Went to my buddies today to get my 5ver out of storage and bring it home,never paid alot of attention to all the weight limit signs on the roads until a few years ago when I bought the 5ver,as all my TTs were in the 6-7000lb.dry weight category.I live on a country road,out in farm lands,the bridge at both ends of my road are about 10-12 years old and are rated at 10ton w.limit,my GCW is 18600 loaded with full load of fuel,some water,Onan genny,and firewood,as per CAT weight scales.I had to get gas before I went to my buddies,then took a short cut over to a main "State Road",they had just completed a new bridge that took 2 years to build,and I had to detour around for the last 2 years with the 5ver,and knew it was now open,(BIG PROJECT ...4'wide 6" deep creek,25'long bridge,PEN DOT approved,and built..2.6 million!!!,That's a whole different story!) Anyway this new bridge on a main state road is only rated at 10 ton!So all you guys worried about being a little long for state camp grounds,and heavy enough to actually NEED a Diesel dually,need to think about your gross weights near where you live,a 10-11,000lb. dually,and a dry weight 12-14000lb.5ver is too heavy to take home, on alot of state roads!!! Most of the roads on the way home were 7 1/2-15 ton limits......something to think about before buying that new rig...
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A good reminder, @SuperDutyMan. In the local paper a couple years ago there was a story about a farmer who ignored the weight limit sign on a little country road and drove over a bridge overloaded by about 2 tons. The bridge collapsed on him (fortunately not deep or he could have been killed), and the State was going after him to pay for a new bridge (think about that in relation to that new $2.5 M bridge you mentioned).
It depends on the length of the bridge. If it is a long bridge and your your entire vehicle is on it simultaneously, then yes, the vehicle GVW would apply. A bridge that is shorter than the vehicle would not have all of the axles of the vehicle on the bridge simultaneously and thus the full vehicle GVW would not be on the bridge. It's not designed for a concentrated load of the total vehicle GVW but for the worst case vehicle axle loading possible for the bridge length - this could be an axle group (eg. tandem, tridem), axle groups or even a single axle.
Bridge weight limits should be taken with a grain of salt. When graded, a two lane bridge will take that weight of vehicle going both directions at the same time. BUT (and it is a REALLY big BUT )...most bridges are not regraded during their lifetime in any regular manner. Some may not be at all. So that 100 yr old 18ton bridge may not support a 10ton load.
Having been across MANY bridges in Europe and the US one thing is clear to me. A nice, new reinforced concrete or steel bridge will handle a LOT more weight than posted (times 4 or more depending on how big).
I took 40 and 60ton vehicles across a stone bridge that was rated for 12ton. The cornerstone on the bridge was marked 1375 (yes, 600yrs old). The bridge I would not cross was also marked 12T, but, was a bit longer span, was made of wood that was visibly deteriorated, and spanned a deep drop.
Having said all that, you should not violate any weight limit markings on roads or bridges. They are posted there for your safety. But, also keep in mind that those weight limits might not be accurate and the "weak link" might not support the posted weight.
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Fell through one in PA years ago with a tractor/Trailer. The county has paved over the bridge, Even the county did not remember it being there. But I found it, only good thing was it fell in as the trailer tandems were coming off the bridge. I stopped and held traffic until the county got there. Company was expecting to pay for a bridge. But being it was not marked, we did not pay one cent on it.
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There are a few bridges around here, well within a days drive anyway, with interesting weight limits. There are really no alternate routes without huge detours long before you get to the bridges. The signs say "Weight Limit One Truck". I like those signs.
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Up here in Minnesota we understand about too much weight on a bridge.
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j2catfish wrote: And, what brand of dually would that be? My Chebbie crew cab 4X4 one ton dually weighs in at only 8200 pounds, ready to travel. My previous F350 was 8,400, same condition. Not saying it ain't so, just interested in your truck.
?? a 10-11,000lb. dually, ??Catfish
I think he meant 11 lb dually with the pin weight. I'm about 11700 hitched up.
All or most of our roads get the dreaded weight sign up this time of year during the thaw. 200 lbs per inch of tire and a 30 mph limit. I understand though as our private gravel road is like driving on Jello this time of year. In fact the LP truck sure did track up the road a couple of weeks back.
OP,my point was not whether the bridge would really hold up....with all the states being broke because of.."current things as they are"the states are just looking for a way to fine anybody for anything...ask a truck driver about crossing a bridge or road that you are too heavy for....fines start at 3000.00,(ask my trucking son how he knows that!)
And, what brand of dually would that be? My Chebbie crew cab 4X4 one ton dually weighs in at only 8200 pounds, ready to travel. My previous F350 was 8,400, same condition. Not saying it ain't so, just interested in your truck.
?? a 10-11,000lb. dually, ??Catfish
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)...most bridges are not regraded during their lifetime in any regular manner. Some may not be at all. So that 100 yr old 18ton bridge may not support a 10ton load.
