I have a 12.5 K GW 20' flat tag that I pull with sig truck. Going to pull a small tractor and implements from NC to VT, much of it on Interstates. I have always understood that purely private rigs do not stop at weigh stations, and I never have. My stuff is mine and completely non-rev.
Now I'm being told that any trailer over 4k GW hauling "property" must stop, even if it is in no way commercial or for hire.
Can anyone clear this up for me? Is the deal different in different states? None of the weigh stations I pass have any sign regarding weights that must stop, or "all trailers over such and such", etc.
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'05 F-350 PSD 4x4 CC SB SRW Manual
If your GCWR of the truck and trailer is under 26k then I wouldn't bother stopping. Worst thing they are going to do if you do pull in to a weigh station is check you out. Like you said, you are private and under CDL so I doubt they will do anything. Probably just wave you through. If there is a line I would just breeze by.
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1996 F250 4x4 ext. cab, long bed 5 spd. 3.55ls, Tymar Intake, Tymar 4" downpipe and 4" exhaust. AIC, B&W turnoverball, EBPV brake, tranny temp gauge, boost gauge, and egt gauge. 235k miles and thousands of $$$$ in maintenance and repairs.
I wouldn't even slow down. Your private and as long as you don't have stickers all over your rig making it look like you are commercial, I don't think you'll get a second look. If your still worried about the laws, check each state's website.
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Ed
04' F250 C/C, SWB, 6.0L, 4x4, True Blue/Silver
ISSPRO Gauges, Firestone Air Bags, LEER Cap, Super Liner Spray In
I love my truck.
I've never heard of anything over 4k. That's pretty light. Some states require over 12 to 15k. I would go on by. I drive a 35' renegade on a freightliner chassis with a 35' bumper pull trailer. No stickers, just plain white. Never stop(cause I'm over weight) have yet to be chased down.
I've been sweatin' the same issue.
I just built my own two-car hauler and pull it with an F250 pick-up.
I wanted to pimp the trailer with some cool shop logos and "not for hire" stickers but someone told me that would make me a commercial hauler. Even though I'm haulin' my own cars with my own truck to my own shop. It's crazy.
I spent half a day on the phone calling my local state police, state police HQ at the capital, DOT, NHTSA, FMCSA, CIA, UPS, USDA and anyone else I could think of.
No one could give me a straight answer.
I keep all the numbers and names of people I talked in the glove box. I pity the cop who pulls me over. I'm going to show him the list and ask him how he knows the regs but all these other folks don't.
While most people will not know that the regulations are and you may get ten different answers from ten different people. What I would do is go to a weigh station go in and ask. If there are not any in your local area go to the highway patrol station or sub station and ask them. They are the ones that would be chasing you down if you didn't stop but was suppose to. What I have always done is just pull through. If they don't want to stop you they will wave you through.
Jim
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96 F250 PS XLT 4X4 long box, 5sp,4.10, manual hubs,pyro+boost guages,Dark Toumaline, add a leaf,Dale's TYMAR,and HX hose, downpipe, coolant filter with coolant eye
I have a 12.5 K GW 20' flat tag that I pull with sig truck. Going to pull a small tractor and implements from NC to VT, much of it on Interstates. I have always understood that purely private rigs do not stop at weigh stations, and I never have. My stuff is mine and completely non-rev.
Now I'm being told that any trailer over 4k GW hauling "property" must stop, even if it is in no way commercial or for hire.
Can anyone clear this up for me? Is the deal different in different states? None of the weigh stations I pass have any sign regarding weights that must stop, or "all trailers over such and such", etc.
I can't speak for your state on the east coast but here in the Midwest, if you are not a farmer or pulling an obvious RV, you stop at weigh stations with any pickup and trailer combination. It is posted this way right on the signs. I experienced this first hand on I90 in South Dakota. My truck, my trailer and my stuff inside. 3 ticketed violations. no DOT number. No CDL (crossed state lines) and no health papers. Also, in recent months, the Nebraska DOT has started stopping pickup/trailer rigs and checking for brakes, lights, safety chains etc. The farm supply company where I work has had many fines for violations.
