Towing 32,000 with 1 Ton - Legally!

[Cooker]

This was taken from another site. I know this is about a Ford but this cannot be right? It is because the DOT is not going to enforce the mfg's ratings?







"About a month ago, I pulled across the WI DOT scales and weighed in at 42,830lbs (99 F-350, 36' tri-axle tandem duals, Cat D5N) They made me pull into the lot and came out to pay me a little visit. I could just tell by the way that they came out that they were just dieing to write me a ticket. But after killing the better part of 30 minutes and 2 more trips across the scale I was on my way again.



They figured that there was no way that I was legal, but they were wrong. I was actually under what I could have been hauling. The truck weight was 11,420 (truck has GVW of 11,500 and licensed for 14,000) trailer weight was 31,410 (traier GWV is 36,000 lbs and licensed for same).



But I was 100% legal and in the clear. "

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Stupid but with 7852. 5 pound pin weight and ~3000 stock rear axle weight, you will be still under the tire and axle limits on a Dana 80 full floater (11,500#).

 

[DHorton]

You can license your truck for whatever you want to call it. The department of revenue does not care. However, the DOT/FMCSR does. Your truck with the bed on it is considered a straight truck, since you have the ability to haul freight once disconnected from the trailer. This was a $1200 learning experience for me. Each state is allowed to put a little twist on the Federal statutes, so you need to be boned up on all of the ones you run into. aseigworth is correct about the CDL as well. It is not what they are tagged (license plate) for, but what they are rated from the manufacturer. One quick thing about his post above, did you notice that he has his truck licensed (department of revenue) for more than it is rated for (department of transportation)? Interesting, but that also was a $500 learning lesson for me. Oh well, he was fortunate that the WI DOT does not, or did not in this case, ticket for the infractions. Hope this does help someone out. When you have questions concerning what is legal hauling commercially, always contact your state's Motor Carrier Compliance Office (MCCO). Then force the issue for someone to take a stand on an issue (DOT can be quite wishy washy).

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Truck must be listed as a Truck Tractor when towing a "Commercial" trailer in excess of 10,001 lbs.

Where did you get that rule?

 

[PToombs]

They should have drug tested that guy! Even if he is "legal", he's got to be stoned or stupid to haul a D5 on a 1-ton. Unfortunately, he'll probably kill some one before he gets a clue.

 

[jimnance]

Rigs hauling for hire fall under federal and state regulations. Rigs being used as RV's generally are regulated by the states.



There are many states like Texas that will let you license your commercial vehicle for whatever you want. As long as you don't go over axle weight many of these states won't bother you. They pretty much don't care about the manufacturers GCVWR.



OTOH, places like California and Oregon do pay attention to commercial haulers and get very excited if the rig is over it's GVWR. They mostly leave the RV crowd alone unless you are doing something really stupid like driving at an excessive speed, etc.



I've seen many Hot Shots with CTD's pulling 48' step deck trailers and pulling as much as 35K. They do it routinely, but have to be careful which states they go through.



Is it safe? I wouldn't count on it.



Lot's of strange rules in different states governing RV's. For example, in Oregon you can purchase a Class 8 truck (big rig) and hook it to a fifth wheel and RV to your hearts content with only a Class C drivers license. However, as soon as you unhook from the fifth wheel it's no longer an RV and you technically need a at least a Class B license. Go figure that one!

 

[PatrickCampbell]

Still confused here... Many trailers exceed 10,001 GVW, doesn't mean you have to call the truck a "tractor", do you?



Say for example I use a 2 axle 14,000 trailer commercially...



I am registering in NJ--they won't even let me register it as a "tractor" because the title says its a truck. My combi is a "truck and trailer" not "Tractor trailer". I plan on operating in PA as well, though.



I have ordered #194 off the penn dot website so i can get some more info.

 

[MMeier]

Every state it seems has its own interpretation of rules and regulations.

 

[NIsaacs]

Trucking rules and regulations are so complex that if you do any trucking, you can rest assured that some where, some how you were illegal. Federal, state, county and city laws all come into play. Arizona has some of the most restrictive of all the states, with weight being at the top of the list.



A class 8 truck can haul 80,000 lbs gross if it is all placed just right and if the truck & trailer is long enough (the bridge law). You can haul 12,000lbs on the steer axle and 34,000lbs each on the tandem duals, 12k+34k+34k=80,000k. So, if say, you can only get 10,000lbs on the front axle you are now limited to only 78,000lbs gross. Thats why most trucks have sliding 5th wheels and sliding trailer tandems to help you stay at the max weight per axle. Some states allow 20,000 lbs per trailer axle if there is at least a ten foot spread between them for 86,000 lbs total. 12k+34k+40k=86,000 lbs, thats why you see a lot of doubles and spread axle trailers in those states.



The interstate and main secondary highways allow you to go 14 feet high and 8' 6" or 102" wide. Yet you see 102" trailers on all highways, including my factory 104" equipment trailer. I have never been stoped, but if I was they could find me illegal. Most good car type trailers are now 102" wide, yet per the law you can only use certain highways.



On a small truck in AZ. thats licensed for 10,000 lbs and trailer thats licensed for 10,000 lbs can haul 20,000 lbs gross if you don't go over the 10,000 per vehicle. However if you license the truck for 26,000 lbs and the trailer for 10,001 you can now haul 26,000 lbs anywhere on the total combo.



I am not smart enough to truck in Arizona anymore, so I don't





"NICK"