THSCC Forums

I found out some very interesting news yesterday that I have yet to investigate further. The 250/2500 and larger vehicles have "weighted" tags as stated above AND they have gross weight limits on your registration card. That number on your registration card affects the legal amount your rig (ie you, the truck, the crap in the truck, the trailer and the car on the trailer) can weigh. It also affects your annual registration amount.

A coworker and I were talking about this yesterday and he asked what I had mine rated at since I use it to pull the car and trailer. I said whatever the dealership put on it when they did the paperwork. They knew I was buying it to tow a car and they knew I bought my 250 with the expectation to tow multiple vehicles in the future.

I looked at my registration car last night. 10,000lbs is what I am currently rated at. This is nowhere near enough and I am technically overweight every single time I tow. To keep the math simple, figure my truck is 6000lbs, my trailer is 1800lbs, the Z06 is 3200 and I am 200lbs = 11,200lbs before even thinking about tools, fuel jugs, spare wheels/tires, etc.

From looking at this page and from what I remember, my truck will pull 14,500 lbs or so with a max combined weight (truck, trailer, crap in truck, car on trailer, etc) of 23,500lbs.

http://www.fordf150.net/2008/2008-ford- ... ations.php

So does that mean that I should go back to the NC DOT and ask them to update/upgrade my max gross weight to 23,500lbs? Or to 13,000lbs? Because that is more than I normally tow now and that should cover me. Either way, to answer Justin's original question, there will be a higher annual cost associated with the higher gross vehicle weight listed on the registration car. HOWEVER, from what I hear, the annual registration is nothing compared to the fines you receive for being overweight. I heard something to the effect of a standard fine and then a cost per pound that you are over.



For you 150/1500 owners: Per a conversation with John, we think the maximum gross weight allowed on a normal vehicle tag (ie the one on your truck or car) is 5,000lbs. That means that each and every one of you reading this that tows a car and trailer is overweight when towing to the track. Something to consider.

I need to go more research on this, but if anyone has any inside information, please speak up.


-Kevin

I was researching this and found something not relevent, yet very interesting... You don't need to get weighted tags for a Ford Excursion regardless if you are towing or not. The DMV considers it a wagon and not a truck. John

Despite more searching on the internet, I still could not find a good resource of reliable information on the weighted tag subject. I even read through this 334 page Registration/Title manual:

http://www.ncdot.org/dmv/vehicle_servic ... Manual.pdf


So, I called the DMV and after being on hold for an extended period of time I got some good news and bad news.

Good News: I think I understand how the weighted tag works.

Bad News: The vast majority of us on here may be running illegal. Like I theorized above, you have need to have the vehicle rated on your registration with a weight higher than you think you will ever tow.

My truck can tow 14,000lbs with a payload capacity of 3100lbs with a max gross combined weight of 23,500lbs.

Typical hauling weight back and forth to the track = 12,378lbs
Truck - 6678lbs
Trailer - 1800lbs
Z06 - 3200lbs
Tools/Misc - 500lbs
Me - 200lbs

Maximum gross combined capacity = 23,500lbs
Truck - 6678lbs
Payload - 3110lbs
Towing - 14,000lbs (this does not add up to 23500, but I remember seeing 14k somewhere


So, since my registration card only states 10,000lbs on it, I need to increase my rating in case I get pulled over and weighed (which the officer has the right to do). Per the lady I spoke with, Cynthia, here is a sampling of the annual registration costs:

12,000lbs = $123
14,000lbs = $193.40
20,000lbs = $311

I am probably going to up mine to 14k. Cynthia did state that you can increase it and lower it depending on how much you wanted to haul over the next couple of months.

For the 150/1500 people -- you need to call and see what you are allowed. I am willing to bet you are overweight for the normal tag.


-Kevin

David is right, it is unlikely you will be pulled without some "reason."

However, if you do, and you get weighed, it will be a fine (in NC typically a $100), and you may have to unload to your limit or drop the trailer to retrive with a vehicle of appropriate weighting. This is observed in all adjacent states. I can tell you that VA is particularly bad for this (ask the boys at C&C Boiler how they know this - hah!)

On the other hand, I know of 2 non-commercial folks who have gotten tagged on the interstates in the past 2 years. One through a checkpoint for all things illegal, another because he stopped when one of those in their convoy blew a tire, and several were pulled over to assist, and attracted the attention of Trooper, who called in the DMV "portable" after observing vehicles. The majority were overweight, non were allowed to continue, all had to drop trou' .... does this scenario sound familiar? That happened in SC a number of years back, they were pulling salvaged farm equipment on 18'-20' open trailers with 1500 Chevy's.

I think Ben and Doug Van Den Brink [CIN Motorpsorts] got ticketed for this too pulling Doug's race trailer - but they were hauling ass in the LH lane for a while.

Like Kevin, I called DMV in Raleigh, gave them my weights, discussed the does and don'ts (very little available on line), they advised my charge. I tagged for too low the 1st time, and then went back and added what I needed. Needless to say, it cost too much, but I'm good to 16K.
Truck: 4950LB
Trailer: 3425LB
Car: 3730LB
So gives me 12,105 LB towards the 16,000LB

...and I have room 3,895LB add'l for tools, tires and beer tween trailer and truck.
[Trailer has pay load of 6574LB and truck of 3000 LB, but I'll avoid that loading of course]

A last note, they do the weights per hundred, so no big weight jumps, they just empty your wallet at every 100 LB.

Here is what I learned: To go from 10K lbs to 12K lbs cost $80. To go from 10K lbs to 13K lbs cost $90. To go from 10K to 14K cost $14X. On a Dodge 1/2 ton truck.

If you go to the DMV they will tell you ALL VEHICLES. NO EXCEPTIONS!!!! That's why our navigator and all out trucks have weighted tags!!! Check it out for your self, ask at the DMV .

Unless the law has changed you only need weighted tags If a gross vehicle weight (or, any weight) is listed on your registration. If no weight is listed then no weighted tags are needed. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

My pick up (Dodge HD2500) has a weight listed so I need weighted tags. My 3/4 ton suburban (same as the Dodge) does not have a weight listed so no need for weighted tags.