Weigh Scales while traveling

[Tagalong]

Steve, this new forum is great! I will have plenty of questions in the months ahead because I'm new to the "Cummins world of power. " (My first post is on the other forum. )But here is a question that I'm sure will stir the "forum pot. " Now that I have a 3500 and am required to STOP into every WEIGHT STATION what can I expect from various states (presently, along the eastern coast)?
How strict, pass you through, drive by, etc. Given the fact that I have the Auto. Trans. my GCWR may be over the limit. I'll sit back and enjoy the reading... and let the games begin!

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White 2001, 3500, Auto,3:54,QC,2WD,LB,34'DBL slide Cardinal 5er

 

[Joe G.]

Tagalong,

In CA all the weigh stations say "No Pickups".

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Joe George
Eureka, CA

'95 2500 CC auto 4X4,3. 54,Combo EGT/boost guage,custom switch panel,PacBrake,TST #5,BD valve body,Automatic motorhome steps on both sides,Foldacover hard bed cover,Cummins chrome kit,Black steel grill guard,Front hitch receiver

 

[Don D]

O. K. Back to the topic here... #ad

I think you will find that while most states have different weights that require a vehicle to scale, most only pertain to comercial vehicles. If you're not hauling for hire, I doubt you have anything to worry about.

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'93 W250, LE, CC, 4x4, 5spd. , Cummins, K&N, 16cm turbo, Power Wagon injectors, Professionaly rebuilt and calibrated pump, straight exhaust, Lund visor w/lights, 5th wheel, Gooseneck, H. D. rear hitch, Aluminum everything. My Rigs

 

[Larry Willard]

I have been 40 states so far, and have yet to see one requiring me to stop with the 5ver. I have been stoppped in a fuel inspection station.
Larry

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Ram Rod
'01 3500 white quad cab sport 4x4 ETH DEE SLT+ 4:10s posi Pac brake combo gauge tow/camper 20k reese 5th hitch pkg.
35' holiday rambler 5th wheel

 

[Pogodually]

After 5,000 miles this summer and many states over last many years. I have yet to pull across a hi-way scale. Some hi-ways scales say NO RV's or pickup's. They may required weighting RV's some day but not yet. Not to worry at this point unless you are doing commerical hauling. As they say Hammer Down. Trailer Life or Good Sam will let you know when to weight, if you read them.

 

[Tagalong]

Thanks for the input folks. The last thing I need is to have all the truckers laughing or angry at me as I sit in line with them. Afterall, I know they wouldn't be laughing at the Cummins #ad


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White 2001, 3500, Auto,3:54,QC,2WD,LB,34' DBL slide Cardinal 5er

 

[Bug Out]

They start requiring P/U's , or 1 Tons to stop at scales in Ca, You'll be watching me drive right by, and out of this state in 5th gear at 2800 RPM'S. ( Thats not to say I won't do that soon anyway because of other laws/firearms)

Of course, you live back there in Liberman/ Kennedy/Schumer country. .

God bless you poor folks. . We have the female equivlant's out here called, FIENstein/Boxer. Its just a matter of time before those knuckleheads do that here. .

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1997 3500 Dually CC, Emerald Green 5 speed, 4:10 , Reese 15K 5th hitch, K&N Air Filter re-installed, Jacob E-brake, gutted cat, running boards. Maybe more,if I can keep it out of DC'$ hands. . Have aux. fuel/tool box in the works.

 

[BCFAST]

Sorry to burst your bubble, Tagalong, but the truckers DO laugh at our little pickups! We are refered to as "peanut diesels". You will not have to stop at any weigh stations, however, you may have to stop at agricultural inspection stations. Just blow by the scales with the cruise control on, and smile to yourself at the time you just saved!

 

[Ninearrow]

I pull a gooseneck flatbed, but not for hire. I have never pulled in and have never had a problem. Frankly, I think the DOT people and the big truckers might be annoyed if we pulled in and made the lines longer.

If your pulling for hire, that's a different story. I think the rule of thumb is over 26,000 combined weight, pull in.

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99 3500 QC 4X4 5sp 3. 54 K&N air filter, DiPricol gauges, 275 hp injectors, Pacbrake, Westin nerfs, GN hitch, Tekonsha Brake controller, Mopar seat covers, Husky mats, silencer ring removed, Draw-tite front receiver, Rancho 9000's

 

[Tagalong]

Thanks, Dave P. /Mike H. , BCFAST and NINEARROW. "Peanut Diesels" hmmmm, just when your beginning to feel like the "king of the road!" I guess I can accept that. I've had a good driving relationship with the truckers throughout all of my towing with my first 5er. I know my place and give them plenty of respect and I've gotten it in return. I don't blame them for disliking the "4wheelers!" Come to think of it... the "4wheelers" do all they can to get in my way when I'm towing. I'm sure everyone of you towing/hauling knows what I mean. #ad


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White 2001, 3500, Auto,3:54,QC,2WD,LB,34' DBL slide Cardinal 5er

 

[BCFAST]

I made sure to wire my trailer lights thru a toggle in the dash, that way I can 'flash' the truckers for passing "thank yous" without turning off my headlights. This will help endear us all to the pro drivers. They appreciate courtesy! Perhaps, if we can get ALL of our loyal TDR members to wire-up and use this practice, the truckers at large will recognise the Ram driver as more professional and courteous than those 'other' tow rigs!

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97 2500 CC 4x4 3. 54 5spd, #12 plate, 4inch open exhaust, 235/85 Michelins, PrimeLoc, Red Tops

 

[One Old Dog]

Tafalong,What tag do you have on you truck. I have a 3500,I pull 65 feet and have not pulled into a weight station. I run 24m tag on my truck and pull in about 6 different states. I haven,t pulled out west yet, I plan on it this summer I guess i had better check on the law in some states.

