There have been some good discussions on this in the past. I hope to start a new one as the rules have changed again. Also the RV-related FAQs have been removed from the MTO website recently. I've been reading the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and thought I'd raise the subject here before trying to talk to the MTO - which can yield different answers from different people.To date, I believed that Registered Gross Weight (RGW) was irrelevant when the truck camper was loaded. There used to be one statement on the website that a truck with a slide-in camper was considered a motorhome. Apparently that's been gone for a while. Until recently the MTO RV FAQ said "A truck camper reverts back to a truck when the camper is not being carried..." which I optimistically took to mean RGW didn't apply with the camper on. I have the RGW on my permit at only 4400kg as I'm only over that with the truck camper on and thus avoid needing the annual ON inspections (yellow stickers).An MTO rep came to our car club meeting (while I was away) and told our members that a truck is a truck whether the camper is on it or not. It must have RGW set to include the camper and both truck & trailer will require annual ON inspections when over the relatively low weight threshold.I have been getting ON inspections on my truck and trailer anyway. I have thorough inspections done each spring for safety so I pay a little more to get the yellow stickers - just to be legal if I towed (a light trailer) without having the camper on. I guess now I am required to do those and must up my RGW significantly when I renew my permit. That costs much more than the annual inspections, by the way.The exemptions from CVOR, daily inspections, and trip reports still apply as long as your truck's GVWR is 6000kg or less and it has the original OEM box or replacement of same. I have no idea if that exempts you from pulling into weigh scales and I hope to keep sailing past them without incident. If I drive in they'd probably punish me for my perceived stupidity.I have recorded the sections, paragraphs, etc. of the relevant references if anyone is interested. I'll carry it with me just in case I get into it with an inspector - not that I expect having facts on my side to help much.Anyone have any specific knowledge to support or modify the above understanding?...Fred

The only specific knowledge I have is when I bought my 2004 Ram 3500 brand new, I had it registered at GVWR. I got pulled over by the MTO and was asked for my log books, etc. I explained to the officer that I use the truck for my RV (almost) exclusively. He said "If you had your RV, I wouldn't even have looked at you". I lowered my RGW to 4400kg. When I bought my Chev with much higher GVWR I registered it at 4400kg. Even so, I still have to pay $181 per year for license sticker.

In 2005 that was correct. There was no exemption from log books, etc. The "personal use pick-up" exemption was enacted around 2007 so that would no longer be an issue for you if your GVWR was over 4500kg. BTW, that $181 jumps to $235 this year. If your GVWR was 11000kg it jumps to $638!The situation for those towing an RV is simpler than those of us with truck campers towing a cargo trailer. I didn't research RV trailers since it doesn't apply to me, but did notice a lot of exemptions for RV trailers in my reading. No yellow sticker is required and no class A license is required if a fiver RV is over 4600kg and you're still under your 11000kg class G vehicle limit.However I don't remember seeing an RV exemption from including it in RGW - except the generic one when your trailer axles are 2600kg or less. You probably require a higher RGW and a yellow sticker on the truck. I don't know for sure. I just don't remember seeing such an exemption. If your chances of getting stopped are small then it might be cheaper to risk the fine - like many of us have unknowingly been doing....Fred

Interesting discussion. I will be watching to see how it is done in other provinces. Its fairly straight ahead in BC. Truck weight can not exceed GVWR on the door. There are some farmer exemptions but not for Rec vehicles. Obviously not the case for every state and province. The wolf creek brochure shows a half ton with a wolf creek on it. uh huh. :) I wonder if someone would comment on how out of province trucks are judged in Ontario. If its legal in the persons home province or state is it legal in Ontario. If this is too far off topic please ignore. Thanks in advance.

