Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

[rbh]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

If you get pulled over by someone that can interpert the numbers you will get sited.Those numbers is what they go by.

On my f350 its above the door latch knob in the door frame, it has the build date the VIN and the front and rear axles GVW.

 

[oldjeep]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Even if the sticker is law, only commercial enforcement carries scales around here and they are not going to be pulling over and weighing boat trailers attached to the family truckster.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

All these post are fine and good. Until you get into an accident, and savvy lawyer figures it all out.???

 

[N3UP]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Not here in NC. They might look at the GVW and check to see if you are registered to carry that amount of weight but the size of the tow vehicle is irrelevant. Most people around here buy the standard weight registration tag which is good for only up to 4000 lbs which mean it is illegal to pull a trailer or haul firewood but is rarely enforced. I have went through license checkpoints numerous times pulling a 20' ski boat or 20' pontoon behind a tiny shortbed S-10 and all they were interested in was valid license and registration.

If the state sells you a 4000 lb registration for an F150 they don't have a clue......mine weighs 5100 before I put anything in it besides me and the old lady.

For those who say the door sticker is law....I have NEVER seen a door sticker that shows the GCWR, the combination weight rating, which is what comes into play when towing.

You can't guess that from the vehicle GVWR number because engine, transmission and gear ratio all figure into it.

Don't ever tow overloaded.....God will smite you, the insurance compaines will see you with thier satellites, you will crash into a car filed with babies and puppies and your truck will instantly fall to pieces from the abuse like the Blues Mobile at the end of the chase scene.
......oh, wait. That's the other boat forum........ /sarcasm off

 

[chambers1517]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Actually my jeep towed really well. It had 1/2 ton axles which were wider and big tires. People on this forum were telling me about not being covered by insurance in a wreck, which got me wondering so I upgraded to an F350 single wheel. I saw a guy pulling a pontoon with a VW Jetta last week. We don't have anything in TN for a non commercial trailer. No tags, stickers or anykind of registration. This guy was sitting at a redlight with a state trooper beside him. Trooper didn't look twice and I thought how is this legal.

 

[bigdee]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Actually my jeep towed really well. It had 1/2 ton axles which were wider and big tires. People on this forum were telling me about not being covered by insurance in a wreck, which got me wondering so I upgraded to an F350 single wheel. I saw a guy pulling a pontoon with a VW Jetta last week. We don't have anything in TN for a non commercial trailer. No tags, stickers or anykind of registration. This guy was sitting at a redlight with a state trooper beside him. Trooper didn't look twice and I thought how is this legal.

It can't be illegal if there are no regulations. Some think you will be a target of the insurance companies but the truth is, if your irresponsible the insurance companies will try to cream you no matter what your towing with. If it is not written law all the lawyer can do is make it an argument for the jury. While I would never tow a pontoon with a Jetta I think as long as the guy is driving slow and responsible he is within the law..... I would not feel any more nervous seeing him on the road as I do daily seeing a 80 foot (usually overloaded) logging truck running 70mph on hilly roads.

 

[lncoop]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Don't ever tow overloaded.....God will smite you, the insurance compaines will see you with thier satellites, you will crash into a car filed with babies and puppies and your truck will instantly fall to pieces from the abuse like the Blues Mobile at the end of the chase scene.
......oh, wait. That's the other boat forum........ /sarcasm off

I had to have IT bring me another keyboard after I spit coffee all over the other one when I read this. We do love our tow vehicles here on iboats, don't we? LOL!

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

If the state sells you a 4000 lb registration for an F150 they don't have a clue......mine weighs 5100 before I put anything in it besides me and the old lady.

For those who say the door sticker is law....I have NEVER seen a door sticker that shows the GCWR,look again the combination weight rating, which is what comes into play when towing.

You can't guess that from the vehicle GVWR number because engine, transmission and gear ratio all figure into it.

Don't ever tow overloaded.....God will smite you, the insurance compaines will see you with thier satellites, you will crash into a car filed with babies and puppies and your truck will instantly fall to pieces from the abuse like the Blues Mobile at the end of the chase scene.
......oh, wait. That's the other boat forum........ /sarcasm off

Maybe they should enforce the laws against Stupidity, we all would be alot safer. It's one thing to know the law and not adhere to it but to not know it and put it like you do, is another.You should look into how they figure the legal tow capacity and weight by using the door figures.Maybe the people on the other boat forum will explain it to you or maybe this will help you.

1.Locate the vehicle data tag on the driver's door post.

2.Note the CGWR. This is the combined gross weight rating. It is the maximum allowable weight your vehicle, with cargo and passengers, and a trailer can weigh.

3.Determine the loaded weight, with passengers and fuel, of your vehicle. This is most accurate by weighing the vehicle on a public scale. These can be found at truck stops and some moving companies. Check also at landscape supply companies and sand and gravel yards. If a scale cannot be found, estimate the weight by adding the curb weight of the vehicle and all passengers and cargo.

