"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
10/27/2013 at 02:48 • Filed to: rants
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"HammerheadFistpunch" (hammerheadfistpunch)
10/27/2013 at 02:48 • Filed to: rants | 1
| 7 |
unrelated to one another.
I'm pro the idea of big trucks and big loads, but I'm also of the idea people with 40,000 lbs of GVWR
should have additional training and liability. So when someone tells me
"these new HD's are so capable that the common driver can tow 25k with the same ease as a half-ton driver yanking 5k.
extra weight does not mean a more complicated drive; not anymore."
I get a little hot under the collar. especially when they say that a dude with a ranger and some sea-doo's is equally equipped to tow 25k lbs because the trucks are better....man alive, have you heard of physics? I couldn't find any data that helps me understand why simply increasing the weight of the vehicle will increase the danger but aside from the common sense...any physics majors in here?
I mean if you need a CDL to drive a limo, bus or anything with GVWR of 26,001 that happens to be classified a commercial vehicle...doesn't it stand to reason joe blow should get some special training to do it with 40k?
MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2013 at 03:01 |
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Yes, if you tow more than a certain weight (26,000 LBS) you do need a CDL. These HD trucks can exceed that weight, so to load them up to their maximum GVWR you need a CDL.
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HammerheadFistpunch
> MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
10/27/2013 at 03:04 |
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technically, that only applies to commercial vehicles...which these aren't classified as.
GhostZ
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2013 at 03:17 |
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I'm not a physics major, but from what I've seen, the issue is stopping power, material strength as it scales, and moment.
A vehicle has to be able to stop in the same distance whether it is 2000lbs or 5000lbs, that's what avoids wrecks. While a giant vehicle may take less damage (and do more to the other car) in a wreck, their ability to avoid is significantly lower, especially in low-end trucks, where they aren't connected to extremely complex braking systems. This means to brake safely, you have to do it slowly over a large distance, and often times that's not possible.
Next, material strength. Material strength does not scale well as a car gets bigger. More and more reinforcements are needed to keep the whole vehicle stiff as the weight of the wobbly parts increases.
And then moment. Accelleration, decelleration, turning, it all happens at a significantly slower weight as the car gets heavier. Even if you double the tire's grip, double the HP, double the braking force, the inertia it has to overcome to change direction is not doubled. This is the same reason why lighter cars handle better, even with everything else adjusted by weight.
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MtrRider Just Wants Doritos
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2013 at 03:28 |
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I;m not so sure about that. The folks at pickuptrucks.com got CDLs when trucks started exceeding 26,000 lbs GVWR so they could legally test them at their limit. It looks like a Class A CDL would be required to tow more than 26k LBs with any vehicle.
brakesnow
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2013 at 03:36 |
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I agree with you. But the REAL danger on our roads today comes from those people in rented RV's. Those 100000000 pound cruise missiles, usually piloted by someone whose crowning driving achievement is around the level of "placed 3rd on Test Drive Unlimited High Scores!!!" are terrifying to share the highway with.
Tyler's SVT Focus Hates Him
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2013 at 05:41 |
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These trucks can pull 25,000lbs with relative ease, but can they stop 25,000lbs? That's the worrisome part.
Slave2anMG
> HammerheadFistpunch
10/27/2013 at 09:54 |
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All true. Plus I so often see an aggressive cavalier attitude in the guys driving those trucks...that's one thing in a Miata but in 30K lbs of truck/trailer not such a good idea.
Also, is that gif of John Goodman after a day spent eating cheese?