Anyone ever been stopped and weighed for overload?

[Hatchee]

Yep in NC, but not my RV. I was towing a car hauler loaded with rigid insulation with a F150. HP pulled me and pulled out portable scales. He seemed to be very disappointed when I told him what I was hauling. He did weigh the trailer and I was 800 lbs under.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Hatchee

Yep in NC, but not my RV. I was towing a car hauler loaded with rigid insulation with a F150. HP pulled me and pulled out portable scales. He seemed to be very disappointed when I told him what I was hauling. He did weigh the trailer and I was 800 lbs under.

Were you pulling commercially or just private?

And what weights vs. ratings was he looking at?

[walaby]

formerFR rather than hitting quote and saying thanks, I want to thank you for relaying your actual experience both in CDL world, and more impactful, your experience in the insurance world. It is great to hear someone with your experience relay the truth, rather than the continued mythical comments that "your insurance can decide to not pay".


Thank you sir for taking the time to lay it out in a manner that makes sense and most people can understand.


Mike

[Hatchee]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Were you pulling commercially or just private?

And what weights vs. ratings was he looking at?

Everything private. He weighed the trailer. At that point I pulled the tarp back and told him what was on the trailer. He chuckled and I helped carry the scales back to his trunk. He did tell me that my F150 payload would be overweight if I had anything substantial on the trailer. Glad that he did because I pulled by Kubota tractor 1-2 times a year about 150 miles to my business. Don't think I ever did again until I got the 3500.

The stretch of road is known for lots of traffic stops and weight checks.....421 between N Wilksboro and Boone, NC.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by Hatchee

Everything private. He weighed the trailer. At that point I pulled the tarp back and told him what was on the trailer. He chuckled and I helped carry the scales back to his trunk. He did tell me that my F150 payload would be overweight if I had anything substantial on the trailer. Glad that he did because I pulled by Kubota tractor 1-2 times a year about 150 miles to my business. Don't think I ever did again until I got the 3500.

The stretch of road is known for lots of traffic stops and weight checks.....421 between N Wilksboro and Boone, NC.

He weighed the trailer, but what rating(s) was he going to compare it to?

[AbdRahim]

I believe MD requires RV's to stop at DOT scales

[BandJCarm]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

I believe MD requires RV's to stop at DOT scales

No, I believe there is no state that requires me to stop with my travel trailer at a DOT commercial scale. At least, I ain't stopping. That said, I'm not allowed into Maryland, so.......

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

I believe MD requires RV's to stop at DOT scales

Where did you get your info? First I've heard that..... and I've never stopped at the scales about 12 miles from me on I-68. Nor have any of troopers come after me for not stopping.

[ependydad]

Originally Posted by AbdRahim

I believe MD requires RV's to stop at DOT scales

Originally Posted by DaGrinch

Where did you get your info? First I've heard that..... and I've never stopped at the scales about 12 miles from me on I-68. Nor have any of troopers come after me for not stopping.

Technically AbdRahim is correct. The signs state, "Any Vehicle Over 5T GVWR" must pull in. Which means, according to the letter of the law, me driving my dually even without towing because of its 12,300 lbs. GVWR was supposed to stop.

I emailed the State Highway Administration and asked them about it- I was VERY clear that I was driving purely recreationally and towing for recreational purposes. The guy that I swapped emails with was very friendly and basically said that yes, according to the letter of the law even if you're non-commercial, you're supposed to stop. But, there was an overtone in the email that the spirit of the law was that non-commercial didn't have to stop.

If you wish, I can pull & share the email thread. I'm sure I've posted it here and RV.net before.

There was 1 report here on FRF of someone who got chased and pulled over on I-95. He said he was an out-of-state driver and just passing through.

All that said, I still don't stop when I'm rolling down any state highway. The actual scale guys don't want non-commercial folks pulling in.

[onetonford]

Calfornia divers Handbook says with a class c you can tow a Fifth-wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. but under 15,000 lbs. GVWR, when towing is not for compensation, and with endorsement.
And yet the
California RV handbook says with a class c you can tow
5th-wheel travel trailer exceeding 10,000 lbs. but not exceeding 15,000 lbs.
GVWR, when towing is not for compensation.

So I'm still confused! So I guess they don't know either...

[W5CI]

Originally Posted by wzpsjm

Why would a 3500 cost $25,000 more than a 2500? Somebody is snowing you.

