Oh yes, love the towing threads when the Payload Police and Towing Lawyers with a degree from Facebook U all show up. I will get some people fired up and make the statement that many people making replies probably have very little to no towing experience, and absolutely zero legal experience. Every time somebody asks about referencing an actual court case it's the same answer.....several years ago I searched the internet and found some case, but now don't have any links to it or know the details........ I'm sure many people have heard the story about the person who shoveled the snow off the sidewalk in front of their house, somebody slipped on the sidewalk and got hurt, and they sued and won a settlement against that person because they had shoveled snow from the sidewalk.......
Yes, there is some potential liability if you tow over the factory ratings of the truck. Yes, you should use some common sense when towing. No, you shouldn't try to tow a 15,000 lb. travel trailer with a 1500. The point on liability, if you cause a serious accident that kills somebody else you are liable for this and could be sued regardless if you are towing or not, or towing within the truck's rating. How many people on here drive over the speed limit going down the freeway? If you caused a wreck you could get sued and lose the case because you were speeding. What is more "illegal", towing over the factory rating or speeding? Much more likely to get a ticket for speeding, right? Other reasons for losing in civil court. Maybe your tires were getting a little low on the tread? When is the last time you had the brakes checked? Do you have tinted windows that impaired visibility? Etc, etc, etc.....