What must we keep in mind with Utility bed swaps?

As I mentioned above, even DOT officers are lost in lot of DOT laws, so let's not expect too much.
I can chime in about non-commercial registration.
I took my dually for the inspection with big TC and the "weigh fee" got waived.
It did not matter if that was regural bed, flatbed, or utility bed.
That doesn't mean I can take camper off and take it on the road legally. I do have camper shell for such occasions, but would I got pulled over with load of concrete, or manure, I might have lot to explain.
I still own bus conversion that DMV mistakenly registered as "bus"
Even having huge "Private coach" on the cap did not protect me from a ticket "for parking commercial vehicle" in inappropriate spot.
The law is a maze and no matter how much you will try, in real life you will have to brush it somewhere.
Funny part, I called DMV with question and I can haul unlimited weight commercial trailer with non-commercial vehicles and don't have obligation to stop at scales.
That doesn't mean DOT might not have different "opinion" on the subject.

I posted the link, it is up to the reader to decide if it pertains to them. I strongly disagree that what I posted was only for commercial vehicles not private & also having a bathroom mounted also exempts you. I did not see the bathroom exemption.

I will point out that if you have your flatbed/utility bed with TC registered as a RV, the link does not apply to you.

My post was due to my experience and a link. You certainly can brush it aside, but you might open a can of worms going to the utility bed. I hesitate to say this, but being a commercial Class A driver for a living does not necessarily mean you are aware of all laws pertaining to the subject. As a Commercial Class A driver for a living, I would think you do stop at scales. Perhaps, the next time you stop, you will ask the officers and post what they say. It could help for clarification.

Wayne

I am impress Reddog.
When I stop at scales and went to the office asking about definition of pickup - the officer took good 10 minutes of digging in the books to find me base definition of pickup.
BTW my friend in Bay Area owns 26,000 lb crane with flatbed under for cargo carrying.
He doesn't drive it very often as his contracts don't call for such heavy equipment often, but he never pulls to weigh station.
One time he got pulled over after avoiding scales and he had 10,000lb pump on the bed, but officers let him go.

All good points guys, yet I'd not be concerned with the truck scales, that is for commercial vehicles not private & also having a bathroom mounted also exempts you.

MAYBE, if you have a utility bed & work racks & etc that blatantly shows it is a work truck for commercial purposes maybe?

& have a clue being I am a commercial Class A driver for a living.

When I had my previous truck, I found the additional weight of a utility bed took away payload from the extra space I now had available and gave up on hauling more on the truck (one of the reasons I have trailer).

Some of the dimensions you need to look at when buying a utility bed are rail height and bed opening width to fit your TC. Decide how you will tie the TC down - Will it tie to the utility bed or truck frame? If you plan to tow behind your setup, will a sufficiently large receiver fit under the utility bed?

I do not question anyone's not stopping at scales, or why it was ignored by the CHP. I was never stopped with my flatbeds, because circumstances were such I avoided areas with scales.

The search feature is our friend. Here is another thread on flatbeds.
Flatbed verses Pickup Box

My ""opinion" is based on this link to the California Dept of Transportation: Who Must Stop at Scales?

This is but one post:

Per the link provided, it is clear to me:

Discussion: According to CVC Section 471, pickups are a motor truck by definition, which is required to stop at the scales per CVC Section 2813. However, all California weigh stations have signs stating: "No Pickups." So, if a vehicle meet the definition of pickup in CVC Section 471, it is not required to stop at the scales because of the signs stating: "No Pickups." If the pickup has a GVWR of 11,500 pounds or more, an unladen weight 8,001 pounds, not equipped with an open-box type bed not exceeding 9 feet in length, or the pickup bed has been removed and a utility body or flat bed has been mounted, then it no longer meets the definition of pickup in CVC Section 471; it is then a "motor truck" under CVC Section 410 and required to stop at the weigh stations.

PICKUP WITH CAMPER SHELL -- NO (May have to stop under certain conditions. Contact California Highway Patrol Commercial Vehicle Section for verification (916-843-3400))

Discussion: It can also display passenger vehicle plates, as long as the cargo in the bed is not being hauled for compensation.

PICKUP WITH CAB / CREW CAB WITH BOX-TYPE BED -- YES

Discussion: The utility or box bed has to enter weigh stations.


NOTE: I added the red to point out part of the text.

Wayne

I have no idea about other states.

Wayne

I have had an aluminum flatbed and side saddle boxes for almost 20 years. I believe the aluminum alone might be worth more than what I originally paid for it. I measured the camper everywhere to make sure it would all fit. Make sure saddle boxes do not stick out too far and interfere with the camper tie downs, nor are too high. Watch the head ache rack height also under the cab over.

The law about scales is tricky (where it isn't).
Legally all commercial vehicles should pull to scales in CA. Bare in mind you can register station wagon as commercial vehicle.
My dually is registered as RV (DMV has special category for it) and I ignored scales with utility bed and ignore them now.
In the past, driving empty F450 flatbed I ignored scales as well and nobody was chasing me.
Pulling equipment trailer I stop at scales and almost all the time got full inspection as trailers break-away brake systems are red flags for DOT.
Than lot of CA weigh stations have signs "no pickups"
Now a quiz for CA pickup owners >>> what is definition of pickup in the state?

Golden_HVAC wrote:

Reddog1 wrote:
In California, you are required to stop at all scales if you have any bed other than a pick-up bed.

Wayne

Do you have any web based laws that will confirm this 'opinion?' of the state laws?

I drove several tool box body trucks for years, and have never seen one stopped at a truck scale. Perhaps if the vehicle is over 26,000 GVWR, then it might need to stop at the scales, regardless of what type of body is on the truck frame.

Pickup based trucks do not need to stop at scales in California, because they are under 19,500 pounds (for the F-550) GVWR. Even a RV type vehicle pulling another trailer with a combined weight over 26,000 pounds does not require stopping at a scale, because it is not a commercial vehicle.

Fred.

I will have to see if it I have it bookmarked. I wish it was my opinion, cause I have wanted to put a flatbed on my truck for years, but do not want to stop at scales. I think within the past couple of months we had a thread on this subject. I think it had the links.

Wayne

It is the GVW rating that determinate if you have to pull to the scales and RV are exempt this way or the other.
I went opposite way.
Bought my pickup with 10' utility bed and not only the bed floor was raised about 4 " above the frame, but I had to add another 4" planks under the camper to clear sides above the boxes.
That brought my total height above 13' and I was not comfortable with it.