Forum Discussion

bandit86's avatar
bandit86
Explorer
Mar 12, 2015

mto- ontario- newbie truck licensing question

If my short bed quad cab 03 dodge ram diesel that weighs 7012 pounds and has a 9000 GVWR, is rated to tow 12870 pounds is hooked up to a 8500 pound 5th wheel camper, would I need the yellow commercial sticker on the truck? If I read the regulation correctly anything over 4500KG or 9900 pounds needs a commercial sticker unless it's an RV so I should be alright without special licensing requirements. If I were to tow a utility trailer, 9900 pounds less truck and cargo say 7500 I could tow a trailer weighing 2400 pounds, does that sound right?

Gearing up to go see a camper, private deal, the payload rating of my truck is 1880 pounds. How would I know how much the 5th wheel will add to the truck, is it on the data tag?

28 Replies

  • As a retired trucker, I believe the yellow inspection sticker is only needed when you are a business operator or drive for one. Basically, if you make money, you sticker. There is such a thing as an 'RV class A' in a lot of jurisdictions. In Ontario this covers a trailer weight exceeding 10000 lbs and lacks the air brake certification. I may be wrong, but I believe if you drive a motorhome exceeding 22000 lbs or so, you need a class D CDL.
  • JaxDad's avatar
    JaxDad
    Explorer III
    If your GVWR (according to Dodge), RGVWR or actual weight exceeds 4,500 KG, 9,900 pounds you need a safety inspection sticker.

    If the actual weight exceeds 4,500 KG only because of an RV, you do not need an inspection.

    If however you ever pull (or carry) anything else, even a nothing 4' x 8' box trailer, you WILL need it.
  • I imagine you could be over your 9,000# GVWR with your current 5th wheel. You probably have a 1,700# pin weight, maybe a little less, the weight of the hitch, your weight, plus any passengers and what ever gear you're carrying in your truck. With a truck that weighs 7,000# that all adds up to around, or above that GVWR figure.
  • The pin weight of the FW will be about 20% of the loaded trailer weight. If you look at the FW sticker on front drivers side, it should show GVWR, which is the max load for that FW. You likely won't load it to max load, but gives an idea.

    If GVWR is 10,000 lbs., at 20%, would be 2,000 lbs. pin wt. Don't forget to allow 200 lbs. for the hitch.

    Just an example, hope you are looking at a lighter FW.

    Good luck,
    Jerry
  • Oh good, I was worried the government wasn't getting enough of my money as it was

    I found this on northernontario website;
    Something most operators of pick-up trucks are unaware of is that it is always registered in Ontario as "commercial," (hey, don't believe me: open your ownership, look at the top right of the piece labeled VEHICLE PORTION. It will say Commercial Fit if it is plated).

    Checked my dodge, it does say commercial.
  • You don't need the yellow sticker for RV use, so you can tow your 5th wheel, BUT tow a utility trailer so the gross weight of the combined unit goes over 10000 pounds and wham bam both the truck and the trailer must have the yellow sticker.
    If I put a hitch on my Nissan Versa I could pull either my 6X10 open or 5X8 enclosed utility trailers with no stickers. Could I stop the unit??
    BUT my dually that is more than capable of pulling and stopping needs an annual safety and annual safeties on the trailers as well. I am not using any of these for commercial purposes, just personal use.
    Oh yeah licence renewal time for me the new price for the licence sticker on the dually.....$209 quite a jump from $98 last year.They revised licence fees late 2014. You may get a shock near your birthday when you renew your sticker.They are going after 3/4 and 1 ton trucks with new fee structure.
    Brian
  • As poncho62 said 'don't quote me'. Just talking to my neighbour, who has a Ram diesel and a 29' Cruiser 5th wheel. He has the yellow commercial sticker, but says it is only needed because of his horse and utility trailers. Not for the RV.
    As for weights, others will have to chime in.

    Ken
  • Dont quote me on it, but I think unless your truck is used in business, you dont need that yellow sticker...I could be wrong