Towing wreck - overloaded hitch

proxim2020 wrote:

mowermech wrote:
Please keep in mind that the sticker has the ratings for a certain size/type of tire and stock springs.
Many of us throw the P rated tires from our half ton pickups away and replace them with LT Load Range C, D, or even E tires. Some of us also install "overload" springs of one kind or another.
The ratings on the sticker are no longer valid, because the truck is not equipped as shown.
Therefore, the REGISTERED GVW limitation applies.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding this, but how do you register vehicle with a higher GVWR than what's on the doorjamb?

Well, for example, when I transferred my old Ram 3500 from the CA plates to MT plates, the clerk at the DMV asked me what GVW (not GVWR) I wanted on it. I said I wanted it high enough that I would never have to worry about exceeding it. She said "How about 14 thousand? It HAS to be in multiples of 2000 lbs." I said "That oughta work!", and that was the GVW the truck was registered for.
Here in Montana they just don't care what the door sticker says. The truck or trailer can be registered for just about any GVW. If I want to pay the fee and register my Ram 1500 for 10,000 lbs. GVW I can do that (IIRC, I registered it for 8000).
One thing to remember, though, is that if one registers a light duty trailer for 3000 lbs. GVW or more, it must have brakes on all wheels, and a breakaway system that will hold the brakes applied for 15 minutes.
Also keep in mind that the registered gross weight is GVW not GCW. The weight of any trailer is not included.

EDIT: Curiosity got the best of me, so I had to go look. The door sticker on the 1500 says the GVWR with P rated tires is 6600 lbs. The registration says the declared GVW is 10,000 lbs. The truck now has LT Load Range D M&S tires.