Sinterior wrote:
What a great thread! Soon after buying my current truck in '06 I found its limitations for real world cargo capacity which limited me to my old 10,000lb fiver, which actually put my truck weight with fiver at 9500lbs.
I'm picking my new Montana up on Thursday and towing it empty to our storage yard until I find a dually. I'm lucky in that my dealer is great and I trust them and they are looking for a truck for me.
Now I know, buy your TV after the 5th wheel!
IMHO with today's governments at all levels scrambling to generate revenue, RV'rs are going to be targeted for weight/safety checks and fines.
The last thing I need is to be in another country (we travel the U.S. a lot) and run into being overweight and the likely problems to follow, or here in Canada which seems to be checking RV'rs more and more.
I've seen a lot of posts here and other sites that basically state there are few if any actual laws that cover non commercial vehicle weights or safety issues (some "self proclaimed" lawyers have said as much on some forums, but being realistic, how many of us would be prepared to hire a lawyer and fight any fines in regards to being overweight, and literally perhaps waiting years and paying out a lot of money to get a ruling, which we may well lose?)
Peter
p.s....I'll weigh my current truck both with the new fiver (empty) and without and post the results from a BC certified weigh station, and weigh again in a few days with both loaded for a long trip.
Here are the numbers as of today, I did't get a chance to weigh the fiver empty.
Truck...2006 Chev 2500HD E/C S/B 4X4 D/A
Truck with me, DW, Linex liner 5th wheel hitch, toolbox with about 100lbs "stuff", maybe 150lbs, rubber backed skirting for the fiver, full tank fuel.
fr axle 1950kg...4290lbs
rr axle 1500kg...3300bs
= 3450kg...7590lbs
This is the heavier LT model with power heated leather seats, power sunroof, power mirrors, side step rails, undercoating, Linex bed liner, aluminum tool box in the truck bed etc etc, which add a suprising amount of weight. IIRC just these options alone add 350+lbs of weight! If only I knew then what I know now about weight......
With trailer, Montana 3400RL 10th Anniversary, plus slide awnings, gel coat exterior (I understand it adds weight?), 4 6V Trojan T105's in boxes in front compartment, solar panels on roof, dual pane windows, loaded for a trip (food, bedding, clothes, dishware, and RV stuff like BBQ, spare propane tank, tools lawn chairs etc etc, minus fridge contents and 1/3 tank fresh water, other tanks empty.
No generator or washer dryer.
fr axle 1990kg...4378lbs
rr axle 2640kg...5808lbs
= 4630...10186lbs
Trailer axles 5150kg...11330lbs
pin weight....1180kg....2596lbs
GCVW 9780kg....21516lbs
All above weights based on 2.2lbs per kg.
Although (suprisingly) I'm under axles and tire ratings, I'm over truck GVW by 1000lbs, thats why I'm now looking for a 1 ton dually.
All the above weights were done at a BC government weigh scale, where I was told I didn't have the necessary license endorsement to tow a trailer over 4600kg....10120lbs (I knew that and am working on it) and that because I went there voluntarily to be weighed, and was going to park the trailer at my storage site, I wasn't ticketed or made to park the trailer, but if I was caught at a weigh stop, I would be.
A note to BC residents, I heard before that BC was going to start checking resident RV'ers and after today, I believe it.
As far as I know, this doesn't apply to out of province or country residents.
I have tried to find out what is meant by the 4600kg limit, is it actual trailer weight, the trailers GVWR or the weight on the axles alone, not including pin/hitch weight? When I phone to ask these questions, there's a pause at the other end and
I get "I think it means"......take your pic of the above questions I have asked. Once I did get someone who said they were'nt sure and they would call me back......he did!! After looking for the answer,he wasn't sure and was just as confused as I was and still am.
Peter
Pete, Terry (Teresa) & Cira, 12lb furbag 🙂
2007 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 40SKQ
2017 Chev Equinox V6 AWD
Blue Ox Avail
Patriot II Braking system
Garmin dezl 560LMT