So...found the truck of my dreams. But I notice that it has the "10000# package". Have I severely limited my future towing? What exactly does this mean? And if it does limit me, what can I do to boost it back up?

Sorry for being a FNG with FNG questions...

 

Means that the weight of the truck + your load which will either be the tongue weight for a travel trailer or the pin weight of a fifth wheel needs to be under 10k.... To be legal. You also need to account for other people in the truck and whatever cargo you may have in the truck.

 

You haven't limited yourself at all. The truck is physically identical to the standard higher GVWR version. It's just de-rated on paper to allow for cheaper registration/insurance in certain states.

 

My experience with this:

Truck:F250 10,000lb gvwr
Citation: vehicle over weight registered (my South Carolina tag registration was also 10k, I was towing a fifth wheel trailer, scaled at 11,300, got a ticket.)

State dot pulled me over and put scales under all my wheels. Officer told me to change the registration to a higher number, so it is now 25,999 (max allowed non commercial)

The officer told me that the door sticker is meaningless and ignored (within reason I would think).

I was not tugging my camper around and Rv tends to get exempted. Depends on your state and whether or not you can find and interpret the laws in your state.

So, what you do depends on what you tow. If you have other trailers that you use and if they are capable of handling over 10,000 pounds. Anything other than an Rv can be inspected and cited for commercial use but in my experience they aren't checking manufacturers limits, they're checking to see if you're commercial and if you're paying enough local taxes for the roads.

 

Things that matter:


Axle ratings and tire ratings.


Registration for the truck, which you can change.


And then some states (check yours) require the truck to be registered for both the truck and trailer combined.


I ran a 12K registration on my 08 F250 and was fine.


I run a 14K now since MD law has the trailers under there own requirements.

 

I'm guessing it goes by home state rules. I'm lucky (for once) that in MA we have no such rules and the truck is registered at it's published GVWR. No ability to increase or decrease it and no price change for a heavier GVWR truck. We also have no max combined weight if towing an RV. All that said, OP, fill in your profile so we can see where you hail from and tell us more about your new truck. We can then give more specific answers.

In the end though, there are only two states that check RV's for weight. CA does it more regularly and TX does it rarely. The other 48 don't check RV's. So, another question for you is, will you be towing an RV or something else?

 

i got the 10000 package on my new silverado 3500


its better because i can do a regular $35 inspection fee, can drive on no truck roads.

once yoou get 10,001 the rules all change

 

How did you go about registering for a higher weight than the door sticker? When I bought mine the dealer wouldn't register it for more than the 10k on the sticker. Interestingly they did initially register it for 7300(?) pounds for a lower registration fee. That wouldn't even cover the weight of the empty truck since it is about 7900+/-. So I know the process is somewhat arbitrary.

 

In Maryland, where I am, the process is to just go to the DMV and fill out a form to change it.

Be aware that since you are going over 10K almost every state will require an inspection form.

Since I am private I just self certify the form and turn it in as well. Simple process.

Each renewal thereafter just comes in the mail and I do it that way. Really isn't a hassle at all.

 

I had my 08 Tundra (which was over the 5k lb threshold in Florida to require tag by weight) registered for just the weight of the truck. If I had more than myself and 50 pounds of cargo, I was over weight.

Luckily Florida DOT doesn't stop pickups unless you are towing something stupid.(Had a buddy pulled over and ticketed for pulling a large overweight Dozer with his F250 without a CDL)

 

Thanks. I'll probably just go to my local tag+title lady. She seems to know her stuff and makes things happen. Plus she seems to be happy to help unlike most I've encountered at the dmv.

 

That is probably your best bet. The lady probably knows more than the person at the counter at the DMV.

 

I have seen other states want to weigh RVs or any truck with a GVWR greater than 10k pounds. (Not just CA or TX) but I can't remember which state it was right now. I've driven from Florida to Alaska a few times and I see the signs, but all the states kinda run together in my mind.

The only other time you will get into a liability issue, is if you are in a serious injury or fatal accident. EVERYTHING will get taken into consideration. Even that door sticker could cause you some issues - not that they cannot be overcome. Yes, your attorney will say the axles, tires, brakes, etc... could handle the load you are pulling. The potential civil case will also try to use it against you. Chances of this happening are slim - more likely you'll get pulled and weighed by DOT, which is also slim if you don't look commercial.

Not that all of us are auto experts that can be called in to testify in court, but people here have done research on the part numbers in the 10k trucks that indicate that the same parts are used in the 11,3000 and the 10000 pound factory ratings. Just like they have outlined the few additional suspension pieces that differentiate a 250 from a 350 - basically it's the same truck.

 

My 2016 F250 6.2 liter 4x4 SWB Crew Cab has the 10000# GVWR package.
The GAWR front is 4800# and the rear is 6100. That's 10900#
Can someone explain the difference?

Thanks

 

The GVWR is the total the truck is rated for but not based on axle ratings alone. The 4800 and 6100 are individual axle ratings and are used as a guide for loading.