Weigh station question

[neesey62]

Seen several different posts and I'll admit I'm confused. DH and I have a Cougar 327 and a one ton dually. Are we suppose to go through each weigh station as we travel or scale weigh it or just what?

Thanks.

[Javi]

In most states a non-commercial vehicle does not have to weigh at the roadside scale. However, the weight man can and sometimes will pull an RV'er over if the rig looks to be overloaded.

On another note, it is always a good idea to hit a CAT scale at a local truck stop and find out for sure what your weights are... for peace of mind if nothing else.

[neesey62]

Any idea the charge for this?

[Javi]

Most CAT scales are $10 for a weigh and one re-weigh and they give you a copy of the weight ticket so you have a record.

[neesey62]

What would be considered overloaded?

[crash]

Most states non commerical truck dont have to go thru the scale house, only if you have for hire on your tow vehicle do you have to go thru:D

[neesey62]

OK, thanks everyone!

[Ken / Claudia]

Your question about what is over weight. I guess that you know what and how to find your vehicles GVWR, CGVWR, Payload, max. wt. for each axle, trailer GVWR. To get into trouble with the law, any of those that are over is/can be a violation. The other posters on here where spot on, correct with information. In Oregon RVs are not what troopers are targeting but, can check the weight of any vehicle, some have portable scales in the patrol cars. A rule of thumb is when a non comm vehicle is at a thousand lbs over you might get a cite for overweight and how much over and how the vehicle is traveling maybe operating unsafe vehicle/combo.

[neesey62]

Basically this is our first 5ver and dually and we didn't know the laws as to whether we had to pull into the scale areas or if we could keep on going.

[JRTJH]

neesey62,

The next time you pass a weigh station, read the signs that precede it. In almost every state they will say something like, "Weigh station ahead. All "COMMERCIAL" vehicles must exit for inspection."

If you are a private vehicle (without commercial plates) you are not required to stop at virtually any state operated weigh station. (I don't know of any state that requires it). Those inspection points are for the state departments of transportation to regulate commercial truck traffic, not private recreational vehicle traffic.

Don't misinterpret, if you go "wobbling by with your hood pointed up in the air, fishtailing along at 75MPH in a 55MPH speed zone, if one of the state's finest is sitting in his car and sees you, he will most likely meet you at the end of the acceleration ramp with lights flashing. Otherwise, if you're not doing anything out of the ordinary and appear relatively "in compliance" you'll probably never get a second glance.

Now, entering some states and crossing the Canadian border, you will be required to stop for agricultural inspection and to prove citizenship, but that's not a "weigh station".

[ocbms]

This doesn't answer the weigh station question but it may if you do get stopped. I live in Illinois pulling a Fifth Wheel with a dually. Combined gross exceeds 28,000 pounds and the towed RV is definitely above 10,000 pounds thus to be legal I have a Non-CDL Class A.
Every state is difference.

http://changingears.com/rv-sec-state-rv-license.shtml

[BobnLee]

As I have stated in several posts My son used to be a supervisor for the MTO in Ontario. H stated he did not want to see any mom and pop Rvs in his scale house. The are looking for the commercial vehicles and the guys hauling fifth wheels commercially We dont need to carry log books etc. Just have your unit weighed front axle rear axle and trailer axles. figure all your weights and make sure your not exceeding you GVweights or axle weights I have passed lots of scales up and down 75 amongst other interstates and have bypassed all of them without any problems.

[denverpilot]

Most CAT scales are $10 for a weigh and one re-weigh and they give you a copy of the weight ticket so you have a record.


Locally they were $10 first weigh and $2 for a re-weigh within 24 hours, last weekend.

[Pmedic4]

This doesn't answer the weigh station question but it may if you do get stopped. I live in Illinois pulling a Fifth Wheel with a dually. Combined gross exceeds 28,000 pounds and the towed RV is definitely above 10,000 pounds thus to be legal I have a Non-CDL Class A.
Every state is difference.

