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Overloaded

Lou Summerall

By Lou Summerall
in Engines & Drivetrain

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diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted

Maybe all states should require a certification for towing because it seems there are lots of over loaded pickups.

Or road side weighing like the big rigs.

 

:)

pronstar Enthusiast

pronstar

Posted
Posted
The problem is no matter what you do to “beef up” the truck to handle the weight you can’t change the factory tow rating numbers. Even if the dealer was to install all the “max tow” equipment they can’t change the sticker in the door. Can the truck be made to handle more weight of course but it won’t change the fact that your illegally exceeding the limitations of the truck and if heaven forbid your in any kind accident whether it’s your fault or not or if you get pulled over and weighted by a DOT officer. IMO the problem isn’t the weight it’s the liability risk your placing on yourself and your family you have to consider. It would be quite the burden to have a insurance claim totally denied or be told to leave your trailer on the side of the road a 1000 miles from home if you want to continue on your trip...

 

 

I’m not advocating anything, just pointing out that DOT and weight issues apply to commercial.

 

You can google the federal and all 50 state motor vehicle laws. The only statues you’ll find that apply to non-comm, is tire load ratings.

 

You won’t find anything relating to criminal penalties and vehicle weight for non-comm.

 

While licensing absolutely does have weight limits, the penalty is license-related and not equipment-related.

 

Negligence in civil court is another matter entirely.

 

 

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diyer2 Senior Enthusiast

diyer2

Posted
Posted
7 minutes ago, Lou Summerall said:

Thanks, looking for 2500. My mistake was not figuring in the tounge wgt with combined vehicle weight. Thanks again.

Good decision.

It will be more comfortable to tow that trailer and safer.

:)

wforrest08 Senior Enthusiast

wforrest08

Posted
Posted
2 hours ago, pronstar said:

 

 

I’m not advocating anything, just pointing out that DOT and weight issues apply to commercial.

 

You can google the federal and all 50 state motor vehicle laws. The only statues you’ll find that apply to non-comm, is tire load ratings.

 

You won’t find anything relating to criminal penalties and vehicle weight for non-comm.

 

While licensing absolutely does have weight limits, the penalty is license-related and not equipment-related.

 

Negligence in civil court is another matter entirely.

 

 

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State of Iowa (yeah I know not all states are the same) requires ALL vehicles traveling down the Interstate that weight over 10k to stop and weigh (use to be 6500 what a joke that was) 9/10 times they just run you over the scale without stopping and send you on your way. But they have now combined the DOT and State Patrol into one department use to be the blue guys and the tan guys (vehicle colors) blue DOT and tan State, blues didn’t mess with general public and tan didn’t mess with commercial now they are all the same whiteys (vehicle color). Most of the old blues are kinda d**ks and most of the old tans are kinda OK problem is now they ALL or most anyway have scales in it back of their cruiser and 80% probably won’t pull them for any reason but there’s always that one. And yes I know guys that have been told to unhook it and leave it there till it’s unloaded/fixed. 

The OPs father in law might beat the crap out of him if he leaves his mother in law, her dog, and his daughter on the side of the road waiting for a Uber to reduce enuff weight to get his truck and trailer to Kansas where they don’t care. As far as a fine IDK my 3/4 is licensed to 6ton (costs me an extra 80 bucks a year) to avoid whitey from wanting to pull the scales to find out. Do I stop at the stations when they’re open and I know I’m over 10k nope have I been chased down for not stopping not yet but the day I do I’m playing dumb and yes they do chase on occasion someone down and escort them back. I will tell you this if whitey scales you depending on the officer they will find something to fine you for.

 

Straight from the AAA site 

 

 

WEIGH STATIONS

IOWA

Any peace officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing of the same by means of either portable or stationary scales and may require the vehicle to be driven to the nearest public scales. If the officer determines that the weight is unlawful, the officer may require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place until such portion of the load is removed as may be necessary to reduce the GVW to the permitted limit.

All vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs. must stop.

 

 

 

 

wforrest08 Senior Enthusiast

wforrest08

Posted
Posted
4 hours ago, rkj__ said:

 

At what point after this accident do they determine if you were, or where not over your weight ratings?

