We weighed everything today.

Reddog1 wrote:

work2much wrote:
...All of this, plus emissions, and lower rear end gear means I should expect less fuel economy. I haven't hand calced a tank yet but going by the notoriously inaccurate dash readout it looks like about 12mpg with the TC on which would be about 3 mpg less than the 04.

I am disappointed in my MPG on my '04. I have only had the opportunity to hand calculate it a couple of times. It appears 10 to 11 MPG is it. It has 4:11 gears, but typically run it between 1800 and 2000 RPM. My '96 was 12.5 with the same TC.

With the in-depth description you gave, I can see the big difference in weight. It sure is not obvious just looking at the truck. Now I'm thinking the drama with the licensing is due to the GVWR.

Reddog1: The GVWR cut off to comply with this program is 11,499 pounds. If you are operating a truck that has a GVWR of more than that you are compelled by law to fill out form 4008. If you are going to be at 10,001 or more you are required to pay the fee and sticker your truck. This isn't a new thing and applied to my old truck/camper combo of which I was ignorant. I only learned of this through the purchase of a new truck and should have been informed of this at the time of sale back in 04 for that truck since this law has been in effect since 2001.

Or if you are going to be doing a combo of truck and tailer more than 10,001 pounds you are required to do the same form and pay addition fees. Read the language on form 4008. In so far as I can tell you are in the same boat as I am especially pulling another vehicle.

The reason for my post here was to see what others are doing. I think it's fair to say any of us with a full-size truck and larger camper combo and registered in CA fall within this DMV regulation and face the same dilemma I do as to whether to comply with the law and pay for the stickers.

In the end my choice is to comply, pay the fee, receive the stickers and leave them unmounted but onboard.