What is my gross combined vehicle weight rating?

[ENafziger]

Provide proof.

It's that simple.

Furthermore, Harvey, what ****ing questions have I asked, aside from PROVIDE PROOF?<!-- google_ad_section_end --> <!-- / message -->

Well, I've checked into this for TN where I live. It's legal to pull doubles up to 65' total length. As Harvey stated, nobody seems to care what ratings who put on what, other than tire ratings. If you have working lights, brakes, your tires are rated for the load, and you have the tow vehicle tagged for the weight you are pulling, everyone is happy! In TN, it is expensive to tag for heavy weight though, even for "J" tags which are farm/personal use. My 16,000 lb tags are roughly $110 per year. To go to 26,000 lb tags, it would cost me $3xx per year.

Vehicles must have at least
1 horsepower per 150 kg of total GVW.

Wow! Our trucks have the power then... for a measely 300 hp at the rear wheels, we can tow 100,000 lbs!!!! That is if we are tagged for it and our tires are rated for that!!!

--Eric

 

[Road Dog]

My brother's little Mack single axle has a 4 cylinder and around 160hp (I think). He's licensed for around 40,000lb so 1hp per 150kg (330lb) makes sense on a full sized truck.

 

[ACerf]

Regardless of what anyone says. I would try and stay within the weight limits posted on the truck. It is the responisblity of the owner to not overload there truck. Just because some people seem to think it is okay doesn't make it right. I can assure you if you were in a serious accident and in the wrong state, with a sharp Cop you may find yourself in bind. Personally I would not take the change. South Dakota is not one those states that gets very technical about the weight issue or anything else appears, but California on the other hand is anal!

 

[HBarlow]

Regardless of what anyone says. I would try and stay within the weight limits posted on the truck. It is the responisblity of the owner to not overload there truck. Just because some people seem to think it is okay doesn't make it right. I can assure you if you were in a serious accident and in the wrong state, with a sharp Cop you may find yourself in bind. Personally I would not take the change. South Dakota is not one those states that gets very technical about the weight issue or anything else appears, but California on the other hand is anal!

Unfortunately that old internet rumor has no basis in fact.

It pops up from time to time on internet forums but no one has ever been able to post any verifiable proof of anyone being "in a bind. "

ALL states follow DOT regulations for interstate commercial trucking. States cannot impose their own unique rules and regulations on trucks registered and drivers licensed in other states when engaged in commercial trucking.

As I have posted many times, my trucks were registered for 26k and I hauled in 48 states and Canada LEGALLY. I was scale weighed hundreds, perhaps 1000 times, had my documents inspected perhaps 100 times, and never had the slightest problem with my weights, registered or actual.

 

[ACerf]

Unfortunately that old internet rumor has no basis in fact.



It pops up from time to time on internet forums but no one has ever been able to post any verifiable proof of anyone being "in a bind. "



ALL states follow DOT regulations for interstate commercial trucking. States cannot impose their own unique rules and regulations on trucks registered and drivers licensed in other states when engaged in commercial trucking.



As I have posted many times, my trucks were registered for 26k and I hauled in 48 states and Canada LEGALLY. I was scale weighed hundreds, perhaps 1000 times, had my documents inspected perhaps 100 times, and never had the slightest problem with my weights, registered or actual.

I agree that all states follow DOT Regs. But it has nothing to do with the regs, it has to do with how the police deal with the situation. Believe me I have been there and California CHP's are the worst! In theory everything should be the same, but in the real world things don't always work that way.

Everyone has a right to do whatever they want, but I am not going to is all I am saying.

 

[HBarlow]

It never hurts to exercise caution.

I will agree with you that if any state would try to impose their own goofy rules it would be KA bu CHP is so overwhelmed with big trucks they run out screaming to run a guy hauling commercial with a pickup off their scales.

My first trip loaded into KA I pulled into a scale up near the Siskayoos and a berzerk trooper came running out waving his arms and yelling at me to get off his scales and never come back! Just another day in wierdville.

They do treat anything with a flatbed, even a Furd Ranger, as a truck and require them to cross the scales.

 

[RVTRKN]

Perhaps this is where the confusion comes from. I don't register my truck for my GCWR, I register it for my GVWR, or a close approximation of it. Nowhere in my registration does it mention trailer weight or combination weight. In WA, where I spent most of my life, and now in in FL, you register the truck for the gross vehicle weight, and you're not legal if you exceed the manufacturer's stated maximum weights.



















You keep telling me to go talk to other people. WHY???

