Are we treated as trucks?

[gkalmond]

When passing by a weigh station, I occasionally see an RV or travel trailer in the line. More often, I see them ignoring the weigh stations (as I have done). Anyone know if we are treated as trucks for this purpose and others (such as lower speed limits in places)?

[madmaxmutt]

Originally Posted by gkalmond

When passing by a weigh station, I occasionally see an RV or travel trailer in the line. More often, I see them ignoring the weigh stations (as I have done). Anyone know if we are treated as trucks for this purpose and others (such as lower speed limits in places)?

If you stop, you will be the only RV there. But you will probably get some odd answers to this snake oil question.

[Rustynuts]

Weigh stations are for commercial vehicles. Some states like Oregon leave the scales on and when they are closed for commercial weighing you are welcome to weigh your vehicles 24/7.

[Grumpy]

If they are being transported they may have to stop in certain states since they would be considered commercial. Just keep on trucking, that's what we did for 43 yrs in the good ole US of A and Canada,

[JohnWedell]

We once pulled into a Florida agriculture weigh station and got a weird look. She said no need to pull in, it’s not for rv’s.

[Springhook]

I once pulled into a weigh station cuz the sign said "3 axles or more". The light turned green immediately and I was waved off.

[Flyrotor]

Commercial trucks have to stop at the weigh stations/ports of entry. In Idaho any commercial vehicle with a registered weight rated at 26,001 pounds or more is required to stop, regardless of their actual weight. Livestock or hazmat loads over 10,000 pounds must stop.

Actual mandates are regulated state per state.

The transporter who delivers the travel trailer from the factory to the dealer is required to stop due to their commercial transport license. (D.O.T. Numbers).

Recreational vehicles (not pulled by a transporter) are not required to stop at the ports.

As for speed limits, it is often defined as per axle limit. Most axle restrictions don’t begin until 5 axles or more. In California any vehicle pulling a trailer is restricted tp maximum speed of 55.

I may be incorrect but this is my understanding.

[Lake Huron]

In Michigan the answer is no, unless you are towing the rv for financial gain.
I got pulled over once for speeding while towing a 4 place snowmobile trailer. It was pretty well decked out with LED lights outside, and in, and had a lot of stickers on the outside. It looked like a sponsored race trailer. Commercial truck speed was 60, regular vehicle speed was 70 and I was rolling along with traffic in the fast lane around 75. I showed the trooper the inside of the trailer with the sleds all being registered, and suddenly the line of questioning became very friendly as to how we liked our sleds, what mods we had done, etc. Pretty cool guy. We jaw jacked for a few, he got a call and needed to leave and told us to be safe and have fun.

[ETCrockett]

While I don’t stop for weigh stations, I do obey lane restrictions in construction zones when trucks are required to stay in a specific lane. Does anyone else do this as well?

[harryjr]

Originally Posted by Lake Huron

In Michigan the answer is no, unless you are towing the rv for financial gain.
I got pulled over once for speeding while towing a 4 place snowmobile trailer. It was pretty well decked out with LED lights outside, and in, and had a lot of stickers on the outside. It looked like a sponsored race trailer. Commercial truck speed was 60, regular vehicle speed was 70 and I was rolling along with traffic in the fast lane around 75. I showed the trooper the inside of the trailer with the sleds all being registered, and suddenly the line of questioning became very friendly as to how we liked our sleds, what mods we had done, etc. Pretty cool guy. We jaw jacked for a few, he got a call and needed to leave and told us to be safe and have fun.

Have you ever noticed the bus conversions that have a sticker on them, "Private vehicle"? Or the commercial size truck or flatbed with a "Not for hire" sticker? Probably for the above reason.

[tabber02]

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

As for speed limits, it is often defined as per axle limit. Most axle restrictions don’t begin until 5 axles or more. In California any vehicle pulling a trailer is restricted tp maximum speed of 55.

I may be incorrect but this is my understanding.

in Florida, maximum speed with any travel trailer is limited to 65mph.

[John7349]

Originally Posted by Flyrotor

Commercial trucks have to stop at the weigh stations/ports of entry. In Idaho any commercial vehicle with a registered weight rated at 26,001 pounds or more is required to stop, regardless of their actual weight. Livestock or hazmat loads over 10,000 pounds must stop.

Actual mandates are regulated state per state.

The transporter who delivers the travel trailer from the factory to the dealer is required to stop due to their commercial transport license. (D.O.T. Numbers).

Recreational vehicles (not pulled by a transporter) are not required to stop at the ports.

As for speed limits, it is often defined as per axle limit. Most axle restrictions don’t begin until 5 axles or more. In California any vehicle pulling a trailer is restricted tp maximum speed of 55.

I may be incorrect but this is my understanding.

When I am in California I try to obey the 55 mph limit with my 5th wheel. Seems like I'm the only one... Frustrating but less worries...

[tabber02]

Originally Posted by John7349

When I am in California I try to obey the 55 mph limit with my 5th wheel. Seems like I'm the only one... Frustrating but less worries...

you aren’t kidding.

[EA37TS]

Commercial drivers delivering 5th wheels must stop at weight stations. Also RVs that are registered in a Corp name can be considered commercial

[RAurand]

Originally Posted by ETCrockett

While I don’t stop for weigh stations, I do obey lane restrictions in construction zones when trucks are required to stay in a specific lane. Does anyone else do this as well?

No, never stopped at any weigh stations.
If truck lanes going thru a construction zone, I usually stay in the truck lanes. They are wider.

On the interstate near my house, (3 lane highway) signs say NO TRUCKS, BUSSES OR TRAILERS IN LEFT LANE.
I stay out of the left lane.

[Danno]

All pickup trucks here in Ontario Canada are registered as commercial vehicles regardless of use. If it's used mainly for personal transportation, a small red sticker is applied to the front plate. For years, personal use pickups fell into the same category as pickups used for business, and required a yearly safety inspection if the GVWR was over 4500KG (around 10000LBS). Thankfully they did away with this law and we no longer need safeties every year.

[jpgale]

Originally Posted by John7349

When I am in California I try to obey the 55 mph limit with my 5th wheel. Seems like I'm the only one... Frustrating but less worries...

You are On the freeways I cruise around 60 to 65. I have never towed outside of California.

[bender88]

No but a state trooper or DOT officer can pull you over and weigh your rig and if overweight for your tag write you a ticket.

[Flyrotor]

Originally Posted by bender88

No but a state trooper or DOT officer can pull you over and weigh your rig and if overweight for your tag write you a ticket.

Never seen it happen, nor have I heard of it ever happening. YOMV

[JFlightRisk]

NY state doesn't care about campers weight, either. The DW, the fur baby, and I all needed a pit stop at a rest area, and the state troopers were set up with a portable weigh station in the truck parking lot. We pulled into it to park with the trailer, and a trooper stopped us, and said we couldn't park there right now. The other parking lot's just for cars, and by now I'm past its entrance. I asked the trooper if he was sure he didn.t want to weigh me...he said "You look to be about 200 pounds", and walked away. He was a very nice guy...I'm 210...