4.Subtract the loaded weight of your vehicle from the CGWR rating of your vehicle. The resulting number is your towing capacity. Keep the weight of your trailer under this number to be safe and legal. Weighing your trailer when fully loaded is most accurate.

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Should read ....

...
2.Note the CGWR. This is the combined gross weight rating. It is the maximum allowable weight your vehicle, with cargo and passengers, and a trailer TONGUE WEIGHT can weigh.
...
4.Subtract the loaded weight of your vehicle from the CGWR rating of your vehicle. The resulting number is your towing capacity. Keep the weight of your trailer TONGUE under this number to be safe and legal. Weighing your trailer when fully loaded is most accurate.

 

[oregoncruiser]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

As a former LEO, I can tell you that here in Or, only commercial vehicles will get looked at for weight. The biggest problem with telling the VW guy pulling his pontoon that he is overweight, is that I don't KNOW how much weight he has on it. Think an attorney isn't going to have fun with a citation that is written with no evidence, I.E. "I don't know how much it weighed, but it sure looked heavy!" And I do not have the legal authority to take him to a scale. And if I did, it is now MY responsibility for what happens while en route. No agency is going to take that responsibility. Now post accident investigations could yield a citation for unsafe driving, improperly restrained loads etc., but never a specific charge for being 1208lbs over your weight rating. Not gonna happen here.

Everyone wants to complain about law enforcement not doing their job, but in such a letigious environment it's hard enough to get a speeding ticket to stick. Along with all the other rights, Americans have the right to be stupid, and endanger others.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

I saw a guy pulling a pontoon with a VW Jetta last week.

Must've been the diesel version. :facepalm:

 

[sutor623]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Here in VA I have seen 2 things involving the law and towing. One day there was a State Trooper and a guy in a van with yellow lights. He had 4-8 portable scales. They would pull over every commercial truck (other than 18 wheelers) that would drive by and place each of the scales right in front of the tires so that the vehicle could pull onto them. The officer was handing out citations, and there was a line of vehicles behind them, just waiting on their fate.

Next thing I saw that was a little strange was a road block, with no scales. They had every person that was PULLING A TRAILER pull over to check for trailer inspection/registration, as well as the tow vehicles. They let me drive right by since I wasnt pulling a trailer. Strange. But I am sure that none of this is weight involved.

Now this is very interesting. My wife is the manager for a moving company. The movers have to be careful not to overload the trucks. The moving trucks go from 18' box trucks all the way up to 40some foot quad rear tire trucks. The movers are trained to have an idea what a truck loaded to capacity looks like. They have gotten tickets before, but it is very rare, and it is commercial.
This is the interesting part. When they rent U-haul or Penske trucks, they do NOT have to consider weight capacity. The vehicle is not licensed as commercial so they do not have to adhere to any ratings. Just some food for thought.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

There are numerous laws which may be used to ticket or impound a severely undersized tow vehicle, if the officer so chooses.

Besides being unsafe, it is just not worth the hassle.

 

[cptnmcluvin]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

In virginia the law states any trailer over 3000 lbs needs trailer brakes.

I have not heard anything about the legality of tow vehicle ratings versus the actual trailer weight.

Personal experience is towing at maximum capacity is possible but can be stressful.

Especially if the terrain is hilly.

I agree with Mi Duckdown.....If the personal injury attorney finds out and the insurance company denies the claim, that would be ugly.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

In virginia the law states any trailer over 3000 lbs needs trailer brakes.

I have not heard anything about the legality of tow vehicle ratings versus the actual trailer weight.

Personal experience is towing at maximum capacity is possible but can be stressful.

Especially if the terrain is hilly.

I agree with Mi Duckdown.....If the personal injury attorney finds out and the insurance company denies the claim, that would be ugly.

Mclovin, where you fishin at, lower James?

 

[Norboo]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

How would they regulate that? Weights of the trailer, boat, and total weight the vehicle isn’t written anywhere. Also, everything can be modified.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

How would they regulate that? Weights of the trailer, boat, and total weight the vehicle isn’t written anywhere. Also, everything can be modified.

Sometimes you can just tell that a load is overweight.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Sometimes you can just tell that a load is overweight.

Hahahaha.

 

[rbh]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

Found this in 2 minutes, not sure how accurate it is but it is something.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/auto-parts/towing/towing-capacity/vehicle/towing-capacity-chart.htm

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Anyone ever pulled over for overloaded tow vehicle?

How would they regulate that? Weights of the trailer, boat, and total weight the vehicle isn’t written anywhere. Also, everything can be modified.

Can't believe you dont know that the trailer weight and load capacity is on a manf. tag attached to the frame. The truck tag ( on the door jam) gives all the info for the truck. Any law enforcement officer trained in this field will pretty much know just by looking at the setup.And yes things can be modified but what ever the tags say is what it is regardless .