Trailer GVW is more than Tow Vehicle Ratings

7mmrum · Jun 29, 2011

I have done some searching on this forum but didn't find exactly what I'm looking for. If there has been a post that someone is aware of please let me know of the URL to save everyone some time.

I have two question is this, and I'm looking for a factual answer not opinion. (sorry don't mean to be a jerk but need to know what's what)

My Truck has a Tow rating of 10,200, I'm looking at a Horse Trailer that has a max weight rating of 12k and a empty weight of 3500. Now at most I would NEVER have any weight in this trailer that would come close the 8,500 of "capable" weight that could be used in this trailer. At most, half of that with horse or two,, down the road. I would never push it.

1. Now since my "load" will be under the 10,200 mark of the tow rating for the vehicle will I have law/legality issues with the police since the "sticker" on the trailer has the capacity for more weight than would my tow vehicle could capably tow. Meaning technically I should have a trailer that stickered or decaled of a GVW for 10k not 12k. This is a no frills Valley 18' stock trailer - bumper pull with dual axles, but not Tandems.

2. I'm in Virginia, I believe reading or hearing something that if the trailer is over 10k in weight a different type of "Driving License" is required such as Class A, B, or C?? Is this true.

If this information is different to each state I understand however I'm unsure if there is a contact number for DOT that you can reach out to?

I have trailered before many times this is not a new to me; but the trailer GVW has always been less than the tow vehicle so this concern has not come up before. In addition the weight of the trailers I'm used to have been around 7,500lbs.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide

-sean

newbury · Jun 29, 2011

7mmrum said:
I have done some searching on this forum but didn't find exactly what I'm looking for. If there has been a post that someone is aware of please let me know of the URL to save everyone some time.

I have two question is this, and I'm looking for a factual answer not opinion. (sorry don't mean to be a jerk but need to know what's what)

My Truck has a Tow rating of 10,200, I'm looking at a Horse Trailer that has a max weight rating of 12k and a empty weight of 3500. Now at most I would NEVER have any weight in this trailer that would come close the 8,500 of "capable" weight that could be used in this trailer. At most, half of that with horse or two,, down the road. I would never push it.

1. Now since my "load" will be under the 10,200 mark of the tow rating for the vehicle will I have law/legality issues with the police since the "sticker" on the trailer has the capacity for more weight than would my tow vehicle could capably tow. Meaning technically I should have a trailer that stickered or decaled of a GVW for 10k not 12k. This is a no frills Valley 18' stock trailer - bumper pull with dual axles, but not Tandems.

2. I'm in Virginia, I believe reading or hearing something that if the trailer is over 10k in weight a different type of "Driving License" is required such as Class A, B, or C?? Is this true.

If this information is different to each state I understand however I'm unsure if there is a contact number for DOT that you can reach out to?

I have trailered before many times this is not a new to me; but the trailer GVW has always been less than the tow vehicle so this concern has not come up before. In addition the weight of the trailers I'm used to have been around 7,500lbs.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide

-sean

1. I'm in the same situation, from a LOT of reading last year it seems Virginia doesn't often ticket based on trailer RATING, but I did not find out the REAL truth, call the authorities.

2. I'm pretty sure as long as the whole package is under something like 27.5K and it's personal, not business, your ok.

tcartwri · Jun 29, 2011

The GVWR of the trailer can exceed the tow vehicle GCVWR, however you may not exceed the latter.

As for the CDL requirement;

http://www.dmv.virginia.gov/webdoc/pdf/dmv109.pdf

See page 8.

If you are towing this once, with no lettering on your truck or trailer, you should be ok without a cdl. Whether you need a non comercial class A is another question. Where I live, you would. 10,000 lbs trailer gvwr, being the majic number.

If you are a farmer you can pull the space shuttle on an ox cart as far as I can tell.

7mmrum · Jun 29, 2011

Great, thanks for the replies, I couldn't find the DMV - pdf book, this should answer my questions...

