Derating a trailer
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Clint S
Veteran Member
Last trailer I registered the DMV asked how much I wanted the trailer rated for. They said I could rate it for less than max rating, but not more. Less weight on tag= less money paid to DMV. If you will never tow more than what you choose you will come out ahead. In my case the boat trailer was rated for 3k, but my boat weighs 1200 with motor and basic equipment. I rated for 1500. Saved some cash and have no concerns. Just don't get caught hauling more than what you register. That is my guess
Morning Wood
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It won’t matter when the dot cops pull you over. If you’re heavier than the tires and axles they’ll ding you. If you’re heavier than your registered max GVWR they’ll ding you. If your both, they’ll really ding you.
Tractor Seabee
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Some manufacturers will de-rate ones close to the 12,000# CDL requirement so owner operators can have a heavier trailer frame w/o getting into requirements for CDL license. Whole new world when hauling commercial. Around here it seems they leave the obvious hobby haulers alone unless they have visible problems with their driving, load, or trailer condition. I have heard a 1 ton truck pulling a 12,000# trailer is the line of demarcation for a CDL regardless of whether it is commercial or not.
Used to know a retired state patrolman who worked truck enforcement his last 10 years. He used to say driver attitude was always a big factor in how they wrote citations. He stated it was rare they could not find mechanical violations to either cite or warn, especially on contractor and logger trucks. He said long-haulers were the worst o moving violations; always in a hurry. A farm license usually got you a pass and they were usually well maintained and cautious drivers.
Ron
Used to know a retired state patrolman who worked truck enforcement his last 10 years. He used to say driver attitude was always a big factor in how they wrote citations. He stated it was rare they could not find mechanical violations to either cite or warn, especially on contractor and logger trucks. He said long-haulers were the worst o moving violations; always in a hurry. A farm license usually got you a pass and they were usually well maintained and cautious drivers.
Ron
Advantages
A much better/stronger built trailer with heavy axels will last longer when not hauling the actual full weight it was built for.
You will pay less for Tags
You may or may not have to register your truck as a combination meaning less for tags for it also. This will depend on your states law and how far down you de-rate the trailer.
Disadvantage's
The trailer will probably weigh more than a trailer built for the specific weight your de-rating it to and could lead to a lesser payload than just buying a trailer rated for the correct load from the start. (this will be dependent on the manufactures design and sometimes its actually so minor it doesn't matter but needs to be paid attention to because sometimes its a big difference )
Most likely the cost will be more than a trailer built for the lesser weight from the start.
You end up towing more overall weight then actually needed if using a trailer built for the lesser weight This means due to extra trailer weight that isn't really needed it is costing you more in fuel.
Always being tempted to load over the new rating because you know it will take that 14K and having to pay fines when you get caught.
RedNeckRacin
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Usually people derate to stay under the 26k threshold aka class A territory (whether CDL or not is up for debate as usual). Some states have 17k combination limits before a medical card is needed and others have stipulations on over 10k rated trailers. The most obvious is dodging the yearly registration fees for the weights. Make sure you know what you are signing up for is the main thing.
fried1765
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Register your trailer in Maine!
You do not need to live in Maine, or have a Maine mailing address.
License plate/registration fee is $20 per year, weight does not matter, and you can register for up to 12 years at one time.
There are currently well over 850,000 trailers registered in Maine (the population is only 1.5 M).
Call... Country Wide Trailer Registrations (Jen? I think)
Their phone number is: 207-922-2650
As you drive around, check out over the road trailers, you will see LOTS of Maine trailer plates.
majorwager
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Bought a Corn Pro trailer in the 90's. Still own it. 14K rating, deck over goose neck. Derated to 12,000 because tires are bias ply, max tire rating 3,000 lbs each. Deck is
20 ft, 5 ft adjustable dove tail. Today radial tires have higher capacity. Trailer is duel axle, elec brakes. Spring assist ramps.
EDIT: newbury, silly question, does the inspection need to be performed by a Maine licensed inspector?
20 ft, 5 ft adjustable dove tail. Today radial tires have higher capacity. Trailer is duel axle, elec brakes. Spring assist ramps.
EDIT: newbury, silly question, does the inspection need to be performed by a Maine licensed inspector?
Last edited:
newbury
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But per Maine law all trailers over 7,000 GVWR require an annual inspection except for camp trailers which are exempt from inspection in Maine.
Rustyiron
Super Member
But "johnny law" does not know that out of state. I've been through the scale house many times (on I70 in MD) with Maine plates on a 20 ton tag along behind a tri axle dump, no inspection sticker & never an issue.
There is some confusion or misinformation here.
There are two weights.
The GVWR which is issued by the manufacturer, usually stamped on the trailer, and you can not change this after it is built and issued.
