I apologize for asking, since I saw a post somewhere here, discussing gcvwr, but I think (or hope) my gcvwr should be different. The DMV told me, when i went for my driving portion of my A cdl, that my trk, at it's heaviest rating they could find, was 15,450# gvwr and since my trlr sticker is 18,000#s (3 6k axles), that I was overloaded and to go home and come back with a bigger trk or smaller trlr to take my test. Now I know that doesn't have anything to do with gcvwr, but it does ad fuel to the numbers fire I have. My door sticker doesn't say 15,450#s it says 12,000#s I think. Anyway, here's what i have: 2004.5 dodge ram 3500 drw 1 ton, 4x4, 4.10's, 48re auto, ho turbo naturally. After all that I added an edge chip and keep it in the '1' toggle position, both f & r mag-hytec diff pans and tranny pan, removed the down pipe and replaced it with a 5", eliminator pipe, 5" in and dual 4" out muffler and dual 4" outlet pipes. Then AFE 1 filter kit, 96 plate auxiliary trans cooler with fan, Timbren snubbers, hidden hitch for the gooseneck ball, 4" drop full length running boards. Then pyro gauge, trans & rear end temp gauges. So, do I have a 23,000 gcvwr still? What is my gvwr, really? Oh, I tow a 48' trlr that weighs 19,560#s wet. My trk weighs 7,920#s with me in it and full of fuel. My trk weight with the trlr coupled, but off the scale, is 12,780#s.
Thanks, Phil

 

First, let's separate GVW from GCVW. Your door sticker will be your first reference and for the purposes of your situation. All the other mods you have done do not mean a hoot as far as DMV is concerned, it is the weight listed on your door. So you have 12k GVW. Which means after you deduct 8k for vehicle weight, you can put 4k in the bed and be ok. 8+4=12. Now for Gross Combined Vehicle Weight, that is the weight of your vehicle (8k) plus the POTENTIAL weight of the trailer. For the purposes of DMV, they are going to look at the weight rating of the trailer (for its potential) and add that to empty truck weight. I don't have the Dodge website numbers in front of me so I am guessing a little here, but (and it is good that you have 4.10 gears) I think you have a 21k GCVW. Which means that after you deduct the 8k for your truck, the max trailer weight that DMV will allow you to use is 13k. Now of course, many folks tow more than that regularly with these trucks but you are talking about DMV here. So their response to you was correct. Come back with a smaller trailer. Be aware, that you will be required to stop at scales with that kind of rig (48' trailer) and will be shown to be overweight. An experienced scale operator will spot you and the results won't be happy ones.

 

A friend of mine just used my truck in my sig with my 7 ton dump trailer to get his class A lic. The dmv had no probs with me reg. my truck for 11000 kg's. Sounds like you got a raw deal!!

 

I actually was allowed to register my truck at 26,000#s. Now I believe DMV let me do it so I could pay more in fees!
I also was allowed to register the trlr at the full 18,000#'s and there was much discussion about me pulling it with my trk.
I am now spending many hours researching a semi to buy from Ryder/ lease returns!
Maybe I'll just get a semi and start doing stupid things to my Ram.
Thanks everyone for the input.
Phil

 

can you lower the rating on the trailer to get to where you need to be?

 

Just because the trailer is rated at 18klbs max doesnt mean that you have exceeded anything, that is a pretty bad deal.

The DMV is one can of worms, but from what I hear the highway patrol only cares about each axle and its weight rating, and the tires making their own weight ratings.

You should be able to re-declare the GVWR to the max of the combined axle weight ratings. and the GCWR to whatever you want within reason.

Making modifications to your truck will never let you legally change the Gross axle weight ratings, even though they help a lot.

 

I feel for you, I find the same vague answers from the DOT here. You can go to the licence office and license the truck to carry 10million lbs they will take your money. No one there knows what numbers you should be using. I asked the DOT have got answers from using the door sticker to using the numbers on the sidewall of the tires. I know one thing hookup to something you aint supposed to and they will tell you you were wrong. Sounds like you have one big badass trailer there, maybe a semi would be good.

 

Simply put. If your plates match your weights, your good. At least thats the way I have learned it.

I went through some trouble licensing a trailer here a while back. Went to a different DMV and it was a complete opposite story. They just wanted my money for the plates. Not driving over weight is the State police and your problem. Do keep it within the truck and trailers capabilities. I hate to see idiots pulling outside their limits. Keep it safe.

 

Here in Ontario any towed vehicle over 4500kg's requires you to have a class A lic. You won't need that big a trailer to get it here.

Jamie

 

i and many others are plated for 38,000,and have been dot'd many times and been stopped at scales in many states with no problems