MFG weight rating question?

[Case485Guy]

Hmm.. with so many diverse people here.. I wouldn't risk a nickle betting against what any particular person may or may not know.. might suprise ya..

soundguy

Just part of the fun Soundguy, I will put a nickle down most of what I have read here is regergitated RV forum BS.Thats exactly what it is. No help on how to load trailer right, no one asks for pics. They just want to sound smart quoting specs

 

[Soundguy]

i'll take yer word for it.. I've never been to an rv forum

 

[Diamondpilot]

GVWR is just a starting point and is where you need to start. Axle ratings, tire ratings, hitch ratings, and of course registration.

Chris

 

[crashz]

+1 and add in location.

Location plays a big factor. Here is MA there is no way to up-rate or de-rate trucks or trailers from there model or VIN. The registry has a database they use, which is supposed to match the exact truck spec and thats its. Its really out of the owner's hands.

 

[slowzuki]

Not here, they only use the dbase to prevent people from cheating their way into cheap tags. You can't tag for less than curb weight, and they make you scale a trailer if it is new and bring the ticket in to prove you are at least tagging for empty.

Commercial tags you can buy for either 3,6 or 12 month intervals so guys can take their trucks off the road in the winter.

You can up tag to whatever you want to pay for. The commercial vehicle inspectors will still inspect you and check tires, axle weight etc but they don't care about the manufacturers GCVWR.

Also we have weigh in motion, trucks over 10,000 lbs have to hit the scales. I got directed in by the auto matic weight pad last year in my SRW F350. Guy waved me through as I was empty. If I had been towing or loaded I would have had to scale and they would check me over.

 

[Duffster]

Sure there is.

 

[Case485Guy]

+1 and add in location.

Location plays a big factor. Here is MA there is no way to up-rate or de-rate trucks or trailers from there model or VIN. The registry has a database they use, which is supposed to match the exact truck spec and thats its. Its really out of the owner's hands.

This was a few yrs ago that I was in Ma. I got DOT'd at a scale. I just loaded 15k on a 8-8500lb gooseneck. Got a ticket for having a nail in a trailer tire, not flat no indication of losing air. Checked my axle weight and all paper work.
I guess my point in this post is that I read some stupid advice given as if it were the gospel, when I have made a living and still suplement my income today by running trucks.
The absolute dumbest most assinine advice I read is make sure your truck is level with the trailer loaded. This is especially true with bumper pulls. Lets say I have 3/4 ton truck pulling A 12 k capacity trailer and want to load a 8k tractor. Trailer to haul this will weigh in around 3k empty with 2- 6k axles, so we are at 11k, everything legal...yet load it to where the truck is not squated any and level.hHmmmm. Tow vehicle weighs around 8 k, loaded trailer is around 11k with no real weight kicked onto the truck because "squating" the truck is considered bad. Ever wonder how to eliminate sway?? Kick some weight on it make the tow vehicle squat some, maybe 6" or so.