Actual federal weight law rules, some questions and answers

Wasn't this debated in another thread and debated numerous times in the past?

Dale_S wrote:
Wasn't this debated in another thread and debated numerous times in the past?

It has been debated before but I have yet to see anyone with any enforcement experience comment on the subject. I have also never seen a citation posted related to door sticker ratings.It has several times highjacked other threads. This is why I have created a thread dedicated to the subject.

In short, I would like to finally put this one to bed by hearing from those who enforce the regs.

Two things...

First... editted... Wasn't inteded to start a flame war.

Second... I have a dodge truck and the RAWR on the door jamb sticker is far less than what the actual manufacturer specifies to to be - In this situation, who is the manufacturer, Dodge or AAM, and whose specification is right or most correct?

jmramiller wrote:

Dale_S wrote:
Wasn't this debated in another thread and debated numerous times in the past?

It has been debated before but I have yet to see anyone with any enforcement experience comment on the subject. I have also never seen a citation posted related to door sticker ratings.It has several times highjacked other threads. This is why I have created a thread dedicated to the subject.

In short, I would like to finally put this one to bed by hearing from those who enforce the regs.

jmramiller ... I will try to respond to this in such a fashion as to not tinkle in anyones cornflakes.

Having 25 years in the field of Law Enforcement, and retiring as an Undersheriff, I will tell you that this question should be asked of Commercial Enforcement personnel, not street cops.

Short of something that is so blatantly in violation (VW towing a 30' toyhauler or a bumper dragging the ground) the average street cop wouldn't know there is a violation, and honestly, probably wouldn't care. They are not equipped to weigh vehicles and if they look at a door sticker it is typically for a VIN. In some states, such as Nevada, a few extra dollars into the DMV coffers will get your trucks registration changed for a higher weight limit anyway.

Typically, if a street cop, not assigned to commercial enforcement, issues a citation for being over weight to someone towing a travel trailer with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck ... it is because the driver opened his blow hole when he should have kept it shut. If someone did receive a cite for the violation there should be a statute or code violation listed on the cite specifying what the violation was.

Just my .02 worth.

Maybe I should have titled the thread "paging weight police". But that could attract some undesirables. Everytime I have asked someone on the commercial side as soon as I say RV they laugh.

I did upgrade the GWR on my registration to 11K. They would have let me go as high as I was willing to pay for.

Thanks for the input guys.

Lobocop wrote:

jmramiller wrote:

Dale_S wrote:
Wasn't this debated in another thread and debated numerous times in the past?

It has been debated before but I have yet to see anyone with any enforcement experience comment on the subject. I have also never seen a citation posted related to door sticker ratings.It has several times highjacked other threads. This is why I have created a thread dedicated to the subject.

In short, I would like to finally put this one to bed by hearing from those who enforce the regs.

jmramiller ... I will try to respond to this in such a fashion as to not tinkle in anyones cornflakes.

Having 25 years in the field of Law Enforcement, and retiring as an Undersheriff, I will tell you that this question should be asked of Commercial Enforcement personnel, not street cops.

Short of something that is so blatantly in violation (VW towing a 30' toyhauler or a bumper dragging the ground) the average street cop wouldn't know there is a violation, and honestly, probably wouldn't care. They are not equipped to weigh vehicles and if they look at a door sticker it is typically for a VIN. In some states, such as Nevada, a few extra dollars into the DMV coffers will get your trucks registration changed for a higher weight limit anyway.

Typically, if a street cop, not assigned to commercial enforcement, issues a citation for being over weight to someone towing a travel trailer with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck ... it is because the driver opened his blow hole when he should have kept it shut. If someone did receive a cite for the violation there should be a statute or code violation listed on the cite specifying what the violation was.

Just my .02 worth.

Lobocop,

What about State Troopers? They are the one's who are supposedly manning these "weight traps". Would they issue these type of citations and enforce these type of regs. If so, know any that could give us some incite

I would suggest you talk to Wadcutter, he is a retired LEO that did wt enforcement in Illinois?

Some states do have rules that limit the axel amount to below 20K lbs. Indiana for an example only allows 800 lbs per rim inch of with. This is from a few folks posting from Indiana.

Here in Wa st, we get 20K lbs per axel, as long as you have enough tire width. For a rig with singles all around, you get 500 lbs per inch of width, if you have duals on the rear you get 600 lbs per inch width of tires all around. As such, for a SW typical pickup, with 10" tires, you get 5000 lbs per tire or 10K per axel or 20K lbs total for the vehicle, as long as you have paid for 20K lbs of GVWR. For duallies if you have 4 10" tires on the rear, you have 6000 lbs per tire for a total of 24K lbs of tires, or the max of 20K lbs per fed law. The front axel gets a total of 12K lbs, or the total of 20K + 12K = 32000 lbs total, as long as you have enough paid for GVWR. This is what is available to me on my 1 ton GM.

