Community Forums

Chuck 1935 · 03-26-2011, 03:59 PM

Been in all 50 states and Canada and never beed weighed or even had anyone ask about the weight. Matter of fact, I never thought about it. In my case, ignorance is truly bliss and I aim to keep it that way !!

Thorfinn · 03-26-2011, 05:35 PM

You probably know your weights and keep it level. No reason you would ever get pulled. I think most drivers do, that's why the event is rare. Common sense is all it takes... Unless you're married to Lucy (Long, Long Trailer)! ;-)

Iron Man · 03-26-2011, 05:40 PM

I know states are cracking down on 5th wheels being pulled by 3/4 ton trucks. Saw a F250 today pulling a 3 axle 5th wheel, I though the front wheels were going to come off the ground. How unsafe and stupid!!

Hooligan · 03-26-2011, 05:58 PM

And just as soon as weight police get done, your insurance company will cancel your policy and you must scrape off your walmart parking permit and all your china made tires will go flat.
Sorry slow night I guess.

laj · 03-26-2011, 06:00 PM

Thorfinn:
Thanks for your response. That is also a standard federal law which most states have adopted as a general guideline.
What i was more interested in was the weighing of each axle, then checking it against the tag inside the vehicle.

I carry DMV code books on the 11 states that i travel in. For my work i deal with inner/outer bridge laws, tire size per weight carried, width, height, length, and almost every conceivable
combination possible.
There are many other aspects such as the speed at which the tire is designed to carry a particular weight, at a particular air pressure.
thanks again for your response
Laj

Thorfinn · 03-26-2011, 06:15 PM

No problem. Years ago I attended a trucking school and got my CDL and did nothing with it. Now that we are going fulltime, probably with a 5er, that knowledge is coming in useful.

Flyer · 03-26-2011, 06:28 PM

My 2006 HR Endeavor was over the rear axle weight limit without any baggage from the factory. After hassleing them they replaced the rear axle with one rated at 21,000 lbs. I'm not sure what I accomplished, but at least if I was in an acident an overweight axle could not be a contributing factor.

Crabby Mike · 03-26-2011, 09:01 PM

In answer to the original question, the only state I know of that "technically" requires all vehicles over a certain weight (in this case 5 tons) to stop at weigh stations is my dear home state, Maryland. The rule is stated on the MDOT site as follows:

8. What vehicles must go through weigh stations in Maryland?

All vehicles with a gross vehicle weight or gross vehicle weight rating of greater than 10,000 pounds must stop at open weigh stations. Only vehicles that are operating in commerce will be subject to a safety inspection.

This is consistent with the signage before the weigh station. However, every RVer who has contacted the state by phone or e-mail (that I have heard of, at least) has been told "don't worry about it, we don't really want you going through our scales, and no one will come after you."

I live very near a scale on I-70, and have passed it often, never pulling in. I'm tempted to sometime, if it's open but not busy, but that never happens. There is usually a steady stream of trucks there, often backed up to the highway, so I'm doubly sure they don't want me there.

Route 66 · 03-27-2011, 04:58 AM

I agree with Mike. I see the signs, but never pulled in nor have I ever seen a RV in the weigh station......... in any state.

swamphog · 03-27-2011, 06:52 AM

When I was a truck driver OTR (a while back) , I never seen a RV of any type in the scale house.
I drove most of the 48 states, seen them on the side of the road with a state patrol, not knowing if they had a problem or speeding, but never seen one in the scale house. As for the turn pikes, they are charge by the weight for semis, as for Illinois, they charge by the axle. As for over weight, its not a moving volation for being over weight, so therefore no insurance company will cancle your policy, or points, if this was true there be alot of drivers not driving. you ( pro drivers) get a fine and have to rearrange the frieght, or remove it, to make it right.
I wouldn't be to concern as long as you are with in your weight limit of your RV, and following the rules and laws in that state.

Crabby Mike · 03-27-2011, 10:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iron Man

I know states are cracking down on 5th wheels being pulled by 3/4 ton trucks. Saw a F250 today pulling a 3 axle 5th wheel, I though the front wheels were going to come off the ground. How unsafe and stupid!!

Sorry if I'm showing my ignorance here, since I'm not a 5-er guy, but isn't one of the major points to a fifth-wheel the fact that the weight on the tow vehicle is ahead of the rear wheels, and thus will not tend to "unweight" the front wheels like a rear hitch can?

BryanL · 03-27-2011, 02:47 PM

interesting how hot some folks get on this topic.

nice to see some folks trying to quote statute, too, but I do wonder it they actually read what they quoted and considered what section of the statutes they quoted from?

re "ANY vehicle can be pulled and weighed. Even a motorcycle. If the weight is in excess of the data plate's GVWR you will get ticketed. " -- If this is in the U.S. (where people have rights they don't in Canada and most other countries), I'd really like to know the cause cited for suspicion and the statute that was violated.

I also find it interesting that someone came up with load imbalance as the issue. That is an entirely different issue than exceeding a vehicle weight rating. Considering vehicle suspensions and what people do to their car, I don't think a ticket for an out of level vehicle would go far with an appropriate legal defense.

Again, a lot of claims about tickets and so on, but the experience of receiving such a thing or of having one given seems to be so rare as to be nonexistent. That experience is saying something for anyone listening.

CityOnA-Hill · 04-12-2011, 05:25 PM

As a former law enforcement officer (also some time as Motor Carrier Compliance Officer, in Florida we do not stop RVs unless they have a commercial ad on the RV or Trailer. Most states carry around a 20 to 24000 max on any one axle. Remember the scales are for "Commercial" vehicles. Every state has its own laws on weight and length but the Feds have laws on equipment which most states support. I don't know many officer who have fined people more than 3 or 4 thousand for weight, but it could happen.

RickO · 04-12-2011, 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BryanL

Again, a lot of claims about tickets and so on, but the experience of receiving such a thing or of having one given seems to be so rare as to be nonexistent. .

Very true. And I'm sure that even if a case could be cited (which didn't involve a serious accident caused by a weight issue) a strong legal defense could probably beat the ticket. Many topics we discuss here are about corner cases and what could theoretically happen but there's not a list of members stepping up to say it did in fact happen to them. IMHO, it's still a good discussion. Maybe the best example of this is the Montana LLC issue. Many have used it for years as a way to avoid paying otherwise higher taxes on their rigs and have had no problem. There are several cases now being cited in the news about a couple of states cracking down but they are a drop in the bucket compared to the number of LLCs owning RVs. I think the point is that problems COULD arise.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CityOnA-Hill

As a former law enforcement officer (also some time as Motor Carrier Compliance Officer, in Florida we do not stop RVs unless they have a commercial ad on the RV or Trailer. .

Can you help us understand the significance of the ad on the rig? Does this make it a commercial vehicle? There was a discussion earlier about the ads all over the rental RVs in the US. CruiseAmerica plasters their name and contact info all over rented rigs.

Thanks,

Rick