 

IDK that’s up to the lawyers and the judge if it makes it that far. Unfortunately I was against my will a “company whiteness” in a law case against a coworker that was permanently dismembered at work. I was the first on the scene of the accident “They” brought in every kind of expert know to man, loss claims agents (or what ever they call them), and lawyers then dragged it out for over 3 years. I’ll tell you this if you’ve never had to do this or been though it, it might change your mind about taking any kind of risk to put you in this situation it did mine to a extent.

 

With that being said I have almost O problem with the OPs current set up. I’d rather follow a guy that is “maxed out” up and down a mountainside that is paying attention to the situation and his equipment than the jack-a**es that buy 1 ton diesels so they can keep up with traffic up a 7% grade and coast 20 over down the other side.

 

Just wouldn’t want to see somebody lose everything they have worked for over trying to save a couple bucks???

KARNUT Senior Enthusiast

KARNUT

Posted
Posted

I hauled with a dually one ton goose neck for 30 years, my own equipment. I drove tractor trailers of all types. The biggest safety factor is the trailer and its brakes. It takes experience and luck to stop any rig if the trailer brakes fail. There’s no such thing as a pulling rig that can safely stop a trailer that’s lost its brakes. Just about any pulling rig can pull heavy if the trailer is properly loaded and has the brakes for the load. I was (am) more Leary of the weekend warrior pulling a camper with any truck or driving a motor home than a one ton goose neck pulling a heavy trailer with a commercial load. Heavy isn’t the problem.


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pronstar Enthusiast

pronstar

Posted
Posted
State of Iowa (yeah I know not all states are the same) requires ALL vehicles traveling down the Interstate that weight over 10k to stop and weigh (use to be 6500 what a joke that was) 9/10 times they just run you over the scale without stopping and send you on your way. But they have now combined the DOT and State Patrol into one department use to be the blue guys and the tan guys (vehicle colors) blue DOT and tan State, blues didn’t mess with general public and tan didn’t mess with commercial now they are all the same whiteys (vehicle color). Most of the old blues are kinda d**ks and most of the old tans are kinda OK problem is now they ALL or most anyway have scales in it back of their cruiser and 80% probably won’t pull them for any reason but there’s always that one. And yes I know guys that have been told to unhook it and leave it there till it’s unloaded/fixed. 
The OPs father in law might beat the crap out of him if he leaves his mother in law, her dog, and his daughter on the side of the road waiting for a Uber to reduce enuff weight to get his truck and trailer to Kansas where they don’t care. As far as a fine IDK my 3/4 is licensed to 6ton (costs me an extra 80 bucks a year) to avoid whitey from wanting to pull the scales to find out. Do I stop at the stations when they’re open and I know I’m over 10k nope have I been chased down for not stopping not yet but the day I do I’m playing dumb and yes they do chase on occasion someone down and escort them back. I will tell you this if whitey scales you depending on the officer they will find something to fine you for.
 
Straight from the AAA site 
 
 

WEIGH STATIONS

IOWA

Any peace officer having reason to believe that the weight of a vehicle and load is unlawful is authorized to require the driver to stop and submit to a weighing of the same by means of either portable or stationary scales and may require the vehicle to be driven to the nearest public scales. If the officer determines that the weight is unlawful, the officer may require the driver to stop the vehicle in a suitable place until such portion of the load is removed as may be necessary to reduce the GVW to the permitted limit.

All vehicles weighing over 10,000 lbs. must stop.

 

 

 

 




And yet...no penalty of law or ticket.
Criminal DOT weight penalties only apply to comm.


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wforrest08 Senior Enthusiast

wforrest08

Posted
Posted
3 hours ago, pronstar said:

 

 


And yet...no penalty of law or ticket.
Criminal DOT weight penalties only apply to comm.


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Yeah I get what your saying but being told to leaving your stuff on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere especially if your a 1000 miles from home kinda seems like a penalty to me but maybe that’s just me? 

Jacoby Enthusiast

Jacoby

Posted
Posted

OP you’re fine. Just make sure your trailer brakes are in good shape and working good and be on your way. Ignore the weight police 

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