To weigh or not to weigh

[johninmn]

So I have a f250 and a 12k trailer. I know the truck is under 10k GVWR but being that the trailer is over am I required to pull in to the highway weigh station? I wont even be close to being overweight but I already know what the fine for running the scale is and do not want to pay it again.
Thanks
 

[ericlb]

as long as your hauling your own stuff, and the total weight is not over the trucks tow rating, this means the truck, everything in and on it, the trailer, and everything on it,and the trailer tounge weight on the truck does not exceed the trucks gvw rating, you should be ok unless motioned to pull in, be advised a light duty 250 can have a gvw rating as light as around 6800 lbs, in some years, the truck and empty trailer may exceed that, if you use that combo id scale the whole rig and its load at a scale, then compare the reading to the card on the cab door, before i got to any dot scales so i knew if it would pass or not if its over the rated capacity, better find a heavier rated tow vehicle, if your hauling somebody elses stuff on your trailer, some places, your a commercial trucker and you better stop, if they dont want you, they'll give you the green light
 

[showcrop]

[ericlb]

the nearest one to here, there is always a cruiser parked out by the road with a cop in it,or standing by it, [ in case a commercial truck tries to bypass the scale, they'll go get him] the cop standing by will occasionally flip his litebar on and point to the entrance ramp, if he sees something he wants to look at on a smaller truck, usually its something like a 310 jd commercial backhoe or similer, on a pintle hitch trailer, all headed up by some guy in a 1 ton , dont know how they do it in your area
 

[willie in mn]

Read the sign as you approach the weigh station.
Do what the sign says. Haven't been there for a while, but Ne used to say "pickups with trailers must weigh". Il used to say " trucks over 4 tons gross weight", etc. Haven't even been near Mn scales lately, used to say "trucks over 12000# enter scale"
Willie
 

[MSD]

Son got pulled over the other day for going past one on I-29 in southern SD. He was running his 3500 Dodge dually with a 30 ft. gooseneck that he just bought and was coming home with. Cop gave him a warning ticket after he pleaded stupidity. Sign called for anything 8000 lbs. to pull in. He had a G JD on it at the time also.
 

[scotc]

I saw one Ohio state patrolman do it by walking out into the middle of 3 lanes on I-71, take his hat off, and wave it at a red Ford Ranger.
 

[larryanderson]

This question comes up often and the answer seems to be 26000#and up .I have a 2011 Ford F-350 single axle diesel with a 32ft gooseneck tandem axle that has 2 12000# axles that I haul my farm tractors and machinery, hay ,or whatever needs to be hauled.I have a CDL,Med card,but do not have my DOT # on truck.I usually stay in Ia.and havent had any problems and was passed by a DOT car today on four lane and had a tractor and plow on.They seem to like big rigs a lot better.My day will probably come.I dont weigh but probably should.
 

[johninmn]

The particular scale I will be driving by says all trucks over 10000 lbs must pull in to weigh station. So what im wondering is because the truck is not over 10k but the trailer is am I required to pull in? Ill be hauling 3 ATVs and a grill so weight will not be an issue.
 

[730d se]

Keep in mind that it is not just about IF a truck is over weight, it is about the GVWR, the gross vehicle weight rating. Matters not if you have a load of air on a brand new rig, it is about it's capacity or rating.
Then, IF the truck is overloaded, or the driver does not have all paperwork, numbers, lisenses, insurance, etc., the fines can begin.
 

[d beatty]

Crossing scales is going to be differant from state to state.I just brought a new trailer across I-80 in ILL. and their scales was anything over 8 ton. Here in Indiana all trucks cross scales including pickup trucks pulling trailers. It also includes all rental trucks.
 

[Sako]

When in doubt pull thru, If they don't want you you'll get waved on. If you drive past and they come after you chances are the fines are going to start.
What is the GCVWR of the 250? My 11 450 has a GCVWR of 30k. Truck GVWR is 19,500 + Trailer GVWR 14,000 = GCVWR (of tags) 33,500 so techincally I'm over weight empty. It all depends on wether they look at actual weight or lisenced weight.
 

[souNdguy]

im my f250, 350 and 450, latter 2 duallies.. and a 16' tandem, or my 28' gn tandem.. I've never pulled into a weigh station in any of the southeast from fl to texas and georgia. lousiana, mississippa, alabama.. etc.

never been chased down.. etc.

i'm private / non commercial, hauling my stuff with my trucks.. class e license.. etc.
 

[uncle henry]

i have a one ton dodge and a 48 foot gooseneck with 12,000lbs axles which makes me 78 foot bumper to bumper and i have texas farm plates never pulled in one been to illinois, indiana, iowa, louisiana, mississippi, arkansas, and oklahoma
 

[730d se]

It is a matter of time.
Even bootleggers got by back in the day, but it still did not make it legal.
In the case of your truck, you have a lot of weight to deal with, especially when loaded to or past rated capacity.
If you have an accident, your life will never be the same.
Best get the million dollar plus insurance, CDL, etc. You will need every advantage in court.