GCWR DOT regs? (<26000 lbs)

[helo]

Does GCWR matter for non-cdl tow rigs?

DOT is all over my county (oilfield boom). They do checkpoints at highway intersections to stop/inspect ALL tow rigs on a regular basis. It's nuts sometimes...

I talked to a dealer today and they suggested I ask U-haul for my factory GCWR...wtf? :nono:

My door sticker is faded to hell, but it has no GCWR listed. Here's the FMCSA definition:

Gross combination weight rating (GCWR) means the value specified by the manufacturer as the loaded weight of a combination (articulated) vehicle. In the absence of a value specified by the manufacturer, GCWR will be determined by adding the GVWR of the power unit and the total weight of the towed unit and any load thereon.



Suppose I'm under my GVWR, GAWR, tire ratings, and I have a sufficient hitch w/ trailer brake controller. Does that make me LEGAL?

12000lb gvwr trailer, pintle hitch. (flare stack)

[Badass69]

Does GCWR matter for non-cdl tow rigs?

DOT is all over my county (oilfield boom). They do checkpoints at highway intersections to stop/inspect ALL tow rigs on a regular basis. It's nuts sometimes...

I talked to a dealer today and they suggested I ask U-haul for my factory GCWR...wtf? :nono:

My door sticker is faded to hell, but it has no GCWR listed. Here's the FMCSA definition:



Suppose I'm under my GVWR, GAWR, tire ratings, and I have a sufficient hitch w/ trailer brake controller. Does that make me LEGAL?

12000lb gvwr trailer, pintle hitch. (flare stack)

Depends upon your trucks factory tow rating and the actual weight of the trailer you are pulling. If you combine the towing weight capacity of your truck and your GVW and come up less, you might be okay. Weight distribution by axle comes into play too. If the trucks rear axle weight is over the limit even if you are under total combined weight you will still get fined. My trailer is rated for 12000 lbs too but the actual trailer weight is only 2000 lbs or so. My trucks GVW is 8600 lbs but I am only legal to tow 7900 lbs. If I load the trailer with more than 5900 lbs I am over the limit. Weigh your trailer and find out your trucks actual legal towing weight (owners manual or the good old web) and then you will know.

[boogie_4wheel]

Call or drive yourself right down to the nearest checking/weigh station and ask. This issue varies state to state. As for Utah (where I live) I can have any combination up to 80K lbs and truck/trailer can have air brakes; as long as it is a private vehicle for personal use I can run it.

If you are using the rig for income you WILL need a CDL, no matter what your weight rating or actual weight is.

As for you GCWR... This is a # that is determined by the tow vehicle manufacturer. Every truck I've owned has had a spreadsheet in the owner's manual so that I can look at how my truck is equiped (2 or 4wd, cab & bed combination, engine/trans/axle ratio) to determine the GCWR.


Suppose I'm under my GVWR, GAWR, tire ratings, and I have a sufficient hitch w/ trailer brake controller. Does that make me LEGAL?


You would be perfectly legal in all accounts (assuming that you have current registration and ins coverage, working lights, and safety chains and brake-away) as long as this rig is for private use.

[helo]

My chevy has no documented "tow rating" or GCWR. My concern is that I can't prove I'm LEGAL to tow a trailer this heavy. If DOT assclown #59234 says, "I believe you're overweight," I can't really say "you're mistaken, here's my proof."

Owners manual mentions a supplemental "tow guide" available from dealerships, but my GM dealer claims it's not available anymore.

It's an 89 suburban.

This is not private use, but that doesn't matter. Trailer GVWR is 12000, and the actual weight is easily over 6000.

I have a full CDL, but it is not required in PA unless you are over 26001 gcwr, moving hazmat, or 16+ passengers.

[helo]

My chevy has no documented "tow rating" or GCWR. Owners manual mentions a supplemental "tow guide" available from dealerships, but my GM dealer claims it's not available anymore. My door sticker only has GAWR and GVWR.

It's an 89 suburban.

I'm concerned that I can't prove I am LEGAL to tow a trailer this heavy. If DOT assclown #59234 says, "I believe you're overweight," I can't really say "you're mistaken, here's my proof."

Trailer GVWR is 12000, and the actual weight is easily over 6000. I have a full CDL, but it is not required in PA unless you are over 26001 gcwr, moving hazmat, or 16+ passengers.

[DarkCharisma]

GCVW is:

(Your Gross Vehicle Weight + Tongue Weight) + Trailer Capacity.

So if your GCVR is 8000lbs, your truck weighs 6000lbs, your tongue is 1500lbs and your trailer's rated for 12k and you're pulling 12k, you'd be within GCVW.

[speedracer326]

I'm glad this came up, because according to this thread federal law states that the door sticker doesn't mean shjt meaning tickets can't be written based on the door sticker. Just thought I'd throw some confusion in an otherwise straightforward thread.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20577181/page/1.cfm

[boogie_4wheel]

I'm glad this came up, because according to this thread federal law states that the door sticker doesn't mean shjt meaning tickets can't be written based on the door sticker. Just thought I'd throw some confusion in an otherwise straightforward thread.

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/20577181/page/1.cfm

I've also overheard/read/been told this. The only #'s that really matter is your tire ratings... If you have 2300lb rated tires then that axle better not weigh more than 4600 (unless duals).


This is a gray area and is different state to state. Like I previously said, go to your local weigh/checking station and talk to a compliance officer about your rig, your current license, what your intend to use it for, and your burb and trailer ratings (tire, GAWR, GVWR).

It would help to know if this burb is a 1/2 or a 3/4 ton, but I would estimate GM's GCWR to be somewhere between 10k and 15k, if you are required to adhere to that rating.

[helo]

Good link, Thanks. That's a really long thread.

I have no local weigh/check station. It's federal DOT gypsies who stay in hotels running mobile checkpoints at "major" [two-lane] highway intersections [stop signs].

'89 v1500. 1/2 ton 4x4 burb . 7000lb gvwr.
4l80e, 3/4 ton brakes (1ton MC), 350vortec, $0d_maf, winch, dual group 31's, AD244, 1kwrms 12" sub.. =)

Rear axle, springs, and hitch will be upgraded before I'm in a position where I may be required to tow. Probably shackle flip, bags, and arb locker at the same time. I just did the 4l80e last week.

More than half my mileage is off-pavement when I'm on my work rotation... It's a superb chariot in the winter =).

[Drumaniac3000]

GCVW is:

(Your Gross Vehicle Weight + Tongue Weight) + Trailer Capacity.

So if your GCVR is 8000lbs, your truck weighs 6000lbs, your tongue is 1500lbs and your trailer's rated for 12k and you're pulling 12k, you'd be within GCVW.

I'm not following this...

GVWR= Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (weight supported by tires)

GCWR= Gross Combination Weight Rating (weight supported by truck tires and trailer tires)

Your comment above would make sense in reference to GVWR I guess:

Truck weight (6000lb) + trailer tongue load (1500lb) = 7500lb (weight carried by truck tires) < 8000 GVWR
So the truck is under its GVWR

As far as GCWR:

Truck weight (6000lb) + trailer tongue weight on truck (1500lb) + trailer axle weight (10,500lb) = 18,000 (total weight supported by all axles of the combination).

The 18,000 is what you would compare to the truck's listed GCWR value.