I don't give a rats *** about increasing my GCWR, I don't plan on hauling much of anything for the next few years at least. If I decide I want a heavy trailer, I'll get a heavier duty truck.

I too have driven heavy across scales without so much as raising an eye, but had they wanted to hassle me, they could have easily found violations. Like I said, just because you can get away with it, doesn't mean it's legal.

I apoligize, I was confusing you with the OP, so no need to ask the question. But its perfectly legal and I would do it again if I thought I could make any real money at it. The registration and insurance would put my bill somewhere around 4K before I did anything else.

 

[AH64ID]

8800 MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT

- 7000 SCALE WEIGHT EMPTY

--------



1800 pound payload.



Minus of course about 400 pounds for 2 people, another 300 pounds for the toolbox and all of the crap I carry with me 24/7. That leaves about 1100 pounds for payload + trailer tongue/pin weight. Not a whole heck of a lot.

You don't appear to have a sig so I don't know what truck you have. . But my QC LB weighs in at 8K even without me and a couple hundred pounds in the tool box, even empty its much heavier than the curb weight. Dodge lists the curb at 7259, so you may want to weigh your truck. I bet its heavier than you think.



If I had a 3/4 ton it would be overloaded with just the family and dog, and according to your logic illegal if there was anything in the bed or hooked up to the hitch, and we know that's not true or 3/4 tons wouldn't sell as everyone who owned one would get a ticket every-time they used it.

 

[Cosmo]

You don't appear to have a sig so I don't know what truck you have. . But my QC LB weighs in at 8K even without me and a couple hundred pounds in the tool box, even empty its much heavier than the curb weight. Dodge lists the curb at 7259, so you may want to weigh your truck. I bet its heavier than you think.



If I had a 3/4 ton it would be overloaded with just the family and dog, and according to your logic illegal if there was anything in the bed or hooked up to the hitch, and we know that's not true or 3/4 tons wouldn't sell as everyone who owned one would get a ticket every-time they used it.

Repeat after me: Just because you don't get a ticket, doesn't mean it's not illegal.



My truck weighs 7200 pounds with me in it and no gear, last time I rolled the scales at the sled pull I was about 7500 pounds with a full tank, me, tool box, ladder rack, and my gear.



I've got an 08 QC short bed 4x4 with nearly all the bells and whistles. Dodge says my truck weighs in at around 6900.

 

[AH64ID]

I have spoken to DOT, state troopers, and local police. . so you repeat after everyone else. . IT'S LEGAL. . shall we try it again... IT'S LEGAL!!

Your truck is very light, hard to beleive that 2' of bed makes up 500+ lbs. Dodge lists the 08 QC SB Laramie at 7083 with a G56 and 7032 with an auto.

 

[ENafziger]

8800 MAXIMUM GROSS WEIGHT
- 7000 SCALE WEIGHT EMPTY

On a certified scale, my '06 QuadCab weighs in at 9,200 lbs without any passengers and nothing in the bed other than the toolboxes. My tires are rated for a combined 16,000 lbs though, so everything is legal

--Eric

 

[Cosmo]

I have spoken to DOT, state troopers, and local police. . so you repeat after everyone else. . IT'S LEGAL. . shall we try it again... IT'S LEGAL!!



Your truck is very light, hard to beleive that 2' of bed makes up 500+ lbs. Dodge lists the 08 QC SB Laramie at 7083 with a G56 and 7032 with an auto.

Ok, you've spoken to a number of people... where is it in writing? I want to see it in writing. Until then, it's not proven.





I'll give you the rundown of what's normally in my truck:



08 QC short bed 4x4, 68rfe, 285/75r17 cooper discovery LRD mud tires on stock aluminum wheels, stock suspension, ~8" drop receiver w/ load leveling coupler (bars kept in the trailer), ~4" drop receiver w/out coupler, 12' 5/8" chain, halon extinguisher, 3"x20' recovery strap, half a dozen ratchet straps, pair of gloves, three flares, small first aid kit, cab cover, track rack tool box and lumber racks, and with a full tank of fuel and me in it (I'm about 230 these days) my truck rolls the scales at around 7500 pounds. My 7000 pound capacity lift at work picks it up (but barely).

On a certified scale, my '06 QuadCab weighs in at 9,200 lbs without any passengers and nothing in the bed other than the toolboxes. My tires are rated for a combined 16,000 lbs though, so everything is legal



--Eric

 

[AH64ID]

Again... laws generally tell you whats prohibited, not whats allowed.

By your in writing logic is 65 mph in a 75 mph zone legal? The writing says 75, not 65.

