I was told that police officers will only look at 3 things plate on truck 11500, plate on trailer lets just say 15000 ,and what the registration is. Lets say combined weight 26000. So you are going to get a ticket based on the 26500. of the truck plate 11,500 and trailer 15000. Lets say you changed the truck to lets says 26000 combined weight and you got a trailer thats plate says 14,500 and your registration combined weight 26000 you are good to go. What sucks is going to a 3500 really limits you with trailers unless you up the truck gcwr. Im just trying to figure which way to go. My father and I are looking at some land In upstate new york ,and I would be taken my machine back and fourth and want to be legal and safe.
3500SRW VS 2500SRW GVWR&TRAILER ?
- Thread starter HK45
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LD1
Epic Contributor
That is what I have issues with and disagree with DOT on.
I have a 24k trailer behind my 12.2k GVWR DRW truck. I am supposed to get a CDL. Which I think it is rediculous to be licensed to drive a 80,000, 53' tractor trailer just to be a redneck towing a 25' GN.
I am gonna look into de-rating my trailer next time tags are due. But the heavy GVWR of the truck does me no favors. I would have to rate the trailer to 13.8k. And it weighs 6500#. Would only give me a ~7k capacity. Even though loading it up to 7k ( and an empty bed with the GN) would put my total load ~5k under CDL limits.
I wish it was what the rig ACTUALLY weighed. IF you go over 26k...CDL. And not IF "some arbitrary numbers" added together total over 26k
This is all supposed to be about safety. What is a safer load, A me towing a 10000# tractor on a GN behind a 3500 DRW? or towing that load on a 3/4 ton with a BP?
Hint: the safer combo requires a CDL, the other does not:mur:
Let me back up. I just went back over LD1 post. So If I get a 3500 and the gvwr is 11,500 and I get a trailer at 14500 put me at 26,000 just under the 26001 for a cdl In Pa, And I get a gcwr of 24500 as per truck spec I will be fine? or no because truck and trailer are 26000 and combined needs to be 26000?
RedNeckRacin
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LD1-I agree this cdl stuff is nonsense and it needs to be revised higher or have a different breakdown. A pickup can reasonably be tagged at 37k GCWR now with the Rams. I would not feel comfortable with that kind of weight with a pickup but thats what the factory says it can handle. It was also the whole reason I just went and got my cdl. It only cost me about $500 bucks and I never have to play these numbers games anymore. Just hop in the truck and take off, air brakes or not!
OP: as long as your registration and weights are under 26,001lbs you are fine. I think that is a little to close ot be arguing with a DOT officer but its your call. Also, just because the trailer is rated higher, doesn't mean that you can tow more. Your still capped at the factory GCWR unless you get that MV-41 form filled out.
Don't forget the truck has to carry approximately 20-20% of the tongue weight. The numbers may work but you may be very sorry you got the 2500.
Like I said before, get the bigger truck, derate the trailer and tag everything at 25990. Then your covered each way.
OP: as long as your registration and weights are under 26,001lbs you are fine. I think that is a little to close ot be arguing with a DOT officer but its your call. Also, just because the trailer is rated higher, doesn't mean that you can tow more. Your still capped at the factory GCWR unless you get that MV-41 form filled out.
Don't forget the truck has to carry approximately 20-20% of the tongue weight. The numbers may work but you may be very sorry you got the 2500.
Like I said before, get the bigger truck, derate the trailer and tag everything at 25990. Then your covered each way.