I think it is important to note the OP has to do with Canada, not the USA. It is my understanding, that in Canada, each province has its own laws, rules, and regulations on motor vehicles. This is definitely true in the USA.I point this out so the reader understands laws differ depending on where you are referencing, and they may or may not be true in other provinces or states. With this understanding, misinformation will be reduced.Wayne

Wayne, I presumed people would realize that Ontario is in Canada but it hadn't even occurred to me to point out the rules in Canada vary by province. Good point. I've always just assumed that they vary by state in the USA too. I know for several of the changes Ontario has made they state it is to make us more consistent with other states and provinces. Hopefully they're all working in this direction....Fred

Commutator

Explorer

May 05, 2015

Ontario (MTO) towing regulations & truck campers

There have been some good discussions on this in the past. I hope to start a new one as the rules have changed again. Also the RV-related FAQs have been removed from the MTO website recently. I've been reading the Highway Traffic Act (HTA) and thought I'd raise the subject here before trying to talk to the MTO - which can yield different answers from different people.

To date, I believed that Registered Gross Weight (RGW) was irrelevant when the truck camper was loaded. There used to be one statement on the website that a truck with a slide-in camper was considered a motorhome. Apparently that's been gone for a while. Until recently the MTO RV FAQ said "A truck camper reverts back to a truck when the camper is not being carried..." which I optimistically took to mean RGW didn't apply with the camper on. I have the RGW on my permit at only 4400kg as I'm only over that with the truck camper on and thus avoid needing the annual ON inspections (yellow stickers).

An MTO rep came to our car club meeting (while I was away) and told our members that a truck is a truck whether the camper is on it or not. It must have RGW set to include the camper and both truck & trailer will require annual ON inspections when over the relatively low weight threshold.

I have been getting ON inspections on my truck and trailer anyway. I have thorough inspections done each spring for safety so I pay a little more to get the yellow stickers - just to be legal if I towed (a light trailer) without having the camper on. I guess now I am required to do those and must up my RGW significantly when I renew my permit. That costs much more than the annual inspections, by the way.

The exemptions from CVOR, daily inspections, and trip reports still apply as long as your truck's GVWR is 6000kg or less and it has the original OEM box or replacement of same. I have no idea if that exempts you from pulling into weigh scales and I hope to keep sailing past them without incident. If I drive in they'd probably punish me for my perceived stupidity.

I have recorded the sections, paragraphs, etc. of the relevant references if anyone is interested. I'll carry it with me just in case I get into it with an inspector - not that I expect having facts on my side to help much.

Anyone have any specific knowledge to support or modify the above understanding?

...Fred

Truck Campers

12 Replies

Commutator
Explorer
May 06, 2015
In 2005 that was correct. There was no exemption from log books, etc. The "personal use pick-up" exemption was enacted around 2007 so that would no longer be an issue for you if your GVWR was over 4500kg. BTW, that $181 jumps to $235 this year. If your GVWR was 11000kg it jumps to $638!

The situation for those towing an RV is simpler than those of us with truck campers towing a cargo trailer. I didn't research RV trailers since it doesn't apply to me, but did notice a lot of exemptions for RV trailers in my reading. No yellow sticker is required and no class A license is required if a fiver RV is over 4600kg and you're still under your 11000kg class G vehicle limit.

However I don't remember seeing an RV exemption from including it in RGW - except the generic one when your trailer axles are 2600kg or less. You probably require a higher RGW and a yellow sticker on the truck. I don't know for sure. I just don't remember seeing such an exemption. If your chances of getting stopped are small then it might be cheaper to risk the fine - like many of us have unknowingly been doing.

...Fred
joebedford
Nomad III
May 06, 2015
The only specific knowledge I have is when I bought my 2004 Ram 3500 brand new, I had it registered at GVWR. I got pulled over by the MTO and was asked for my log books, etc. I explained to the officer that I use the truck for my RV (almost) exclusively. He said "If you had your RV, I wouldn't even have looked at you". I lowered my RGW to 4400kg. When I bought my Chev with much higher GVWR I registered it at 4400kg. Even so, I still have to pay $181 per year for license sticker.

Forum Discussion

Ontario (MTO) towing regulations & truck campers

12 Replies

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