I am not saying it is smart to run down the road at 32K lbs in a 1 ton duallie, but it is legal to do so under federal law, and at least what laws the wts and measures DOT WSP LEO officers inforce in Wa st. Those are the laws I have to follow as a commercial driver in my state, other states.......I will not comment, as I do not drive across state lines for work. THese laws also effect ALL vehicles on the road, be them commercial or RV. BUT< most DOT officers realize, generally speaking, that RV'rs rarely are close to these limits. The one exception that I wish they would look at, are Type A MH's, these the owners go by GRAWR< which can be as high as 25-30K lbs. There limit should be, if it is not already, 20K lbs, same as commercial!

Marty

adamrmathis wrote:
Two things...

First... What would a LEO know about the law? LEO's only enforce it and they are subect to the same errors the rest of us are. Our lawyers and judges can't even decide on what is right or wrong, and now you want an opinion from a LEO? I'm no trying to bash any LEO's, just tring to point out that being a LEO doesn't make one correct.

Second... I have a dodge truck and the RAWR on the door jamb sticker is far less than what the actual manufacturer specifies to to be - In this situation, who is the manufacturer, Dodge or AAM, and whose specification is right or most correct?

Good questions. My understanding is that AAM rates my rear axle at 10,800#s. GM then rates the axle down to 6084#s which is the tire rating total for the two stock tires on the rear axle.

So what you are suggesting is that where the code refers to the manufacturers rating that could mean AAM's rating as they manufactured the axle?

blt2ski wrote:
I would suggest you talk to Wadcutter, he is a retired LEO that did wt enforcement in Illinois?

Some states do have rules that limit the axel amount to below 20K lbs. Indiana for an example only allows 800 lbs per rim inch of with. This is from a few folks posting from Indiana.

Here in Wa st, we get 20K lbs per axel, as long as you have enough tire width. For a rig with singles all around, you get 500 lbs per inch of width, if you have duals on the rear you get 600 lbs per inch width of tires all around. As such, for a SW typical pickup, with 10" tires, you get 5000 lbs per tire or 10K per axel or 20K lbs total for the vehicle, as long as you have paid for 20K lbs of GVWR. For duallies if you have 4 10" tires on the rear, you have 6000 lbs per tire for a total of 24K lbs of tires, or the max of 20K lbs per fed law. The front axel gets a total of 12K lbs, or the total of 20K + 12K = 32000 lbs total, as long as you have enough paid for GVWR. This is what is available to me on my 1 ton GM.

I am not saying it is smart to run down the road at 32K lbs in a 1 ton duallie, but it is legal to do so under federal law, and at least what laws the wts and measures DOT WSP LEO officers inforce in Wa st. Those are the laws I have to follow as a commercial driver in my state, other states.......I will not comment, as I do not drive across state lines for work. THese laws also effect ALL vehicles on the road, be them commercial or RV. BUT< most DOT officers realize, generally speaking, that RV'rs rarely are close to these limits. The one exception that I wish they would look at, are Type A MH's, these the owners go by GRAWR< which can be as high as 25-30K lbs. There limit should be, if it is not already, 20K lbs, same as commercial!

Marty

Thanks Marty! Great information.

I know that here in TX the state codes say that a load on an axle can not exceed the combined tire rating for the tires on said axle. I have 265E's which have a rating a little of over 3400#s each. That would limit me to a little over 6800#'s. I am currently under that by about 1300#'s.

jmramiller wrote:

Lobocop wrote:

jmramiller wrote:

Dale_S wrote:
Wasn't this debated in another thread and debated numerous times in the past?

It has been debated before but I have yet to see anyone with any enforcement experience comment on the subject. I have also never seen a citation posted related to door sticker ratings.It has several times highjacked other threads. This is why I have created a thread dedicated to the subject.

In short, I would like to finally put this one to bed by hearing from those who enforce the regs.

jmramiller ... I will try to respond to this in such a fashion as to not tinkle in anyones cornflakes.

Having 25 years in the field of Law Enforcement, and retiring as an Undersheriff, I will tell you that this question should be asked of Commercial Enforcement personnel, not street cops.

Short of something that is so blatantly in violation (VW towing a 30' toyhauler or a bumper dragging the ground) the average street cop wouldn't know there is a violation, and honestly, probably wouldn't care. They are not equipped to weigh vehicles and if they look at a door sticker it is typically for a VIN. In some states, such as Nevada, a few extra dollars into the DMV coffers will get your trucks registration changed for a higher weight limit anyway.

Typically, if a street cop, not assigned to commercial enforcement, issues a citation for being over weight to someone towing a travel trailer with a 3/4 or 1 ton truck ... it is because the driver opened his blow hole when he should have kept it shut. If someone did receive a cite for the violation there should be a statute or code violation listed on the cite specifying what the violation was.

Just my .02 worth.

Lobocop,

What about State Troopers? They are the one's who are supposedly manning these "weight traps". Would they issue these type of citations and enforce these type of regs. If so, know any that could give us some incite

In Nevada the State Troopers don't carry portable scales with them. If there is a question they contact Commercial Enforcement.