New truck license problem

brnzbk wrote:
I just spoke with the title clerk and she said the reason it was titled for 10K is because that is all I was charged for when I purchased the vehicle. I was not told that but it doesn't matter because the only way to fix it is for me to go down to the license office and increase the plate rate rating myself.
So if I understand this correctly, my truck weighs 8K, I hook up my fifth wheel which has a pin weight of 2500, that puts me at 10500 with no fuel, passengers, fifth wheel cargo and hitch, but I'm still OK with a 10K license? I was under the impression i needed to be licensed for all of that, so perhaps I misunderstood the license ratings, if so then all is good. I just wanted to be sure I did everything correctly since this is my first fifth wheel, obviously I still have a lot to learn.

Depends on the state. Explain fully to the clerk what the weights are, that you are a RV, not commercial, and they should be able to tell you what you need to license it for.

I asked when I got mine, and I need to license for the total weight that I am, RV or commercial. As RV, I am not apt to get weighed, but possible. And, to be legal, I need to have the full weight licensed.

I KNOW other states are different.

LOL ... all these answers, and not ONE lives or drives on a regular basis in Texas. They don't understand that the DPS in Texas set on the roads and stops RV's and any other truck they wish for weighing, fuel checks and vehicle inspections. It makes NO difference if you are commercial or an RV, if DPS is holding court on the side of the road, you BETTER be legal, especially with Texas plates. Go down to the DMV and talk to the supervisor about what is and is NOT legal in your case, then ask for a copy of the law(s) he or she is citing, for your protection.

trail-explorer wrote:
FOrget trying to get an answer about "licensing laws" from the dealer.
Go to your local licensing agent and they will fix ya up.

This. If it really bothers you.

Your truck has a sticker from the factory that states its GVWR, as well as the axle ratings. Stay with those numbers, and hit the road worry free. You'll be fine.

I went through a similar thing in Indiana. My F350 is plated for 9,000# on the registration (we weight about 8,200# by CAT Scale ready to roll). I asked BMV about pin weight when I 1st registered it and was informed that was covered under the 5er's registration. Now if it was a commercial tag, it would have to include the weight of the trailer (Gross combined). My insurance agent says I'm ok to 14,000# on my truck and I've thought of raising it cover to my 11,500# GVWR but I really don't like going to the BMV office to do it. Heck, I see F350's running around town with 7,000# tags.

FOrget trying to get an answer about "licensing laws" from the dealer.
Go to your local licensing agent and they will fix ya up.

brnzbk wrote:
I just spoke with the title clerk and she said the reason it was titled for 10K is because that is all I was charged for when I purchased the vehicle. I was not told that but it doesn't matter because the only way to fix it is for me to go down to the license office and increase the plate rate rating myself.
So if I understand this correctly, my truck weighs 8K, I hook up my fifth wheel which has a pin weight of 2500, that puts me at 10500 with no fuel, passengers, fifth wheel cargo and hitch, but I'm still OK with a 10K license? I was under the impression i needed to be licensed for all of that, so perhaps I misunderstood the license ratings, if so then all is good. I just wanted to be sure I did everything correctly since this is my first fifth wheel, obviously I still have a lot to learn.

you need to check the RV towing laws in Texas. Ask your DMV. In NC, and I quote. Private camping trailers are exempt from NC weight laws. Meaning. No matter how heavy the camper / RV you don't need a weighted tag to tow it. You don't even need a truck to tow it. SUVs tow with just a passenger car tag.
But. I can't speak for Texas

Even in commercial circles, You do not have to pay for the full rating of a truck. As long as you have paid enough to cover the weight of the rig if or when it gets weighed by the authorities, you are ok.
You can even lic. it for more than it's rated for. A buddy of mine has a Kenworth with a fixed load. The truck is overweight by about 3K# (33K# total) but the rigs lic. is good for that amount.
So when he gets caught at a weigh station, he gets a ticket for being overweight but not for being over his lic. rating - which are two very different offenses.

I just spoke with the title clerk and she said the reason it was titled for 10K is because that is all I was charged for when I purchased the vehicle. I was not told that but it doesn't matter because the only way to fix it is for me to go down to the license office and increase the plate rate rating myself.
So if I understand this correctly, my truck weighs 8K, I hook up my fifth wheel which has a pin weight of 2500, that puts me at 10500 with no fuel, passengers, fifth wheel cargo and hitch, but I'm still OK with a 10K license? I was under the impression i needed to be licensed for all of that, so perhaps I misunderstood the license ratings, if so then all is good. I just wanted to be sure I did everything correctly since this is my first fifth wheel, obviously I still have a lot to learn.

Unless you run commercially, no one is ever going to weigh your rig.
I'd leave it as-is.

My guess is even though it's not correct (illegal?) their licensing people do it this way for commercial customers so that their employees don't have to comply with medical testing for DOT requirements. Company drivers driving at vehicle rated over 10,000# are required to get DOT physicals, not necessarily CDLs.

Yes, the mfgs will rate the same truck sometimes as either over or at 10,000# for this purpose. If you're not using it commercially, I don't see it effecting you.

Bill