Weighing in?

[Ken45101]

They can find out real easy. Type your VIN# in Google some time and see what it comes up with. They have the info and will and can find out all they need to know if you give them a reason too. I have been lucky this far and never been checked.

Chris

The only thing I found was a reference to a Carfax report. Without paying for the report, all it showed was body type and engine size.

Ken

 

[Diamondpilot]

Type in something like "vin decoder". You will find some info.

Chris

 

[mlauk]

If the GCWR depends on things like gearing, options, engine size, etc, do the enforcement people actually check or care about this when doing a weighing? Most pickups don't have a tag on them saying what the max combination weight is. Are they really going to be concerned if you have a 3.7 rear end vs a 4.1, or gas versus diesel?

I would think all the enforcement people can check is the gross axle weight rating GAWR for the front & rear axle and the gross vehicle weight rating GVWR all posted on the door of the truck. Then they check the same for the trailer and make sure everything is under 26000 lbs GCWR. They can also check to make sure the tires aren't overloaded.

If all is in within the weight rating, then the truck should be capable of pulling the load.

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would think all the enforcement people can check is the gross axle weight rating GAWR for the front & rear axle and the gross vehicle weight rating GVWR all posted on the door of the truck. Then they check the same for the trailer and make sure everything is under 26000 lbs GCWR. They can also check to make sure the tires aren't overloaded.

If all is in within the weight rating, then the truck should be capable of pulling the load.

This is not necessarily truck. Many times the sum of the two axles capacity well exceeds the max GVWR of the truck.

Chris

 

[mlauk]

This is not necessarily truck. Many times the sum of the two axles capacity well exceeds the max GVWR of the truck.

Chris

That is true, but there is also a maximum GVWR on the door jamb. So each individual axle can not be exceeded and the total of the axles must not exceed the GVWR.

 

[Harold_J]

In Indiana it is illegal to pull a trailer with a GVWR higher than the tow rating, even empty. So for example a 20K trailer may weigh 7K empty so even though that is well within my F-250 or my F-350's tow ratings it is illegal to pull it because it exceeds the 16,300# or so tow limit. Chris

This type of regulation seems to actually discourage safe operation. Suppose I have a truck thats rated to tow 12K pounds. To be on the safe side I would like to use a trailer with an MGVW of 14K or 16K with heavier axles and tires so as to have an extra margin of safety, even though I would never load it to full capacity. But then I have a problem (at least in Indiana anyways) and may be illegal.

I think they may be doing this just to collect more fines and also it is easy to enforce, no weighing of axles needed, just compare the numbers.

 

[KML]

This type of regulation seems to actually discourage safe operation. Suppose I have a truck thats rated to tow 12K pounds. To be on the safe side I would like to use a trailer with an MGVW of 14K or 16K with heavier axles and tires so as to have an extra margin of safety, even though I would never load it to full capacity. But then I have a problem (at least in Indiana anyways) and may be illegal.

I think they may be doing this just to collect more fines and also it is easy to enforce, no weighing of axles needed, just compare the numbers.

I heard this before and it concerned me enough to call the state as I pull a 14K dump trailer with my F150 when I transport light stuff. The actual weight of the trailer and load don't exceed my rated limit but the trailer is rated and taged to exceed it. Long story short, it isn't illegal.

You get a ticket for EXCEEDING weight not having the ability to. We had a post about this a while back where I posted the links to the relevant Indiana and federal laws and they agreed with the ISP enforcement officer I called.

This would be like getting pulled over and ticketed for speeding because your vehicle was capable of exceeding the speed limit.

 

[rutwad]

It may have already been stated here, but I think only trucks with GVWR over 10000 lbs are subject to these regulations. So it would affect only 1-ton trucks and above.

What is the usual weakest link with a 1-ton truck and trailer? Is it the tire rating, rear axle rating, or GVWR?

 

[Diamondpilot]

I heard this before and it concerned me enough to call the state as I pull a 14K dump trailer with my F150 when I transport light stuff. The actual weight of the trailer and load don't exceed my rated limit but the trailer is rated and taged to exceed it. Long story short, it isn't illegal.

You get a ticket for EXCEEDING weight not having the ability to. We had a post about this a while back where I posted the links to the relevant Indiana and federal laws and they agreed with the ISP enforcement officer I called.

This would be like getting pulled over and ticketed for speeding because your vehicle was capable of exceeding the speed limit.

Just goes to show you there is no equal playing field. I have talked to a officer up here in the Muncie area and he swears he would right a ticket for it. Now if it stands up in court or not is another thing.

I agree it makes no since. I have been doing it also with a 18,000# trailer and a F-350 and have gotten away with it but I do not recommend anyone else try it.

Chris

 

[LBrown59]

This would be like getting pulled over and ticketed for speeding because your vehicle was capable of exceeding the speed limit.

Or murder because you are capable of that too.