here another member that understands the use of door sill as he puts it/placard/tag/post concerning GAWR to balance the load/purchasing GVWR and how its used for a combined tow and has it right about how their used in his state. This post comes from the 5th wheel forum page #6 and the topic is "towing and overweights" which was closed. He is what is called a legal commercial hauler.
Pipewelder71
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This topic has been on going on other forums as well. As for the GVWR from the manufacturers, this is for warrantys and guidelines. If you see on the door sills, you can see the axle weight ratings. It's usually higher than the tire rating, usually. I have friends that are hotshots, most use a F-350 dually hauling up to 42,000 GCVW. That's legal. Because each axle "carrys" it's own weight. Each axle has the brake rating for the weight it's designed to carry. The same is for the tires as well.
So let's say that your GCVW is 26,000 lbs.
Your front axle rating is 5,000 lbs., and you're weigh out at 4,500 lbs.
Your rear axle rating is 6,500lbs., and you're weigh out at 5,000 lbs.
Your trailer has 3 axles, each rated for 7,000 lbs., and you're weigh out at 5,500 lbs. per axle.
As you can see you're under as per weight rating. I have a F-350 SRW, but I can "buy" tonnage in Washington state. If you're pulled over, you might be good on the axles. But if you don't have the right tonnage plates, that's where they can fine you. Like if your set up is registered for 12,000 lbs. GCVW and you're hauling 13,000 lbs. You're overweight because you don't have the right plates. However with the same set up, if you're registered for 26,000 lbs. and you're hauling 25,990 lbs. You're legal because you have the correct plates and you're under on your axles. If you think that I'm an idiot, than you shouldn't be driving. I have a Class A CDL with doubles/triples trailers and tanks endorsements. So this isn't my first rodeo.
It's not difficult to figure it out, just make sure that your tires are rated for Load E. Too many people get cheap and buy a lower rating tire because it's cheaper. I always try to find the highest weight rating tire in the trend design I'm looking for. Besides, the only way the DOT is going to pull you over is that you're driving all over the place or too fast. Also you don't have to enter the weight station, that's only for commerical traffic.
When he hooks to his RV/tractor and implement trailer/large boat and trailer or any non commercial truck/trailer combo he/us still have GAWR/tire caps to go with for a legal load.