If you shop around you can find a 3500 for less than a 2500. I bought a RAM 3500 DRW Diesel for less than I paid for my GMC 2500 gasser. Yes it is 2WD and a standard cab but I wasn't going to pay another 15K for 2 doors and 4WD

[W5CI]

ONLY Commercial Vehicles must stop at Scales. if the sign says all trucks must stop it still only applies to Commercial Vehicles

[walaby]

We don't drive "real trucks", we drive pickups


Mike

[dblr]

We have never been pulled over with our set up but I was once stopped in Florida by a trooper doing DOT checks on large box trucks but once he saw the rv registration all he said was " You must pull a big camper" Just for ones who do not know how we travel here is our set up

[LegacyFB38]

Originally Posted by dblr

We have never been pulled over with our set up but I was once stopped in Florida by a trooper doing DOT checks on large box trucks but once he saw the rv registration all he said was " You must pull a big camper" Just for ones who do not know how we travel here is our set up

Is that at Shipshewana by chance?

[dblr]

Originally Posted by LegacyFB38

Is that at Shipshewana by chance?

Yes it is, that was when we picked the River Stone up in 2016 and all they had then was the old section, we still use them but usually stay in the new section closer to the repair building, sites there are longer plus we can fit everything there when we unload the car.

[curver900]

Originally Posted by tomkatb

By mistake we bought a 2500 diesel and a bigger fifth wheel than planned.

I installed overloads on the 2500 and it is fine for the fiver, but I am roughly #800 over payload.

Not real excited about buying in 3500 for $25,000 more than the truck we have. After 8,500 miles in all conditions it is swell.

Has anyone been weighed?

Ticketed?

There are two difference between a 3/4 ton and 1 ton on the GMC

1. the over load springs
2. the wheels



the 3/4 ton has 20" wheel options but only 18" wheel option exists on the 1 ton.



if you have 18" wheels and tires that meet the load requirement and you want to install overload springs you would be good to go. That DOES NOT change the yellow sticker in the door but you would have the same payload and towing capacity as the 1 ton. YYMV.



if you have 20" wheels you would need to go to 18" if you exceed the load ratings.

[LegacyFB38]

Originally Posted by dblr

Yes it is, that was when we picked the River Stone up in 2016 and all they had then was the old section, we still use them but usually stay in the new section closer to the repair building, sites there are longer plus we can fit everything there when we unload the car.

It looked familiar...we spend 2 weeks there this fall.

FWIW, we where very happy with the facility. Great people to deal with.

[DaGrinch]

Originally Posted by ependydad

Technically AbdRahim is correct. The signs state, "Any Vehicle Over 5T GVWR" must pull in. Which means, according to the letter of the law, me driving my dually even without towing because of its 12,300 lbs. GVWR was supposed to stop.

I emailed the State Highway Administration and asked them about it- I was VERY clear that I was driving purely recreationally and towing for recreational purposes. The guy that I swapped emails with was very friendly and basically said that yes, according to the letter of the law even if you're non-commercial, you're supposed to stop. But, there was an overtone in the email that the spirit of the law was that non-commercial didn't have to stop.

If you wish, I can pull & share the email thread. I'm sure I've posted it here and RV.net before.

There was 1 report here on FRF of someone who got chased and pulled over on I-95. He said he was an out-of-state driver and just passing through.

All that said, I still don't stop when I'm rolling down any state highway. The actual scale guys don't want non-commercial folks pulling in.

Exactly..."the spirit of the law" and what the legislature was intending. Being a retired LEO in MD, I've dealt with that a lot over the years and still hear our Judges speak if it. It's kind of like one of the forbidden topics on here.... Those representing us in their respective capitals THINK they know what they are talking about when making laws. But unless they actually own what they are trying to legislate, the vast majority have no clue. Therein lies the "spirit of the law" the legislature was "shooting" for.
Speaking with the troopers working the scalehouse and CVED (Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Division), none of them can ever remember being concerned about RV's not stopping at the scalehouse... they just wave them through if someone feels they have to stop.

[Carguy1965]

Originally Posted by tomkatb

By mistake we bought a 2500 diesel and a bigger fifth wheel than planned.

I installed overloads on the 2500 and it is fine for the fiver, but I am roughly #800 over payload.

Not real excited about buying in 3500 for $25,000 more than the truck we have. After 8,500 miles in all conditions it is swell.

Has anyone been weighed?

Ticketed?

I tow my 35ft Montana 5ver with my 2500 Ram with the 6.7 Cummins. Like most I am a bit over on Pin weight. That being said the truck sits level fully loaded and hooked up with zero air in the bags. I put 35lbs in the air bags, and its up just a tad in the back, stable as can be, rides great with no chucking etc. I have F rated tires on the truck, plus the bags and my brakes and everything else are identical to a 3500 SRW. Im not worried about being stopped or my insurance. Going to add disc brakes to my rig as soon as I can just because I want them, but outside of that tow away with that 2500, you will be fine.