California CVRA Stickers/Weight Fees and Declared Operating Weight Questions

[SolarPoweredRV]

That's right in line with what I've concluded. It's just I keep reading about the 26k limit. It's like the whole yellow payload sticker thing. From what I've read from folks who've been actually inspected, the inspector looks at the load ratings of the axles and tires, not the yellow payload sticker, which is an arbitrary rating put on by Ford to conform with tax and maybe license regulations.

The Inspector looks at the Sticker, Not, the Axles and Tires. The Sticker controls the load limits on the vehicle.

Think about it, people put different tires on their vehicles all the time. Imagine this, one week you go through the Weigh Station with one set of tires and the next week you have a completely different set of tires. If you had installed a set of tires with a "Higher" Load Range rating, using your theory, you could carry more weight than the first time you went through the Weigh Station, you could easily install tires that would exceed the carrying capacity of your axles.

[SolarPoweredRV]

Correct. But reading the California regs, you're allowed to tow up to 15k (with Restriction 41 permit). Above that you're into non-commercial class A. BUT what about if you're trailer is 14k and the GVWR of your truck is 14k? That would be 28k GCVWR. Folks have stated the feds say that any combination over 26k lbs puts you into commercial DL. Does that apply since this is for recreation and not for paid commercial use?

The only time Federal Regulations come into play is if you are hauling commercially. Otherwise, the State controls the Licensing and Registration of your Truck and Trailer. This is even true across State Lines, whatever rules control your vehicle in your Home State, controls your Truck and Trailer when you leave the State. Otherwise, we would all need to be licensed in at least 48 States and pass Emissions Inspections in those States with Vehicle Emissions Laws on the books.

[TheLexx]

Well I will tell you that there are a LOT of folks who are overweight with their Host Mammoth, Lance 1172, and Eagle Cap 1200 truck campers in that case. All of those are at least in the mid 5000 lb range if not 6k lbs when all the options are checked and you carry a load of water. I've read quite few of their posts justifying their loads, stating that they've done all sorts of suspension mods and the truck is very stable with the load they're carrying. For it me kind of sucks because even though I have a F450 with heavier rated axles and just about the biggest brakes you can get on a passenger truck, I'd still be overweight by over 1000 lbs with one of those campers according to the yellow sticker. This despite the fact that my rear tires are rated for 15,800 lbs, and my axle is rated by Dana for 15k lbs. Oh well.

The Inspector looks at the Sticker, Not, the Axles and Tires. The Sticker controls the load limits on the vehicle.

Think about it, people put different tires on their vehicles all the time. Imagine this, one week you go through the Weigh Station with one set of tires and the next week you have a completely different set of tires. If you had installed a set of tires with a "Higher" Load Range rating, using your theory, you could carry more weight than the first time you went through the Weigh Station, you could easily install tires that would exceed the carrying capacity of your axles.

[TheLexx]

My understanding is that is indeed the case. It's the GVWR not the actual curb weight alone. For example, a Momentum 328 is has a curb weight in the high 11k lbs range, but it's GVWR is 16,500 lbs. I would need a non-commercial class A to tow the Momentum.

For years when I was towing my big toy hauler, somewhere I got the idea that the (CA.) non commercial class A was required even if the 5th wheel was RATED above 15,000lbs, not just weighing over 15,000.

[Ra&Ta350]

The Inspector looks at the Sticker, Not, the Axles and Tires. The Sticker controls the load limits on the vehicle.

Think about it, people put different tires on their vehicles all the time. Imagine this, one week you go through the Weigh Station with one set of tires and the next week you have a completely different set of tires. If you had installed a set of tires with a "Higher" Load Range rating, using your theory, you could carry more weight than the first time you went through the Weigh Station, you could easily install tires that would exceed the carrying capacity of your axles.

Hard to get tires that exceed the axles in most HD trucks. Ram sez my rear axle is only capable of carrying 6.5k lbs. AAM who makes the axle sez 11k lbs. I can’t find tires that carry 11k (5.5k per tire) for my truck. A little over 4K lbs is the best I can find.

[Ra&Ta350]

The only time Federal Regulations come into play is if you are hauling commercially. Otherwise, the State controls the Licensing and Registration of your Truck and Trailer. This is even true across State Lines, whatever rules control your vehicle in your Home State, controls your Truck and Trailer when you leave the State. Otherwise, we would all need to be licensed in at least 48 States and pass Emissions Inspections in those States with Vehicle Emissions Laws on the books.

Well I will tell you that there are a LOT of folks who are overweight with their Host Mammoth, Lance 1172, and Eagle Cap 1200 truck campers in that case. All of those are at least in the mid 5000 lb range if not 6k lbs when all the options are checked and you carry a load of water. I've read quite few of their posts justifying their loads, stating that they've done all sorts of suspension mods and the truck is very stable with the load they're carrying. For it me kind of sucks because even though I have a F450 with heavier rated axles and just about the biggest brakes you can get on a passenger truck, I'd still be overweight by over 1000 lbs with one of those campers according to the yellow sticker. This despite the fact that my rear tires are rated for 15,800 lbs, and my axle is rated by Dana for 15k lbs. Oh well.

Move to Texas, where the towing regulations are much simpler and reasonable, i.e. less nanny state-ish. As long as you don’t exceed GCVWR ur good it seems.

[TheLexx]

That's probably why Ford went with the 19.5" commercial tire size in the F450. At 3950 lbs payload capacity apiece, it adds up to a hefty 15,800 lbs.

Hard to get tires that exceed the axles in most HD trucks. Ram sez my rear axle is only capable of carrying 6.5k lbs. AAM who makes the axle sez 11k lbs. I can’t find tires that carry 11k (5.5k per tire) for my truck. A little over 4K lbs is the best I can find.

[Ra&Ta350]

That's probably why Ford went with the 19.5" commercial tire size in the F450. At 3950 lbs payload capacity apiece, it adds up to a hefty 15,800 lbs.

Yeah, I’ll stick with my SRW 2500. Not crazy about dually set ups. My tires are 4080 lbs each. Well within the axle manufacturer’s rating and above my pin wt.

[RSteele]

I saw theCHP inspecting rv’ s on the way to Glamis in California last year. They were stopping all rv’s on the highway. This is a large sand dune area popular for off-roading. Many people have toyhauler’s that are waaay overweight for the trucks they are attached to and you have to haul water with you to this area, it is primitive pick a patch of sand camping. My inspection consisted of the CHP Officer having me pull my drive axel onto the scales and then he looked at the tires. I assume he was looking at weight ratings. He then checked my license and let me continue on my way. I saw at least 5 truck trailer combinations pulled over receiving citations. I later talked to one of the drivers camped near us and he received an overweight ticket and another for no non-commercial or commercial class a license. The licensing for weight in California isn’t what the trailer weighs on the scale its is what it is capable of weighing at max or gvwr.

[Ra&Ta350]

I saw theCHP inspecting rv’ s on the way to Glamis in California last year. They were stopping all rv’s on the highway. This is a large sand dune area popular for off-roading. Many people have toyhauler’s that are waaay overweight for the trucks they are attached to and you have to haul water with you to this area, it is primitive pick a patch of sand camping. My inspection consisted of the CHP Officer having me pull my drive axel onto the scales and then he looked at the tires. I assume he was looking at weight ratings. He then checked my license and let me continue on my way. I saw at least 5 truck trailer combinations pulled over receiving citations. I later talked to one of the drivers camped near us and he received an overweight ticket and another for no non-commercial or commercial class a license. The licensing for weight in California isn’t what the trailer weighs on the scale its is what it is capable of weighing at max or gvwr.

Are y’all Cali DL holders?