As stated in the forum, a bobcat will not overload one of these trucks. Imprperly loaded maybe but not overloaded.

 

So, since my dually weighs only 7,600 lbs or so, I shouldn't be able to tow my 8,000lb travel trailer?

I have a Hensley hitch for weight distribution and sway prevention. My rig is a lot safer than pretty much any 5,500lb SUV towing a 5,000lb travel trailer.

Brian Elfert

 

In our state we can't even register a vehicle for more than the manufacturer's GVW because the town clerks all have books to look in that list the GVW of the vehicle, which they can find accurately by the VIN number. My aunt and mother-in-law are both town clerks and do registrations, and my cousin works with a town clerk doing the same. I'm not saying that a TC who doesn't know what shes doing or one who doesn't care wouldn't change the GVW if you asked, but I've never been able to get away with it...and I've tried. Besides, even if they did do it, then you have to get it by the state, which is even tougher. Older vehicles and some larger trucks that aren't covered in the books are easier to get away with it.

Jim

 

GVW only shows the load on a truck, not a trailer being pulled. By the same standards a class 8 truck could only pull less than 50,000 gross weight. ie: 34000 on the rear axles and say 14000 on the front. I guarantee you that I can pull my truck in your state at near 30,000 and be perfectly legal. And your twisty roads and steep hills would be no worse with my truck than a class 8 at 80,000. It is rare indeed that a Trooper or Town Clerk would know the State Code on these things. You have to know what is legal and ask for it. Probably a lot of what you are confused on is the difference between commercial and private. All commercial trucks over 10,000 pounds must have a medical card by federal law. This is not up to the states, but is required by federal law, as is the minumum standards for CDL. The state can impose shorter length limits on non-interstate routes but there will also be a standard on that. Very possibly I could not pull a 53 foot trailer on your roads, although I could on any interstate or feeder road which includes most US highways. That would be why the Trooper was looking for long vehicles.

 

Town Clerks are trained by the state, and have to follow state laws concerning registrations.

You can not register a vehicle for more than the manufacturer's stated GVW, which limits how much weight is put on the axles of the truck by the trailer.

The state limits trailers to manufactuer's stated GCWR (as you yourself showed proof of with the state law you quoted above). No matter what the trailer is registered for, the actual weight still can't put the truck and trailer combination over the GCWR stated by the manufacturer.

The N.H. DOT and police all have access to manufacturer GVW and GCWR ratings.

So I'm still trying to figure out how you think you are legal to pull a combined weight of 30,000 lbs. if the GCWR of the truck is only 21,000? You might be legal in your state, or in other states, but not here.

Jim

 

Hit it a little harder, maybe you will understand. BECAUSE NEW HAMPSHIRE HAS TO RECOGNISE AND ACCEPT MY 33,000 POUND PLATE.... FEDERAL LAW bye

 

I have been from Ky to Florida 6 times since dec 20. Stopped at scale once...thats right ONCE and sit there forever while they tried to figure out sometihng to ticket me for. After that first time I just blow by them and take my chances. especially when I was grossing 26,880 and 28,620....wasnt gong to dare stop then!!! I'm tagged for 37,000. Fl Dot never did ask for physical card of class b or a cdl!
Alos found out they wont stop bee trucks...so u usually put ona few empty bee hives, put net over them and drive on!!!! Dot guys are scared of getting stung!! Rick

 

Jim,
You have a few guys towing legally at weights well over 21K. Don't you think you should listen to the guys that are actually doing this and believe what we are telling you? The gcwr in the Dodge owners manual is just a minium recommended rating and not what is used for registration purposes or used by the DOT. The tag inside the door with the tire ratings and axle ratings is what you go by for truck/trailer registration.
By the way I just bought another truck and the lady at the DMV had no idea how to register the truck, I had to walk her thru it! She actually pulled the books and we looked everything up to be 100% sure!
11K gvw for the truck, 14.8k gvw for the trailer, is class 8 truck/trailer combo to 26k, yearly cost is $405 truck and $29 trailer. I'm legal in PA and any state I choose to travel thru.
When you get this figured out correctly, just let us know.
Rick

I'm still arguing with the guys who think you need cdl to pull a trailer over 10k.
Class A cdl truck/trailer>26k
class B cdl truck>26k with trailer<10k
Class C single/combo<26k

they read class B cdl and automatically think any trailer over 10k requires a cdl, they just can't read or seem to be able to understand what they are being told!

 

IN YOUR STATE. Thats all I'm trying to point out. Here they go by the GCWR. your state might not...fine. I've run this past anyone official I could...DOT, town clerks (for registration), etc. I keep getting told the same thing...just what I keep saying above. If you can register like that in your state...cool. Come here, and you are only allowed on interstate highways, not secondary roads. You have to meet our local laws then. I don't care if you believe me...call the DOT. I have...but don't believe me, just because I live here and have asked those who know and enforce the laws.

