[Bring_Back_Shantz]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

Again, if pulling the trailer unloaded was as dangerous as you make it out to be, there would be a dozen trailers flipped into the ditch every weekend on HWY 1.

As long as other factors are covered, towing an extra 400 lbs should be well within the safety margins. Especially if, as I said, you take it easy (i.e. max out at 80 km/h, etc)

I'm ok with differing opinions on whether he should do it. The question as to whether it is "dangerous"? It simply isn't unreasonably so, no more than towing a trailer in the first place.

It absolutely is though. Those towing capacities are there for a reason and arbitrarily deciding x lbs of extra weight isn't something that your average Joe should be doing. If 500lbs is okay, then is 600lbs? It's only 100lbs over what you've said is safe, what about 100lbs more than that?

Besides, it's pretty clear that he's going to be well over the capacity, not just 500 lbs, unless he doesn't intend to put anything in the trailer at all.

Some pretty educated people work pretty hard to figure out what weight will be safe to tow with a certain vehicle, and yes the add a safety factor, but it's called a safety factor for a reason...because going over the prescribed limit, makes doing it less safe.