sparks is a reason.

 

[m5040]

You guysare missing the point. The officer needs evidence to pull you over. They won’t just pull you over for nothing.

You get too much of your information on law from watching TV. A trained experienced officer can articulate the many reasons your vehicle was exhibiting signs commonly attributed to vehicles overloaded and even if such officer did need a reason to stop you, this gives it to him.

 

[m5040]

I said from the start:

You can be cited for unsafe driving.
But there needs to be a tangible (observable) reason.

Sagging is not a reason.
Dragging your tailpipe and making sparks is a reason.

You could be charged with reckless driving, but most likely only if you give the cop a hard time as the overweight fines will be enough to break you and reckless is a loss of license.
How is "sagging" not a reason?? New vehicles don't sag unless improperly loader. (you should be able to read your owners manual on how to properly distribute the load). Depending on your definition of sagging, a vehicle exhibiting this condition will be overweight on that axle, over tire weight ratings, the headlight aim will be aimed at oncoming traffic, front end geometry (caster) will be altered affecting handling, possibly over the ratings of the tow hitch. These are all " tangible (observable)" reasons to be stopped by any cop.

 

[RaptorO7]

Many reasons like what?
All im trying to convey is that a 2k mav can overload up to 4000lbs and not exhibit any tangible evidence of being overloaded. Since the geometry and suspensions are the same. As ive said before the longevity of the drivetrain is more of a concern.

 

[The Real Maverick]

 

[m5040]

Many reasons like what?
All im trying to convey is that a 2k mav can overload up to 4000lbs and not exhibit any tangible evidence of being overloaded. Since the geometry and suspensions are the same. As ive said before the longevity of the drivetrain is more of a concern.

So I guess you are agreeing with the point I was making in post #73, in short GCWR -(gross combination weight rating) is unenforceable do to in part, the figure is not indicated on the vehicle. But I have a hard time understanding what you are writing when you say you can overload a 2k Maverick with 4k lbs. I assume you mean the GVW of a trailer? If so, yes, no way to get a ticket towing a heavier trailer as long as the Maverick's gross weight and axle weights are within the limits on your B-pillar sticker and you have proper brakes and hitch capacity.

 

[The Real Maverick]

Weight is not "visible" without instrumentation.

You can surmise truck A is heavier than truck B by looking at them. But you can't tell me what either truck actually weighs by looking at them.

You can't tell me exactly what a linebacker weighs, or a ballet dancer.

You are trying to say the same thing as a cop could write you up because he thinks you were speeding.

Sponsored