Pickup rental?

Tdavid wrote:

valhalla360 wrote:
Do they go off of actual weight or rated weight?

All licensing, as far as I know, is based on rated weight. When you get pulled over, they don't direct you to the closest scale to check the actual weights, they just look at your stickers on the vehicles for rated weights.

I was referring to the testing people, not enforcement.

valhalla360 wrote:
Also you list two GCVWR figures. Which one is correct?
- my current pickup has a max GCWR of 23,500lbs
- my GCWR would be 28,150 as per the stickers.

Both are correct.

23,500 is permissible max weight combined as per my owner's manual. 2004 GMC 3500 diesel dually. Not to exceed 23,500 combined truck and trailer, so my max rated weight (GCWR) is 23,500 as printed.

However, adding up the truck GVWR of 11,400 and the trailer GVWR of 16,750, as printed on their stickers, and you get 28,150, which bumps me into Class A range (GCWR of 26,001+).

Both are not correct. GCVWR is 23,500.

If you max out the GVWR of both the truck and trailer, you are over the GCVWR.

valhalla360 wrote:

Where did you get your info? I get that just showing up and being wrong may be a hassle but if it's off the web site, maybe try calling and explaining your situation. They may say it's not a problem or they may have alternatives you could try.

I got my info from those who have taken the test. The officer will check the manual of the tow vehicle.

Try calling the DMV and explain your situation. Checking the manual may be the typical thing to do but I'm sure it's not the first time, this issue has come up.

valhalla360 wrote:

You might try one of the truck rental companies (Penskie or the like). Does the licensee specially call out 5th wheel? If you had a big moving van with sufficent rating would that do the trick?

Then I would have to find a tow behind trailer with sufficient GVWR to get me over 26,001 lbs GCWR, a whole other challenge in itself. A single vehicle with a 26,001+ GVWR will only get me a Class B license.

You missed my point. Does the license specifically call out that the endorsement is based on towing a trailer? Or just any truck (possibly with or without a trailer) over a certain GCVWR.

There is some confusing info in your post but really it comes down to calling the testing authority and asking them how to solve the issue. We can speculate and you can ask people who have taken the test but unless they have directly asked the question, we could be wrong.

Edit: On re-reading your original post, I'm not sure if you "need" an endorsement at all. You only need the endorsement if the GCVWR exceeds 26,001 but yours is 23,500. It would be worth double checking but per the normal way of calculating GCVWR, you aren't over as anything over 23,500 exceeds the ratings.