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'99 crewcab, shortbox, 6 speed, 4" exhaust, custom AFE air intake,PPIII, pre pump and tank mod, HX mod, 2002 Jayco Talon 30 ft. sport utility travel trailer.
I can't speak for your state on the east coast but here in the Midwest, if you are not a farmer or pulling an obvious RV, you stop at weigh stations with any pickup and trailer combination. It is posted this way right on the signs. I experienced this first hand on I90 in South Dakota. My truck, my trailer and my stuff inside. 3 ticketed violations. no DOT number. No CDL (crossed state lines) and no health papers. Also, in recent months, the Nebraska DOT has started stopping pickup/trailer rigs and checking for brakes, lights, safety chains etc. The farm supply company where I work has had many fines for violations.
Remind me not to drive through Nebraska or South Dakota.
I've blown by weigh stations in KS, MO, and IA and never once thought about stopping in to get weighed.
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2004 F-250 King Ranch CrewCab ShortBed 6.0L
If you are a private guy without making money on the transport, or have a non comercial rig you do not have to stop at the weigh stations.
If they come running after you it is very easy to explain what you are doing and why.
You are not violating anything by not stopping.
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1996 F-250 extended cab long box five speed. Home made Tymar, 203 Stat, 60 gal in bed fuel cell, 315/75's, no cat, no muffler, ebpv welded open 3" to 3" DP, Babies. 255K, still chugging, and still smoking when cold.
UPDATED 8/1/08 Replace so far. 1 LUK flywheel+clutch, 2 thermostats, 2 set of brakes, 1 set of calipers, 5 CPS, 3 sets of tires, 2 Transfer pumps, 1 Injector modual, 1 Computer, 2 Alt, 2 sets of batteries, 1 Water pump, 6 Belts, 1 PS hose, 2 Sets ball joints, 2 set u-joints, 2 carrier bearing, 2 Speed sensors, 1 oil pres sender, 1 temp sender, 4 sets of e-break cables, 1 front fuel tank, 2 rear fuel tanks, 2 set of glow plugs, 6 Glow plug relays, Oil galley o-rings, Turbo pedistal o-rings, EBPV o-rings, 3 sets of Injector O-rings, 1 Vac-pump, 1 new carpet.Total $$$ in repairs v/s miles driven = 3.0 cents per mile. Add fuel to that it jumps to 14.8 cents per mile over the life of the truck.
I'm towing from SoCal to Eastern NC later this week pulling my 28' car trailer. I'm right around 20K and I won't be stopping or even slowing down at a weigh station along the way. I never have and I've never been chased or even stopped by a LEO. I'll let you know if I do have someone stop me.
Ed
I deliver RV trailers for the manufacturers to the dealers and travel all over the US and Canada.
There are some states who will arrest you if you drive past a weigh station. Iowa is by far the worst, but Nebraska and North Dakota are close behind them. California is a whole different story and even tougher.
All of the RV transport companies tell their drivers to stop at weigh stations. Here in Illinois, the rule is anything over 4 tons. That means any dually and many 3/4 tons. If you have a trailer, and blow past a weigh station, there is a good chance someone will be coming after you.
A much, much better policy is to drive through the weigh station. Most of the time I just a get a wave by but I will not ever blow past one because the fines are horrendous.
Consider the fact that every state is looking for money and every police and DOT agency is looking to justify their existence and realize that an overweight violation is usually hundreds of dollars.
There is a notice one mile before a weigh station of exactly who has to stop. If you even loosely fit within that requirement, go through the weigh station.
If you're not required, it will only cost you about 5 minutes. If you blow past and they make an issue of it, it will cost you a LOT of money.
