[slowmover]

I have page upon page of angry posts saying i'm endangering others to even consider, ridicule, and panning that idea due to lawsuit risks if something ever goes wrong for being radically beyond it's designed tow weight. I couldn't find one single person in support of it on any towing related, Caprice related, or diesel related board - even people with stouter HD chassis half tons say that's almost too much for them to safely stop or handle, let alone normal 1/2 tons which are still stouter than any Charger or Caprice. :-/ Most don't even think the 7k rating of the Fleetwood is safe and that's from guys moving these weights all the time. So i'm pretty set on just using a 3/4 ton chassis, if not pickup cab for the underpinnings for safety.

Don't know what they're talking about from the standpoint of loads, of law, or what their not-so-cowardly forefathers have done with plenty of margin. One can see this on RV boards as well. A world of ignorance. In the meantime, those who know what they are about fit the vehicles, optimize the lash-up and get down the road. And have for more than fifty years.

But it's more expensive up front.

Aero changes the equation of what is wanted as it is primary for a highway vehicle. Weight is the secondary consideration. In all cases it will be the tow vehicle with the most accurate steering, and suspension most resistant to the vehicle being moved from it's path that makes it the better choice. A pickup -- especially 4WD with live axles -- is at the wrong end of the spectrum. The rollover propensity, alone, makes it the worst choice. As to braking, any trailer that cannot stop itself under any conditions is defective in design or maintenance or both. The tow vehicle and the trailer ought to be able to stop each other without the brakes of the other working. Etc.

Any vehicle chosen as tow vehicle has limitations. But the one which starts with the best design will return the best performance whether on the road or for dollars spent.

You still need, IMO, to narrow down your definition:

- 10K payload across the Continental Divide

is completely different than

- Running around a major metro region with a fairly economical combined rig.

You won't have both in one rig. Spec your rig for your climate, terrain, use. Not the outliers. That's where you hire out the load.

And

10k miles per year isn't enough to re-invent the wheel as you are trying to do. Not enough savings to justify expense (especially time). Towing is generally a 30-40% penalty over solo miles. Best aero might bring that to a 20% penalty. Do the math.

In which case a sedan with an open trailer and some hard panels/shells and tarps for aero & all-weather will do well enough. Costs go up from there with quickly diminishing returns.

What you want to do, and what you ought to do, still haven't met up.

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