Bought a trailer!

[coldsteelva]

I understand. Thanks aczlan.

 

[fried1765]

[Q



Aaron Z[/QUOTE]

Thank you!
I thought that was the case, but have heard other interpretations.
Bottom line here though is: In situations like this, and at 76 years old, I now tend to do as I need to do, and spend minimal time worrying about possible consequences, unless of course safety issues are involved.
That said: Towing of this rig is very infrequent, on dry pavement, in daylight only, and at 60 mph or less.
Tailgating is an absolute NO! NO!
The only potential problem is stopping, and I keep the trailer brakes set to come on early, firmly.

So: Why did the OP need to have his 14K trailer de-rated to 9990 lbs?
Surely his GMC 2500 HD does not weigh 16,000 lbs.(26K max combination).

Are we talking about rated weights here, or actual loaded weights?
If a trailer is rated at 14,000 lbs, but only loaded to 10,000 lbs., how is legality determined?
Is towing legality determined by the registered trailer weight, or by what the loaded trailer weight actually is?
Example: Would a truck weighing 16,000 lbs. towing a trailer REGISTERED for 14,000 lbs. but only loaded to 9990 lbs. be legal without a CDL?

 

[aczlan]

So: Why did the OP need to have his 14K trailer de-rated to 9990 lbs?
Surely his GMC 2500 HD does not weigh 16,000 lbs.(26K max combination).

Are we talking about rated weights here, or actual loaded weights?
If a trailer is rated at 14,000 lbs, but only loaded to 10,000 lbs., how is legality determined?
Is towing legality determined by the registered trailer weight, or by what the loaded trailer weight actually is?
Example: Would a truck weighing 16,000 lbs. towing a trailer REGISTERED for 14,000 lbs. but only loaded to 9990 lbs. be legal without a CDL?

It goes by rated/registered weight, not actual weight (which is why I used GCWR/GVWR).
CA says that a truck and trailer with a GCWR of 26k or more (when towing a trailer rated for at 10k (or more)) needs a CDL, so if his truck is rated for 16k GVWR, the trailer has to be under 10k or he needs some flavor of a CDL (per: California CDL Requirements - Trucker Country ).

Aaron Z

 

[George2615]

Example: Would a truck weighing 16,000 lbs. towing a trailer REGISTERED for 14,000 lbs. but only loaded to 9990 lbs. be legal without a CDL?

I guess it would depend on weigh station inspectors in your state whether they go by actual weight or registered weight.
Per your example most weigh station inspectors in my state go by what the GCWR of truck and trailer is capable of. With your example the truck and trailer GCWR is 30K it would require a CDL.

So even though a 16K truck towing a 9,990 lb trailer is under the 26K requiring a CDL the registered GCWR of the truck / trailer could be 30K. Inspectors would say you have the capability of going over the 26K limit for non-CDL so a CDL would be required. If the truck is registered at 16K and trailer registered at 9990 no CDL required.

 

[fried1765]

I guess it would depend on weigh station inspectors in your state whether they go by actual weight or registered weight.
Per your example most weigh station inspectors in my state go by what the GCWR of truck and trailer is capable of. With your example the truck and trailer GCWR is 30K it would require a CDL.

So even though a 16K truck towing a 9,990 lb trailer is under the 26K requiring a CDL the registered GCWR of the truck / trailer could be 30K. Inspectors would say you have the capability of going over the 26K limit for non-CDL so a CDL would be required. If the truck is registered at 16K and trailer registered at 9990 no CDL required.

Thanks again!
What you describe certainly makes sense, but....
Ouch! Different rules for different states? Certainly makes for a potentially messy interstate situation.
It would seem that the OP towing with a GMC 2500 HD could have kept the GVWR weight rating of his trailer at 14,000 lbs.
I am not aware that there has ever been a GMC 2500 HD built, with a GVWR of over 12,000 lbs?

 

[aczlan]

I guess it would depend on weigh station inspectors in your state whether they go by actual weight or registered weight.
Per your example most weigh station inspectors in my state go by what the GCWR of truck and trailer is capable of. With your example the truck and trailer GCWR is 30K it would require a CDL.
So even though a 16K truck towing a 9,990 lb trailer is under the 26K requiring a CDL the registered GCWR of the truck / trailer could be 30K. Inspectors would say you have the capability of going over the 26K limit for non-CDL so a CDL would be required. If the truck is registered at 16K and trailer registered at 9990 no CDL required.

It depends.
If the OP had the trailer re-tagged by the manufacturer (ie: the manufacturer's capacity plate says that its rated for 9,990#) that is not the case.
If its a 14k trailer that is registered for 9,990# (ie: the manufacturer's capacity plate say that its a 14k trailer but its only registered for 9,990#) then, yes you are correct he could be required to get a CDL.
That's why many manufacturers offer a 9,990# capacity option.

Aaron Z

 

[George2615]

I have a 2016 Chevy 2500 HD crew cab regular box. GVWR is 9500
My PJ 22' TF trailer GVWR is 14,000
I did not derate my trailer. I have gone through the local weigh station without issue. They checked my license, registrations and inspection then checked to see tractor and implements were secured properly and waved me on.

 

[aczlan]

I have a 2016 Chevy 2500 HD crew cab regular box. GVWR is 9500
My PJ 22' TF trailer GVWR is 14,000
I did not derate my trailer. I have gone through the local weigh station without issue. They checked my license, registrations and inspection then checked to see tractor and implements were secured properly and waved me on.

True, that works because your GCWR with that truck and trailer is 23,500#, you don't need a CDL until the GCWR is over 26,001#.
If your truck's GVWR was 12,0001 you would need a CDL to tow that trailer.

Aaron Z

 

[George2615]

It depends.
If the OP had the trailer re-tagged by the manufacturer (ie: the manufacturer's capacity plate says that its rated for 9,990#) that is not the case.
If its a 14k trailer that is registered for 9,990# (ie: the manufacturer's capacity plate say that its a 14k trailer but its only registered for 9,990#) then, yes you are correct he could be required to get a CDL.
That's why many manufacturers offer a 9,990# capacity option.

Aaron Z

In post 22 his example did say a 16K truck towing a 14K registered trailer. Even if the trailer was empty he'd require a CDL but, as stated if the trailer had the factory 9990 cap tag plate he would not.

I have my CDL so not an issue for me. The OP does not.

I have a neighbor (in his late 20's- early 30's) with a 1T dually. He hauls a 28' goose neck dually trailer rated for 20K. He's been driving it for years. I always thought he had a class A but found out from another neighbor he got PO'ed when he got a ticket for driving out of class. The State PD had a road check set up for license, reg, and insurance and caught him as he went through. I think he must have figured since his truck trailer, and load was under 26K he was good to go. I don't know if he upgraded his license but he's still towing the trailer.

 

[fried1765]

In post 22 his example did say a 16K truck towing a 14K registered trailer. Even if the trailer was empty he'd require a CDL but, as stated if the trailer had the factory 9990 cap tag plate he would not.

I have my CDL so not an issue for me. The OP does not.

So..... my question still is ....
Why would the OP de-rate his 14,000 GVWR trailer when he is towing with a 9,500 GVWR (GMC 2500 HD diesel) vehicle?
Without the de-rate he would still only be at 23,500lbs. GVWR combined, well under the 26,001 limit.