BudMan
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BudMan5
"A couple of quarter sticks of dynamite can turn an otherwise dull day fun!"
2006 F350 Crew Cab 2WD DRW 98 gal Transfer Flow aux tank, Crew Cab Sleeper, Ride Rite Air Bags with Dual Air Command II compressor and tank, B&W Companion 5'er and Gooseneck, Garmin GPS, XM Radio
Man that is very strange... you say California is tougher, I have never, I mean ever been stopped or even looked twice upon. They sale the scales are for "Trucks" and I don't think they consider a pickup a truck. The truck I tow with is the one in my sig, and the trailer I generally use is a 20' 14,000 GVWR trailer, usually my total GVCW is in the 20-23K range. I have been through some of the more agressive agricultural check points (namely the crossing from nevada on I80) hauling 5 ton of hay on the trailer, and all I tell them is that I am hauling hay from my ranch in Oregon to my ranch in california. Do this very often going through Oregon, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, California. Those are the only states I can speak for, but for none of them have I ever stopped in a scale. Only Ag checkpoints. I agree that they will look at you much more if you have signs or any commercial insignia, even a flatbed will make you suspicious. But other than that, I would say haul away and only stop if you are spoken to. My family owned a big trucking business here in cali, and I got my information reguarding this through HP officers that we dealt with while trucking.
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1996 F350 CC LB 4x4, 4.10 gears, Magnaflow 4" exhaust turbo-back w/ 3" downpipe, AFE intake, DP tuner F5 chip w/ 80hp econo, 60hp tow, 40hp tow, 1100 RPM hi-idle, ValAir HD Solid-mass conversion clutch, Powerslot front rotors, ORU ex. capacity rear diff cover w/ Royal Purple synthetic lube, Opti-lube diesel additive, leveling kit, 285/75-16 Toyo Open Country A/T, 151,000 miles and much more to come!
I have always understood that purely private rigs do not stop at weigh stations,
Why not phone your local state highway patrol or DOT office and get the correct answer? I know in the far western states if you have a CB and as you take up the scale guys' time by going across them, you're in for a butt-chewing.
Matter of fact, some of them have NO PICKUPS posted before the scales, (excluding people hauling horses or livestock.)
States vary greatly in their laws regarding trailers & scales. Within a state, enforcement varies as well depending upon the region, but more so by the individual officer. If you think a sign applies to you, go across the scale. Generally, they are looking for commercial guys running stealth. Be careful in the interview though. I've read stories of weekend warriors (bike & car racing & such...) telling about entering events and winning small prizes like gas money and such, thinking they were having an informal conversation, then the officer turns arounds and writes a citation(s) because they are commercial by the letter of the law. They also look for safety issues as previously mentioned. If you are not commercial, only the rules for private trailers apply. The problem comes in making your case to the officer. You may in fact be private, but if the officer interprets/thinks/suspects otherwise, you get a citation. Then it gets argued in court. Not popular to say, but the truth is, your reaction to the officer greatly determines the treatment you receive. Be nice and usually you get nice back. Hard to do when you are already upset about being questioned. Even the commercial guys will tell you that. If you happen to be the poor soul that gets the officer that's had a bad day, all bets are off. You may have to let the judge sort it out. My .02 for what's it worth. Dang, this turned out to be quite long, sorry.
If towing more than 10,000 lb travel trailer with ball hitch, or 15,000 lb travel trailer with fifth wheel hitch in California, be sure to have non-commercial class A driver's license.
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2001 F350 XLT 4X4, shift on the fly, 38 gal fuel tank, running boards, sliding rear window, black, crew cab, long bed, 4.10, automatic transmission, 11,500 gvwr, 20,000 gcwr, 7500 gvw, dual rear wheels, 7.3l turbo diesel, completely stock, 114,00 miles when purchased, now has 125,000 miles, repairs so far: starter, batteries, cps.
2005 Nomad Rampage toyhauler made by Skyline. 11,500lb gvwr.
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