Question on weight limits on roll back trucks

[Circle K]

Hello, I'm hoping some of you guys who were around when implements used flatbed/roll back trucks to deliver equipment. I have the opportunity to purchase a old rollback. Mechanically the truck is extremely sound, and I absolutely wouldn't be afraid of it. What I would be afraid of is what it can legally haul. Everybody knows that no matter where you go, the DOT are more strict than they used to with weight limits. So, does anybody know what you can legally haul on a single axle rollback? Thanks

 

[Welding man]

What is the GVW rating on the tag inside the door?What is the empty weight? Is it a 1 ton or a 2 ton truck? Does it have air brakes. If it is over 26,000 lbs you are in CDL territory. Our state limits rear axle weight to 20,000#. Need a lot more info.

 

[Circle K]

It's a international 1850. I'll have to take a look at the gvw tag sometime. It does not have air brakes. I do have a class a cdl so I'm not too worried there, just can't seem to get a straight answer on what you can legally do with it. None of my old tractors are all that heavy, biggest one being a 47' JD D. But I was just thinking as far as what I could do. Anyways I'll try to get some more info. Thanks

 

[Ken Macfarlane]

Local Ford new holland dealer had an F super the original super duty with a roll back on it. I think the rear axle on them was rated at 11k? I've seen pictures of it with ford 8630 with loaded tires on it, heard a tw-20 was on it once. It sits next to the shop with the pinion cut off flush with diff, tried to get moving in soft ground after loading something heavy.

 

[john in la]

Nation wide rates for large trucks are
12,000 for single tire (steer axle)
And 20,000 for duel tire single axle (drive)

Some states are higher but none lower.
The GVWR of the truck will nnalert this and set your max weight.
A good round about way of figuring GVW is 600 lbs per inch of tire.

 

[Welding man]

State laws vary a lot from state to state. Where I live I can license it as a farm vehicle, tag it for about any weight I want to, get a CDL exemption that is good for 200 miles and go down the road, but I know not many states are that abundant. You need to check with your local DMV. I run antique plates on my tractor hauler.

 

[wijim]

The max weight on the rear axle is 20,000# if its rated for that much. The front axle goes by more what tires and axle is rated at. Most figure 12,000 on steer and 20,000 on drive. You also may be limited by what the deck is rated for. Just went thru this with the DOT and the truck I drive for work. Jim

 

[Ray]

I'm looking at a couple myself. A friend has a 1993 ford super duty with an aluminum rollback bed with 37000 miles. It has the 6.9 diesel with a 5 speed. It looks like a new truck. I've known the truck since new, so I know the miles are right. The GVW plate in the door jam says 15000. The other is a 2000 model chevy 6500 with a chevron aluminum bed with 66000 miles. It has a cat engine with an Allison auto. The gvw plate says 25550.

 

[wijim]

This is the truck I drive.

 

[MARK ROBKE]

Look at the GVW plate on the door post,then go weigh the truck empty,allow for for fuel weight,and your weight,and subtract the empty weight from the GVW.That is what you can haul.Mark

 

[mmfan55]

A lot depends on tires and axles. Look at the tire sidewall and see what the tires are rated to haul. Axle rating is also important. A lot of "2 ton " or similar trucks have a front axle rated @ 7-9000#, with rear @ 17,500#. Smaller trucks will be less. "Semi - tractor " tractor type trucks will be 32,000 or more. ( W adequate tires.)

 

[Nick m]

What he said, and it'll say limit per axle on there too.

 

[Ray]

What about the weight of the axles,brakes etc? There under the springs and not part of the load.

 

[Pete in MD]

If the truck's original use was a rollback, the company that installed the rollback body should have put a sticker on it with the GVWR.

 

[Ferd]

The key word in your post is "legally". So, instead of getting a bunch of opinions, why not go to the DMV website in your state or any state weigh station and ask the people that could give you a ticket or fine?

 

[showcrop]

It doesn't matter what type of truck and what it is designed to do. You don't need a straight answer. Like Mark said all you need is to read the tag, weigh it, and do the math.

 

[ss55]

Which state are you in and which state will you be traveling to?

 

[jimg.allentown]

If you ask 50 people, you will get 50 different answers. So, not to "jump on the bandwagon" so to speak, I will suggest you look at the title, weigh the truck, and do the math. Legal will depend on what the axle ratings are and what the truck is titled to haul. No standard answer here.

Also, just a point of information: The 20,000 weight limit on an axle only applies to BIG trucks. NOT medium duty as you are dealing with. Also, to debunk a common misunderstanding, the weight limit on a steer axle on a big truck is NOT 12,000 lbs. It is actually up to 20,000 lbs. depending on axle and tire ratings. The 12,000 was "implied" from the common calculations for a 5 axle truck. 34,000 on the tandems, 34,000 on the drives, and what is left? 12,000 for the steer axle. HOWEVER, more weight can be shifted to the steer axle if needed to relieve the drives or even the tandems. The ASSUMPTION that the 12,000 is a LIMIT is INCORRECT.

 

[oldtanker]

(quoted from post at 09:25:25 02/28/16) State laws vary a lot from state to state. Where I live I can license it as a farm vehicle, tag it for about any weight I want to, get a CDL exemption that is good for 200 miles and go down the road, but I know not many states are that abundant. You need to check with your local DMV. I run antique plates on my tractor hauler.

I know a guy who got ticketed for that. DOT told him with collector plates he couldn't haul anything.

Rick

 

[Bret4207]

(quoted from post at 19:01:47 02/28/16) The key word in your post is "legally". So, instead of getting a bunch of opinions, why not go to the DMV website in your state or any state weigh station and ask the people that could give you a ticket or fine?

Exactly. Weight laws vary from State to State and have exceptions and conditions. You need to go to the authority in YOUR STATE, not some other State and get the rules and laws that apply to your truck and you would use it. Then you need to consider the GVWR, tire ratings, registered weight and so on down the line. It should all be spelled out in fairly simple language somewhere. Talk to your local police agency that does trucks. When I was a DOT Trooper here in NY we spent more time helping people get on the right track and researching their questions than you could possibly believe.