The registered weight at least in Texas is what you tell the people at the tax office. Within reason you can tell them whatever you want. Your registration fees are calculated based on weight. The heavier it is registered for the more you pay. If you get caught weighing over what you registered for I think the fine is now $1 a pound but I am not positive on that fee. I know it can get expensive quick though if you are overweight.
Your GVWR is what is what is used to determine what class of license you need. In most states if your pickup and trailer GVWRs added together are less than 26k a regular drivers license is fine. Some states make you get a special class of license or CDL if your trailer is over 10k, 12k or whatever that state chooses even if your combined is less than 26k. This is why you will find many places derate their trailers under these thresholds to keep people from needing a special license. In most and I would say off the top of my head over 40 of the states you are fine with any trailer GVWR as long as the trailer and truck are less than 26k combined.
Why do people derate and not just buy a smaller trailer? For one once you step up to 7k axles the bearings, brakes, and even tires are much more robust and last long than on lighter duty trailers. Loading a trailer to its max capacity is hard on it. Buying a 14k trailer even if you never plan to haul over 10k you gives you a lot of margin.
Then there are other people who actually need the extra weight capacity on a very limited basis and derate to skirt the law. Say 95% of the time their trailer will weigh less than 10k but once a year they haul a heavy load on the backroads to the farm or something. They choose the 14k trailer and derate to 10k to avoid all the extra license hassle and take their chances on the once a year heavy load.
There are two weights.
The GVWR which is issued by the manufacturer, usually stamped on the trailer, and you can not change this after it is built and issued.
The registered weight at least in Texas is what you tell the people at the tax office. Within reason you can tell them whatever you want. Your registration fees are calculated based on weight. The heavier it is registered for the more you pay. If you get caught weighing over what you registered for I think the fine is now $1 a pound but I am not positive on that fee. I know it can get expensive quick though if you are overweight.
Your GVWR is what is what is used to determine what class of license you need. In most states if your pickup and trailer GVWRs added together are less than 26k a regular drivers license is fine. Some states make you get a special class of license or CDL if your trailer is over 10k, 12k or whatever that state chooses even if your combined is less than 26k. This is why you will find many places derate their trailers under these thresholds to keep people from needing a special license. In most and I would say off the top of my head over 40 of the states you are fine with any trailer GVWR as long as the trailer and truck are less than 26k combined.
Why do people derate and not just buy a smaller trailer? For one once you step up to 7k axles the bearings, brakes, and even tires are much more robust and last long than on lighter duty trailers. Loading a trailer to its max capacity is hard on it. Buying a 14k trailer even if you never plan to haul over 10k you gives you a lot of margin.
Then there are other people who actually need the extra weight capacity on a very limited basis and derate to skirt the law. Say 95% of the time their trailer will weigh less than 10k but once a year they haul a heavy load on the backroads to the farm or something. They choose the 14k trailer and derate to 10k to avoid all the extra license hassle and take their chances on the once a year heavy load.
RandyT
Elite Member
I example of manufacturer derating is having a trailer with 5,200 axles or what would be a 10,400 trailer has a GVWR of 9,999
FatTire
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We have a PJ Gooseneck Deckover which would normally have a 15,200 lbs GVWR. We had PJ label it 14,690 lb, and then Colorado DMV issued a title with that same GVWR. With our F-350's GVWR of 11,300 lb we come in at 25,990. The F-350 (SRW) GCWR is around 23,500 lb IIRC.
No confusion here at all until now.
I cant speak for other states but here in PA the manufacturer has to issue the proper paperwork and a new weight sticker for the trailer. Just telling the DMV its only going to haul 12K will not be sufficient if you get stopped.
MossRoad
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So how much money do you actually save by registering a 14K# trailer down to, say, 12K# ?
Texas does it by brackets not X amount per pound.
0-6000 $45
6001-10000 $54
10001-18000 $110
18001-25999 $205
26000-4000 $340
So in Texas 12k vs 14k is same cost but 10,000 is $54 or less than half of being 10,001 or 14k which costs $110.
0-6000 $45
6001-10000 $54
10001-18000 $110
18001-25999 $205
26000-4000 $340
So in Texas 12k vs 14k is same cost but 10,000 is $54 or less than half of being 10,001 or 14k which costs $110.
This below leads to confusion. It may be accurate in his state but is not the case in most states.
fried1765
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Yup...... there are widely different state regulations.
No "one size fits all".
I think the most accurate statement is: If you are towing for personal use, are under 26,001 lbs. total, have a trailer that is in respectable appearance condition, use two chains (or HD straps) on the bucket, plus 4 chains (or HD straps) on the tractor, have proper tongue weight, and have all lights operating, don't sweat it.
Completely different story in Canada though.
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newbury
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I've been looking at trailers for years, mainly in Virginia and Mississippi.
In Virginia
Trailer Registration ***
0 - 1,500 lbs (per year) $18.00
1,501 - 4,000 lbs (per year) $28.50
4,001 or more lbs (per year) $40.00
or permanent for $100.
