Weigh station question

[Pmedic4]

The website OCBMS mentions is the best location I've seen for RVers. Lays out specific requirements and tells you weights, and weigh stations.

It sure helped me over several points of confusion.

[unyalli]

On the weighing and knowing if your safe question.

http://fifthwheelst.com/

Jeff

[gearhead]

Now y'all don't be coming down to south Texas and flying through those stations with guys in green uniforms! Those are US Border Patrol and they will take you very seriously....to like.. jail... lol

[christopherglenn]

Originally Posted by neesey62

What would be considered overloaded?

The lowest of:
20,000 lbs PER AXLE.
total stamped rating of all rims on an axle for that axle
total imprinted rating of all tires on an axle for that axle

driving with a combined weight over 26k, or pulling a trailer over 10k would be driving out of class, unless your home state exempts rv's. If in another state / country follow the local laws.

[bsmith0404]

Originally Posted by christopherglenn

The lowest of:
20,000 lbs PER AXLE.
total stamped rating of all rims on an axle for that axle
total imprinted rating of all tires on an axle for that axle

driving with a combined weight over 26k, or pulling a trailer over 10k would be driving out of class, unless your home state exempts rv's. If in another state / country follow the local laws.

I didn't go back and check, but if I remember correctly don't most states say 26k and 10k? There is a big difference between "and" and "or". My 5er is over 10k, but I'm still well below 26k,. When I read through everything for my state, I don't need a CDL or any version of one because of the word "and" instead of "or".

[Pmedic4]

Originally Posted by bsmith0404

I didn't go back and check, but if I remember correctly don't most states say 26k and 10k? There is a big difference between "and" and "or". My 5er is over 10k, but I'm still well below 26k,. When I read through everything for my state, I don't need a CDL or any version of one because of the word "and" instead of "or".

First, as an Illinoisan, you won't need a CDL for towing your RV. It is very plainly exempted, but what you would need is probably a class C or B rating on your driver's license. Many people think the exemption of the CDL requirement for RVs, exempts them from the higher license classification - it does not, at least in Illinois.

Second, the primary item is what is the Gross Combined Weight Rating (GCWR) of your Tow vehicle? For some DRW 350 trucks, this GCWR is 30,000 pounds or more. So, without even hooking up your RV, you need at minimum, a class 'B' drivers license - not because of how much it weighs, but because of it's GCWR. Class 'B' is for vehicles GCWR of greater than 26,000 pounds.

Since there are many 250 or 350 trucks out there which are below the 26,000 GCWR, it is easily possible to be legally below class 'C' 26,000 pound limit. And regardless of this standard, it is not difficult to get a higher level of classification for your drivers license - it is not like the CDL level of qualifications. All you have to do is go in and take a written test for the Class 'A' license, and then with someone who is already at the proper level of classification they drive your rig into the a DMV testing center and you go through a short driving test. I wouldn't be surprised if you went to your RV dealer, they'd even help you get the 'A' classification.

I did this as a firefighter, getting the class 'B' license, as firetrucks are GCWR of 65,000 pounds. Oddly, for towing that level doesn't let you tow any more than the Class C. We'd use a 4000 gallon tanker, with GCWR of 60,000 pounds, empty out the water, and it would be easy to do the test because without the water they only weighed about 24,000 pounds and were short and easy to turn - with the exception of the braking which were meant to stop a much heavier vehicle!

What remains as surprising, is the number of people driving 50,000+ pound motorhomes plus their dinghy, and they only have a Class D license.