[mjlaupp]

Originally Posted by ThePair

Is it any coincidence that many vehicles fall into "3500#" or "5000#" towing capacities? How is it possible that different manufacturers somehow managed to engineer multiple vehicles, and all end up with exactly the same capacities? Or, perhaps these are essentially categories to give a "soft" indication of the towing duty that is expected with this type of vehicle?

The reason that most vehicles fall into 3500# or 5000# towing capacities is that the weakest link in most towing equations is the hitch. Class 2 hitches are rated 360/3500# and class 3 hitches are rated at 500/5000#. Example: A vehicle may be capable of towing 3945#, however, it is equipped with a class 2 350/3500# receiver hitch because that hitch is within it's towing capabilities. If it was equipped with a class 3 500/5000# hitch, then someone would try to tow more than the vehicle was rated for simply because the hitch is stamped 500/5000# capacity. This could lead to legal confrontations.