I think I'm screwed

[Mr_D]

Originally Posted by Erlingiii

Attachment 78784
Even if I changed tires and springs that doesn't change the sticker in the door jamb.

Exactly right, only the factory can change the permissible weights. Adding bigger tires, overload springs, air bags etc may make you feel better but doesn't change the legal ratings.

[Cumminsfan]

I didn't know it was illegal to tow over weight with non commercial truck.

[2000 Damon]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

There's no legal pin weight. Read any truck manual and the common stated pin weight is 15-25% of the 5'er.

So if someone was overweight because of too much axel weight on a f250 truck and reduced his pin weight to 12% of the trailer and dropped his pin weight to a legal axel weight, he would be legal.

[sknight]

Originally Posted by 2000 Damon

So if someone was overweight because of too much axel weight on a f250 truck and reduced his pin weight to 12% of the trailer and dropped his pin weight to a legal axel weight, he would be legal.

Yes he would. That 15-25% number is just a rule of thumb for comfortable stable towing. Nothing legal to it, so if stuff can be moved rearward to make him feel better and it comes in under 15% then fine. It would start getting unstable feeling at some point but I imagine that wouldn't happen until it got a bit lower than 12%.

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by 2000 Damon

So if someone was overweight because of too much axel weight on a f250 truck and reduced his pin weight to 12% of the trailer and dropped his pin weight to a legal axel weight, he would be legal.

That's correct. The 15-25% is the recommended pin weight. Same as the 10-15% TT tongue weight. They don't give tickets out for wrong pin weights. They don't give out tickets for being over the RAWR either in the U.S.

Has anyone on here ever been pulled over for being over weight on the RAWR or pin weight? 1st off, how would they have a clue what the 5er weighs and how the truck was built. I highly doubt LEO's are up on the current trends in trucks and have studied all 5th wheel sites to see what they weigh. You can't always go by length because of the new lighter 5ers being built. A 32' DRV weighs 1000's more than a new Cougar 337FLS @ 38'. It's a guessing game for LEO's. Unless the truck and 5er are swaying all over the road then why pull them over?

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

That's correct. The 15-25% is the recommended pin weight. Same as the 10-15% TT tongue weight. They don't give tickets out for wrong pin weights. They don't give out tickets for being over the RAWR either in the U.S.

Has anyone on here ever been pulled over for being over weight on the RAWR or pin weight? 1st off, how would they have a clue what the 5er weighs and how the truck was built. I highly doubt LEO's are up on the current trends in trucks and have studied all 5th wheel sites to see what they weigh. You can't always go by length because of the new lighter 5ers being built. A 32' DRV weighs 1000's more than a new Cougar 337FLS @ 38'. It's a guessing game for LEO's. Unless the truck and 5er are swaying all over the road then why pull them over?

Actually I know a fellow who was pulled onto a scale with a U-Haul trailer behind his half ton. Overweight on truck, trailer and axles. Cost him 800 in fines.

LEO's have the authority to enforce any laws that fall within their mandate. If we know about the stickers on the door and the sides of our trailers so do they.

I managed road contracts that had large truck haul components. I worked with compliance officers who would use tire size charts to determine the capacity of the truck to determine if it was overloaded or not. While 20,000 lbs for an axle is allowed the truck must be equipped to adequately carry the load.

[Cumminsfan]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

Actually I know a fellow who was pulled onto a scale with a U-Haul trailer behind his half ton. Overweight on truck, trailer and axles. Cost him 800 in fines.

LEO's have the authority to enforce any laws that fall within their mandate. If we know about the stickers on the door and the sides of our trailers so do they.

I managed road contracts that had large truck haul components. I worked with compliance officers who would use tire size charts to determine the capacity of the truck to determine if it was overloaded or not. While 20,000 lbs for an axle is allowed the truck must be equipped to adequately carry the load.

There had to be a reason he was pulled over besides just having a U Haul trailer behind him. Something drew the attention of the LEO. He must've looked grossly overloaded.

[JohnRR]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

There had to be a reason he was pulled over besides just having a U Haul trailer behind him. Something drew the attention of the LEO. He must've looked grossly overloaded.

If your hauling as a commercial carrier you are subject to all rules and regulations for motor carriers.

The exemption for rental trucks only comes into play if you are using it for personal/household use, and the trucks in question are never over 26,000GVW.

A motor carrier enforcement officer does not need cause to pull you over and inspect, that right to do so is implied in writing when you register as a motor carrier.

[caissiel]

I was asked one time at the. Can. US Boarder if I had air bags. I did not and he said I had a nice outfit. I just lowered my truck registration to 5400 kg. But licencing fee stays the same. I was previously registered as a Heavy Duty 6000 kg. So I never see the need of all this discussions about the Heavy Duty trucks. They are all designed equally with different registrations anyway.

[Gordon Dewald]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

There had to be a reason he was pulled over besides just having a U Haul trailer behind him. Something drew the attention of the LEO. He must've looked grossly overloaded.

He was in a jurisdiction (BC) that pulls everyone in. It was just one of those days.

I have observed the same jurisdiction set up on a weekend checking everybody. Highway was blocked off and everyone detoured through the scale. I was in a car so waved through. Bunch of 1/2 ton trucks hauling firewood sitting there. From the looks on some of the fellows faces and the piles of firewood sitting at the side of the parking area it looked like there were a lot of overloads (and tickets).

[Jack1234]

Originally Posted by Gordon Dewald

He was in a jurisdiction (BC) that pulls everyone in. It was just one of those days.

I have observed the same jurisdiction set up on a weekend checking everybody. Highway was blocked off and everyone detoured through the scale. I was in a car so waved through. Bunch of 1/2 ton trucks hauling firewood sitting there. From the looks on some of the fellows faces and the piles of firewood sitting at the side of the parking area it looked like there were a lot of overloads (and tickets).

Gord......We also live in B.C. and it is only when recreational tow/trailer combinations face enforcement resulting in fines, licence suspensions, impoundment and/or increased insurance premiums....will people pay attention to & understand how to calculate manufacturers weight specs. In the absence of enforcement everyone will be "special" and the rules will not apply to them!

[Cumminsfan]

I guess that's a good reason to not go to Canada. Or are U.S citizens exempt from weight laws on non commercial trucks?

[Erlingiii]

I would imagine since we are held to what our license states we would also be held to what the sticker in the door says.

[BFlinn181]

Originally Posted by Cumminsfan

I guess that's a good reason to not go to Canada. Or are U.S citizens exempt from weight laws on non commercial trucks?

Yes, because you're American, you are exempt of all Canadian law.