Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 08-06-2012, 11:07 AM   #1
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lebanon Co. PA
Posts: 89
EZ Pass question

Does anyone else use EZ Pass while towing?? We had an interesting problem on a recent trip through New England. We tow with a Ford F-250 with single rear wheels (as far as I know, F-250s don't come with dualies).

Our EZ Pass transponder is from PA and the account has all our vehicles properly registered.

On the way north, on the Mass Pike, we were charged the rate for dual rear wheels, on the way home we were charged for single rear wheels. On the New Hampshire Turnpike the opposite happened. Single rear wheels on the way up, dualies on the way home.

Does anyone know how the EZ Pass toll booths determine the number of rear wheels? My attempts to contact EZ Pass and the turnpikes involved have met with, shall we say, limited success. The amount of the over charges are too little to justify the appeals process but I am trying to find out how this can be avoided in the future.
__________________
2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS pulled by a 2019 F-350 Diesel
N3HCP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:15 AM   #2
Senior Member
 
Oakman's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Jefferson County, MO
Posts: 5,449
I've often wondered about EZ pass and now that I've read your post, I'll pass on it.
__________________


Bob and Joyce
2013 CC Silverback 29RL
2010 Ford F250 XL Crew Cab 6.4 liter diesel
ATU Local 788
Oakman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:20 AM   #3
Senior Member
 
3 Happy Campers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 330
It's actually calculated by axles & class of vehicle not the number of wheels.
I have a Chevy 2500HD which is a class 3 vehicle.
When towing my 5er I'm charged class 3 with 4 axles.

It used to tick me off when we had the class A & towed the car dolly.
Would still be hit with 4 axles.
__________________
Dave, Judy & Daisy May
Perkasie, PA
2010 Sierra 356RL
2011 Silverado 2500 4WD, LT, Ext Cab, LB
Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel
Allison 1000 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
3 Happy Campers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:21 AM   #4
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
This is an interesting issue with as many answers as there are states that accept EZ Pass.

As I understand how it works;

IF the booth is properly configured, the approach to the toll booth counts your axles and weighs them as you pass through. Thus a single transponder works for your regular truck and when you are towing.

It costs a LOT to put in the weight system so some states have "opted out" of that feature (like New York) and some exits on the PA turnpike near Philadelphia there are two that are "NO TRUCKS" due to no scales and no toll takers.

New York REQUIRES a special "trailer" transponder for RVs with toads and trailers (you swap the transponder when you are towing). I tried to get one since we camp in the NE states and drive the NY turnpikes. Can't do it as they are only available to NY residents.

So, how do you tow in NY? Well you can pay cash, OR you can stop at the toll booth and let the operator count your axles and charge your EZ Pass manually.

Sounds like your experience with blind toll takers is right on with mine.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:23 AM   #5
Senior Member
 
3 Happy Campers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 330
The first metal plate you drive over actually counts the number of axles.
There's no way for it to know how many wheels you have on an axle.
__________________
Dave, Judy & Daisy May
Perkasie, PA
2010 Sierra 356RL
2011 Silverado 2500 4WD, LT, Ext Cab, LB
Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel
Allison 1000 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
3 Happy Campers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:46 AM   #6
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lebanon Co. PA
Posts: 89
Quote:
Originally Posted by 3 Happy Campers View Post
The first metal plate you drive over actually counts the number of axles.
There's no way for it to know how many wheels you have on an axle.
That's what I thought. But in New Hampshire I was charged as a class 3 one time and class 7 the other. The difference, according to New Hampshire's web site, is class 3 is single rear wheel, class 7 is dualie. So how did the system decide what class I was??
__________________
2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS pulled by a 2019 F-350 Diesel
N3HCP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:57 AM   #7
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lebanon Co. PA
Posts: 89
Quote:
Originally Posted by herk7769 View Post
This is an interesting issue with as many answers as there are states that accept EZ Pass.

New York REQUIRES a special "trailer" transponder for RVs with toads and trailers (you swap the transponder when you are towing). I tried to get one since we camp in the NE states and drive the NY turnpikes. Can't do it as they are only available to NY residents.

So, how do you tow in NY? Well you can pay cash, OR you can stop at the toll booth and let the operator count your axles and charge your EZ Pass manually.
We used EZ Pass on the Newburg Bridge and were charged the correct toll for the number of axles, so at least that bridge is OK with EZ Pass.
__________________
2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS pulled by a 2019 F-350 Diesel
N3HCP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 12:38 PM   #8
IT Guru
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Chesterfield, VA
Posts: 106
Send a message via AIM to jsilvius Send a message via Skype™ to jsilvius
Virginia says that we have to have separate transponders for regular vs towing.
Since I only cross a toll while towing once in a blue moon, I take the risk. They want $35 deposits for each transponder and I just can't justify having two for the truck when I very rarely use it while towing.
https://www.ezpassva.com/StaticPages/FAQ.aspx#43
__________________

2006 Flagstaff 831FKSS
2005 Dodge Ram 2500 SLT 5.9L Turbo Diesel Quad Cab
1 - DH (me); 1 - DW (Tee); 1 - DS (Jarod, 12)
Nights Camping: 2010 - 15; 2011 - 7; 2012 - 9
jsilvius is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 04:46 PM   #9
Senior Member
 
3 Happy Campers's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 330
Quote:
Originally Posted by N3HCP View Post
That's what I thought. But in New Hampshire I was charged as a class 3 one time and class 7 the other. The difference, according to New Hampshire's web site, is class 3 is single rear wheel, class 7 is dualie. So how did the system decide what class I was??
My statements were with the assumption that ez pass was standardized. My fault for making an assumption.

