With all of the threads i have been reading about the tow rating of the different makes and models-my personnel pic is the gm Dmax/Allison combo-when looking at the tow ratings is there a safty factor to take into account. For example 75% 80% 90% of max listed capacity or do we figure that the Big 3 have already figured it in for us.
Ed

Of course the manufacturer's estimates are going to be conservative. If they rated their vehicle right up to the "catastrophe" point, the highways would be littered with bodies. There's always a long line of knuckleheads that know better than the engineers who design these vehicles.

Having said that, I've never been in a towing situation nearing maximum rated capability where the setup felt 100% safe and secure. Sure, towing at 100% is probably safe and certainly legal when everything else is OK. It's when things go bad that you'll be glad you overdid it on your tow vehicle.

Very, very well put...I tow mine with a duramax dually and everyone around here ,except two, use 4-door hd 2500's or f-250's...when I'm running 80 mph on the interstate I know if someone veers into my lane it will be much easier(reword that-not as difficult)to correct and avoid a disastrous situation