MFG weight rating question?

[Case485Guy]

I see everyone here giving advice on weight ratings for trucks etc. I see the overload police telling everyone that you must adhere to the MFG rating, cant go over it, subject to law suites etc. If you pull a trailer, safest thing is to have the both units level...I totally disagree unless you have overloads to bring back to level, then I still have issues on that.
For example, my 2004 Dodge 1 ton dually truck hauling commercial is rated at 16,500 lbs GVWR, thats the amount I pay tax/ uprated for the plate on the truck. So in theory I can load just the truck with 8k of cargo by the plates paid for since empty weight is 8500 lbs. Not feasible to carry that much weight on the truck alone, but legal...kind of. Trailer is rated/paid to have GVWR of 20k, so I have 36k legal paid for GCWR paid for capacity, legal in all states, I have been through all 48 with this setup since 1989 or so. Yea trucks and trailers have changed for newer but you get what I mean. Tire ratings come into play etc I know. I have been in your state with this setup and considered legal by your state.

 

[Dmace]

What's the question?
Since you say "commercial", I assume you have a CDL license.

On a side note, I'd love a picture of that RAM!

 

[Soundguy]

florida is another state where you can uprate your tag.

every time I renew my 1 ton or 1.5 ton truck, or any of our comercial trucks at work, they ask me if I want to uprate them from where they are to up to 26k.. all it takes is a checkbook.. etc.

does that add capacity? no.

could you still be sued by a lawyer if yer 8800gvw truck pulling a trailer loaded to the hilt kileld somebody? sure.. you can be sured for anything.. you just aren't breaking a tag law..

soundguy

I see everyone here giving advice on weight ratings for trucks etc. I see the overload police telling everyone that you must adhere to the MFG rating, cant go over it, subject to law suites etc. If you pull a trailer, safest thing is to have the both units level...I totally disagree unless you have overloads to bring back to level, then I still have issues on that.
For example, my 2004 Dodge 1 ton dually truck hauling commercial is rated at 16,500 lbs GVWR, thats the amount I pay tax/ uprated for the plate on the truck. So in theory I can load just the truck with 8k of cargo by the plates paid for since empty weight is 8500 lbs. Not feasible to carry that much weight on the truck alone, but legal...kind of. Trailer is rated/paid to have GVWR of 20k, so I have 36k legal paid for GCWR paid for capacity, legal in all states, I have been through all 48 with this setup since 1989 or so. Yea trucks and trailers have changed for newer but you get what I mean. Tire ratings come into play etc I know. I have been in your state with this setup and considered legal by your state.

 

[Case485Guy]

What's the question?

On a side note, I'd love a picture of that RAM!

Not really a question, just a vent I guess. Picture is easy, dark blue 4 door dually 4 door pulling a 40' G/N trailer with USDOT paid for signs on it. Yea, the USDOT # is there

 

[Case485Guy]

florida is another state where you can uprate your tag.

every time I renew my 1 ton or 1.5 ton truck, or any of our comercial trucks at work, they ask me if I want to uprate them from where they are to up to 26k.. all it takes is a checkbook.. etc.

does that add capacity? no.

could you still be sued by a lawyer if yer 8800gvw truck pulling a trailer loaded to the hilt kileld somebody? sure.. you can be sured for anything.. you just aren't breaking a tag law..

soundguy

Exactly right and trucking campanies lease you on, knowing.No differant than anything else. If the trucking compainies were going to be sued and paym, you bet they would limit what you could lease on for...common sense

 

[Case485Guy]

The point was, I hauled commercially for so many years and made a living at it, by what alot of folks here preach agianst and quote MFG ratings on, figured I would stir the pot and have fun.
I doubt alot of these GVWR "experts" know what I just posted about or even understand it.

 

[Dmace]

You could lower the registered weight of the truck if you don't need the capacity. 12k-13k would still leave plenty of payload capacity. For example, my old 94 F350 dually dump was registered for 9900 GVWR when I bought it. The state used to require heavy truck registrations and 6 month registrations for 10k plus but is now 12k plus. I didn't notice it until I went to the local gravel pit where they weighed me in and told me I could only get about 1000 lbs of gravel.

I found the tag on the truck stating 11000 GVWR so I went to the DMV, told then the GVWR was wrong on my registration and they fixed it then charged me the difference (aprox $150).

 

[Case485Guy]

You could lower the registered weight of the truck if you don't need the capacity. 12k-13k would still leave plenty of payload capacity. For example, my old 94 F350 dually dump was registered for 9900 GVWR when I bought it. The state used to require heavy truck registrations and 6 month registrations for 10k plus but is now 12k plus. I didn't notice it until I went to the local gravel pit where they weighed me in and told me I could only get about 1000 lbs of gravel.

I found the tag on the truck stating 11000 GVWR so I went to the DMV, told then the GVWR was wrong on my registration and they fixed it then charged me the difference (aprox $150).

Definetly agree on that. Another example is a 9200lb gvw reg cab F250. Empty F250 reg. cab weighs in around 6000-6200 lbs, so you have around 3k carry capacity in the bed of the truck by the MFG ratings, most owners of F250's do not carry 1.5 tons and are over paying capicty.

 

[Case485Guy]

You could lower the registered weight of the truck if you don't need the capacity. 12k-13k would still leave plenty of payload capacity. For example, my old 94 F350 dually dump was registered for 9900 GVWR when I bought it. The state used to require heavy truck registrations and 6 month registrations for 10k plus but is now 12k plus. I didn't notice it until I went to the local gravel pit where they weighed me in and told me I could only get about 1000 lbs of gravel.

I found the tag on the truck stating 11000 GVWR so I went to the DMV, told then the GVWR was wrong on my registration and they fixed it then charged me the difference (aprox $150).

Another example is that hauling commercially and loading at rig location, its worth paying the money annually for tags for the extra capacity, than paying for another trucking company/forklift/[pole truck to come out when DOT shuts you down for being overloaded at weigh station

 

[Soundguy]

I doubt alot of these GVWR "experts" know what I just posted about or even understand it.

Hmm.. with so many diverse people here.. I wouldn't risk a nickle betting against what any particular person may or may not know.. might suprise ya..

soundguy

 

[Case485Guy]

Hmm.. with so many diverse people here.. I wouldn't risk a nickle betting against what any particular person may or may not know.. might suprise ya..

soundguy

Just part of the fun Soundguy, I will put a nickle down most of what I have read here is regergitated RV forum BS.Thats exactly what it is. No help on how to load trailer right, no one asks for pics. They just want to sound smart quoting specs

 

[Soundguy]

i'll take yer word for it.. I've never been to an rv forum

 

[Diamondpilot]

GVWR is just a starting point and is where you need to start. Axle ratings, tire ratings, hitch ratings, and of course registration.

Chris

 

[crashz]

+1 and add in location.

Location plays a big factor. Here is MA there is no way to up-rate or de-rate trucks or trailers from there model or VIN. The registry has a database they use, which is supposed to match the exact truck spec and thats its. Its really out of the owner's hands.

 

[slowzuki]

Not here, they only use the dbase to prevent people from cheating their way into cheap tags. You can't tag for less than curb weight, and they make you scale a trailer if it is new and bring the ticket in to prove you are at least tagging for empty.

Commercial tags you can buy for either 3,6 or 12 month intervals so guys can take their trucks off the road in the winter.

You can up tag to whatever you want to pay for. The commercial vehicle inspectors will still inspect you and check tires, axle weight etc but they don't care about the manufacturers GCVWR.

Also we have weigh in motion, trucks over 10,000 lbs have to hit the scales. I got directed in by the auto matic weight pad last year in my SRW F350. Guy waved me through as I was empty. If I had been towing or loaded I would have had to scale and they would check me over.

 

[Duffster]

Sure there is.

 

[Case485Guy]

+1 and add in location.

Location plays a big factor. Here is MA there is no way to up-rate or de-rate trucks or trailers from there model or VIN. The registry has a database they use, which is supposed to match the exact truck spec and thats its. Its really out of the owner's hands.

This was a few yrs ago that I was in Ma. I got DOT'd at a scale. I just loaded 15k on a 8-8500lb gooseneck. Got a ticket for having a nail in a trailer tire, not flat no indication of losing air. Checked my axle weight and all paper work.
I guess my point in this post is that I read some stupid advice given as if it were the gospel, when I have made a living and still suplement my income today by running trucks.
The absolute dumbest most assinine advice I read is make sure your truck is level with the trailer loaded. This is especially true with bumper pulls. Lets say I have 3/4 ton truck pulling A 12 k capacity trailer and want to load a 8k tractor. Trailer to haul this will weigh in around 3k empty with 2- 6k axles, so we are at 11k, everything legal...yet load it to where the truck is not squated any and level.hHmmmm. Tow vehicle weighs around 8 k, loaded trailer is around 11k with no real weight kicked onto the truck because "squating" the truck is considered bad. Ever wonder how to eliminate sway?? Kick some weight on it make the tow vehicle squat some, maybe 6" or so.