WAY too many questionable pieces to this setup.

What are those aftermarket wheels weight rated for?
What are those low profile tires weight rated for?
(If that truck still has the stock braking system, the truck alone has diminished braking capability from stock.)
*That appears to be a surge brake system, which is entirely dependent on the tow vehicles braking system.*

What is the factory hitch on the AV rated for? **WEIGHT CARRYING, since this is the setup used above.**
What is the total weight of the boat/trailer/everything else?
What is the tongue weight of that setup?

the hydraulicover elec brakes was the BEST $ 1,500 I have ever spent. the trailer brakes ALONE will stop my 3500 4wd gmc sierra dually if I set the controller aggresively. Just swallow the hook and buy the brakes and a new tow vehicle!

I think you're playing with fire on this one, and everyone's insurance rates as well. :rolleyes:

Buy a smaller boat, or a bigger truck.

Your truck is rated for less towing than my Tahoe was. You wouldn't catch me dead pulling our 32SS with a Tahoe, regardless of brake setup, hitch, blah blah blah. Our 32SS is around a 9.5k to 10k load.

Trust me, if you EVER experienced a braking problem with your current setup, you would buy a bigger truck and never look back. Our 32SS throws my 7,500 lb 3/4 ton around like a rag doll when the brakes on the trailer aren't working properly. I was into the abs on all 4 truck tires and the rig was slowing down *moderately* at best. If I was in anything lighter, it could have easily turned into a terrible accident. At least the weight and wheelbase of my pickup kept me pointed straight.

You need a 3/4 ton from one of the big 3 *minimum*. You could skip the diesel and/or dually if they're not in the budget, but 3/4 ton with a longer wheelbase is a requirement in my opinion.

John

If you really want to limit liability, put the boat in an LLC with no ties to you and have a transport company tow it exclusively. You should also have a captain hired by the LLC.

Good suggestion. That would be the ultimate in limiting liability. Or he could just start with a tow vehicle that was rated for the job at hand. :rolleyes:

Creating a coprporation or any other non-individual legal entity solely for the purpose of shielding the owner or owners from liability is one of the few sure-fire ways of having your corporate veil invalidated. Doesn't work that way.

Asset protection is very effective if done by an experienced and qualified asset protection attorney. There are several examples of effective use of these techniques for limiting liability. Design of the structure of the corporation is important in avoiding fraudulent transfer and other means of invalidation. Also, it usually is limited to civil liability. If criminal negligence is in question, the most effectively designed trusts and LLC's are ineffective.

First off, I should have asked if he had flashy aftermarket wheels that were weaker than stock. My bad.

Secondly, No one wants anyone to get hurt in a boat trailering accident. But following some of the logic here, shouldn't we all be pulling in class 8 trucks? Yes, that is a silly extreme.

[QUOTE=Chris Sunkin;2281407]You're absolutely incorrect. There's a difference between an accident and a criminal act. If you miss a light and hit someone broadside, you're going to pay a fine. If you're drunk, you're going to jail.

Both are criminal acts, one is a misdermener(sp?), and the other a felony, which is the difference in penalties.

If your insurance does pay, that doesn't relieve them of the ability to subrogate against you. They'll write the check, then come after you themselves. They're not going to do this for $10K in damages. In a serious injury or death, you'd better believe they will.

Don't know about this, and you may be right. I'm more familiar with the other guy's insurance paying the claim to expedite the process for their insured customer, and then subrogating against the guilty party to recoup the damages. Why would your insurance pay for your liabilities, and then subrogate against you for the amount? If that was the case, why wouldn't they just refuse the claim in the first place?

Lastly, Insurance subrogation should be pretty far down the list of concerns for any reasonable, responsible person. Me- I want to get to the lake and back. I don't want anyone hurt or killed- especially my wife, one of my kids or a friend.

We are in 100% agreement on that!!



Nothing could be further from the truth. Not even close.

I just looked up 2007 tow ratings for Chevy, and there are many places where the same truck is rated for different tow limits based on engine size, and drive ratio. Otherwise the same truck. It's my belief the different tow ratings are because they don't think the drive train is strong enough to pull a heavier trailer, and they don't want to pay to repair broken parts.[/QUOTE]

Chris: you came on pretty strong in your post, and when someone does that, it's best that they back up their claims with something more than... just coming on strong. (I'm referring to the second part of your post, not the first with the antidotal example of the mechanic with the steering wheel. It is sad that someone died from that.)

How sure are you that manufacturers weight ratings are regulated by DOT? How sure are you that they are for safety, at least primarily, and not to keep the truck from breaking?

Lawyers can sue anyone for anything, and all you have to be is involved in the issue in a minor way, and you can be hit with litigation. Heck, some lawyer/politician sued God recently. Not kidding; he really brought a suit against God.

And finally, we all know a dually pulls better than a SRW, and a med duty pulls better than a ton dually. But, do you not think a modern half ton can not be modified to be a safe pulling truck for a 30' boat? Yes the engine and especially the transmission are going to wear fast and are more likely to break. But with good brakes on both the truck and the trailer, with stronger tires, upgraded springs and suspension, and proper weight distribution, the difference between a stock 3/4 ton and a modified half ton get blurred. That is my point, that his 2007 truck can be made to safely pull his new boat. Not in stock form, but after he upgrades it. As he's already put a class five hitch on it, I suspect he'll do the rest soon. Hope so anyway.