Now you got the axle weights, to a vehicle and trailer. How do you as the officer know they are legal or not?

I already know the answers to this, I drive a 4 axle truck with many different number of axle trailers and cross scales all during said time.

 

Well, my assumption would be that they either know as DOT officers who have to learn those sorts of things, or else they just check the sticker on the door jamb... Granted, the likelihood of someone driving a light duty truck getting pulled over by DOT and checked for weight is really slim... And even less likely where I am. But what if???

 

If you look legal, you'll more than likely get a pass. Look overloaded, sagging tires squished hard, they will investigate.

Only way they can determine if your legal, with the weights they just got, is to look at your registration's (depending on state) for the road tax, and the axle ratings, and tire ratings. Add them up, and be under or at each rating, and your good to go.

Everytime I've been weigh'd it's the same, steer, drives and trailer axles. Add them up and that's what they look at.

I would get a short tandem dually goooseneck trailer, and size the tank to what you feel comfortable. I would always size the trailer, and truck bigger than you need, then wish you had more.

 

If it has any real meaning then why isn't on the door tag with all the other important numbers?

Aren't you making your own argument as to why you can't haul enough water to make it worthwhile.

 

In my case, being in a pickup and small trailer, if my trailer had been over 10,000 lbs I'd be asked for my driver's license. If my truck had been over a similar number I'd be asked for my registration (rules change at that point here). In other locales (Ontario) the rule for trailers/trucks changes when trailer weigh on the wheels is over 6200 lbs. If what you are driving/pulling has a company name on it, you might get asked for log books and daily inspection forms. If I was in my home province they would run the registration and know exactly what I was registered for. They regularly run spot checks on annual inspections and license renewals. They have all sorts of tools at their disposal, and they know all the rules, not just the ones that I might think I know...

Like I said, it's not an old wives tale, I've been pulled in maybe a half dozen times in the past two-three years driving a pickup and pulling a little trailer. Got caught once because I had forgotten to put the sticker on the license plate for renewal, and once because I didn't understand the rules for annual inspections correctly. Only got a lecture both times. I know one guy who was pulling a large car trailer, way over 10000 lbs, with no class A, and no inspections on truck or trailer. Cost him over $3K to get out of that, and he had to find a driver to take his rig home for him. I take it all with good nature because it does get some pretty sketchy rigs off the road.

Brian

 

Well, I already know I can haul 1200 gallons and remain under the 20,000# gcwr that Ford puts out... However, to do that I have to use a conventional hitch car hauler, not a gooseneck cause the trailer weight has to stay under 3000#. And that was the point of this thread... To find out users experiences with conventional trailers at 12,000 for trailer plus load. Just happened to turn into a discussion on what gcwr actually means, which I'm grateful for, as I've learned a lot.

Another thing in my favor is that I don't plan to put the company name on the door, so there will be nothing to set us out as a commercial vehicle vs. private.

 

I don't see you keeping it under 20K with 1200 gallons of water on board.
1200 Gallons water 10,000 lbs
F350 dually 8500 (light side)
Light trailer at 2800 lbs

21,300 lbs
Plus weight of tank, and securement devices.

Just making sure you aren't missing anything.

 

How many gallons do they deliver at a time?

 

I came in at 9600 lbs for water, not 10,000... Typical weight calculation for water is 8 lbs per gallon.

They bring me 1800 gallons at a shot.

The specific trailer I'm looking at is one from BigTex and comes in at 2560# with a rating of 14,000#... The Ford rating for my truck is 12,400 to pull... 9600 + 2560 = 12,160... Then I have a little left for tank weight and straps. But if the Ford ratings don't matter as y'all say, then it really doesn't matter, in which case I will go for the gooseneck...

 

At this stage, if I was you and I'd gotten a variety of opinions in my responses, I'd just stop in at a weight station and ask the officer to explain it to me as it relates to my truck and needs ... if you really want the piece of mind.

If you run into some trouble I don't think "well that's what someone on the internet told me" will get you out of a fine.

 

I'm done with the weight rating stuff, your mind is made up. Thanks for letting me help you.

Have you talked with your insurance agent about hauling water? It might be a good idea, to see what they say. With as many trips as your gonna make a year, I would make sure insurance is up to snuff, just in case.

 

Thanks guys, and Colm, that's a great idea!

 

But you are saying the rating matters.

Water weighs 8 and 1/3 lbs per gallon so 10k is correct.

Does your truck really only weigh 7600lbs?

 

Well, I thought it did matter, but you guys have convinced me it doesn't.

I've worked with water weights in a number of capacities for years... Never heard 8.333# per gallon, always heard 8. But I looked it up, and you're right. Huh. Not the first time I've been wrong, and I'm sure it won't be the last...

Don't know actual weight of my truck yet cause I don't have it in hand yet. But according to Fords numbers, my gcwr is 20,000, and the max trailer weight for my truck (2003 F350 CC 8' bed 4x4 DRW) is 12,400. See the link to Fords numbers for 2003 trucks here. So while I personally have a hard time believing that what the truck weighs, that's what fords number says.

But, since you guys have convinced me that these numbers are guidelines not legal requirements, weight of the truck really doesn't make any difference. I will, though, do as Colm suggested and go check with a state scales operator to see what he says.

 

I have been dot compliant for years, and hundreds of thousands of miles. The equipment (and ratings) are only as good as your weakest link. When I was hauling cars in my 06 F350 drw 13k rating,,, I was registered at 54, or 56k lbs (can't remember which)and ran ifta, and I got inspected a lot. If I was in your shoes,,,, just keep the combined ratings under 26k, and keep the ground pressure under the tires ratings. The tires are almost always the weakest link. I also registered that dually at 30k beyond local when I bought it. I'm mo they will let you tag it at wherever weight u want. If the registration of the truck n trailer is in a persons name (and not a company) it would be easier to talk your way out of a ticket if u get stopped. But if you are seen day after day running large loads down the road,,, it might get tough to convince the officers that its just personal use. Just some insight,,, if there is a big investment getting this set up, and you get popped,,, they could force you to get set up with dot numbers. Which the numbers, and the state issues, aren't that big of an investment, but the commercial insurance isn't too cheap. Btw, I thought the gcvwr of a 06 Dually is somewhere around 28k. If you are staying in state,,, it really simplifies it to actually do this completely legit. No usdot crap,,, just codot