http://www.ops.fhwa.dot.gov/freight/size_weight.htmThe law for weights from what I can tell, we must follow. RV's are included in this! We appear to be allowed the minimu/maximum legal axel wt by law, which is 20K per axle, 34 per tandem, and 80K total. States may choose to weigh RV's, or not. If you are over a legal axel limit, you can be told to move things around until legal, with an option of no fine, again, up to the state you are traveling in.
The few caveats I see, is states can limit you to a minimum of 500 lbs per inch width of tire. So to get the 20K per axel, you will need at least 40" of tires, in 2 20's or 4 10's depending upon if single or dually. Tandems you would need 4 8.5" tires if duals, and 2 17" tires if singles.
Also, if you license/registration papers do not have a paid for GVWR on it. That is when I believe some of us will run into trouble if pulled over! In which case, then the LEO in the weigh shack needs to figure out what you legal axel load is.
Example, my thought, two folks equal trucks, 11600 total, 4500 on front, 7100 on rear, 11400 on door, and 5000 for max front, and 9000 for max rear. trailer is 2 6K axels. One is me, I have a paid for GVWR sticker on my registration for the truck at 12K, trailers at 12K. Other is poor BertP in BC or jimilin in OK. Neither registration shows paid for wt tags. SO now the LEO has to go to the truck/trailer and figure out what is max, SO looks at door frame etc. Truck is 11400 max, trailer 12K but all three of us have 10K on axels, so ok there. Troop looks at my paper work, I am under all of the paper work ratings, sends me on my way. Bert and Jim meanwhile, are told max is 11400, and to go forward they need to lose 200 lbs off the truck! so they proceed to start moving items off the truck to the traler, or move spouses clothes out of front bed closet to the back of the trailer to reduce pin wt by 201+ lbs. Then troop will say bye bye. They may or may not get ticketed for being over loaded. BECAUSE> they get maximum by law, which is 20K per axel or 34 K for the trailer tandem. They are under this, but over there paid for weight!
ANother option, if they were in washington like I am, troop wieghs them, over registered weight, but under max axel weights, told I need to up my paid for wt until my registration is over, and sent on my way! been there done that! By theway, I was WAY over manufactures wts!
The component the weight laws are protecting, is teh road itself. NOT the tires, axels, springs brakes etc of the truck etc. BUT the road itself! WIeght laws started back in the late 1800's to protect the gravel dirt roads that states at the time started to put in, to keep the narrow wheeled horse carts from damaging these "cart paths" then it was moved into roads, interstates during the Eisenhower yrs in the 50's and the interstate system was started.
Look at above link to US DOT. also google "federal Bridge laws" look at Wikipedia listing etc. quite interesting to say the least. Will probably blow many of your minds as to what "ACTUAL" weight laws are protecting, and what you can really do! with what! I am sure the "RV.NET component weight police" will be up in arms!LOLOLOL
Marty
