GVWR question

Most scales in California specifically say “No Pickups” right on the sign out front.

Never imagined this thread would go down in flames!

I may add a subjective anecdote though. The discussion about BC regs staring sum of axle gvwrs being the enforcable limit, vs the cops using the door sticker with the truck class overall gvw rating, is no different than the inconsistencies and errors in enforcement on the other side of the maple syrup curtain.
Same issue differnet beer drinkers. I’m pretty sure the Mounties aren’t unilaterally more well read , better intentioned and intelligent than US DOT and other LEOs.
If you’ve never seen a cop make a mistake either intentionally or otherwise, you’ve lived a sheltered life.

mkirsch wrote:
So? You're not in Canada and you've never been pulled over and weighed, so your statement is meaningless.

Thank you for casting your ever shining ray of sunshine and positivity upon another thread. I so look forward to your words for a reality break...

shum02 wrote:


I'm from ON where the OP is. I live within 10 minutes of 4 of the busiest truck scales probably in all of Canada and NEVER have RV's been pulled through them, EVER.

I have used them to weigh my rig though and even had a scale house guy come out and spot me. Could have cared less about my rig and weight and just as an aside the scales are always turned on and you are pretty much welcome to use them if they are not pulling in COMMERCIAL traffic.

All pickups in Ontario are classified as commercial but if YOU are not pulling for money but are pulling for personnel with no remuneration then it is not for commercial purposes.

SO many people just do NOT get it.

You think they pull over over loaded minivans pulling dble axle "light weight" RV's and nail them for being over all rating including tires on the van?? Nope. If it looks safe, is driven safe, then it's considered safe. LEO's won't touch it.

Welcome to Ontario.

And again, getting away with ignoring non-enforced law is not the same as being law-compliant.
It was similar in California with pickups, who are 99% registered as commercial and in the past would never drive via scales, hauling flatbed trailers or not.
Than about 10 years ago the state made additional weight stickers who cost owners lot of $$$ give LEO additional edge to observe.
And guess what? Now we have some reports about scales bypassing chases.
It is all about how much money state or province needs.
Just a reminder, when you are in state where pickups require commercial registration, you can change that when you use it only for TC hauling. I did it in California and that saved me about $500 on weight stickers, making bypassing scales legal.
All it took was drive to DMV with my combo, inspect it and changing the registration status.
But don't be let LEO see your pickup with wheelbarrow instead of TC on it.
In CA commercial plates have different combination of letters & numbers, so can be spot in instant.

Bedlam wrote:
A couple of trips past White Rock and one past Hope with my setup were not a problem, but I was ignorant of those laws north of the US border and my rig did not have swerve, sag, roll or sway that attracted attention. Had I known the restrictions, BC would not have had our tourist dollars during that time. For the last four years, I drive a combination that is BC sticker compliant but have not returned with an RV - Irony.

All that means is you didn't get caught, and/or they don't hassle out-of-province vehicles.

Bedlam wrote:
My F250 was scaling at 12,500 lbs with 4500 lbs of that up front when everything filled up and I had the trailer hitched to the rear. 9610 lbs of tire rating and 9000 lbs of rim rating per axle, but nothing matched the door sticker except the VIN.

So? You're not in Canada and you've never been pulled over and weighed, so your statement is meaningless.

Lancey...your paste and copy doesn't come from any BC size and weight codes but rather a info sheet. Read on down to the bottom where its says quote:
***Information on this Info sheet is subject to change without notice. In the event of conflict with this Info Sheet and the Motor Vehicle Act and Regulations, the Acts and Regulations shall apply.***

Now when we look at BC's MVAR "weighing of vehicles" code it says in part ; (paste and copy as its long)

** The gross weight of any vehicle or combination of vehicles shall be the sum of the individual gross axle weights of all the axles of the vehicle or combination of vehicles. **

Kayteg1 wrote:

shum02 wrote:
It's a RV not commercial.

When they weight them, it has to be commercialized.
The laws vary a lot between the states, but lot of TC drive truck who has commercial registration.
Have not heard about Police chasing camper bypassing commercial scales, but now when people drive slower- they will have to make for lost revenue somewhere.

I'm from ON where the OP is. I live within 10 minutes of 4 of the busiest truck scales probably in all of Canada and NEVER have RV's been pulled through them, EVER.

I have used them to weigh my rig though and even had a scale house guy come out and spot me. Could have cared less about my rig and weight and just as an aside the scales are always turned on and you are pretty much welcome to use them if they are not pulling in COMMERCIAL traffic.

All pickups in Ontario are classified as commercial but if YOU are not pulling for money but are pulling for personnel with no remuneration then it is not for commercial purposes.

SO many people just do NOT get it.

You think they pull over over loaded minivans pulling dble axle "light weight" RV's and nail them for being over all rating including tires on the van?? Nope. If it looks safe, is driven safe, then it's considered safe. LEO's won't touch it.

Welcome to Ontario.

What will be the penalty for driving an
overloaded vehicle that has a GVWR of
5,500 kgs, or less, if that vehicle is
manufactured after January 1, 2001?
The driver of any vehicle manufactured after
January 1, 2001, which is loaded above its
GVWR, may receive a violation ticket. The
GVWR is the standard for determining if a vehicle
is overweight. A change to the regulations affects
the drivers of vehicles that have a GVWR of 5,500 kgs, or less, and are manufactured before
January 1, 2001. This change was made to allow
owners of the exempted vehicles time to
upgrade, if needed, to vehicles that are better
suited to their load-carrying needs. The change
will also give vehicle dealers time to ensure
consumers are advised about the GVWR and its
implications when purchasing a vehicle.

What is the difference between the
licensed weight (GVW) shown on my
Owner’s Certificate (insurance papers)
and the GVWR on the vehicle itself?
When you license a vehicle, you pay a basic road
licensing fee based on the weight you plan tocarry and tow. You may increase the amount you
are licensed to carry by paying a higher fee;
however, this does not mean the vehicle will be
able to carry more weight. Vehicles cannot
exceed the manufacturers GVWR. Since heavier
vehicles cause more damage to the infrastructure
of our roads, the owners of these vehicles are
required to pay higher licensing fees to offset the
cost of maintaining roads. You may notice that
the licensed GVW on your insurance papers is
higher than your vehicle’s GVWR. This occurs
because the licensed weight (GVW) includes
both the load you carry on, or in, your vehicle and
the load you are towing. GVW refers to the
weight you are licensed to carry and tow. GVWR
refers to the weight your vehicle is designed to
carry.