NYS lawn requires them for anything 10,001# or more whether GVWR or GCWR. Difference is that at the end there is DOT 0000000 NY indicating intrastate only, whereas the interstate is DOT 0000000.

This is why when these coversations about DOT laws come up there is so much confusion as it varies state to state.

 

There are many states that make require DOT numbers for intrastate commerce. In PA it is over 17k GVWR or 17K GCWR. It sounds like NY follows the FMCSA guidelines of any vehicle or combo over 10k.

 

While GCWR isn't necessarily a legal limit, it is a valid rating for the capabilities of the vehicle. It becomes an issue when there is an accident. Even if the accident isn't your fault, if they can show that you exceeded the GCWR, they can make a case that you were negligent and somehow partially at fault. If the accident is your fault, you're cooked. It's not hard for a lawyer to make you look negligent if you have exceeded the stated capabilities of your vehicle.

 

That has been proved as a myth on several occasions. Not saying it could not happen, but there is no record any layer ever brought the issue to the court.
Over 50% or RV ride on overloaded tires and they do get involved in the accidents because of that. Never have hear about owner prosecution.

 

I agree with all of that. Hence my desire to have the weight rating on my truck increased.

 

Unfortunately, you can't actually change your GVWR or GCWR. Only thing you can do is increase the registered weight, if your state allows you to do so.

 

If that is the same thing as the state saying I'm legal to haul my Bobcat and implements, then I'm cool with that. I just want to get from home to the farm without having to worry about losing the farm if some body pulls out in front of me.

 

I don't think it is that simple. My state will take my money for registering my Ford for 80,000lb just fine, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Would I be able to make a 80k set that would drive safely, I don't think cops could object.
Than "safely" is a judgement call. When 7000 lb trailer without brakes is consider safe in Nebraska, it is called "accident waiting to happen" in California.

 

This is the law in Maine: Which is pretty ridiculous considering every 3/4 ton off the lot weighs more than 6000lbs.
http://www.maine.gov/sos/bmv/commerc...ov.%202011.pdf

Trucks, including eligible pickup trucks, must be registered as commercial vehicles for the actual gross weight of the truck and load, including the weight of any trailer or semitrailer and the load being drawn. A pickup truck registered as a passenger vehicle may not exceed 6,000 pounds gross vehicle weight unless it is towing: 1) a camper trailer; or, 2) a utility trailer weighing less than 2,000 pounds gross weight where the combined gross vehicle weight of the pickup and the utility trailer does not exceed 8,000 pounds. Otherwise, pickup trucks towing trailers where the combined gross vehicle weight exceeds 6,000 pounds must register as a commercial vehicle.

 

After talking to a high ranking official in the THP, that appears to be the case. Increasing the registered weight doesn't really make you legal except in terms of taxes. Since they say they don't really enforce it, I'll just plan to hitch up and go.