I appreciate the quick response

-sean

sandman2234 · Jun 29, 2011

7mmrum,
Welcome to my world. I try and make a living as a commercial driver, and every day they change the rules, or enforce ones that I have never heard of. One now retired (good riddence) officer in Ga (and there are some really good one there also) wrote me for 3 things and only one was even close to being accurate, which was one of my two hoses was touching the deck between the truck and trailer, which is illegal because it is subjected to chafing and rubbing, which over time will rub a hole in it. Shouldn't be a big deal because after all, checking those hoses for condition is part of my pretrip inspection requirements. The officer thought I had falsified my logbook because he found a receipt on the dash saying I was somewhere I wasn't according to my logbook.
All I am saying, is no matter what you do, there are way too many ways of looking at the rules, (especially when they start making up there own versions) and if start doing stuff that borders on the edge of the law, you are going to have problems with the officer that decides to pull you over. Keep everything as legal as possible, ask some of the local law enforcement officers their view on it, and maybe anywhere you are plan on pulling the trailer. Keeping everything else in line, makes it just a little easier for the officer to overlook the single infraction (if it actually is an infraction). Run the trailer on the edge, with broken lights, poor tires, dirty, in semi disrepair and your more likely to run into problems with it.
Good luck with it, David from jax. Rant over, lol!!

MoKelly · Jun 29, 2011

tcartwri said:
If you are a farmer you can pull the space shuttle on an ox cart as far as I can tell.

Very good. Made me laugh.:thumbsup:

MoKelly

Duffster · Jun 29, 2011

7mmrum said:
I have done some searching on this forum but didn't find exactly what I'm looking for. If there has been a post that someone is aware of please let me know of the URL to save everyone some time.

I have two question is this, and I'm looking for a factual answer not opinion. (sorry don't mean to be a jerk but need to know what's what)

My Truck has a Tow rating of 10,200, I'm looking at a Horse Trailer that has a max weight rating of 12k and a empty weight of 3500. Now at most I would NEVER have any weight in this trailer that would come close the 8,500 of "capable" weight that could be used in this trailer. At most, half of that with horse or two,, down the road. I would never push it.

1. Now since my "load" will be under the 10,200 mark of the tow rating for the vehicle will I have law/legality issues with the police since the "sticker" on the trailer has the capacity for more weight than would my tow vehicle could capably tow. Meaning technically I should have a trailer that stickered or decaled of a GVW for 10k not 12k. This is a no frills Valley 18' stock trailer - bumper pull with dual axles, but not Tandems.

2. I'm in Virginia, I believe reading or hearing something that if the trailer is over 10k in weight a different type of "Driving License" is required such as Class A, B, or C?? Is this true.

If this information is different to each state I understand however I'm unsure if there is a contact number for DOT that you can reach out to?

I have trailered before many times this is not a new to me; but the trailer GVW has always been less than the tow vehicle so this concern has not come up before. In addition the weight of the trailers I'm used to have been around 7,500lbs.

Thank you in advance for any information you can provide

-sean

Your GVWR can exceed your tow rating as long as your GVW doesn't.

Without knowing the GVWR of your truck it is impossible to answer your DL questions but I would assume you don't need a class A, commercial or otherwise.

Diamondpilot · Jun 29, 2011

The problem is the laws are confusing and each officer sees it how he wants. Bottom line is they pick a group to go after for a few months and heavy trailers and light trucks was a big one around here a few years ago. I know a few guys who were ticked for just this, a trailers GVWR over the tow rating of the truck.

I was told they got out of the ticket by later being weighed and proving the load was under the tow rating.

I tow loads like this all the time and never had a issue.

So far this year they are leaving trailers alone and going after RV's and Campers around there.

Last year it was landscapers/mowers. They were busting them right and left for no brakes on a trailer over 3,000#. I put on about 10 sets of brakes to get the guys in compliance. On this issue they were fined and given 10 days to correct.

For me I have always keep my trucks and trailers in tip top shape. Not a spot of rust, clean, not a single broken light,no suspect tires, ect and have never been stopped once. I also properly secure my loads and get wide load permits when needed. I trailer well over 10,000 miles per year now days and have done so for the last 10 years or so and have been towing for about 20 years now for many many miles and never been stopped once. Not a single time. Keeping things looking safe and maintained go a long way.

Chris

MD09 · Jun 30, 2011

7mmrum said:
Great, thanks for the replies, I couldn't find the DMV - pdf book, this should answer my questions...

I appreciate the quick response

-sean

No CDL required.

The following situations exempt operators of certain
vehicles from the CDL requirements.
1. Operation of a vehicle for personal use only, such as
a recreational vehicle or truck to move your personal
belongings.
2. Operation of a fire truck

Ford tractor · Jun 30, 2011

You can exceed the sticker rating, as long as you pay for the tag giving the state the higher tax rate. The only time you get into problems is if you go over 26,000 pounds total truck, trailer + load. That's the rule when the TRAILER and load is 10,001 pounds or more actual or tag weight.

Now, you can go up to 35,999 pounds total IF the truck is 25,999 1/2 pounds and the trailer +load is 9999 1/2 pounds. That's Federal, states may be more restrictive.