I just visited several states toll calculation web sites including NH.
Not only are the states all over the place with how they calculate but in NH if you are not a resident but use ez pass you still pay the cash amount.

how did the system decide what class I was?
A computer is only as smart as the person that programed it.
__________________
Dave, Judy & Daisy May
Perkasie, PA
2010 Sierra 356RL
2011 Silverado 2500 4WD, LT, Ext Cab, LB
Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo Diesel
Allison 1000 6-Speed Automatic Transmission
3 Happy Campers is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-06-2012, 11:41 PM   #10
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Washington DC
Posts: 332
I have used mine many times, my pass is from NJ (as at the time easiest to get as they sell them at the rest stops) but anyway....NJ says for theirs to utilize the same transponder UNLESS you tow all the time, then they can program it for that specific combo. Since i used to have a third vehicle, i had them reprogram that one for towing and have the other just for the truck....no problems since. Also, they dint care if you are from NJ or not, i live in VA and have an acct with them.....worked all the way up through NH and west through IL.....no problems since the reprogram
__________________
2012 Ford F-350 6.7L CC SRW w/FX4
2013 Forest River Sierra 365SAQ
Beausdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 05:39 AM   #11
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Western New York
Posts: 1,331
I was told by the NY ez-pass people to use a booth with a toll taker when towing the trailer so that they can hit the correct botton. They said using the automatic lane could result in the wrong fee or possible ticket. Said that ez-passes that go on tractor trailers are coded for the extra axles.
__________________
2014 Coachmen Pursuit 31BDP
2016 Ford C-Max Energi
1987 Chrysler LeBaron Convertible
FROG Member
FMCA Member #F438633 - Good Sam Life Member
Coachmens Owners Group Member
ResQfrog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 06:33 AM   #12
Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Lebanon Co. PA
Posts: 89
I find it amazing that every state has vastly different rules and ways of doing business all under the EZ Pass name. You would think there should be some consistency! When we got ours in PA we were told we could use any of our vehicles in any combination as long as all the vehicles were listed on the account. Only one transponder would be needed.
__________________
2020 Flagstaff 26FKBS pulled by a 2019 F-350 Diesel
N3HCP is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 06:38 AM   #13
Site Team - Lou
 
Herk7769's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: South Eastern PA
Posts: 23,268
Quote:
Originally Posted by N3HCP View Post
I find it amazing that every state has vastly different rules and ways of doing business all under the EZ Pass name. You would think there should be some consistency! When we got ours in PA we were told we could use any of our vehicles in any combination as long as all the vehicles were listed on the account. Only one transponder would be needed.
This is totally true; IN PA. PA toll booths (except the 2 near Philadelphia - Parx Casino and Virginia Ave) Pennsylvania Highways:* Pennsylvania Turnpike Exit Guide have axle counters on the approach to the booth.

Not true in most other states.
__________________
Lou & Freya the wonder dog
2008 GMC Sierra 3000HD Allison Duramax
2019 Flagstaff 8529FL
Herk7769 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-07-2012, 11:37 AM   #14
Senior Member
 
Fire Instructor's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Upstate (Albany Area) NY
Posts: 832
Another EZ-Pass toll problem that I've consistently seen is crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge, between DE & NJ. Every time that I've done it with the EZ-Pass it tries to charge me the commercial vehicle rate of $5 per axle ($20) instead of the advertised rate of $8 for an auto with a two-axle trailer. After several trips that took more than a few months to get a refund credited (the Bridge Authority is a separate entity than DE DOT or EZ-Pass, and is not a very "user-friendly" entity), I stopped using the EZ-Pass on this bridge, and just pull it down, put it in he foil pouch, and just pay the $8 cash when I cross this bridge....
__________________
Fire Instructor

2022 Coachmen Leprechaun 319MB
2022 Ford Ranger toad
Fire Instructor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-15-2012, 08:34 PM   #15
Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: South Jersey
Posts: 42
Quote:
Originally Posted by Fire Instructor View Post
Another EZ-Pass toll problem that I've consistently seen is crossing the Delaware Memorial Bridge, between DE & NJ. Every time that I've done it with the EZ-Pass it tries to charge me the commercial vehicle rate of $5 per axle ($20) instead of the advertised rate of $8 for an auto with a two-axle trailer. After several trips that took more than a few months to get a refund credited (the Bridge Authority is a separate entity than DE DOT or EZ-Pass, and is not a very "user-friendly" entity), I stopped using the EZ-Pass on this bridge, and just pull it down, put it in he foil pouch, and just pay the $8 cash when I cross this bridge....

Fire Instructor..not only do we have the same model TT as you, but we also have the same problem on the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Matter of fact I am currently in the middle of a dispute with them right now. They charged us $20 (commercial rate) in May, I (once again) applied for the refund and believe it or not they DENIED my request. I called back and tried to hold my anger down and ask how can they not look at the vehicles we have registered..which are a pickup and a TT, and adjust the error. The woman on the line said.."well you were towing something but we don't know what it was so we need to assume you are commercial vehicle". If I could have reached through the line and smacked her upside her head I may have just done that! Anyway, I am now appealing (again) this decision. Our transducer is on the license plate so it is a real pain to have to take off. So if in the near future you see some crazy lady on the news throwing an EZ-Pass transducer off a bridge you know who it will be!
kaz1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


» Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by Forest River, Inc. or any of its affiliates. This is an independent, unofficial site.



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:42 AM.