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Dirt Water Fox

 

[Tagalong]

Joe K. What do you mean by "tag?" If you mean Reg. plates they are "Commercial. " In Mass. any vehicle with (get this) 5 or more wheels on the ground is considered a Commercial vehicle. My Insurance company says Mass. Commercial registration requires, all the requirements/restrictions that the "big boys" have. (Not to mention the insurance costs!)
When I drove the truck off the lot, I had to have it inspected. I wondered why the guy was looking for a fire extinguisher and chock blocks in the cab!!
I'm well under 26K combined (see Signature) and I don't haul for hire. That's why I posted this question.
As you can see by the posts in this thread there are not too many pickups stopping in at the weigh stations.

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White 2001, 3500, Auto,3:54,QC,2WD,LB,34' DBL slide Cardinal 5er

 

[David Phipps/Mike Hurd]

Unless, your hauling FOR HIRE You do notneed to stop. I ontheother hand Have to stop. Even while empty. I have to keep current log books and even while off duty I stop. As long as the IFTA stickers are on there I'll stop You have nothing to worry about, Mike

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92 Std cab. LE. 215 P-pump reman cummins motor. NV 4500 5 speed, 3. 54, 105 gal Aux tank in bed. Borgeson shaft, Banks Power pack. 12cm Hot end housing w/wastegate. 4" Exh, Pyro & boost guage, oil temp guage. E-brake. Galaxy DX99V, Used as a Hotshot/express Reg. at 36,000 lbs in 48 states. Custom built DOT approved Sleeper unit. & Texas Star 400 http://hometown. aol.com/hotshothauler/myhomepage/business.html 2000, Air brakes on truck & trailer. 19,000 miles todate. DOT custom built sleeper unit. pulling a 40' G/N flatbed
2000 FL-70 Pulling a 48' low boy.

 

[One Old Dog]

will,I just took Massachusetts off of my list of places to see. In Kansas the tag on your truck tells you what you can pull. You can buy ether 12m or 24m tags.

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Dirt Water Fox

 

[Shelby Griggs]

I think the scale regs vary by state. I have made a couple of trips x-country pulling a gooseneck with a helicopter on board. I did stop in some state (Nebraska, I think) because the sign indicated ALL vehicles over 10,000 pounds. It was a company pickup and looked commercial, but was not for hire. I pulled through, and got a little bit of funny looks, but I figured better this than running the scale. There was no exemption sign for pickups or RV's. Most states you are OK under 20,000 or with an RV, but I would check to be sure. I know there is also some restrictions on RV's on some highways in the SE if you are too big.

Shelby

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2001. 5 2500 QC LB 4WD, ETH, DEE, 3. 54 gears, Laramie SLT, Camper Special, Trailer Tow, Travel Convenience Group, Power Driver Seat, Alarm System, Remote Keyless Entry, Fog Lamps, Cab Clearance Lamps, HD Transfer Case, Bright White with a Gray Interior. Built 09-15-00, took delivery on 10-06-00, 1749 miles as of 11-25-00. Custom aluminum work body / flat bed. Coming soon: E-Brake and gauges.

 

[pcorssmit]

In Colorado, you have to pull into weigh stations if you are commercial and over 26,000 GVW. For portables, it is 10,000 and over for commercial vehicles (if I remember right).

Pete

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'97 2500 CC 4X4 5spd Sport
'83 K5 Blazer 350 TBI (ex 6. 2), 39. 5 TSLs, 3" lift, Dana 60/GM 14 blt, Detroits

 

[samb]

Originally posted by BCFAST:
I made sure to wire my trailer lights thru a toggle in the dash, that way I can 'flash' the truckers for passing "thank yous" without turning off my headlights. This will help endear us all to the pro drivers. They appreciate courtesy! Perhaps, if we can get ALL of our loyal TDR members to wire-up and use this practice, the truckers at large will recognise the Ram driver as more professional and courteous than those 'other' tow rigs!

I just use my emergence flasher. Turn it on let it flash a couple of times and turn it off. Works great.
SamB

 

[ScottB]

I like the idea of running the trailer lights so that you can "flash" a trucker. Those guys put up with a lot of crap, not to mention they often are heavy and can't slow down and speed up as easy as the little guys. It would be nice for them to get some courteousy from the ramers. That after all is what determines a good driver, courteousy.

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93 W350 White 4" stack Headache rack with Lights. Gauges 27pnds boost Banks quick turbo. Hand Throttle CB

 

[TerryTT]

I deliver RV trailers for a living. I have the trailer running lights wired to a separate switch like was mentioned in another post. It was a must for me, because I kept burning out the headlight switch when running a tailer with a lot of lights. And, it does make it easy to thank the truckers by flipping the switch.
I haul all kinds of trailers to all states with magnetic signs on my doors with all the commercial permits numbers etcl. I never stopped at a weigh station yet and, I have never been stopped for passing them by. That's not to say it won't happen, but have been doing this for a year (120,000 mi) and haven't had a problem yet.

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Terry Tucker, Terre Haute, Indiana, 99 Quadcab, 5 sp,TST New Powermax2, RV injectors, Scotty's K&N setup, Ted J's complete 4 in exhaust(No muffler or resonator), 4 Rancho 9000 Shocks, G-Tech, BD exhaust brake, Mag-Hytec diff cover, PIAA driving/fog lights, Putnam Firehawk combo 5th wheel/Gooseneck hitch, Amsoil dual remote oil filters, All Amsoil fluids, Weston one piece Brush Guard, Linex liner. Dyno results: 334 hp, 859 ft lbs