Is being a little over GVWR no worse than doing 60 in a 55?

Wish I hadn't used the speed limit analogy since it's obvious nobody here goes over 55mph....yea, right. :-)

I feel I'm safe since the truck will weigh about 1500lbs more than the trailer and should have enough power with the hemi. Whether I have a "light" 1/2 ton or not...I don't know. I don't know how the brakes or axle/suspension compare to the others or how much protection's built into the ratings. Toyota and Ram use guidelines to establish ratings. Ford and Chevy don't. So why rely on ratings? It's mostly about how it feels anyway. I haul 2 ton of hay every couple months on a '96 ford 350 flatbed and while a ton over ratings the truck drives solid and nothings worn out or broke yet. The Ram1500 pulls 4k great but I'm curious about 5k or 6k especially since I'm maxing out some of the supposed limits. I'm not hearing much here much from the 1/2ton crowd that pull 5k or 6k, and there are a bunch of them.

Section 623 is for Commercial Vehicles. Last I knew, and RV wasn't a commercial vehicle.

Sec. 623.011. PERMIT FOR EXCESS AXLE OR GROSS WEIGHT. (a) The department may issue a permit that authorizes the operation of a commercial motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, or combination of those vehicles, or a truck-tractor or combination of a truck-tractor and one or more other vehicles:

I'll further help you out, here is the weight restrictions:

Sec. 621.101. MAXIMUM WEIGHT OF VEHICLE OR COMBINATION. (a) A vehicle or combination of vehicles may not be operated over or on a public highway or at a port-of-entry between Texas and the United Mexican States if the vehicle or combination has:
(1) a single axle weight heavier than 20,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances;
(2) a tandem axle weight heavier than 34,000 pounds, including all enforcement tolerances;
(3) an overall gross weight on a group of two or more consecutive axles heavier than the weight computed using the following formula and rounding the result to the nearest 500 pounds:
W = 500((LN/(N - 1)) + 12N + 36)

Now if you exceed 20,000 lbs on one axle with your Ram 1500 then you should get a ticket.

proxim2020 wrote:

AH64ID wrote:
Please show me a statue that states GAWR and GVWR are legally binding.

Texas laws are like that. You're restricted to your registered GVW and that weight is based off of the GVWR. Finding the info can be somewhat of an Easter egg hunt. Rather than post all the info here, I'll point to the chapters of the Transportation Code. Chapter 502 outlines how the registered GVW is determined. Chapter 623 outlines all of the restrictions and enforcement. Since the registered GVW and GVWR will match, residents essentially bound to their GVWR.

Now enforcement is another story. I've never heard of someone being pulled over to get checked. Even if in the rare chance you did get pulled over and it's determined that you're overweight, the inspecting officer can just request that you unload the excess weight to proceed. Officers here normally aren't interested in non commercial operators unless it's some really dangerous situation. They'd rather stick to big rigs since they are cash cows. Overloading, logbook violations, safety equipment violations, etc can fill the coffers pretty quickly.

Not the first time someone has said Texas laws do this, and not the first time that CH502 and CH623 have been referenced, but they do NOT state that GVWR or GAWR are part of the limits. The only time GVWR and GAWR are discussed is in definitions, that's it. In fact neither 502 nor 623 even discuss weight limits.

502 does not state that GVWR is used to register a vehicle, it simply says that it may be used. "The weight, net weight, or gross weight of a vehicle, as determined by the department, is the correct weight for registration purposes, regardless of any other purported weight of the vehicle."

623 actually deals with overweight permitting, it's 621 that deals with weight for normal operation.

For 623 to even apply you have to be registered at the max weight allowed by 621.101, which is 20K lbs an axle or tire limits.

The terms manufacturer, GVWR, nor GAWR are located anywhere in CH621.

I'm sure someone will read this who has a registration in Texas for more than door sticker weight.

My Idaho registration is good to 26K lbs, as long as I don't exceed 20K lbs per axle or tire limits (9K/axle).

AH64ID wrote:
Please show me a statue that states GAWR and GVWR are legally binding.

Texas laws are like that. You're restricted to your registered GVW and that weight is based off of the GVWR. Finding the info can be somewhat of an Easter egg hunt. Rather than post all the info here, I'll point to the chapters of the Transportation Code. Chapter 502 outlines how the registered GVW is determined. Chapter 623 outlines all of the restrictions and enforcement. Since the registered GVW and GVWR will match, residents essentially bound to their GVWR.

Now enforcement is another story. I've never heard of someone being pulled over to get checked. Even if in the rare chance you did get pulled over and it's determined that you're overweight, the inspecting officer can just request that you unload the excess weight to proceed. Officers here normally aren't interested in non commercial operators unless it's some really dangerous situation. They'd rather stick to big rigs since they are cash cows. Overloading, logbook violations, safety equipment violations, etc can fill the coffers pretty quickly.

Doing 60 in a 55 isn't right either. It is a speed limit. Lots of people treat it as a speed suggestion or an advisory, but in reality it's declaration of the max speed permitted on that roadway. It's no different than the rating on the truck. It's not really a suggestion, but a limit that the manufacturer has determined to be acceptable. Lots of people like to say that it's lawyers who come up with the numbers, but no one really knows the true motivation behind the numbers. Could be liability, mechanical, or even safety limits. No you probably aren't going to get fined and you truck probably won't immediately fall apart, but when things go wrong then you're SOL. I'm not saying that I wouldn't do it, but I definitely wouldn't want to do it often. If you're buying a new trailer it sounds like you will be doing it often. 300-500 lbs over is pushing it in a 1500.