Jim

 

I find it hard to believe that no one in NH is towing a 5er or gooseneck legally!

 

It is rediculous to keep going back on this thread but considering the number of views there are a lot of members reading this thread who probably need to know the real deal here. Federal commerce law says that if a truck is legal in the home state and properly plated, it is legal in any state of the union so long as it does not exceed the states gross weight laws or bridge laws.

New Hampshire may not like it and they may not allow a New Hampshire plated truck to tow more than was stated, but an out of state truck that is legal in its home state and complys with the gross, length and bridge can run on any road that allows that much weight on the road.

These are old '30s and '40s laws that were incorperated in the old ICC interstate commerce statutes to free up interstate transportation. It would be perfectly legal for me to gross 30,000 and go to Berlin. As a matter of fact, been there to move my son to Missouri.

In order for New Hampshire to shut me down I would have to be over gross road weight, I am half, or over tire or axle weight. Now if you are private hauling that may very well be different, I don't know that. A used car operation there could be private. There are many states that will not plate a truck in their states as mine is plated, but they have to allow my truck because Alabama says it is legal here.

You want an example, in California if you pull an RV over a certain weight they will stop you and make you get a larger truck to pull it out of the state. But, three car haulers and hot shots pull regularly in California, very legal. They are commercial, different deal there.

With a "truck" and trailer you are not protected by the length laws determined by the feds as a minimum. If you comply with the "tractor" and trailer laws which are under federal standards such as I am, you can only exercise these lengths on interstates or the published feeder roads. Under these laws you can go 53 feet of trailer and any length of tractor. Or two 28 foot doubles.

If my truck were not plated as a tractor, I could not pull my trailer to Berlin because of the 48 foot length limit, as it is in Florida, and Tennessee. My trailer is over 50 feet. Also in interstate trucking, the tire, axle, GVW, GCWR must be posted on a spec plate to be a legal limit. Dodge as well as most light truck manufacturers are careful not to post the GCWR on the plate, they like to sell trucks. New Hampshire may use whatever critera they want to govern plating New Hampshire trucks but have no control over other states vehicles.

I would suggest that you get the FMCSA operating manual at any truck stop, there are truck stops on New Hampshire aren't there? I know there is in Nashua. It is green, costs five bucks, gives you all the federal dope on laws. As I said before also, most Town Clerks don't have a clue on interstate commerce, and most State Troopers have a vague idea and only look for what they are looking for. Sometimes you have to show the DOT officers the law in the book.

I am insured and have a Single State Registration in New Hampshire for 33,000 pounds. I pay that fee each year for every state in the union at what ever fee they charge. What I am telling you is that I am registered with New Hampshire for 33,000 pounds and can travel there at will any time I want. No officer looking over my papers, permits, and registrations is going to ticket me because they don't allow a one ton to be plated for 33,000 pounds.

I have been through the garbage before where some cop does not think the truck should be on the road, then comes the tape measures, the axle scales, trying to find some infraction of the bridge law, or hitch chains too long or too short, basically harrassment, but have never left with a ticket on these "cop with a chip" violations.

Lastly, many on here have tried to get the real scoop from local officers but normally this is not possible, it must come from federal authorities. Or join OOIDA and they will keep you straight. In your case I would strongly recomment that you don't try to haul over the New Hampshire laws, or move and join the rest of the United States. Big trucking companies register the trucks in states where the laws are an advantage to them. Half the country was registering in Oklahoma and recently they stopped this. Years ago, half the New York trucks were registered in Alabama for half the rate and less legal hassle, I drove one, had never been here.

Hope this clears up some of your misgivings. If not have a nice day, does not affect my operation one bit, nor Rick's in Penna.

 

I tow heavy. I've never had a problem as long as it looked safe. I'm under my GCWR most of the time. But, in GA they are weighing commercial looking trucks of all sizes. I look commercial sometimes. I claim Farm/BeeKeeper. If your over the trucks GCWR you could get a ticket as a non-commercial, probably a warning the first time if you play stupid and they notice your over that number. The DOT is overlooking the hot shot rigs for the most part since they have the plates, DOT number on the side, company/farm name and insurance. Plus, class 8 trucks have gone over their GCWR for years. Not all big trucks have a 100K plus rating for example. Like when we are hauling 140K, thats over the 379 Petes GCWR.

It all depends on where you are (home state) and the type and attitude of the DOT at that very moment in time. If your legal at home your legal in any of the lower 48. I've yet to get a straight answere about running over 26K without a class A CDL for personal non-commercial use. Most of the time its no, then you say its an RV or for farm use and you can have at it. We need the regs updated so all the states are the same.