weight restrictions?

[jgoff78]

hey guys, i'm looking to buy a trailer, i want to get one thats rated at 12,000 but i was reading the UDOT weight restrictions for class A, B, C, and D. what i found is that an operators license (d) is any vehicle under 26k and not defined as any of the other 3. b is defined as 26K+ 10,001+ towed. my problem is i'm 19 and the age required is 21 for anything else. i didnt know if i was gonna have problems with the GVWR being 12k even if im hauling 9000 or if i will only be in trouble if i am overloaded (10,001+). i need the 12,000 because my family will also use the trailer and we may load it up to 11k+, i will only use it for 7-9k. will i be alright?

[fomocofan]

As far as license class..
You can drive any combination of truck and trailer aslong as the total RATED weight is not over 26,000 lbs.

[garysjames]

I have a class A here in California, but as I recall, Utah is about the same.

If you want to drive a truck with a weight of over 26,001 pounds and NO trailer over 10,001, you can use a class B license.

If you want to drive a truck with a weight of under 26,001 and and trailer under 10,001, you can use a class C. I don't know what the class D is.

If you want to pull a trailer with a GVWR of over 10,001 with anything, you will need a Class A.

It has been awhile since I pulled thru Utah, but as I recall, if you are driving any combination of truck & trailer with a combined weight over 10,000 pounds you need to "go thru the scale".

The DOT folks and the local highway patrol have a diffeant view of things, just depends on who you ask on what day and the time.....

DOT will say that if you are hauling an EMPTY trailer with a GVWR over 10,001, you need a class A.

If you ask the officer, he probably won't care that you are pulling (weighing) 9000 pounds on a 12,000 GVWR, meaning you will be fine.

Pull thru the scale and they will close-ly look at the number of lug bolts on the trailer axle, indicating 2ea 5K or 2 ea 6K axles and then look at what you are hauling, how it is loaded etc. If it looks "good" you probaly won't have a problem. If you have things tied down with bailing wire and a pickup full of beer cans, expect to be called into the shack with all your licenses, registration and insurance for a careful going over.

[jgoff78]

ok thanks for all the info. so if i throw a honda civic on a 12k trailer are they REALLY gonna even look twice, i wont be sagging, i wasnt with 9 the other day. and obviously a honda civic is within my gcwr and gvwr?