What happens if you are towing a vehicle and exceed the maximum load capacity?

Question

Just curious what damages might occur

Answer 1

Probably the most immediate danger is, you step on the brake and your trailer pushes you right into the middle of the intersection.  Or into the car ahead of you.

Either that, or the trailer starts swaying uncontrollably and pushes your car off the road.

The next most likely consequence is, catastrophic transmission failure, but that would take a few miles.

The frame has to hold it.

The drive train has to pull it.

The brakes have to stop it.

Answer 2

damage ur car. and more damage if u end up in an accident

Answer 3

You will over work the complete vehicle to the point that something will have to give plus you could lose your load and you just might be ticketed for this if caught.......

Answer 4

Overheat your engine, transmission, transfer case or differential.  Over stress same components, causing excessive wear and possibly premature failure.  Brake fade/failure due to excess weight, possibly causing accident.  You could also be ticketed for exceeding the GVWR of the towing vehicle.

Oh, yeah, and it'll void your warranty, too.  It's just not a good idea.

Answer 5

I'd say all that stuff JR said up above...

Overheat your engine, transmission,  ...excessive wear and possibly premature failure. Brake fade/failure due to excess weight, possibly causing accident   blah blah blah...

But when I was young and maybe a bit closer to the stupid side than I am now, I towed a '72 Cadillac DeVille with a '61 VW Beetle.

We rented a bumper mounted tow bar from a local U-Haul, attached it to the Caddy and towed it with my completely 100% stock VW.

I towed it almost 12 miles, almost a straight shot, trying to time the lights. My only problem was I needed someone in the Caddy to steer around at corners -- if I couldn't go over about 15 it wouldn't steer.

The VW only suffered it's dignity. I continued to drive the VW for several years after that.

I'd say, depending on what you need to do, if it's just a short tow and you take it real easy you just might pull it off.

Answer 6

Well depends how far and fast and trailer weight. If you weren't going far and not fast, you'll probably be fine.

I onced pulled a 8000 pound boat with a lower then class 1 hitch(I installed it myself). I was shocked that the hitch actually held, and lasted 8 years, till I scraped that car.