Joel_T wrote:
GVWR is 6900 but each axle is 3900. I'm at 6600lbs with 2 adults, 3 dogs, 2 kayaks on a canopy and a small amount of gear. I'm (totally) guessing another 600lbs for an 800lb tongue weight which puts me over. Tow max is 7900 and GCVW is 13500 for our Ram1500 / 5.7hemi / CC / 4x4.

You have one of the lower rated 'half ton' TVs

'Half ton' ranges from +6K GVWR up to +8K GVWR

The +6K GVWR normally has a RGAWR in the +4K range and yours is a bit
lower

The +8K GVWR normally has a RGAWR in the +6K range....a full 2K more
than yours

So be careful of advice...too many lump *ALL* half ton's into one
category and either forget or don't know the very large spread between
half tons out there

The first two things that will become ratings issues will be the
rating of the RGAWR and payload, which has RGAWR baked into it...along
with the actual weight on the rear axle

"....Is being a little over GVWR no worse than doing 60 in a 55?...."

Have not read all the responses...the OP is asking for opinions and
here is mine:

All depends on the person, situation, etc, etc, etc

First decide if you believe in the 'system' or not. 'System' as in
ratings, limits, specifications, etc....of the OEMs and government (AKA authorities)

Going over any rating, limit, specification, etc (will now refer to them
as 'limit') will not have whatever fail instantly, get a ticket instantly,
die instantly, etc...but it will fail sooner than later...you will get
a ticket sooner than later...etc

when going over the speed limit...do you increase your attention to
look for LEO's? Why?

We live in a free country(s) (North America)...but our system will take
away your freedom(s) if you intrude into and/or take away another's
right to their freedom(s)...ticket, fines, jail, prison, etc

Again, first decide on your risk management decision (AKA gambling) on
this/these matters (limits, ratings, specifications, etc)

Then there is the advice on these freebie forums.

Anyone asking about 'ratings', 'limits', 'specifications', etc...I'll
give them the metrics to make up their own minds...as if they have to
ask...they do NOT have enough information and experience for a risk
management decision on the matter

Ask yourself this: who gets the speeding ticket? The driver or the
folks who said 'sure you can', 'I have for ages and no tickets', etc?

Ditto GVWR and the like with a 'R' in it...the OEMs list them all over
the place. Will the advisors pay for denied warranty for you after you
have taken their advice? Nope...you made that decision and you now
own it...including any liability that 'might' be involved

Love your post Mower!!! :)

I used to have a 1994 Dodge Ram 3500 Cummins/5 speed.
ALL of the manufacturers weight ratings were figured with 4.10 axle gearing and Load Range D tires. I replaced the tires with one size larger, and Load Range E.(On a side note, the one size larger tires corrected the speedometer error!)
When I titled the truck in Montana, the DMV clerk asked me what GVW (no, not RATING, actual Gross Vehicle Weight!) I wanted on it. I said "Oh, 14,000 sounds like a nice number." She said "No problem!"
So, regardless of what the door post data tag or the Owners Manual said, that truck was now LEGAL to be loaded to 14,000 lbs. Gross Vehicle Weight!
After towing a 32 foot triple slide fifth wheel for a couple of years of full time living, I decided to weigh it. It was under GAWR for all axles, under GVWR for the truck and trailer, under the registered GVW for the truck, but OVER the truck GCWR for the combination by a little over 3,000 lbs.!
Of course, the GCWR for a 1994 Dodge was stupidly low! It went up every year after that, with little or no changes to the truck. Ford, Dodge, and GM were playing a numbers game back then.
But anyway, I could make the truck LEGAL to 14,000 lbs. GVW. There is no way I could make the truck LEGAL to go 60 MPH in a 55 MPH zone.
THAT is the difference!
Oh, wait, there MIGHT be ways to make it legal to go 60 in a 55:
1. Have "Amateur Radio" call sign license plates. In an authorized emergency, it MAY be legal to exceed the posted speed limit.
2. Have "National Guard" license plates. In an authorized emergency it MAY be legal to exceed the posted limit.
4. Have "Volunteer Fireman" placards on your vehicle. In an authorized emergency, it MAY be legal to exceed the posted limit.
Of course, it depends on the rules in YOUR state. There may even be other placards/license plates that will allow you to exceed the speed limit in certain situations.
But, back to the '94 Dodge. Even at 3000 lbs. + over GCWR, nothing bent, nothing broke, there were no accidents or incidents, and nobody died or was injured.
It is one of those "YOU have to make up your own mind what to do!" scenarios. I certainly won't tell you it is OK! I can only describe what I have done.
Good luck.

wing_zealot wrote:

cbshoestring wrote:
The US Department of Transportation, as well as the Federal Highway Administration, address overweight in numerous laws. Mostly they are concerned with truckers (FMCSA), but not "all" the laws say "commercial"....

With all due respect, Poppy Cock! You shouldn't play lawyer, you're not very good at it.

Exactly, flat out incorrect information. This has been gone over a million time on here. The little sticker on the door is for warranty purposes only.

OP here is the way "I" see it. If I was towing in Co a lot "I" would not get even close to the gross weight rating of the truck. If I was towing in Ks I would have no problem going over the limit. See where I'm going with this? Where your going to be towing means a lot.