Things might be different in Alaska, but I believe that the rating of 24,500 that was stated is the GCWR found in the owners manual, and not on the door sticker. The door sticker will only have the GVWR, which is what most cops (at least all of the ones I have run into down here) look at. You have to add the GVWR of the trailer in tow to compute what he can legally haul. The GCWR from Ford is more of a limit based on a multitude of factors.
You are right a multitude of factors. Unless I am wrong the weakest link in that multitude of factors is what determans what the factory picks for there load rating. ie. size of brakes, load carrying capability of tires, horse power, cooling capacity, etc.
No mater what one licenses the truck for he/she can not go over that rating and still be legal. one can go less but not more.
If the factory said he could tow up to 24500 with the truck then I would be willing to bet after all the calculating was done he could not tow more then that, it may say less but not more.
next can you have the factory load rating made higher?
Yes it can be done but it is much cheaper just to buy a truck with a higher rating. let alone the red tape one would have to go through.
Like I said been there done that.
the original question asked if he could be cited? yes.
now could he do it and get away with it? yes
is it safe? depends on a lot of things.
I do it all the time.
