Weigh Stations?

C-Bears wrote:
I haven't looked it up recently, but I thought Maryland was about the only state that I would be subject to pulling into a weigh station, but I thought it was 10,000 GVWR and over, either actual weight or registered weight, but maybe they lowered it or maybe I am wrong.

They may be able to force you to weigh but there is no way they can do a commercial safety inspection on your RV. With their axle and total weight limits on interstates most RVers wouldn't have to worry about being overweight.

That being said, we will be traveling in Maryland either in 2015 or 2016 and I will not be pulling into a weigh station, at least not voluntarily.

mgirardo wrote:
You are correct, it is 10,000 lbs, I think ependydad just typo'd. 5K at the scales would make for very crowded scales. That's pretty much every full size truck, large SUV and large luxury car.

-Michael

You're both right. Typoed it and meant 5 Tons / 10,000 lbs.

It's 10,000 lbs. gross weight (I asked).

Here's the actual response:

You are correct, you would be required to enter. Although you are driving a RV for non-business use and are exempted from the commercial regulations, you must still enter the scale house with your vehicle as required by the signs “All vehicles over 5T GVWR/GCWR must enter” The reason being, if you use an RV for business (such as transporting a musical band that receives compensation ) all regulations would apply at that point, but the only way an inspector would know, is if you would make yourself available for interaction with the facility staff.

More than likely you will be flagged on through when you enter without ever having to stop, however the signs require you enter.

If signs on the approach to a scale house in other states indicate “ALL COMMERCIAL VEHICLES MUST ENTER” then you could confidently go by without entering. In Maryland however the signs do indicate “ALL VEHICLES…”

I recall someone posting that one stated does require RVs to stop and the signs so indicate.

You are correct, it is 10,000 lbs, I think ependydad just typo'd. 5K at the scales would make for very crowded scales. That's pretty much every full size truck, large SUV and large luxury car.

-Michael

I haven't looked it up recently, but I thought Maryland was about the only state that I would be subject to pulling into a weigh station, but I thought it was 10,000 GVWR and over, either actual weight or registered weight, but maybe they lowered it or maybe I am wrong.

They may be able to force you to weigh but there is no way they can do a commercial safety inspection on your RV. With their axle and total weight limits on interstates most RVers wouldn't have to worry about being overweight.

That being said, we will be traveling in Maryland either in 2015 or 2016 and I will not be pulling into a weigh station, at least not voluntarily.

In Maryland, technically anything over 5K Gross Vehicle Weight is technically required to stop even if you're non-commercial. I have it in writing from the MD State Highway Administration. Which means, just in my dually with no camper- I am supposed to stop.

I've never stopped nor been stopped. :)

U-Haul type and other rental trucks are required to stop at the CA weigh stations. Don't know about other states. We went through one in CO on I-70 once with a rental truck and after we drove over the scales the sign said pull over and bring in your paper work. We looked at each other dumb founded what paper work. As it turns out they wanted to see our rental contract.

dieharder wrote:
Here's a question I have regarding personal vs. commercial use of a MH :

If someone rents one from one of those RV rental places that have their advertisement plastered all over it, is that considered personal or commercial?

It's not a question of simply being a "commercial" vehicle. It must be licensed as a commercial vehicle and have a DOT number. So Simply being a rental vehicle does not make it a "Commercial vehicle for purposes of the DOT.

To the OP you most definitely and unequivocally do NOT have to enter weigh stations with your private RV.

In Western Canada the weigh scale signs have "Recreational vehicles exempt" on them.

No OP you do not have to stop period end of story. Do not worry about the " ya but" and "what if".

The majority of the trucks in my locale are either wheat or beans, or else Garbage Scows headed to one of the 2 major landfills in the northeast. Every one of these trucks pay for a blanket 110,000 lbs.
All three axle trailers, tractors have tandem with a tag if not a full tri axle.