 

[TCDiesel]

OK . . I have been stop twice and ground pressure check twice By the MN DOT this combo 29,512 one time ,the other 28,702 Gross, On the 29,512 the steering axle was 5300lbs the driver 6400lbs the rest on the tri-axle trailer. . the tri-axle lic GVW 18k and the truck 12k. DOT. Tires 285/75E,trailer tires Stamp 3323. MN change the commercial allowed Street Parking to 12k and less So now the trailer is lic for 12k. the Trailer DOT Stamp is 22k. The truck GVWR 9900, MN allows 10% over GVWR so that why 12 Lic plate. Its legal, their is NO tow GVWR rating. . as long as YOU meet the DOT regulation for Gross combine and legal DL. . your good to go.

 

[TCDiesel]

This truck does have additional rear leaf springs,Upgraded Trans,Brakes and coils up front, With PRXB. it has custom build atwood hitch GN by A&R. . with this type of commercial hauling and off road use. B&W and Reese are NOT up to the Job. the placement and weight distribution is not acceptable with box hitches. . The WW can have them. .

 

[MelvinPierce]

In ND, I need to register for the COMBINATION, ie TOTAL weight of the rig. So, I am registered for 25,000#. I am at 22-24K, depending on load.

Fines get quite large for overweight. ie, if I am reg. for 12K, and am at 24K, I am 12K overweight. About a $5000 fine here.

Other states vary in how they handle this. You need to know which states you are going to be in, and see what THEIR laws are, not your laws.

It cost me about $100 extra per year for the extra weight.

I am within ALL axle and tire ratings on my vehicle. NOT GVWR or GCWR though, but the state and DOT does not care about them, just axle, tire, and gross license weight.

I am in the commercial trucking industry, owning a trucking company hauling crude oil in the Bakken Formation of western ND.

MP

 

[NIsaacs]

So... using my '01 for an example, the door tag says, GVW 8800 lbs, GAW front 5200 lbs, GAW rear 6084 lbs with 245/75R/16 E tires inflated to 65# front and 80# rear mounted on 16x7. 5 rims.



So... . if the rims, tires or inflation pressure changes, will any of the GAW's or GVW change? If not, who says so, if yes, who says so?



The glove box tag says Front axle 5200 lbs, the rear Dana 80 is 8,000 lbs, the Dodge Catalog for '01 says Front Axle is 4850 lbs, the rear is 6200 lbs but with the V/10 or Diesel, the rear is 6500 lbs, yet all 2500 models say the GVW is 8800 lbs regardless of engine size.



So... . in a legal battle, where would the can of worms start or stop? Is the door tag a legal weight tag or for EPA/fuel milage requirements?



I think the license and weight fee plays the bigger role in personal use and if it is legal in your state it is legal in any state.



Nick

 

[HBarlow]

Ok, you've spoken to a number of people... where is it in writing? I want to see it in writing. Until then, it's not proven. QUOTE]

It's pretty obvious you just don't like what we are telling you so you refuse to believe it and toss out a silly argument like prove it in writing. No one can prove a negative.

If you really want the answer, ask your own state's DOT enforcement division.

 

[Cosmo]

Again... laws generally tell you whats prohibited, not whats allowed.



By your in writing logic is 65 mph in a 75 mph zone legal? The writing says 75, not 65.

It's a maximum speed limit, not a mandated speed. Invalid argument is invalid.

It's pretty obvious you just don't like what we are telling you so you refuse to believe it and toss out a silly argument like prove it in writing. No one can prove a negative.



If you really want the answer, ask your own state's DOT enforcement division.

Typically when someone asserts something, they provide a source and/or resources. Without it, you might as well be an unverified Wikipedia page. Info may or may not be accurate, take it with a grain of salt.





So provide a source that says "you can alter the GCWR", since that's what this thread is about.

 

[HBarlow]

This thread has NOTHING to do with altering manufacturer's GCWR. GCWR is a guidelne provided by the manufacturer based on their own confidential in-house guidelines to protect them from warranty claims for excessive overloading while a truck is under warranty. It primarily deals with load startability on grades and cooling system capability. It has nothing to do with load carrying ability.

It is not a legal weight and, as we have said repeately, it is not recognized by DOT.

US DOT regulations determine highway load ratings based on weight on each axle or tire. That information is spelled out in federal DOT regs and is available on-line.

We have told you repeatedly what it is and how it is enforced.

If you choose to remain ignorant you are free to do so. I will ignore your posts in future now that I know how you think and react when you learn something new which is counter to long held opinions.