Where have you've been stopped for trailer violations and why?

[newbury]

I always worry about getting pulled over. Total combined weight about 23,500 to 24k on F350 flatbed pulling a 12k bumper pull with Bobcat or mini ex. I occasionally pull a 12,500 lb chipper and for whatever reason, that doesn't bother me.
worry about b
Everything is up to date, tied down, and looks clean but still think about being pulled over. Have checked with state time and time again and they always tell me under 26k GCWR and actual weight and not overloading truck or trailer and I'm fine for non-CDL intrastate. Still keeps me wondering if the state is looking for revenue, will I get hassled? It's not so much the money but the inconvenience and time.

That's why I started this thread

will I get hassled? It's not so much the money but the inconvenience and time.

 

[Looking4new]

Ya, and they can shut you down. A little crack in the frame that you missed, but the DoT caught and you are parked until it is fixed.

 

[3930dave]

I've seen one guy locally, doing the right thing (as far as the gubmint is concerned that is, meaning their revenue goes up) with his brand new 20' enclosed trailer.

He only (seriously) uses it as his race trailer for his kids ATVs. Got pulled over by MTO (provincial transport - green bears) when pulling this trailer with his class A RV. No lettering on the trailer, no commercial use. (Province Ontario, Canada). He got warned about the trailer.

So.... to avoid future roadside shakedowns, he decided to pay for the yellow stickers (our commercial safety inspection) for this 20' race trailer (brand new), AND also the F150 that he once-in-a-blue-moon pulls it with. (Normally, the race trailer lives behind the class A RV, which is exempt).

He is now clean, gubmint gets a few more $ to blow.

BUT.... what this has me wondering is when somebody who (honestly) is only ever using this equipment non-commercially caves to this government shakedown and buys the commercial safety stickers every year..... How long before his INSURANCE COMPANY starts banging on his door demanding commercial level insurance premiums ?

Kinda like in da olde movies... yah pay da protection once...... guess what.....

D.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. it's a slippery slope...

 

[3930dave]

I've been thinking about Hunter's line, "When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro."

Yesterday, I bumped into the guy I was writing about 2 posts ago. I believe him, but was surprised to find out that his insurance actually went DOWN when he switched most of his vehicles over to commercial insurance. This is in Ontario, Canada. I haven't talked with enough people yet to know if this is a normal $ transition - I would have expected that Commercial coverage cost more.

Alice, through the looking glass.

Another mechanic buddy here has a friend who is senior in MTO (our provincial transport regulator). Basically, there has been an ongoing chase of the commercial guys - 15 years ago, they started cracking down on cube vans - so, a lot of contractors went out and bought 1 ton PUs, and 5'th wheels.

Guess what got targeted next.

Coming up fast is toy-haulers. Contractors have started using toy-haulers onsite, 5+ days a week, so they are getting more attention by the MTO guys.

Thinking I'll go back to a horse and covered wagon.....

D.

 

[Soundguy]

yep.. guilty by association / profiling.

big business on revenue enforcement.

and hey.. if they accidentally make something safer in the process.. it's not their fault..

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I've seen 2 pickups pulling trailers pulled over this week, not sure why.

 

[EE_Bota]

I have a 4x6 little trailer that I can pull behind the car. It had one of those plastic license plate brackets. Key world being had.

+1
I was not stopped...just wanted to chime in the warning...the plastic bracket is unreliable, and it will leave your license plate laying.

I liked the fact they plastic gives, however, so I cut a piece of "hot stock and water" conveyor belting to the same shape, and now I have a flexible mount, but much more durable than the plastic thing.

 

[rsewill]

+1
I was not stopped...just wanted to chime in the warning...the plastic bracket is unreliable, and it will leave your license plate laying.

I liked the fact they plastic gives, however, so I cut a piece of "hot stock and water" conveyor belting to the same shape, and now I have a flexible mount, but much more durable than the plastic thing.

Good idea. Belting is a bit like duct tape - good for lots of things.

 

[aczlan]

+1
I was not stopped...just wanted to chime in the warning...the plastic bracket is unreliable, and it will leave your license plate laying.

I agree. The plate on our trailer is mounted sideways on the fender with a light shining on it at night. If it was anywhere else some of those who use the trailer would tear it up backing into brush piles to unload.

Aaron Z