Again, not a weigh station issue, but you point out an area where many RV'ers are breaking the law, and that is improper license classification for their TV and RV. Each state is different, so make sure you comply with your state rules. I know of people driving a 50,000 pound Class A, towing a 5,000 pound vehicle and their driving around on a Class D (8000 pound) license. I'm from Illinois too, and for some reason people think that since RV's are exempt from CDL they don't need the the proper non-CDL license classification.

[chuckretnav]

All states very somewhat. But when you first got your truck and went to the license place they may have asked you how much the truck weighed. Then noramly they add 2 or 3000 to that and sell you a plate for that much weight. Check your registration. Now hook your fiver up, and head to the truck stop with a cat scale which will give you axle weights. Make sure on the truck you have your steer axle on one pad and the drive axle on a pad, then both axle of the trailer on one pad. Hit the button and tell the person to weigh you. After you get your scale ticket, add your steer axle and drive axle together check your registration. You have to be less than what your registration shows. If you are not you need to go to the license place again and get a Higher weight plate for your truck. Most weight stations don't care about RV's as long as you don't have any signs on the truck showing you pull for hire. BUT BUT if they are so inclined they can pull you in and normaly they will do rental truck and bus traffic also but if you get weighed and your registration is not large enough for what you are hauling then you can get a ticket. But most generally you don't have to worry unless your acting stupid or there has been a big thing like 9/11. Happy trails :)

[hankaye]

neesey62, Howdy;

Seen several different posts and I'll admit I'm confused. DH and I have a Cougar 327 and a one ton dually. Are we suppose to go through each weigh station as we travel or scale weigh it or just what?

Thanks.

I don't bother with them, as has been stated, they are looking for the Commercial Vehicles, however, if they really want you to weigh, they'll come
and get you, and bring you back to weigh... so, if they leave you alone ...
you're OK.

hankaye

[34kw]

It is a federal law that says anyone driving a vehicle that weighs over 26K must have a CDL. Rarely enforced, but they could. Having said that, weigh scales do not want RV's plugging things up and as noted above you are not commercial. The thing to remember is that just because we are not usually bothered by any of this, the laws are there and could be enforced at some point.

[WaltBennett]

It is a federal law that says anyone driving a vehicle that weighs over 26K must have a CDL. Rarely enforced, but they could. Having said that, weigh scales do not want RV's plugging things up and as noted above you are not commercial. The thing to remember is that just because we are not usually bothered by any of this, the laws are there and could be enforced at some point.

That law is for interstate commerce and does not apply to individuals driving their own vehicle with or without trailer NOT for profit. Individual states also follow this although I've heard mention of a few that may want to change it for larger rigs. An example of strange state stuff was when I was stationed in AK and they wanted me to get commercial plates and license because I had a van that didn't have side windows. Didn't matter that I'd converted the inside into an RV (of sorts). Ended up having to give a signed & notarized statement that I'd NEVER use it for any kind of commercial activity.

[rclark]

Was curious about WA state requirements. If you go to WA state website it states the following:

Types of vehicles that require a CDL

You must have a commercial driver license (CDL) to drive any of the following vehicles:

All single vehicles with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.
All trailers with a manufacturer’s weight rating of 10,001 pounds or more, and a combined vehicles’ gross weight rating of 26,001 pounds or more.

This would lead one to believe that CDL is required. However digging a little deeper I found this:

Recreational vehicle operators are exempted when driving RVs for non-commercial purposes. This includes two-axle rental trucks (WAC 308-100-210), and horse trailers
(RCW 46.25.050). :p

[greengiant]

There aren't always CAT scales close by. In my case, I have a gravel/sand pit 5 miles from home that I have patronized. They have no problem if I stop by and check my weight with the TT. They have a 10' long digital display with your weight that you see right from your truck. As long as there's no one else waiting for the scale you can even do a quick unhook to check pin/tongue weights like I did last year. Just be courteous and don't make a guy with 20 ton of sand wait for you to get off the scale.

This wouldn't be 'certified', but maybe more convenient to get an idea where you stand with your unit loaded. One other note: these scales aren't always zeroed out, so just check with the office to see if you need to adjust your readings.

[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]

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]

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]

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. :eek: