Bought a trailer!

[aczlan]

So..... my question still is ....
Why would the OP de-rate his 14,000 GVWR trailer when he is towing with a 9,500 GVWR (GMC 2500 HD diesel) vehicle?
Without the de-rate he would still only be at 23,500lbs. GVWR combined, well under the 26,001 limit.

In case he buys a 3500 down the road? I don't know why otherwise.

Aaron Z

 

[George2615]

So..... my question still is ....
Why would the OP de-rate his 14,000 GVWR trailer when he is towing with a 9,500 GVWR (GMC 2500 HD diesel) vehicle?
Without the de-rate he would still only be at 23,500lbs. GVWR combined, well under the 26,001 limit.

I don't know why he had his trailer de-rated either. Maybe he thought he needed a CDL if he didn't.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I have a 2016 Chevy 2500 HD crew cab regular box. GVWR is 9500
My PJ 22' TF trailer GVWR is 14,000
I did not derate my trailer. I have gone through the local weigh station without issue. They checked my license, registrations and inspection then checked to see tractor and implements were secured properly and waved me on.

Around hereyes if you have non commercial plates they will laugh if you pull into a weight station and simply wave you through the bypass lane.

 

[3930dave]

I don't know why he had his trailer de-rated either. Maybe he thought he needed a CDL if he didn't.

Depends where you are living....... here you'd need a CDL - as nice as OP's trailer is, the fines here would probably exceed the purchase cost of the trailer. Wish I was joking.

Somebody on here posted about growing up in Montana, when there were more laws on the books about horses, than ones for vehicles. Today, the vehicle laws are so convoluted in some jurisdictions that I'm not convinced that all Transportation officials know all of them.

Progress ?

Rgds, D.

 

[George2615]

Around hereyes if you have non commercial plates they will laugh if you pull into a weight station and simply wave you through the bypass lane.

They set up the weigh stations here in highway rest areas. Normally I just drive by but I pulled in to use the rest area and had no intention of going thru the weigh station but they waved me in to the inspection area. Must have been a light day and they were bored. I do have commercial plates on the truck. Very rare to see a pick up here without comm. plates.

 

[3930dave]

Around hereyes if you have non commercial plates they will laugh if you pull into a weight station and simply wave you through the bypass lane.

Sounds like your State runs a balanced budget.

With the deficits here, the only entities who borrow more money on international markets than the province I live in are sovereign nations. Living somewhere like this, unless you have money to burn, you learn to be aware and wary of transportation fines.

Rgds, D.

 

[fried1765]

Sounds like your State runs a balanced budget.

With the deficits here, the only entities who borrow more money on international markets than the province I live in are sovereign nations. Living somewhere like this, unless you have money to burn, you learn to be aware and wary of transportation fines.

Rgds, D.

Dave....

I took my 14.000 GVWR trailer, loaded to 12,000 lbs., to Nova Scotia last summer.
I have a coastal seasonal home there.
My trailer is registered in Maine, but I was pulling it with my Florida registered (non commercial) K2500 4x4 Suburban (8650 lbs.).
Do you have any idea if I was legal in Canada/Nova Scotia?

BTW: Many states have a balanced budget requirement.
Not the US Federal government though.... 20 trillion in debt, and counting....absolutely disgraceful, and exceedingly dangerous!

 

[3930dave]

Dave....

I took my 14.000 GVWR trailer, loaded to 12,000 lbs., to Nova Scotia last summer.
I have a coastal seasonal home there.
My trailer is registered in Maine, but I was pulling it with my Florida registered (non commercial) K2500 4x4 Suburban (8650 lbs.).
Do you have any idea if I was legal in Canada/Nova Scotia?

BTW: Many states have a balanced budget requirement.
Not the US Federal government though.... 20 trillion in debt, and counting....absolutely disgraceful, and exceedingly dangerous!

Don't know about down east/NS. Here (Ontario) high-speed (ie. non-farm) trailers are commercial at 10,000# - with only RV travel trailers being exempt - I'm starting to hear rumblings about 5'th wheel toy haulers - we may have to watch out for what % is "toy" vs. living area in the future. TBD.

In Ontario, SUVs with their seats intact tend to be a bit less of an enforcement target than PU trucks, as they are semi-formally viewed as less commercial. But, I still wouldn't pull a 10K+ utility trailer around with an Ontario plated SUV - I'm not that brave/lucky/deep pocketed...

As you know, maritimers are a friendly bunch, and generally are very welcoming of tourists and their $'s. That said, I'd check with the NS provincial ministry site for trailer regs. As a tourist, with out of province tags, you may get away with just a warning if you are in violation, but, YMMV.

Rgds, D.

 

[powerscol]

You should be fine. The issue is when the GCWR (truck gross weight rating + trailer gross weight rating) is over 26k AND the trailer GVWR is over 10k. Then you may need a CDL (depending on the state of registration).
Federal limits are that a truck with a GVWR over 26k with a trailer GVWR over 10k (for a total of 36k GCWR) needs a CDL.
Some states use that number, others say if the GCWR is over 26k and the trailer is over 10k, you need a CDL.
In your case, your GCWR is 20,650#, so you are fine.

Aaron Z

Best correct explanation I have heard yet - Thanks

Around me (I am in the Four Corners area of Colorado) the main issue is not the weigh stations (I usually just bypass), but the quickly set up inspection stations. I am a small hay operation (Farm exempt) and will get into NM, AZ, and Utah occasionally. While they check that I am under the combined gross of 26K, I have a Ford F350 11500GVW and a 23' F8 PJ GN de-rated to 14000GVW) (25500 CGVWR) the big thing they look at are safety Items, including DOT rated tie downs, both chains and straps. Be careful where you get you stuff as my cheep TSC straps my FIL got me are not DOT rated (TSC does carry rated ones). Inspector was nice and let me pass as I had the hay load tarped and way over strapped (keeps tarp from flapping) but cautioned they (USDOT) were steeping up the enforcement due to lost loads and accident damage and fatality's. I invested in new tie down chains and ratchets this last year because of this and will be replacing the straps this spring. So folks be careful of what you get - look for the required rating stamped on the chain and binders. I think it is grade 70 or better for transport. Straps will have a tag on one end with the certification and load limit. Also check with your local folks on minimum tie downs required and number of tie down points. I always use 4 separate ones on my tractor, but could get away with two ( 1 chain looped up and over through the other side each end) as my tractor weighs less that 10K.

Ill put it this way - if I get involved in an accident, I don't what my tractor in my lap, or anywhere else but still attached to the deck.

Some tie down information
Cargo Securement Rules | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
Driver's Handbook on Cargo Securement - Chapter 2: General Cargo Securement Requirements | Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration
From Ohio
http://www.ltap.org/login/resource/entryupload/uploads/20091218130057_resource_YJX3.pdf

Even if your not CDL, the information can help save damage to your equipment, to you, and too your trailer.

Hope this helps.
Keith

 

[not2old]

I bought a 14,000 lb. rated flat deck but didn't need to have it de-rated as long as I only liscense it for 10,000 lbs. so that I don't have to stop at the scales. Recreational trailers can be any weight and don't have to stop. The problem I had was that the first two agents I went to insisted that I put a commercial plate on it which requires the GVW weight to be liscensed on the tow vehicle which means that it's hard to lend it to a friend or borrow a different truck to tow it. A certified trailer repair shop told me which agent to take it to and what to tell them. The non-commercial plate I have on it allows me to liscense and insure it for about $160.00 per year and tow it with any suitable vehicle. The people who make up all these regulations obviously don't tow a lot, like the idiots who pass laws here, concerning motorcycles.