I'm planning to tow my 37 ft'er to Alamogordo, NM. from Scranton, Pa. next winter, one way and then left there in a permanent CG. The trailer is between 14,000 & 15,000 lbs. I haven't weighed it yet. I'm pulling with an '08 dodge 3/4 diesel, reg cab, auto, 410 rear which has a 14,000 lb rating.
I know I'm overweight and somewhere in this forum I read that CHIP (Cal. hwy patrol) pulled an RV 5th wheel combo over and had it weighed. The truck was over its combined weight rating by about 2,000 lbs. As I remember it, the trailer was impounded on the spot and the driver left to find a commercial hauler for the rest of his trip.
Since I don't plan to go all the way to Calif., has anyone else heard of a similar story in another state.
IMO it can happen in any state, but the chances are very very small. Just be sure no fresh water, and waste tanks empty, and you'll likely be lighter than you expect.
Chuck
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2003 Wanderer 187TB Toybox (3620# UVW, 4800# loaded) Not yet camped in Hawaii, 2 Canada Provinces, & 2 Territories. I can't be lost because I don't care where this lovely road is going
It MAY have been impounded for being over it's GVWR or it's axle ratings because those are safety issue but it CERTAINLY wasn't because it was over it's GCVWR because that's warranty issue not a legal one. That's why you don't find any GCVWR ratings on your DOT safety plate on the door post. Good luck / skip
IMO,It has a lot to do with the way you look while going down the road. I saw one in FLA last year and man did it look bad! The bed had junk stacked all around the pin and above the bed rails. Back seat was filled to the roof and the rear bumper was almost dragging. So go Hook up with what your taking and then back off and ask yourself, does this look questionable.
He may have been over his drivers license rating, but any story about an RVer being pulled over in CA, for any reason, strikes me as very funny. I have been passed by countless lifted diesel pick-ups, of all makes, hauling tail and toyhauler to the deserts of CA. In 4 years I have seen ONE, that's it, ONE pulled over for speeding. Oh, and in CA it is TTs over 10,000 and 5ers over 15,000 that need a class A non-commercial license. I wouldn't worry for a second about being pulled over and weighed, even if you were going all the way to CA.
Yes you are over but how much? Hook up & go to a CAT scale & weight your rear axle if it is over the weight of both tires you are over weight. I would not go over tire weight but you can get high pressure rims & some 750X16 14 ply tires that have a PSI of 100+lb. or Get a RV haller to move your 5er. If not over the weight of the tires get timberens they will level out your truck. Also you a vet., handicap, hams, what ever, you may think of getting a tag, so you do not have any weight on your tag could be a small +. But if you are level & all lights work you look good, your chance of getting stopped are very very small. RV's do not have the same rules as any one else on the road so you are for the most part you are left alone if you look good. Now if when they see you, you have a big sign that says stop & look at me like tail dragging, trashy lights out & or broken that is another story. Like every thing else look good no one will bother you & you will be ok.
red
* This post was
edited 03/15/08 10:30pm by reddwar *
That's not the entire story. When he went to get his 5er they found the tow truck driver in the 5ers bath tub packed in ice. There was a note laying on top of him that listed a phone number for the hospital and told him that his kidneys had been removed and sent to a body parts farm in El Salvador.
Don't believe everything some people post. They don't have a clue about weights particularly when it comes to weights. Your door sticker is not law. It's non-enforceable. It's like the tag on your mattress. It just tells you what your truck was designed for by the manufacturer, just like the mattress tag tells you what's in your mattress.
Read this thread. Truck weights
* This post was
edited 04/20/08 08:49pm by an administrator/moderator *
If your rv has empty tanks and you dont have alot of stuff in the basement you will be fine, if need be get some air bags to keep her level, the main thing is your rear tires, just DO NOT go over your max tire rating, if need be get bigger tires,
Here in Texas you can do what ever, I personally talked to the d.o.t officer any they do nothing with rvers. Rv's are Exemp, now if commerical that is a big different story.
You can take it to what it is worth, but just dont go over your max tire limit.
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