Load rating for a vehicle gets adjusted by the different options additions. A diesel engine is a lot heavier than the V8 gas burner. Then add the 4wd front axle and transfer case. Screw cab reqires a longer wheel base and extra weight. These all come off the GCWR figure. Now he added a big camper that MT approached the limit. Hanging motorcycles off the back just added a pile of weight out past the fulcrum point, the rear axle center line. To top it all off, in the original post it is stated that the road is a bit rough. Not quite like washboard, lower frequency. This sets up bending stres
My 99 Chev Silverado broke the frame both sides just in front of the rear spring hanger. The frame has a similar oval hole in the vertical side rail. In line with that there is a 1" hole in the top and bottom of the frame. What the truck was used for before I got it I cannot be certain. I did have to install a trailer brake controller to tow my car trailer. When driving with a load I always slowed down. Obviously these are a weak spot on all makes. Then you throw in the calcium chloride they pour on the roads these days for icy conditions, corrodes the steel bodies like battery acid.
